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    Brad Pitt hangs out with F1 royalty including Lewis Hamilton as he films new movie at this weekend’s Silverstone GP

    BRAD PITT brushed shoulders with F1 royalty as he filmed his new movie at the British Grand Prix.The Hollywood A-lister has been at Silverstone all week shooting scenes for his upcoming F1 film.
    Brad Pitt hung out with Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Pierre GaslyCredit: Instagram @pierregasly
    The Hollywood actor has been at Silverstone all week shooting scenes for his upcoming F1 movieCredit: PA
    Pitt plays a racing driver in the F1 filmCredit: AP
    Pitt, 59, stars as a racing driver for a fictional team and his production team took over their own garage in the Silverstone paddock.
    He plays a character named Sonny Hayes and to get to grips with the role he is hanging out with the professionals, including Sir Lewis Hamilton.
    The pair took a photo together alongside fellow drivers Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly.
    Gasly shared the snap on social media alongside the caption: “Special guest today 😁”
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    Fans loved the crossover and shared their thoughts in the comments.
    One wrote: “Charles looks so shy THIS IS ADORABLE.”
    Another added: “The group photo we didn’t know we needed.”
    A third said: “Iconic photo. New boyband? 😅”
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    And another commented: “Too much star power. It’s illegal.”
    Each driver looked relaxed after a day of practice at Silverstone, with the Grand Prix set to get underway at 3pm on Sunday. More

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    Stunning Russian model Viktoria Odintcova reveals she ‘friend zoned’ F1 ace Lewis Hamilton and ghosted Cristiano Ronaldo

    STUNNING Russian model Viktoria Odintcova has sensationally claimed she has friend zoned Lewis Hamilton and GHOSTED Cristiano Ronaldo.Odintcova has been spotted at the F1 a number of times in recent years and was watching Hamilton at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in April.
    The Russian stunner denies that her and Hamilton are romanticCredit: Instagram @viki_odintcova
    The Russian beauty boasts over five million Instagram followersCredit: Instagram @viki_odintcova
    She was spotted supporting Hamilton in AprilCredit: Instagram @viki_odintcova
    She often attends Hamilton’s racesCredit: AP
    Despite being there to cheer on the Formula One star, she says that while the two started off romantically they are now just friends.
    She said to RT:
    “We had different types of relationship.
    “At a certain period of time it was romantic. He was courting me.
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    “But then this relationship evolved into friendship.
    “I live in Russia and he lives abroad. We just became friends who can message each other and send holiday greetings.”
    “(Now) we’re friends, we just write to each other and call sometimes. He’s in the friend zone.
    “I go to his races occasionally, the last time was in Sochi (at the Russian Grand Prix). We’ve been friends for three years. When I met him, I could barely speak English, I could only understand it.”
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    She also says that she has got acquainted with PSG winger Neymar through Hamilton.
    “I’m in touch with Neymar, because he’s friends with Lewis, I know him through Lewis. I understand that he’s a normal guy, we message each other on Instagram”
    Hamilton meanwhile has been romantically linked with Colombian singer Shakira after the pair were spotted on a boat trip together in Miami.
    Odintcova boasts a a whopping five million followers on Instagram and holds a marketing degree from Penn State University.
    She has claimed to have ignored the advances of Cristiano Ronaldo in the past, saying she blanked his Instagram messages when asked about his advances in an interview.
    Odintcova often shares glamorous snaps on her InstagramCredit: Instagram @viki_odintcova
    And is no stranger to a holiday snapCredit: Instagram @viki_odintcova
    She said: “That happened… He (Ronaldo) even wrote to me. It was a long time ago. He wrote, ‘Hi, how are you?’ I deleted the message and didn’t reply.
    “Of course I didn’t give him a chance, come on! I know some other girls he wrote to, so I understood straight away, ‘dude, goodbye, delete.”
    Odintcova claims she SNUBBED Ronaldo
    Ronaldo should not be too disheartened as she ignores a lot of footballer’s messagesCredit: Getty
    The Portuguese superstar should not be too disheartened though.
    Odintcova said she gets bombarded with messages from sports stars and never opens them.
    She said: “I often receive messages from professional athletes, especially from European footballers.
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    “I don’t even remember these names. I just see, ‘oh, one more message from some player’.
    “I don’t even open them.” More

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    I live by Silverstone – F1 fans always knock on our door for annoying reason… it led to funny encounter with Katie Price

    IAN and Sharon Horwood hoped for a quiet life away from the hustle and bustle when they settled in a quaint village in Buckinghamshire.  The last thing they expected was glamour model Katie Price banging down their door and asking to use the toilet.
    The village of Silverstone, near the infamous race track, will be abuzz this weekendCredit: Dan Jones
    Preparations for this Sunday’s British Grand Prix were well underway when The Sun visited this weekCredit: Dan Jones
    But the bizarre incident was just one of the strange encounters they have faced while living next to the Silverstone racetrack, where the Formula One British Grand Prix is held every year.
    Katie – then known by her model name Jordan – was caught short in the 1990s while stuck in the gridlocked traffic that used to snake past their cul-de-sac.  
    She had earlier been straddling a race car wearing a yellow swimsuit.
    Shaking his head at the memory, father-of-three Ian, 60, recalls: “Typical me, I was asleep on the couch when it happened.
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    “I woke up to hear someone saying, ‘Jordan is using our toilet’.
    “I couldn’t believe my ears. The kids had been out on the street waving at the passing cars and asking for flags.
    “Jordan called out to them, saying she needed to use the loo.
    “The traffic was terrible at the time and it would be blocked for hours in both directions as there were so many cars.
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    Local residents say the noise from the track does carry depending on the wind directionCredit: Dan Jones
    Ian and Sharon Horwood say fans often knock on their door asking to use the toiletCredit: Dan Jones
    “She must have been desperate. The kids let her into the house and the rest is history.
    “I will forever be able to tell people, ‘Katie Price sat on my toilet’.”
    The incident took place when reality star Katie, now 45, worked as a Formula 1 grid girl, famously straddling one of Irish businessman Eddie Jordan’s yellow race cars as a publicity stunt.
    In 1998 she posed for a similar shot at the Silverstone Circuit with fellow glamour girls Melinda Messenger and Emma Noble.
    Eddie, who ran the race team Jordan GP team between 1991 and 2005, credited the ploy with creating a boom in motorsport.
    In 2017, he said: “The idea was it should be fun. Motor racing is a very serious business, very commercial and it needs to have a very respectable return on the investment.
    “But at the same time, it also needed to show flair, excitement and all of the other razzmatazz that goes with racing.
    “We had all the major models at the time, they were so keen to get into the yellow swimsuits. Katie Price, she was the catalyst.”
    Katie Price (centre) is among the people who have stopped at the Horwoods’ house asking to use their toiletCredit: PA:Press Association
    The traffic in neighbouring villages becomes grid-locked during the F1 weekendCredit: Dan Jones
    For the Horwoods, the increased interest has hugely affected life in the village of Dadford, which sits right on the perimeter, and where they have lived for the past 38 years.
    Sharon explained: “People knock on the door and ask to use the toilet all the time when there is a big race on.
    “For the most part we don’t mind. Some people staying overnight on the campsite next door will even ask for essentials like milk or tea or whatever.
    “But there are certain annoyances.
    I will forever be able to tell people, ‘Katie Price sat on my toilet’Ian Horwood, Silverstone resident
    “The campsite can turn into a big party at night with people drinking and playing music.
    “The traffic used to be a nightmare and it would be impossible to get anywhere on event days, but it’s much better since they introduced the dual carriageway down the road.”
    Maintenance supervisor Ian added: “Overall, we don’t mind living next to Silverstone. The noise from the track isn’t too bad as long as the wind isn’t blowing in this direction.
    “But we do wish they weren’t such stingy b*****s when it comes to giving out free tickets to local residents.
    “We only get them for the Classics, never for the Grand Prix.”
    Thousands of fans will descend on Silverstone this weekendCredit: Dan Jones
    Locals in the village say festival goers bring a lot of business their wayCredit: Dan Jones
    When the Sun visited Silverstone on Wednesday, the long weekend motorsport festival was already getting underway ahead of the race on Sunday.
    F1 fans were ordering pints at The White Horse pub well before midday and a jolly atmosphere was building on the sun-dappled streets.
    One local said: “For the most part, the festival goers are alright and they do bring a lot of business to the village.
    “But we do have a problem with traffic and people parking in places they aren’t supposed to.
    For the most part, the festival goers are alright and they do bring a lot of business to the village. But we do have a problem with trafficSilverstone local resident
    “You occasionally see vehicles three deep in the middle of the street because their owners have given up looking for a parking spot.”
    Bed and Breakfast owner Mark Henry, 70, and his partner Leslie Chaplin, 66, have found an innovative solution to coping with the influx.
    They run the ‘Chaos Arms’ pub in their back garden on race days, with an Elvis tribute act performing and last orders not until 11.30pm.
    Mark has become known as ‘Captain Chaos’ since starting the charity night 10 years ago.
    Mark Henry and Leslie Chaplin set up a ‘pub’ in their back garden during the F1 weekendCredit: Dan Jones
    The couple have run the ‘Chaos Arms’ pub charity event for 10 yearsCredit: Dan Jones
    He said: “It started off small but now we get up to 100 people here some nights.
    “I’m called Captain Chaos because it’s always chaotic and I leave everything to the last minute.
    “But my attitude is, we are stuck here and we have got to live with Silverstone being on our doorstep, we might as well have a party.
    “I know other residents have started making money by renting out their drives – I think for £50 for the weekend, which is half the cost of official parking.
    “But there are downsides to living here. The traffic can be terrible and this year they are closing the road next to my B&B, so I don’t know if we are going to be able to get in and out.
    My attitude is, we are stuck here and we have got to live with Silverstone being on our doorstep, we might as well have a partyMark Henry aka ‘Captain Chaos’, Silverstone resident
    “But we always have a laugh running the pub – people really look forward to it.”
    Construction worker Colin Stanbrook, 66, and his wife Lyn, 67, are two residents that are lucky enough to get free tickets to the GP.
    That is because Lyn works on the parish council that regularly has meetings with the race organisers.
    Colin said: “We’ve got tickets in the VIP ‘Legends’ section this year, which cost about £500 each.
    “Me and my son went last year and you’re sitting directly above the track and get free food and drink but it’s hard to impossible to meet the drivers. 
    Colin Stanbrook and his wife Lyn are two residents that are lucky enough to get free tickets to the GPCredit: Dan Jones
    Most residents say they wish organisers would give out free tickets to the F1 weekend to localsCredit: Dan Jones
    “Lewis Hamilton actually got booed last year and the reason was that while the other drivers waved as they went past, he didn’t even stop and people had waited hours to see him.”
    Author Gordon Blackwell, 80, also lives next to the sprawling Silverstone Circuit, which straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border and is accessed from the nearby A43. 
    He and his wife Doreen, 78, are old enough to remember the first British GP held there in 1948.
    Gordon has written three books on Silverstone and counted legendary race driver Sir Stirling Moss as a friend until he passed away in 2020.
    Lewis Hamilton is a good driver but it’s just not like the good old daysGordon Blackwell, long-time Silverstone resident
    He said: “I actually went to the second Grand Prix when I was about seven. I can just about remember it.
    “Later, when I grew up, I worked for the circuit for about 30 years. I worked on the gate and later in the archive room until I retired.
    “It used to be that you could stroll around the paddocks and watch the drivers working and ask for their autographs.
    “Stirling Moss was a friend. I met him at the British Racing Drivers Club. He would pop into the village and speak to people and there was much more of a community feeling back then.
    “It’s not like that now and I’ve lost interest in racing, to be honest.  
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    “Lewis Hamilton is a good driver but it’s just not like the good old days. Drivers like him never have the time to meet with people like us.”
    Gordon Blackwell, pictured with his wife Doreen, worked at the Silverstone circuit for 30 yearsCredit: Dan Jones
    Some residents complained about the noise from a nearby campsite used by festival goersCredit: Dan Jones
    Road closures are a nuisance for Silverstone residentsCredit: Dan Jones More

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    Shakira fuels Lewis Hamilton romance rumours as she arrives in London ahead of British GP after posting revealing selfie

    SHAKIRA has just arrived in London ahead of the British Grand Prix as rumours swirl over her relationship with Lewis Hamilton.The Colombian songstress rushed over from Paris Fashion Week today in time for the Silverstone F1 – further fuelling speculation she is there to cheer on her alleged beau.
    Shakira arriving into London this afternoon after a busy week in ParisCredit: Splash
    Her arrival coincides with the British Grand Prix, where her rumoured beau will be vying for a podium finishCredit: Splash
    The 46-year-old looked excited as she strolled out of St Pancras stationCredit: Splash
    The popstar’s recent daring post ahead of her fan appearance in ParisCredit: Instagram
    In typical Shakira -style, she looked effortlessly cool as she stepped off the Eurostar this afternoon fresh off the bat from a star-studded time at Paris Fashion Week.
    The popstar, 46, also set hearts racing with an earlier Instagram post of her in a skimpy top as she teased a “surprise” for her French fans.
    She wore the sexy outfit to Paris aquarium to do promo for her latest music video, which features her dressed up as a shackled mermaid.
    Shakira’s arrival in London fits perfectly with the British Grand Prix that kicks off today, where she might be cheering on her rumoured beau – seven-time Formula One champion Sir Lewis Hamilton.
    read more on shakira
    The alleged A-list couple have been seen enjoying a string of cosy outings together in the wake of her messy split from her footballer ex Gerard Pique.
    The Hips Don’t Lie singer was caught beaming at the Spanish Grand Prix last month as she cheered on the Mercedes driver as he roared around the track.
    The pair were seen on a boat together after the Miami Grand Prix, where Lewis showed off his chivalry after picking her up from the back of her £12million beach mansion late last month.
    They were also spotted looking smitten at a dinner in the wake of Hamilton’s second place in Barcelona.
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    According to PEOPLE, they are understood to be keeping things “fun and flirty”.
    But other sources insist the F1 star and the “Hips Don’t Lie” are just “good friends” and there is no “romantic connection”.
    Shakira’s repeated rendezvous with Lewis have caused a stir, especially since she was spotted also mingling with movie star Tom Cruise at the Miami Grand Prix.
    Spanish media reported that the Mission Impossible star, 60, was “absolutely mesmerised” by the singer and had even told a close circle of friends that he felt a connection with her.
    An insider told Page Six that there was “chemistry” between the pair – with Tom sending her flowers after the meeting.
    The Mirror reported that the 60-year-old is said to have been “flirting” with the Colombian-born singer before she became involved with Hamilton.
    And he believed he had “incredible chemistry” with Shakira, but has now seen his ego “dented” as a result of Hamilton’s approach.
    Shakira reportedly shot down his advances and instead begged the actor to leave her alone and stop flirting with her.
    The global superstar is reportedly “focused on her family” rather than dating anyone at the moment.
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    Representatives of Shakira, Hamilton and Cruise have not commented on the reports.
    Hamilton and Cruise have been pictured at F1 races in the past, with the Hollywood actor even describing the driver as a “great friend”.
    Rumours continue to swirl that Shakira could be romantically involved with the F1 starCredit: Splash
    Lewis beaming at the Silverstone race track yesterdayCredit: Getty
    Lewis Hamilton picking Shakira up for a boat day in Maimi last monthCredit: The Mega Agency
    Shakira was spotted at the Barcelona Grand PrixCredit: Getty
    The Colombian singer was seen with Lewis at a cocktail-filled dinner following the raceCredit: Instagram – Mustafa More

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    Why is Daniel Ricciardo driving for Red Bull at the British Grand Prix?

    RED BULL are running away with the 2023 F1 championship – and veteran Daniel Ricciardo is about to get in on the action.Each race this season has been won by either Max Verstappen or Sergio Perez.
    Daniel Ricciardo will be getting behind the wheel at the British GPCredit: Reuters
    And Ricciardo, 33, will be determined for his teammates to keep up this incredible run at the British Grand Prix.
    The Australian returned to Red Bull for a supporting role after witnessing his McLaren contract go up in smoke.
    But now he’ll be given the chance to show his former side what they are missing.
    Why is Daniel Ricciardo driving for Red Bull?
    Daniel Ricciardo will be back behind the wheel at Silverstone for Pirelli’s tyre testing session after the British GP.
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    The Australian racer is set to be around the paddock in Britain and could even replace either Max Verstappen or Sergio Perez should they be unable to drive.
    Ricciardo hasn’t been in the cockpit since Abu Dhabi 2022 where he could only secure a ninth-place finish.
    But a good tyre test in the RB19 could boost Ricciardo’s chances of returning to the grid for the 2024 season.
    What has been said?
    Christian Horner has revealed that Ricciardo’s performances will be evaluated amid rumours the Australian could join AlphaTauri for 2024.
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    The Red Bull team principal said: “Well, it’s still very early days, you know, for next year, and I think that Daniel is under contract for the year,” Horner told reporters in Austria.
    “He’s going to be driving our car for the first time after the British Grand Prix [as part of a three-day test] and he’s obviously a world-class driver. He’s won what, seven [eight, sic] grands prix in his career to date?
    “So I think the first thing will be to see how he performs and where his motivation is, and then from there, it’s a question for AlphaTauri as to, you know, their choices for the following season.”
    What is the RB19?
    The RB19 is a racing car designed by Red Bull which currently competes in the F1 2023 championship.
    It was unveiled in New York City earlier in February earlier on this year.
    And the incredible race car is what has Verstappen and Perez have been driving this campaign. More

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    Lewis Hamilton’s F1 team-mate George Russell claims he knows WHY Verstappen is ‘whinging’ about new 24-race calendar

    GEORGE RUSSELL believes that Max Verstappen is “whinging” about Formula 1’s new 24-race calendar… because he wants more money.The reigning world champion is unhappy with the new, longer schedule – and hinted that it could make him think twice about extending his current deal and staying in the sport.
    George Russell joked about Max Verstappen’s ‘whinging’Credit: Getty
    Verstappen is tied to a £40million a year contract with Red Bull up to 2028, when he will be 31.
    Reacting to the extended schedule, the 25-year-old team-mate of Lewis Hamilton said: “I think it is a bit more logical the way that it is planned at least, I guess that is better for everyone.
    “But more things will have to come together for me to make my mind up over whether I stay longer or not. But I think that these things are definitely not helping for sure.”
    Speaking ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Russell wasn’t taking Verstappen’s retirement threat all too seriously.
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    He said: “I think he’s whinging because he wants more money!
    “He’s the highest paid on this grid and rightly so for what he’s achieving but even so, I think it’s all a big tactic of his, that threat of retirement.”
    Verstappen has won five consecutive races, with Red Bull having so far swept this season’s calendar.
    Mercedes ace Russell, however, wants him to stick around.
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    He added: “I hope he doesn’t (retire), I hope he stays for as long as I stay because I want to fight against the best drivers in the world.
    “I’m head-to-head with Lewis at the moment and I want to be doing that with Max and Charles (Leclerc) etc and I think we’re in a really great place at the moment as a sport.”
    On the extended schedule, Russell likened it to “working overtime”.
    He said: “It is challenging, we can’t just keep adding more commitments, more races, there’s got to be a point where if you are adding something somewhere, something has got to be taken off.
    “Maybe at the moment we’re just adding more races and not having less commitments, so you are just working overtime.”
    This season’s F1 calendar consists of 23 races, compared to 19 as recently as 2015 – while the Covid-modified 2020 campaign had 17.
    Next season’s schedule will see the Chinese GP finally make its return – with F1 stars having last raced in Shanghai back in 2019.
    Formula 1 is finally set to return to China next yearCredit: EPA More

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    F1 legend Jackie Stewart, 84, suffered scary stroke and was ‘unconscious for long time’ as he opens up on health battle

    FORMULA 1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart suffered a stroke five weeks ago.Stewart, 84, is set to attend this weekend’s British Grand Prix despite his recent health scare.
    Sir Jackie Stewart suffered a stroke five weeks agoCredit: EPA
    The three-time world champion is set to be in attendance this weekend at SilverstoneCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
    The British icon was in Jordan to attend the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein when he suffered his stroke.
    Recounting the frightening ordeal, Stewart told the Mail: “This was the night before the wedding. I got up in the night feeling strange.
    “I just dropped. And then I can’t remember. I was unconscious for quite a long time.
    “I was taken to hospital in Jordan. My son Paul and his wife were there for the wedding, in a bedroom on a different floor.
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    “To this day I don’t know how I got to Paul’s room, but I must have been somewhat alert to get hold of him.
    “They got me into an ambulance, but I have no recall of that either. His Majesty got the best doctors available for me.
    “I wanted to get home as fast as possible, and the Crown Prince of Bahrain very generously gave his aircraft to fly me back to Europe.
    “By then I was pretty much okay. I wasn’t walking very well though.”
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    Stewart has since confirmed that his recovery is going well, and that he can now walk “almost completely perfectly”.
    The three-time world champion will be at Silverstone for two days this weekend, where Lewis Hamilton will be hoping to use the home support to win his first Grand Prix since 2021.
    Despite expected Mercedes upgrades, however, Stewart expects Sir Lewis’ wait to go on.
    He expects Max Verstappen, winner of the last five Grands Prix, to triumph once again – continuing Red Bull’s season sweep in the process.
    Stewart said: “The combination of the Dutchman and Milton Keynes. Max is a remarkably talented man, and he hasn’t gone astray. He is a wonderful ambassador for our sport.”
    Stewart, 84, expects to Max Verstappen to win this weekend’s Grand PrixCredit: AFP More

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    Brad Pitt spotted at Silverstone to film new F1 movie and even has his own garage… but all is NOT as it seems

    BRAD PITT has been spotted at Silverstone to film scenes for his new Formula One movie.The British Grand Prix gets underway this weekend and a film crew was granted exclusive access to the pits this week.
    Brad Pitt was spotted at Silverstone filming scenes for his upcoming F1 movieCredit: PA
    His fictional character even had his own garageCredit: Rex
    Pitt chatted with fansCredit: PA
    The as yet untitled film stars Pitt as an F1 driver starring for a fictional team.
    And the Hollywood producers have personalised their own garage at Silverstone, which includes a photo of Pitt and his character’s name and number.
    Pitt, 59, is playing a driver named Sonny Hayes, number seven – which once belonged to Kimi Raikkonen.
    Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski will oversee the multi-million pound project, which is being produced by Hollywood legend Jerry Bruckheimer.
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    SunSport exclusively revealed that Pitt will be filming scenes out on the track in a modified race car.
    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.
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    “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.
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    “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.”
    Pitt will be there for the entire weekendCredit: Splash More