All You Need to Know About the Racing Movie Filmed in Florida

Wave the checkered flags for the new Brad Pitt racing movie, “F1!” This action film has already brought plenty of excitement to Florida, thanks in part to scenes filmed on location.

Previously known as “Apex,” the film showcases Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a former Formula 1 driver who makes a return to the sport to mentor a young teammate. British actor Damson Idris plays the rookie teammate, while Javier Bardem stars as the leader of their fictional team, APXGP. Other notable actors include Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, Sarah Niles, Kim Bodnia, and Samson Kayo.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski of “Top Gun: Maverick” fame and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer alongside seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, who also has a cameo, the Apple Original film offers viewers a taste of Formula One racing with scenes at Daytona International Speedway. Moviegoers can expect to see it in theaters on June 27, 2025.

Filming for “F1” took place during actual Grand Prix weekends, taking advantage of real race settings to lend authenticity to the project. The movie started shooting at Silverstone in Central England in 2023 and is expected to wrap up at Abu Dhabi in December 2024.

In an exciting moment for Florida, Brad Pitt was seen at Daytona International Speedway in January 2024, ahead of the famous Rolex 24 endurance race. The star filmed scenes around Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach along with Javier Bardem.

Interestingly, Jerry Bruckheimer, who is also a producer for the movie, was named the Grand Marshal for the Rolex 24. Bruckheimer has a history with Daytona, having shot parts of the movie “Days of Thunder” there with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. “Daytona International Speedway is an iconic venue, and it’s going to be an honor to give the command for the Rolex 24 at Daytona,” Bruckheimer said in a press release.

In “F1,” Pitt plays a retired Formula One racer making a comeback. Real-life Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton serves as an executive producer. Although it’s too early to tell how closely the film will mirror the true world of Formula One, fans will enjoy the authentic settings and racing sequences.

The trailer for “F1,” released in July 2024, has already generated a lot of buzz, including more than 1.1 million likes on Instagram. One of the notable moments from the trailer features Pitt’s character stating, “We need to build a car for combat,” to which he responds about safety concerns with, “Who said anything about safe?”

The “F1” crew also filmed scenes at Pappas Drive-In & Family Restaurant in New Smyrna Beach and Christina’s Coin Laundry next door. Unfortunately, Pappas Drive-In was gutted by an overnight fire in March 2024, just a few months after filming took place.

To add to the authenticity, scenes were filmed during the “Roar Before the Rolex 24” endurance race, focusing on the No. 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3. The movie car was driven by Adam Adelson, Elliott Skeer, Jan Heylen, and Fred Makowiecki.

IMSA President John Doonan praised the film’s authenticity, stating, “It’s a testament to the folks making the film that they want it to be 100% authentic. The branding, it’s all authentic and I think that’s really great.”

As for the movie’s release, it will be available internationally on June 25, 2025, and hit U.S. theaters on June 27, 2025.

Source: Florida Today