Brad Pitt drives 2023 McLaren F1 car at Circuit of The Americas

After starring as former F1 driver Sonny Hayes in F1 The Movie, Brad Pitt has now gotten behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car for real, with the actor recently getting to drive a 2023 McLaren at the Circuit of The Americas.

Pitt gained plenty of driving experience during the making of the film, as both he and co-star Damson Idris – who plays Hayes’ rookie team mate Joshua Pearce – underwent training to pilot the modified F2 cars that feature as the APXGP machines.

But now the movie star has been given a taste of a real F1 car, having stepped into the cockpit of the MCL60 in Austin during a private day of testing behind the wheel at COTA, offered by McLaren CEO Zak Brown.

McLaren previously teased the link-up on social media a few days ago, posting a photo appearing to show a set of overalls with the initials ‘BP’ on them along with the caption: “It’s a Sonny day in Austin.”

Now, on the day that F1 The Movie is released internationally – with its release in North America following on June 27 – pictures have been shared from Pitt’s day of driving an F1 car in Austin.

Speaking about the experience on the Beyond The Grid podcast, Pitt said: “I got to hit 197mph this week. I really wanted to hit 200. You know, it hurts me a little bit – three miles per hour short on the straight. This was at Austin.

“I’ve just never experienced anything that’s just, more feeling of presence in my life. You’re so focused, but you’re not white knuckling. You’re just in this sublime groove. It is really extraordinary.

“I try to explain this feeling of downforce, and I fail every time because you try to say like a rollercoaster, but that’s not even right, because you feel the fulcrum point underneath you – you’re in it.

“I was in an aerobatic plane once, and it’s the closest thing, but still this thing. This is such a unique feeling and an absolute high. I’m still on a high, I really am. I’m just still on a high.

“And I can’t thank Zak Brown and the team [enough]. I spent the day out with Lando [Norris] – just what a high, what a high.”

Check out all the photos from Pitt’s day at the wheel of a McLaren in the gallery above.