Hamilton: Brad Pitt film will expose more people to 'F1 bug'

Lewis Hamilton is confident that the upcoming Brad Pitt film willbe able to expose more fans into catching the Formula 1 "bug." Thefilm staring the likes of Pitt, Damson Idris, Tobias Menzies andJavier Bardem is currently in development, with filming havingtaken place at Grands Prix during the 2023 season, including at theBritish GP. Pitt and Idris took part in half of the formation lapat Silverstone to capture footage for the as-yet-untitled film,which Hamilton is acting as a producer with Top Gun: Maverickdirector Thomas Kosinski and Jerry Bruckheimer also involved. Arelease date of early 2025 has been touted after delays inproduction due to the Hollywood strikes, but Hamilton is sure thatthe exposure of the film, coupled with the increased presence of F1in the United States will contribute to more fans 'getting' F1.Hamilton on Brad Pitt film "The movie is a huge step in thatdirection of broadening the horizon," Hamilton told media includingRacingNews365. "I think that's really part of the new leadership,with Liberty, with the great work that Stefano [Domenicali] and[Liberty Media CEO] Greg [Maffei] are doing in being open to tryingnew things. "The fact that we're allowed to do this movie, and havethe concessions in terms of allowing an extra team being on trackand filming with these film stars is… it's never been done before."It's great that we are embarking on things that we've never donebefore, and I think honestly, I really think they're doing anamazing job. "There [was] a huge spotlight on Vegas, which willplay an important part of our movie also, which we’re really justworking as hard as we can to make sure that it's a true reflectionof this legendary sport. Both the old and the new. "Also withMiami, we've got these great cities here, with amazing fan bases ineach of them, all providing a different atmosphere. "I always feltthat we needed more than one race [in the United States] becausethe complaint was always people having to get up at 4am or 5am orsomething, in the middle of the night to watch a Grand Prix. So,it's really difficult to get into it. "Then also, it's only comingto the country once a year, so I think this is really enabling itto be something with a buzz that's continuing. "But we do have tocontinue to grow, and I think the movie particularly is going tohelp do that. "It is the only truly international or global sport,and so we need to educate more and more people in it. There arestill many people out there we’ve got to get to catch the bug, andthere's plenty of growing to do."