Talk about the legend of the fall.
Spectators at the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix Nov. 22 witnessed a shocking scene—a racer collapsing on the race track, as seen in videos posted on social media. As it turns out, it was a fainting stunt filmed for Brad Pitt's new movie F1, in which he plays a Formula One driver.
The man who collapsed—landing on a thin mattress—was dressed in full racing gear as the Oscar winner's character Sonny Hayes.
While the report sparked concern on social media about the actor's well-being, the person—who seemed to be unhurt—appeared to be one of Pitt's stunt doubles. The Oscar winner himself was seen chatting with the performer on the film's set, People reported.
In the film, Pitt's character is a retired driver who returns to the racing world to mentor a younger teammate Joshua Pierce, played by Damson Idris, on the fictional APX GP team. A mock statement was posted on the group's Instagram following the fainting stunt.
"Yesterday was not the day we hoped for," the post read. "Sonny's qualifying crash was a tough moment for the team, but the good news is he's feeling better, though still dealing with some soreness."
The message continued, "Thank you for all your support and messages, it means the world to Sonny and the entire APX GP family. We'll keep pushing, together."
Filming on F1 began in late 2023. The actors have filmed scenes for the movie at real racing venues and events, such as at the Mexico City Grand Prix, as well as at the famous Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. and England's Silverstone Circuit.
British F1 driving champion Lewis Hamilton appears with Brad in F1 and also co-produced the movie with him. Other cast members include Javier Barden, Kerry Condon, Simone Ashley and Tobias Menzies. The movie is set for release June 27, 2025.