Brad Pitt has transformed for roles before. But for “F1,” his latest blockbuster directed by Top Gun: Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski, the 61-year-old actor’s preparation went far beyond standard Hollywood training.
This wasn’t about sculpted abs or a chiseled jawline. It was about becoming race-fit — capable of withstanding brutal G-forces, surviving scorching cockpit temperatures, and convincingly driving at breakneck speeds alongside professional racers.
Here’s how Pitt and co-star Damson Idris trained for the most physically demanding role of their careers — and why it’s one of the most impressive physical transformations Hollywood has ever seen.
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From Zero to 200 MPH: Driving for Real
Brad Pitt didn’t just pretend to be a Formula 1 driver. He became one — for real.
According to Pitt, he and Idris drove “6,000 miles” over two years as part of their preparation. “We ended up driving for about two years,” he told Variety at the film’s premiere. “I was told that we drove 6,000 miles in total in these cars. So, I’m kinda proud of that.”
Their training didn’t happen on Hollywood sets. It took place on some of the world’s most iconic racetracks — including Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, Italy’s Monza, and even Las Vegas. The duo started with simulators before moving up the ranks from sports cars to Formula 3 and eventually Formula 2 machines.
Luciano Bacheta, a stunt driver and coach for the film, shared that their initial goal was simple: learn to drive safely. Once that was accomplished, it became about shaving down lap times and understanding racing intricacies — braking points, steering input, throttle timing — all while acting on camera.
A Workout Fit for Formula 1
Driving fast is hard. But staying in control at those speeds? That’s punishing.
Professional Formula 1 drivers endure up to 6g of force — meaning their heads, bolstered by helmets, can feel five to six times heavier through sharp corners and rapid deceleration. Pitt and Idris, though not quite hitting those Gs, were still regularly withstanding 3 to 4g.
Barry Sigrist, who’s worked with Premier League teams and the Haas F1 crew, was brought in to get the actors physically race-ready. His biggest challenge? Building neck strength.
“Neither of them had trained their necks before,” Sigrist told Men’s Health. “We started with isometric holds, using a force gauge against their heads.”
The neck wasn’t the only focus. Sigrist also emphasized mid-back and core strength — key areas often neglected outside elite sports. Their training mirrored that of real drivers, with VO2 max tests and neuromuscular reaction drills using tools like the BATAC machine.
Brad Pitt’s Low-Key Yet Consistent Fitness Routine
Despite the intensity of F1 training, Pitt didn’t radically overhaul his fitness routine. In fact, his strategy was more about refinement than reinvention.
“He trains three times a week, and that’s all he does,” Sigrist revealed. “It’s a little bit of cardio on the cross-trainer at low intensity, and then some weights, with a bit of a split routine.” Pitt’s consistency — not complexity — is what’s kept him in phenomenal shape into his 60s.
However, one new element made a big impact: warm-up activation. “We did a round of isometrics on his neck and abs before getting in the car, and he came out incredibly different,” Sigrist said. That moment helped build trust and opened the door for other performance-enhancing tweaks.
Damson Idris Went All-In With HIIT and Tabata
While Pitt stuck to what’s worked for him, Damson Idris leaned into transformation.
To build the cardiovascular endurance needed for F1’s relentless demands, Sigrist put him through high-intensity interval training (HIIT), with an emphasis on Tabata workouts — 20 seconds of effort followed by 10 seconds of rest, repeated across multiple exercises and sets.
“Tabata was more beneficial than long low-intensity cardio,” Sigrist explained. “It helped burn fat while preserving muscle mass, and improved Damson’s ability to stay calm under physical stress.”
This conditioning was crucial. In the film, Idris plays a hotshot rookie chasing greatness, which required both youthful energy and genuine race-readiness.
Performing Under Pressure — Literally
Acting inside a race car is unlike any other performance. The actors had to deliver emotionally charged scenes at over 150 mph — while managing G-forces and staying in control.
“They also have to remember their lines and their acting performance, which racing drivers never have to do,” said Bacheta. “They had to show emotion through their eyes, through the visor.”
To pull that off, Pitt and Idris needed both the physical durability of elite athletes and the poise of seasoned performers.
Why This Training Really Matters
Hollywood has seen its share of extreme transformations — from Christian Bale’s weight drops to Chris Hemsworth’s bulking up. But what Pitt and Idris did for F1 might be the most quietly intense preparation yet.
They weren’t just building muscle or hitting aesthetic goals. They were absorbing the full physical impact of real racing — neck strain, heat exhaustion, psychological pressure — and doing it while acting.
With F1 now in theaters, audiences will see the result of that work. It’s not CGI. It’s not green-screen trickery. It’s two actors, in real cars, driving at real speeds — their performances grounded in thousands of miles of training, science-backed fitness routines, and the kind of dedication that rarely gets the spotlight.
As Pitt said, “The more you put into it, the better it sticks… even as every instinct in your body is screaming, ‘No! No! No! It’s gonna give way!’”
It didn’t give way. It held.
