Hollywood star Brad Pitt openly declares his idol, expressing his heartfelt wish to emulate him, admitting, "I'd do anything for his likeness."
In the world of motorsports, Brad Pitt's admiration for the legendary Italian motorcycle racer, Valentino Rossi, is no secret. Pitt narrated and produced the 2015 MotoGP documentary Hitting the Apex, which showcases the passion of six top motorcycle racers, including Rossi. Rossi, with nine Grand Prix World Championships under his belt, is widely recognised as one of the greatest motorcycle racers ever [1].
Recent rumours about Brad Pitt's involvement in a Formula 1 movie have caused some confusion. However, it appears these suggestions may be misunderstood or denied by figures like Fernando Alonso, who made it clear that while motorbikes and riders like Rossi inspired Pitt's early interest in motorsports, there is no confirmed connection between Pitt and a specific F1 movie project [3].
The documentary Hitting the Apex focuses on motorcycle racing, reflecting Pitt’s admiration for the sport rather than his involvement in Formula 1 films. Pitt's deep-rooted affection for Rossi extends beyond the racing track, with the actor expressing admiration for the Italian's calmness and equilibrium on the motorcycle [5].
In his new film, APXGP, Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a former F1 driver, who, after a career-ending accident, returns to guide a young prodigy in the APXGP team. The film was produced in real F1 circuits, including Silverstone, Spa, and Las Vegas, providing a hyper-realistic driving experience. Specially adapted F2 cars equipped with cameras were used for filming [6].
The cast of the film includes Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem, Tobias Menzies, and Kim Bodnia, among others. Pitt's excitement about being in the boxes among real teams and feeling the energy of the sport was evident [4]. Pitt's comments about Rossi generated great repercussion in the world of motorsports, with the actor stating he would give anything to be like Valentino Rossi [7].
The film premiered in June in Argentina and has become the biggest success of Brad Pitt's career. Pitt owns an impressive collection of motorcycles, including a Harley-Davidson Shovelhead worth 100,000 dollars, which was given to him by Angelina Jolie, an MV Agusta Brutale 910, a Ducati, a Confederate Hellcat F124, and a Vespa [8]. Pitt considers Valentino Rossi as one of the greatest athletes of all time [9].
References:
- Rossi, Valentino - Career Statistics
- Hitting the Apex (2015) - IMDb
- Fernando Alonso denies rumors of a Brad Pitt F1 film
- Brad Pitt's love for motorbikes and Valentino Rossi
- Brad Pitt on Valentino Rossi: 'He's a true magician'
- APXGP (2023) - IMDb
- Brad Pitt on Valentino Rossi: 'I would give anything to be like him'
- Brad Pitt's Motorcycle Collection
- Brad Pitt on Valentino Rossi: 'One of the greatest athletes of all time'
