Swindon Extra Shares Screen With Brad Pitt In New F1 Blockbuster

Brad Pitt’s Latest Racing Flick Offers Silverstone Crew a Moment in the Spotlight

For most people, standing next to Brad Pitt sounds like something out of a dream—or at least a headline from a glossy magazine. But for Nathan Pegler, a film extra from the quiet Wiltshire village of Winterbourne Bassett, that moment actually happened. Twice.

Pegler, who’s appeared in British productions like Poldark and Father Brown, landed a small but unforgettable role in the upcoming Formula 1-themed film F1 the Movie, starring Pitt as a seasoned driver making one last charge down the track.

The film, co-produced by Apple Original Films and shot partially at the 2023 British Grand Prix, brought Hollywood into the chaos of real-time racing. And for Pegler, it was more than just another day on set—it was a moment he’ll probably never forget.

From Wiltshire Fields to the F1 Grid

At 53, Pegler has spent the better part of a decade slipping into character for background roles across TV and film. A pub-goer here, a period villager there. But being cast in a global production shot during one of the busiest sporting weekends in the UK? That’s a whole other gear.

“I stood next to Javier Bardem for one scene,” Pegler said, still clearly buzzing. “And near Mr Pitt. I did say hello to him on a couple of occasions.”

He laughed when asked what it was like to stand next to one of the most recognizable actors on the planet. “They’ve got a presence, you know? Brad Pitt especially. And he’s still a good-looking boy at 60-something.”

You could call that British understatement.

Shot During a Live Grand Prix

The real twist? The film didn’t fake the atmosphere of a Grand Prix. It lived it.

Silverstone was heaving during the 2023 British Grand Prix—drivers, teams, fans, the works. Somewhere amid the tire smoke and champagne sprays, a film crew managed to squeeze in shots for a Hollywood blockbuster.

“It’s as everything’s going on,” Pegler explained. “Through race weekend, they’re fitting all the scenes in around what’s going on.”

It wasn’t just creative set dressing. The film’s production team had permission from Formula 1 to shoot at live events across the 2023 and 2024 seasons. They even brought a fictional team, APXGP, into the actual F1 paddock, complete with team colors and a dummy pit wall.

This meant extras like Pegler weren’t just background noise. They were in the thick of it—marshals, mechanics, officials—all blurring the line between movie magic and the madness of motorsport.

Brad Pitt and Formula 1—An Unexpected Chemistry

The film, directed by Top Gun: Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski and co-produced by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, is shaping up to be a rare crossover between sports cinema and real-world racing.

Pitt plays a veteran driver brought out of retirement to mentor a young prodigy (played by Damson Idris). In between, there are crashes, rivalries, and the high-stakes tension of elite competition. Think Rush, but with bigger stars and Apple’s budget.

And then there’s the matter of how natural Pitt looked in a race suit. His scenes in the APXGP car, some of which were filmed using a modified Formula 2 chassis, drew real attention from both fans and paddock insiders.

One thing’s clear: this isn’t just some glossy racing flick with a bit of rubber smoke added in post. It’s as close to the real thing as Hollywood has ever gotten.

A Lifetime of Background Work

For Pegler, who first stepped into extra work after retiring early, this is probably the most surreal set he’s ever been part of.

“There’s always a bit of waiting around in this line of work,” he admitted. “But when you’re standing in the pit lane at Silverstone and Brad Pitt’s there, well, you don’t really mind.”

He’s done period dramas. He’s worn tweed waistcoats and Victorian hats. But now he can add “scrutineer and pit marshal in a $140 million racing movie” to his growing list of credits.

“It’s weird, isn’t it?” Pegler said, shaking his head. “From watching Fight Club in the ’90s to standing next to Brad Pitt at Silverstone. You just don’t expect your life to go that way.”

A Table of Production Details

Here’s a look at the key elements behind F1 the Movie:

The Fans Don’t Even Notice the Cameras

One of the strangest parts of the shoot? Most F1 fans at Silverstone barely noticed the cameras.

There’s just so much going on at a race weekend—cars roaring, flags waving, pop concerts blasting post-race—that a few Hollywood cameras don’t seem out of place.

“They’d call ‘action’ just before a car came out of the pit lane,” Pegler explained. “And then you’d have to snap into role—look serious, hold a clipboard, pretend you were timing something. I got really good at nodding convincingly.”

Still, he doesn’t expect red carpets or fame. “Extras don’t get screen time. But it’s fun to say, yeah, I was in that scene. That blur next to Pitt? That was me.”