Official APX GP merchandise launches ahead of F1 film

Formula 1 is aiming to cash in on the hype surrounding the launch of ‘F1 the Movie’ by launching its official merchandise range.

The majority of the clothing, which includes a cap, bucket hat and t-shirts in both men’s and women’s cuts, has been released ahead of this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.

The film, starring Brad Pitt as veteran racer Sonny Hayes, is released worldwide on 25 June and in the US from 27 June and is expected to be one of the biggest blockbuster hits of the summer.

The fictional ‘APX GP’ team for which Pitt drives in the film is at the centre of the merchandise drop, with t-shirts featuring movie stills and the APX GP logo prominent on most items.

Starting at $55 (£40.74) and maxing out at $125 (£92.60), the collection has been rolled out just a week after F1’s real-life drivers watched the film for the first time.

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is a producer on ‘F1 the Movie’ and was delighted – if not worried – to show off the finished product to his peers.

“Firstly, it wasn’t the first time I’ve seen it,” the Ferrari driver said. “I’ve seen it like 20 times already so, at least for me, it was a really, really interesting and like an incredible experience, to firstly have the opportunity to work with Joe (Kosinski) and Jerry (Bruckheimer).

“To learn from them, to see what goes into making a movie right from the first, the treatment from the first script, which was like the first 30 pages, to then see it build into a story and then get to work with the writer, Aaron and Joe, on trying to make sure it could be as authentic as it was. As Jerry said, when he announced, when he spoke to all the drivers and all the team members, that’s still a Hollywood movie, right? 

“And then to think that it’s finally here after all the work that’s gone on, from having Hans Zimmer speaking to Hans and having Hans come on board and doing the score, which I’m a huge fan of his, so that’s, just the whole project was incredible.

“And to do it with Apple as well, who have been just the best partner to work with. To get to go and meet Tim and Eddie and have them give me a tour of their incredible Apple factory and building was insane. So yesterday, to come there and then all of a sudden I’ve got all the drivers there, I was sat in the middle, and I was nervous. It’s something that’s never been done before, so it’s something I’m really proud of.”

Pitt and his co-stars filmed during a number of F1 weekends last season and the majority of drivers appear in the movie at some point.