Hollywood star Brad Pitt's F1 movie shoot thrives despite strike
The car of the fictional Apex team for a Formula One-inspired movie featuring Brad Pitt is pictured before the start of the race at Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, U.K., July 9, 2023. (Reuters Photo)


The Formula One world is about to get an electrifying twist, and it's all thanks to Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt and the audacious minds behind the as-yet-untitled movie.

However, the drama doesn't stop at the on-track battles as a Hollywood actors' strike has thrown a curveball into the production mix, putting the movie's fate on the line.

The actors joined film and television writers on U.S. picket lines for the first time in 63 years last week as they demanded higher streaming-era pay and curbs on the use of artificial intelligence.

Some media had reported filming for the Apple production was shut down as a result but seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton, who is a co-producer, said that was not the case.

"Fortunately for us, you can see the team is here, APX is here, and we’re still filming luckily with the drivers that we have," the Mercedes driver told reporters at the Hungaroring on Thursday.

"So hopefully we can continue to still get some important parts of the filming done."

APX GP is the name of a fictional 11th team featured in the movie, with Pitt playing an older driver coming out of retirement to race an up-and-coming rookie played by Damson Idris.

As at Silverstone two weeks ago, APX has a garage and pitwall position at the Hungaroring and slots on the schedule for the production's cars to have time on track between sessions.

The www.the-race.com website reported no Screen Actors Guild (SAG) members would be working at the Hungaroring. It was not immediately clear whether Pitt would attend.

Professional drivers were used to drive the cars for most sessions at Silverstone, although Pitt was reported to have got behind the wheel as well.

The Apple TV film is being directed by Joseph Kosinski, the director of "Top Gun: Maverick," with producer Jerry Bruckheimer.