'Real' Over 'Reel' Racing For Verstappen! F1 Champion Snubs Brad Pitt's F1 Movie For iRacing
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Max Verstappen skipped the exclusive screening of Brad Pitt's 'F1: The Movie' to spend time at home with family, and to live stream his iRacing gameplay.
Max Verstappen made waves in F1's most glamorous paddock on Thursday by choosing to stay home instead of attending an exclusive screening of the new Brad Pitt film 'F1: The Movie'.
Verstappen, who isn't fond of promotional activities beyond his team's needs, said he had declined the invitation well in advance. He didn't comment on his diaper-changing duties.
'I informed Formula One Management (FOM) that I wouldn't be attending," he said.
'They were aware. I just wanted to spend more time at home. It wasn't a mandatory event, and it was my private time.
'I prefer to spend that private time at home, especially since in F1, you're away from home so much already. It's pretty normal, I think. Now that my family is growing, I definitely prefer more time at home."
While no one doubts Verstappen's commitment as a father, his alter-ego, 'Franz Hermann', was active on iRacing during the screening.
The F1 Drivers had an exclusive preview of Brad Pitt's F1 Movie! 🍿All active drivers showed up to the premier except for, you guessed it, Max Verstappen aka Franz Hermann who was live on iRacing 😂 pic.twitter.com/9dWxhduElq
— Racing Balls F1 (@RacingBallsF1) May 21, 2025
Red Bull's four-time world champion and Aston Martin's Lance Stroll were the only drivers absent from the preview showing of the Hollywood movie in Monaco on Wednesday evening, which was part of the build-up to this weekend's Grand Prix.
Both drivers, along with the 18 who attended, are in Monaco for the Grand Prix, the second of three consecutive races in Italy, Monaco, and Spain, following six season-opening flyaway races in Australia, Asia, the Gulf, and Florida.
The highly anticipated film, set for release next month, stars Brad Pitt and Damson Idris. It was directed by Joseph Kosinski, known for 'Top Gun: Maverick,' and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari, who praised the movie for its authenticity.
(with agency inputs)
First Published:
May 22, 2025, 23:50 IST
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