Among his favorite books are Cormac McCarthy’s All the Pretty Horses, for which he even narrated the audiobook, and Marlon James’s A Brief History of Seven Killings, a testament to his taste for layered storytelling and historical context. He’s also expressed a fondness for timeless classics like Don Quixote, Pride and Prejudice, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Great Gatsby, as well as the Harry Potter series — proof that magic, in all its forms, still moves him.

Outside of books and film, Pitt is a passionate follower of Formula 1 and is currently involved in a high-profile F1 film project. His love for the sport blends with a growing affection for Spain, where he has a house in Mallorca and his personal relationship with Spanish jewelry designer Inés de Ramón. So is his appreciation for the Spanish language and culture. With Inés, Pitt has found a renewed sense of peace and partnership. Their romance, which began quietly in 2022, has blossomed into a solid relationship that could soon lead to marriage. Known for their discretion, the couple shares a mutual love for art and design, often reflected in subtle ways — like Pitt wearing one of Inés’s jewelry pieces during a recent appearance. As his life evolves both on and off screen, Brad Pitt continues to reinvent himself with doing some travels to Spain.

Q: Brad, you’re starring in an upcoming Formula 1 film. What draws you to the world of F1?

Brad Pitt: I’ve always loved the intensity of F1 — the speed, the strategy, the precision. It’s cinematic in its own way. There’s something poetic about the relationship between man and machine, especially at that level. Plus, working on this film has given me a whole new appreciation for the athletes behind the wheel.

Q. In the movie you worked with Javier Bardem?

Brad Pitt: I love Javier. We had a great time and it was a no-brainer. We had a good understanding of the job and our friendship came naturally. 

Q: We’ve noticed a special connection growing between you and Spain. Where does that come from?

Brad Pitt: Spain just has this warmth. I’ve spent more time there in the past few years, and the people, the pace of life, the food. I do love Spanish people

Q: Do you speak Spanish?

Brad Pitt: A little. Enough to make small talk. I'm working on it.  

Q: Brad, you’ve wanted to make a racing movie for decades. What made F1 the right one?

Brad Pitt: I had tried to make a racing movie for decades and this time, with this team and this story, it finally happened. It was an experience like no other I’ve ever had. There’s realism, emotion, and heart behind every frame. It’s not just about the races it’s about what brings people to the edge and what pulls them back.

Q: Your character, Sonny Hayes, is a former legend returning to the track. What drew you to that arc?

Brad Pitt: Sonny thinks he’s made peace with his past, but life shows him there are still things to face. I love stories about second chances. How we evolve, how we wrestle with who we used to be. It’s very human. Everyone in this film is fighting something personal.

Q: What sets F1 apart from other racing films?

Brad Pitt: Realism. We didn’t fake anything. Everything was shot on real tracks, with real F1 cars, no green screens, no stunt doubles. Damson Idris and I trained for two years. We really drove those cars. That intensity, it’s all in the film.

Q: Lewis Hamilton was closely involved. How did that shape the film?

Brad Pitt: A lot of Lewis is in this film. “We spent hours with him. He shared what it feels like to be in the car, how to breathe, how to listen to the engine. Even in post-production, he could hear something and say, “That’s not authentic”. His input raised the bar for everything.

Q: What was the scariest part of filming F1?

Brad Pitt: Braking. That’s what really gets your attention. Speed becomes relative after a while, but braking at the very last moment? That’s what makes you sweat. We joked on set about our unofficial motto: Don’t kill Brad Pitt. I’m not sure they always took it seriously.

Q: You filmed during real F1 races. What was that like?

Brad Pitt: Intense. We filmed during actual F1 events. Sometimes we had only 15 minutes to get a shot before the official race resumed. At Silverstone, we rehearsed for weeks, but once 100,000 fans were in the stands, everything changed. It was like stepping into a colossus. Once you’re on the track, it’s a rush of pure adrenaline.

Q: Did making F1 change the way you see the sport?

Brad Pitt: Absolutely. If we didn’t pass the fans’ test, we were dead. This film was made with the F1 community. Their energy, their stories, even their criticism, it all helped shape the final product. We made this for them, and with them.

Q: You’ve said this film was revitalizing. Can you explain why?

Brad Pitt: I’ve been doing this a long time, and to find something that felt like starting over it was sublime. It pulled me out of a kind of post-pandemic isolation. The energy, the passion, it brought me back to why I fell in love with cinema in the first place.

Q: Is it true you’ll be reprising Cliff Booth with Tarantino and David Fincher?

Brad Pitt: Yeah, it’s going to be a blast. David and I are great friends. I admire him so much as a filmmaker. Working with Quentin and now Joseph Kosinski too I feel lucky. This chapter of my life is full of creative joy.

Q: Finally, how would you sum up F1 in your own words?

Brad Pitt: It’s not just about speed. It’s about precision, about community, and what it means to start again. It’s thrilling, emotional, and  I hope something fans will feel in their bones.

Q: Your fans are fascinated by your reading habits. Can you share what draws you to certain books and if any is from a Spanish author?

Brad Pitt: I like books that challenge you emotionally, that live in the gray areas. And then sometimes I need the classics, something like Don Quixote, where you’re just soaking in the language.

Q: Do books ever influence your acting or film choices?

Brad Pitt: All the time. A good book can inspire a tone, a character, or just a way of thinking about a role. The storytelling in books gives you a longer runway to dive into the human condition and that always feeds the work.

By María Estévez

Correspondent writer