F1 actress did real pit stop at British Grand Prix

Callie Cooke, an actress from Northampton, had an incredible experience while filming F1: The Movie at the famous Silverstone Circuit during the British Grand Prix. In the film, she plays Jodie, a member of the fictional APXGP team led by Brad Pitt’s character, Sonny Hayes. The movie was shot during the actual 2023 and 2024 British Grand Prix events, giving the cast a chance to be part of the real racing world. For Callie, who grew up in Northampton, filming at Silverstone was especially meaningful. She said it felt 'so special and so real' to be working in a place she knew so well.

One of the most exciting moments for Callie was when she got to take part in a real pit stop. Pit stops are fast and intense moments during a race when the car comes in for new tires or repairs. Usually, only professional mechanics and engineers are allowed to do this job, but Callie was the only actor in the pit crew. She trained hard for the role, learning how to change tires, oil, and even the car’s wing. She said that growing up near Silverstone helped her because she already knew people who worked with cars. During the 2024 British Grand Prix, she and her team performed a real pit stop between the Mercedes and Ferrari teams, and they managed to do it just as quickly as the professionals. Callie described the experience as 'mad' and said she couldn’t believe they were allowed to do it.

The movie’s production team set up a fully working garage in the real F1 pit lane, and the actors spent a lot of time at Silverstone, even using the track for driving training and filming much of the first half of the movie. Brad Pitt, who plays a veteran driver returning to the sport, enjoyed working in Northamptonshire and with the British crew. Callie said that Pitt had a great sense of humor and loved being part of the team. The film has been a big success internationally, and Callie is proud to have been part of such a unique project. She said that working with real F1 teams and being at the races was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that she will always remember. Her journey from Northampton to Hollywood shows how hard work and passion can lead to amazing opportunities.