Among the contenders in attendance at Silverstone for the 2023 British Grand Prix with Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris was Sonny Hayes.
If that driver name doesn’t sound familiar, there’s a good reason why. Hayes is the character played by Brad Pitt for his upcoming F1 movie that’s filming at the famed Silverstone track this race weekend, including on Sunday before the red lights went out to start the 2023 edition.
Pitt, along with Damson Idris — who plays Joshua Pearce, his teammate in the film — was dressed like the real drivers and was out on the track for the pre-race festivities. Check out the photos from there:
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![](https://ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2023/07/AFP-AFP_33NC2LM.jpg?w=100&h=66)
US actor Brad Pitt arrives for the Formula One British Grand Prix at the Silverstone motor racing circuit in Silverstone, central England on July 9, 2023. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images)
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![](https://ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2023/07/AFP-AFP_33ND4BP.jpg?w=100&h=66)
US actor Brad Pitt, starring as an 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 July 9, 2023. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images)
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![](https://ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2023/07/AFP-AFP_33ND4BT.jpg?w=100&h=66)
US actor Brad Pitt, starring as an 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 July 9, 2023. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images)
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![](https://ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2023/07/AFP-AFP_33ND4CC.jpg?w=100&h=66)
US actor Brad Pitt, starring as an 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 July 9, 2023. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images)
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![](https://ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2023/07/AFP-AFP_33ND4CL.jpg?w=100&h=66)
US actor Brad Pitt, starring as an 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 July 9, 2023. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images)
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![](https://ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2023/07/AP-Britain-F1-GP-Auto-Racing-1.jpg?w=100&h=66)
A car used for a film is parked on the track before the British Formula One Grand Prix race at the Silverstone racetrack, Silverstone, England, Sunday, July 9, 2023. Production of Brad Pitt and Lewis Hamilton’s F1 movie has begun at Silverstone. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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![](https://ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2023/07/AP-Britain-F1-GP-Auto-Racing.jpg?w=100&h=66)
A car used for a film is parked on the track before the British Formula One Grand Prix race at the Silverstone racetrack, Silverstone, England, Sunday, July 9, 2023. Production of Brad Pitt and Lewis Hamilton’s F1 movie has begun at Silverstone. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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Brad Pitt is suited and booted for his run on track 👀 pic.twitter.com/cxDZmwJoi4
— WTF1 (@wtf1official) July 9, 2023
Brad Pitt and Damson Idris join @Max33Verstappen for the national anthem: pic.twitter.com/qhpujBv30u
— Adam Cooper (@adamcooperF1) July 9, 2023
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![](https://ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2023/07/AP-Britain-F1-GP-Auto-Racing-2.jpg?w=100&h=66)
(Christian Bruna/Pool photo via AP)