Hot Wheels APXGP Die-Cast Drops Ahead of F1 Film
Hot Wheels launches a limited-edition 1:64 scale APXGP Formula 1 die-cast car inspired by the forthcoming Apple Original Films production “F1 The Movie”, starring Brad Pitt as fictional driver Sonny Hayes. Collectors can order the model from MattelCreations.com on June 24 for £30, just days before the film reaches UK cinemas on June 27.
The die-cast faithfully replicates the Apex Grand Prix machine Hayes pilots on screen, sporting an authentic gold-and-black livery and his signature number seven. Hot Wheels moulds the driver’s helmet, supplies three sets of Pirelli tyres with a storage rack and presents the car in a “Kar Keepers” clamshell to enhance its display value.
This launch follows Hot Wheels’ multi-year Formula 1 licence and two sold-out collaborations, giving motorsport enthusiasts, pop-culture fans and film-goers a tangible slice of the Brad Pitt F1 experience. “Racing fans and Hot Wheels collectors, our previous Formula 1 product launches were incredibly well received, and now we can share a piece of the collection with film lovers around the world,” said Roberto Stanichi, executive vice president, Hot Wheels & global head of vehicles and building sets at Mattel. “The APXGP die-cast allows Hot Wheels to connect with a new audience of moviegoers who now have the opportunity to own a 1:64 scale piece of cinematic and racing history.”
Directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Plan B Entertainment and Lewis Hamilton’s Dawn Apollo Films, the movie premieres internationally on June 25. Pitt portrays Hayes, a 1990s prodigy whose career stalled after a crash. Decades later, former team-mate-turned-owner Ruben Cervantes persuades him to return and rescue the struggling Apex Grand Prix team, partnering rookie Joshua Pearce. As Hayes hunts redemption on Formula 1’s unforgiving stage, he discovers that a team-mate can prove the fiercest rival.
