FORMULA ONE chiefs hope their new Hollywood movie will help the sport’s popularity take off.
Filming starts at this week’s British Grand Prix where Brad Pitt will get behind the wheel of a modified race car to film shots for the as yet unnamed movie.
Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski will oversee the multi-million pound project, which is being produced by Hollywood legend Jerry Bruckheimer.
F1 is enjoying a sensational surge in popularity across the globe thanks to TV shows like Netflix’s Drive to Survive and the majority of races are now sold out.
And in an exclusive interview with SunSport, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says the film will help them capitalise on a whole new market.
He revealed: “We have the best producer in Hollywood, one of the best directors in Hollywood, one of the best stars, and the investment they are making is huge.
“The technology too is beautiful and a project for us to develop together, it is because we believe it is another way to take F1 to people who do not know anything about us.
“We have the opportunity to capture them. It will be an intense project we will do together.
“The next five years will be interesting to anticipate. In the beginning, we were criticised for talking about F1 using different channels, such as Netflix.
“But now, like the movie, it is an evolution on how we need to talk about F1.”
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Track time will be set aside at Silverstone and there has been a garage built for the fictional 11th team in the film.
But Domenicali is adamant that the increased hype around the project will not detract from the actual racing.
He added: “The live coverage of the sport will stay pure, it will not be compromised, that’s the first thing I said.
“The purestic racing will not be touched. Everything will be around and it will be interesting to see something new, it will be Hollywood action.”
The movie is one approach to increase the lure of F1 in the US while the sport’s owners, Liberty Media, plan to pull out all the stops for the Las Vegas GP later in the year.
Sin City hosted the ill-fated Caesars Palace Grand Prix between 1981 and 1984 that was under Bernie Ecclestone’s stewardship.
But Domenicali says they have invested heavily and managed to unify the city behind the sporting event.
He said: “Crucial is the right word but it is important that when there is something new, it is done because there is an opportunity to develop the business.
“It is a new project. Quite crazy when you think about it because when I went there for the first time, the reaction of the community of Vegas was not really super positive.
“There was F1 history there in the 1980s in a car park and at that time, Bernie tried to be in a lot of American venues.
“I remember the first time I presented the idea to my shareholders and the first time I went there, the community was mixed.
“Vegas is huge for entertainment but every casino has their own business, this is the first time we have them united together.
“I am sure the outcome will be fantastic. It is about not being afraid to try something with no fear.
“I have such respect for Bernie. We have to be thankful for his vision but like every moment in life there is a need for a revolution.
“I think he is happy to have seen his baby grow to a size that maybe he didn’t think was possible.”
Meanwhile, Domenicali says F1 are in advanced discussions about extending Silverstone’s contract beyond 2024.
The Italian says that despite interest from new circuits, the British GP HAS to remain on the schedule.
In a move that will please British F1 fans, he said: “Silverstone is a very important race, seven teams out of 10 are in the UK.
“British tradition of motorsport is phenomenal and it has a special place in our calendar and it will always have it.
“We have a very strong relationship and we are looking towards an even longer term and to announce shortly, because it is normal for Formula One to be there.
“We are more than talking because it is natural when you are so close to the deadline in the way we are looking to the future that something will be announced soon.
“Silverstone is lucky because it is the only place that we cannot lose because of the British teams and the traditions.
“It is something unique. Removing Silverstone is not an option.”
Domenicali, 58, also dismissed the chance of switching venues saying that while the idea of a London street race would be appealing, it would not be practical to put on a race in the capital.
He added: “Of course London is an incredible city but incredible cities also have incredible challenges to manage.
“In terms of an iconic view it would be amazing but realistically it would be very difficult.
“The complexity would be too big today for the dimension of F1 to consider such a project.
“I see more problems. It could be fantastic but complexity wise it would be very difficult.”
F1 will unveil their calendar for the 2024 season today, with the season expected to start in Bahrain on Saturday 2nd March.
The second race will be a week later in Saudi Arabia – also on a Saturday – so as not to clash with Ramadan.
