Getty Image / Alex Bierens de Haan
Brad Pitt was seen everywhere in Austin for the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix. He was seen dining with Apple CEO Tim Cook, Pharrell Williams, and Toto Wolff of Mercedes-Benz. All of this is leading up to a forthcoming Lewis Hamilton-produced Formula 1 movie that will premiere on Apple, so Brad was presumably there doing as much homework on the sport as possible.
Brad Pitt was also seen in the paddock at the Circuit of the Americas before the race won by Max Verstappen. And it appears that ‘Martin Brundle’ didn’t show up in his Formula 1 research because Brad Pitt blew off one of the biggest names in the sport.
Martin Brundle is a former Formula 1 driver himself but it’s hard to overstate how integral his pre-race coverage is on Sky Sports. He walks through the paddock and speaks with the drivers, team members, and celebrities who were fortunate enough to have access to the area. It’s unlike any other pre-event footage in sports and Martin’s a massive, massive name in Formula 1 but that wasn’t enough for Brad Pitt to stop.
Brad Pitt Blowing Off F1’s Martin Brundle In Austin Had Racing Fans Fuming
Here is the footage of Brad Pitt brushing off Martin Brundle at a time when Pitt was meant to be there learning about the sport ahead the film being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Joseph Kosinski:
Brad Pitt making a movie about F1 but not knowing who the voice of the sport Martin Brundle is🫠 pic.twitter.com/Xh3E28xTa8
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) October 23, 2022
There is a considerable amount of ‘gate keeping’ in Formula 1. I mean that in the sense that the sports’ community doesn’t want outsiders coming in and exploiting the sport for quick financial gains. A lot of this has come in the aftermath of Netflix’s Drive To Survive creating an explosion of new and often uninformed fans.
The Formula 1 community wants to know that Brad Pitt and the movie crew will be taking their sport seriously. And not knowing Martin Brundle or giving him the time of day is a bad look.
F1 fans were certain to let Pitt hear about it on Twitter
It’s Martin’s paddock and Pitt’s team should’ve known that:
I hate when celebrity bodyguards try and get Martin Brundle away. Lad your at the F1 if you don’t want to be interviewed don’t come on the grid…
— Kyran Colley (@ColleyKyran) October 23, 2022
A lot of fans are calling it ‘disrespectful’ indeed…
Kinda thought Brad Pitt would have stopped to talk more with Martin Brundle; a billion F1 fans watching, and starring in an upcoming F1 movie apparently not reason enough.
A free 1 min. live global promo for the film – seems a missed opportunity, and not a little disrespectful.— stephen pedroff (@sbelcap) October 23, 2022
Brad Pitt apparently suffers from a condition that causes ‘face blindness’ which certainly isn’t something to joke about:
The great pretender is still undefeated. His PR will come out tomorrow and blame it on his "face blindness".
— Kotetiangal 🇰🇪🐘🐘 (@kotetiangal) October 23, 2022
For his part, Martin Brundle played it off perfectly:
“They’re known as pitt stops if they don’t want you talking to Brad Pitt”- Martin Brundle #SkyF1 pic.twitter.com/GlY99zKYdy
— BurnNotice (@dianaprincebrnr) October 23, 2022
It’s hard to tell which people mad at Brad Pitt are just Angelina Jolie stans or actual F1 fans (or both):
He didn't know his own daughter was going to Spelman (if he even knew what Spelman is), so are we surprised?
— SunshineBoop (@sunshineboop10) October 24, 2022
You can tell which celebs aren't actual F1 fans by the way they treat Martin Brundle. Brad Pitt you are talking to an F1 legend, have some respect!
— Cee-Cee (@CeeCeeBones) October 23, 2022
This seems to be the general sentiment from Formula 1 fans:
Brad Pitt.. the man starring in an F1 film won’t even stop for 30 seconds to speak to Martin Brundle… if you don’t wanna be interviewed, get off the grid and make way for people who do. #USGP #Formula1 @SkySportsF1 @MBrundleF1
— Jordan Gibbons (@Gibbons1407) October 23, 2022
Details on Brad Pitt’s Formula 1 Movie
During his appearance at the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Brad Pitt met with everyone who’s anyone… other than Martin Brundle. Pitt met with Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, Circuit of the Americas Chairman Bobby Epstein, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Pharrell, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team CEO Toto Wolff, and plenty more.
It has been revealed the unnamed ‘Brad Pitt F1 Movie’ will film during two Formula 1 race weekends in 2023. It will certainly be interesting to see how all of this plays out.