APXGP will be the fictional 11th Formula 1 team in the upcoming movie (Formula 1 Twitter).
Formula 1 will finally have an 11th team on the grid this season, and one of the drivers is Hollywood actor, [Brad Pitt](https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/10/brad-pitt-respects-f1-thrills-drivers-at-silverstone). However, that team won’t be competing in the grid. Instead, the 11th team, APXGP, is part of an upcoming moving produced by Brad Pitt and Mercedes-driver, Lewis Hamilton, set to be released on Apple TV. The yet unnamed F1-inspired movie has received the blessing of Formula 1 management to shoot critical scenes of the movie during actual grand prix weekends to add to the film’s authenticity. As such, we’ll be seeing the fictional APXGP team during select race weekends in the 2023 season. They will even have their own garage in the pitlane (between Mercedes and Ferrari) and race cars sporting very distinct black and gold livery. The upcoming movie, rumored to be titled “Apex” is now in production. The film is made in collaboration with Apple Studios and Hamilton’s own production company, Dawn Apollo Films. Prior to the start of production, Pitt has already been a regular sight at previous grand prix weekends this season.
What’s it about?
*US actor Brad Pitt, starring as a driver in an F1-inspired movie, is seen prior to the Formula One British Grand Prix at the Silverstone motor racing circuit in Silverstone, central England on Sunday, July 9. (AFP)*
With the film now in production, the formerly mum Pitt is now able to reveal more details about the film. The movie will star two racers at different points in their own careers. Brad Pitt will play the more senior racer, Sonny Hayes, brought back from retirement for one more season alongside younger novice, Joshua Pierce, played by Damson Idris. Both drivers race for APXGP, a mid-pack team hoping to move up in the field and battle with the front-runners. The film will feature current F1 teams and drivers while APXGP will serve as the 11th fictional team. Hamilton has been involved in the film from the start, with an advisory and consultancy role under the title of ‘producer’. He has even reportedly been crucial to the casting of Idris as a movie lead. Movie magic
Mercedes-AMG have helped turn a Formula 2 car into a Formula 1 car for the upcoming movie. (Formula 1 Twitter).
The starring car is nothing to scoff at. While creating an actual F1 car would be prohibitively expensive for the film, they are using a modified F2 car, tuned by Mercedes to look and sound like a current F1 car. It even has sponsors like Tommy Hilfiger, MSC Cruises and AMG Mercedes. We likely won’t see the APXGP car actually compete in races, however F1 management has given the film crew unprecedented access to the sport. The film crew has already been shooting on the grid, before the races, running a few laps before the race itself, and even participating in the parade lap. The stars will likely share driving duties with stunt drivers. The film will be directed Joseph Kosinski, best known for Top Gun: Maverick. Producing the film alongside Pitt and Hamilton is Jerry Bruckheimer, known for hits like the Pirates of the Carribean franchise, the original Top Gun and NASCAR film, Days of Thunder. The distributor is Apple, making the movie most likely a Apple TV release set at the end of 2024. Nonetheless, the film still has a lot of shooting to do. They’re likely to be a common sight at upcoming grand prix weekends this season. No doubt, we’ll also get more information about the film as the season progresses.