Liberty Media wants to squeeze the last drop of juice that squirts the Formula 1 World Championship, bought in 2017 by the American entertainment group in a deal valued at 7,300 million euros, which has achieved popularity ratings unprecedented in its almost 75 years of history. The multiplier effect of the Netflix series Drive to Survive spread the fever for the championship on a global scale, with particular impact in the United States, a market that had historically resisted competition. A good example of the firecracker that Liberty has thrown can be found this weekend in Miami, home of the first of the three stops on the calendar to be held in the country. This Friday there were still tickets depending on the stand, but the cheapest was around 700 euros. The average weekend price with an overnight stay in a four-star hotel in the city exceeds 10,000 euros, although the most exclusive experiences with luxury that borders on extravagance can multiply these figures tenfold.
If the conquest of television is a fact, the next step in this limitless expansion is through cinema. Netflix’s experience confirms that this isn’t a bullet to save on resources, and that’s exactly why the project was raised in a big way. The protagonist of the film will be Brad Pitt and will be directed by Joseph Kosinski, who recently received an award for Top Gun: Maverick. The production is being directed by Jerry Bruckheimer in association with Dawn Apollo Films, the production company founded by Lewis Hamilton, who is very involved in the affair and keeps in touch with those involved. The Brits’ main goal is for the film to be as realistic as possible, to avoid the ridicule of the most knowledgeable fans. “At this stage my focus is on making sure the script is as it should be,” he commented.
Hamilton, this Friday, already from Miami. “We looked for Joe’s approach [Kosinski] anchoring ourselves in this discipline as much as possible,” the Tewin runner continued. “Our intention is to offer a different angle than on TV,” added the seven-time world champion, who is working with Mercedes, his team, on the design of the car that Pitt will have to drive; presumably a Formula 2 or Formula 3 modified.
The duo formed by Kosinski and Bruckheimer in Tom Cruise’s latest blockbuster have helped the team create the world’s smallest 6K definition camera, which will be anchored in the cabin where the protagonist of Seven and Troy will enter, among many others titles. It was initially rumored that the actor could even take part in a free rehearsal for a grand prize, a possibility that has been categorically denied in the last few hours. In any case, the filming of this blockbuster is expected to start right on this course, using the depiction and atmosphere of real events to recreate everything that has to do with racing as faithfully as possible.
Follow EL PAÍS Deportes on Facebook and Twitteror sign up here to receive our weekly newsletter.