Brad Pitt’s newfound passion for racing has had a significant impact on Hollywood, according to Bobby Epstein, executive chairman of the Circuit of The Americas (COTA). Epstein believes the entertainment industry is fortunate that Pitt discovered his love for motorsport while filming an upcoming Formula 1 movie. This revelation came after Pitt demonstrated impressive driving skills during a session at COTA, where he reached a remarkable speed of 197 mph in a McLaren MCL60.
Impressive Driving Skills on Display
During his time at the track, Pitt’s performance captured the attention of many, including McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown and renowned commentator Martin Brundle. Epstein recounted an unforgettable moment when he witnessed Pitt driving by his office at high speed, noting, “I could not visually see a bit of difference in the pace or the style of how he was handling it.” This session was part of a promotional event for the F1 film directed by Joseph Kosinski, in which Pitt stars as the fictional driver Sonny Hayes of the Apex APXGP team.
Epstein expressed his surprise at Pitt’s talent, stating, “You find out, he’s not like an amateur hobbyist. He’s passionate and focused.” Pitt himself echoed this sentiment, remarking that he wished he were younger to pursue a career in racing. Epstein added, “I think the movie industry is very lucky that Brad Pitt didn’t discover racing earlier in his career because I think that would have been the route he might have chosen.”
Impact on F1 and Audience Demographics
As the F1 film continues to perform well at the box office, having grossed over $600 million, Epstein anticipates strong ticket sales for the upcoming season. He noted a notable shift in audience demographics, stating, “The ticket sales for this year look like we’re going to trend towards being certainly our top three years in terms of attendance.” The audience has seen an increase in younger fans and more female attendees, a trend that Epstein attributes partly to the popularity of the Netflix series on Formula 1.
While Epstein is optimistic about the continuing appeal of the sport among younger audiences, he recognizes the importance of maintaining this demographic for sponsors. “I don’t know that the movie will change that demographic any, but I think it continues to be a young audience, and that’s a pretty highly desirable cohort towards sponsors,” he explained.
As the excitement surrounding Brad Pitt’s dual role in the entertainment and racing worlds unfolds, both Hollywood and motorsport enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the potential influence of this crossover on future developments in both industries.
