Lewis Hamilton has dismissed concerns over the much anticipated, upcoming Formula 1-based movie starring Brad Pitt as Hollywood actors and writers continue to strike.
Fictional F1 team APXGP first joined the paddock at the British Grand Prix, taking up a garage in the pitlane and hitting the track in modified Formula 2 machinery as part of filming for the Apple TV project.
However, the film industry has virtually ground to a halt as actors, writers and staff continue to strike over fair pay and the rise of artificial intelligence in the industry.
Last month, it was reported that the SAG-AFTRA strikes had put the project, of which the seven-time champion is a producer, on hold.
Despite reports that “all filming [had] shut down for now”, the film crew were once again spotted at the Hungarian Grand Prix, but without Pitt’s involvement.
The 59-year-old movie star is a long-standing member of the SAG union and is expected to not resume working on the film until a resolution is found.
Speaking over the course of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, Hamilton responded to concerns over the progress of the film amid the strike action, insisting that work continues behind the scenes.
“I know that Apple is fully behind us and wants us to go ahead,” the Briton told the media.
“Everyone in the team is focused on making it the greatest movie that we can. It’s just a matter of time. It’s definitely not the easiest time for actors around the world but it’s something that will be resolved in the not-too-distant future.
“The positive thing for us is we’re still able to do some filming. We’re able to use the stunt doubles. We’re able to have editing and things. We can do the stuff we’ve already caught. I’ll be on calls with Joe next week as we continue to finish off the story.
“There’s a couple of races we need to go through the wording and how that’s worded with the different races. So yeah, not massively concerned just yet.”
Hamilton is also set to be the focus of an upcoming feature-length Apple TV+ documentary on the life and career of the Mercedes driver.
Announced in April 2022, the documentary will feature “full access to Hamilton and his team, on and off the track, and an all-star cast of guest interviews”.
No release date for either project has yet been confirmed.
