While the Circuit of The Americas track in Austin will soon be heating up ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix, the paddock remained extra cool Friday as stars from multiple worlds collided.
Ahead of Austin’s second Grand Prix in three years – thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic – celebrities including Brad Pitt graced the paddock as drivers relaxed ahead of Friday’s first practice.
DailyMail.com takes you inside the color and celebrities prior to the action getting under way at COTA.
Brad Pitt in the paddock
The Hollywood star strolled through the paddock in an alluring pale blue tracksuit, meeting with various VIPs and admirers in the paddock.
Pitt is reportedly a guest of Lewis Hamilton and toured the Mercedes garage. according to F1 journalist Kym Illman.
Pitt is set to star in a new F1 movie produced by the record seven-time world champion which will be streamed on Apple.
Brad Pitt was reportedly a guest of Lewis Hamilton’s in Austin, TX. Friday ahead of the US GP
Pitt found himself as an object of admiration and signed autographs before practice began
Cowboys calling?
Formula 1 drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Lance Stroll soaked up the Texas sun in the hours leading up to the opening practice session Friday.
Canadian-Belgian Stroll looked right at home in the Lone Star State, sporting a quintessentially Texas outfit.
While Ricciardo’s F1 future remains up in the air, he was all smiles while tossing a football amid the glorious weather.
Lance Stroll soaked up the sun while tossing around the pigskin on Friday pre-practice
Perhaps a little newer to American football, Aussie Daniel Ricciardo tossed around a small ball
Lewis lights up
As ever, Lewis Hamilton made a statement with his choice of outfit. Often the most adventurous dresser on the circuit, Hamilton sported an unmissably bold red sleeveless vest.
Not to be outdone, his lower half was draped in free-flowing caramel pants with a parachute look.
Hamilton may wish Max Verstappen had been operating with one of those attached to his Red Bull car this campaign!
Record champion Lewis Hamilton is always at the forefront of fashion in the F1 world and beyond
Hamilton currently sits sixth in the driver’s standings heading into the US Grand Prix in Texas
Taking the Mick!
Mick Schumacher almost certainly brought laughter to the faces of those who spotted his clever shirt upon arrival at the paddock.
The 23-year-old was snapped in a white shirt emblazoned with Haas chief Gunther Steiner, poking fun at one of his most memorable sayings.
Steiner famously called his Haas team ‘af****** bunch of wan****, bunch of f***** clowns’, as caught on camera by Netflix’s Drive To Survive series.
Meanwhile, as the only American team in F1, Haas’ drivers, Schumacher and Kevin Magnussen, will wear custom suits this weekend with the stars and stripes across them.
Schumacher was all smiles as photographers took notice of his Gunther Steiner-inspired shirt
Schumacher and teammate Kevin Magnussen will wear special US-branded suits in Austin
Motorsport Royalty
Champions from past eras as well as greats from other racing codes came out to show their faces in Austin.
Italian-American great Mario Andretti was in attendance. The 82-year-old won the 1978 F1 championship and is one of two drivers to have raced in Formula 1., alongside IndyCar, NASCAR and the World Sportscar Championship.
Five-time MotoGP world champion, Mike Doohan, and ex-F1 — now IndyCar — driver, Marcus Ericsson, were also in attendance.
Mario Andretti looked as sharp as ever, belying his 82-year-old age on Friday afternoon
Andretti gave the thumbs up to photographers as he made his way around the concourse
Former Formula 1 man (2014-2018) and current IndyCar driver Marcus Ericsson was on hand
Australian MotoGP five-time world champion, Mick Doohan, was all smiles in the paddock
Rocking reception for AlphaTauri
Scuderia AlphaTauri drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly were hard at work prior to the practice session, giving a baying Austin crowd what they wanted.
While the pair signed promotional guitars, they rather disappointingly stepped on-stage without them.
Although it did not seem to bother a fervent crowd at COTA who lapped up a selfie with the talented duo.
The AlphaTauri pair signed promotional guitars ahead of the first practice section on Friday
Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda were given a rockstar welcome by adoring fans while on-stage
Best of the Rest
Chinese professional golfer and LPGA star, Lily Muni, is currently dating Williams’ Alex Albon
Canadian actor Will Arnett (L) poses with fan-favorite Formula 1 presenter Will Buxton at COTA
Alfa Romeo driver Zhou Guanyu looked electric in a stylish Orlen-inspired football jersey
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