The release date for F1, starring Brad Pitt, is here and seven-time champ Lewis Hamilton has played a key role in the movie. Formula 1’s stock has never been higher than it is right now, a popularity boom which can be traced back to Netflix’s hit docuseries ‘Drive to Survive’.

Lewis Hamilton says Brad Pitt’s character in F1 film has echoes of James Hunt - Hunt, the 1976 world champion, was famed for his charisma and maverick approach to motor racing.

As for Pitt's willingness to get behind the wheel, director Joseph Kosinski jokes to PEOPLE that they "had to tear him out of" the car once filming wrappedNEED TO KNOWF1 director Joseph Kosinski revealed to PEOPLE that Formula One pro Lewis Hamilton was "impressed" by Brad Pitt's natural driving talentOf Pitt and costar Damson Idris,