Damson Idris may have hit speeds close to 180 miles per hour while filming his upcoming racing film F1, but the experience surprisingly made him ease up behind the wheel in real life.
180. Sheesh.
The revelation came in a recent interview with PEOPLE, where the British actor opened up about how stepping into the high-stakes world of Formula 1 gave him a newfound respect for professional drivers and made him more cautious when driving on his own.
“I’m not going to lie it actually made me drive a lot safer” Idris shared. “I have so much respect for F1 drivers and the speeds that they reach and the amount of pressure that they’re under while they reach those speeds.”
The British star added that since filming wrapped, his driving habits have changed dramatically. “So yeah now when I’m in the car I’m definitely just cruising and minding my business.”
To prepare for the film, Idris fully immersed himself in the sport, watching every race he could get his hands on. He stars as Joshua Pierce a young and hungry rookie paired up with Brad Pitt’s character Sonny Hayes a seasoned Formula 1 legend returning to the track after years away.
While their characters may be competitors on screen, the vibe off camera was anything but. “It was a seamless dynamic between us. As soon as they’d yell ‘Cut!’ we both sat in our seats and giggled” Idris said. “He’d be telling me stories of when he first met Prince and Sidney Poitier. And I’m like ‘Oh my God this is just too iconic you’re a walking monument.’”
As you may expect, Idris had high praise for Pitt not only as an actor but also as a mentor throughout the project. “I always say [Brad is] the most humble person and such a brilliant actor and he wants you to win” he said. “And he did that for me the entire movie made a point of having the two characters be equals so I’m incredibly indebted to him and I can’t wait for people to see it.”
With F1 racing into theaters on Friday, June 27, audiences will soon see the high-speed action and chemistry between Idris and Pitt that made this project one to watch.