Director Joseph Kosinski recently opened up about filming one of the most intense and dangerous scenes for his highly anticipated racing film, F1, starring Brad Pitt. Speaking at a special screening held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, Kosinski shared behind-the-scenes details of a particularly nerve-racking sequence shot in Las Vegas.
“The scariest part was definitely Las Vegas,” Kosinski told PEOPLE, recalling how challenging it was to film in such unpredictable conditions. “That race — it’s at night, it’s cold, the tires don’t have a lot of grip, and Brad did not have the opportunity to practice that track at all before the shoot because it only exists those three days out of the year.”
The director explained that the Las Vegas Grand Prix takes place right on the streets of the city, including the iconic Las Vegas Strip, which added to both the thrill and danger of the scene.
“I would say Vegas was really where I was crossing my fingers because again, it was so cold and the tires don’t have a lot of grip, and if he made one mistake, Brad would be in the wall,” the 51-year-old filmmaker admitted. “It was by far the most dangerous thing we did.”
Despite the high risk, Kosinski praised Pitt for his focus and professionalism on set. “Brad came through with flying colors, even though his character crashes in the film. On the shoot day, he was great,” he said.
Kosinski also commended both Brad Pitt and co-star Damson Idris for their natural driving abilities, revealing that their performances exceeded expectations. “Brad and Damson actually had a lot of natural talent, so we had a lot to work with. They were really, really good drivers, and you can see that when you see the movie,” he added.
With the film blending real racing action and Hollywood storytelling, F1 promises to be a visually stunning and adrenaline-fueled experience for audiences. The movie is set to make its global streaming debut on Apple TV on December 12, marking one of the most anticipated film releases of the year.
