Max Verstappen refused to film F1 movie scene with Brad Pitt as he explains double snub

Max Verstappen is said to have refused to film a scene with Brad Pitt for the new Formula 1 movie. Out now in UK cinemas, the movie years in the making was largely filmed at real-life F1 events which means a plethora of drivers, including Verstappen, make cameo appearances.

That includes one scene which was heavily used in marketing materials for the film which shows Pitt's character, Sonny Hayes, line up for the national anthem at the British Grand Prix. In the same shot is Verstappen, along with several other drivers, in a scene filmed at the 2023 Silverstone race.

But Verstappen has been among the least enthusiastic of the drivers about their participation in the making of the Hollywood blockbuster. That has become clear by his unwillingness to change his travel plans in recent weeks to help the promotion of the movie.

The Dutchman declined an invitation to a special screening of the film in Monaco last month, choosing instead to stay at home and take part in an online sim race. Explaining why, he later said: "I told Formula One Management way in advance that I would not be there that evening. They knew about that."

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Verstappen, a new father to infant daughter Lily, added: "I just wanted to spend more time at home. It wasn't a mandatory event either, it was just my private time. And I prefer to spend that private time at home, especially because in Formula 1 you're away from home so much already.

"Wanting to spend more time at home on days like that is pretty normal, I think. Now that the family is growing, then I definitely prefer to spend more time at home."

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Verstappen also decided against jetting to New York City on the Monday after the Canadian Grand Prix, for the global premiere of the film in Times Square. He was also absent from the European premiere in Leicester Square on Monday this week, though most other drivers also did not attend that event.

But the Red Bull racer's apathy towards the projects seems to have been on full display at a much earlier point in the process. It seems he declined the chance to get more involved in the filming of the movie after its writers had come up with a scene giving the four-time F1 champion more time in the spotlight.

According to The Telegraph, Verstappen "apparently declined to film an extra nightclub scene with Brad Pitt". It is unclear how long the scene would have been or how much extra screen time it would have given the Dutchman but, clearly, it wasn't something that piqued his interest.

While most drivers were in the background of the movie, a couple of them did agree to play slightly bigger parts. Lewis Hamilton is the most obvious having been an executive producer, helping film-makers with the authenticity aspect of the film, while Fernando Alonso spent time filming a scene in the media pen where he interacts with Pitt's character.