It is around 4,947 miles from Stevenage to Eddie V’s Prime Seafood restaurant in downtown Austin, Texas, and a seat next to Brad Pitt. The invite list told of how important this putative movie is to all concerned: On the other side of Hamilton sat Greg Maffei, America chief executive of Formula One’s owners Liberty Media. Also in attendance were F1 boss Stefano Domenicali, Mercedes chief Toto Wolff, Hamilton’s father Anthony and step-mother Linda. Hamilton made a speech that was greeted with warm applause and then they tucked in. The film that goes under the working title Formula One, it can be revealed, will involve all the teams in real-life action at grands prix – an idea discussed when Domenicali and Pitt watched Top Gun: Maverick together in London earlier this year. Hamilton has already revealed that he will not have an on-screen part. Hamilton has won the American Grand Prix on a record six occasions, once in Indianapolis and five times in Austin, but he is battling his machinery this time. Hamilton has not won this season, having uniquely done so in every previous year of his career, but a glimmer of hope may reside in Mercedes’ extensive upgrades.

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