Brad Pitt was "not impressed" after Lewis Hamilton had his say on F1: The Movie, which was released earlier this year.
The seven-time world champion shamelessly informed the Hollywood star that he was "much too old" to play a current Formula One driver.
Toto Wolff has now shared details of this awkward moment, which happened during a dinner at the Mercedes boss's Oxford home.
The 61-year-old actor wasn't exactly thrilled with Hamilton's assessment.
But Hamilton's brutal honesty proved invaluable.
The script underwent major changes, transforming Pitt's character into something far more believable - a veteran racer making a comeback rather than competing for championships.
The Mercedes team principal described the memorable evening when the film's key figures gathered at his home.
Director Joseph Kosinski and legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer joined Hamilton and Pitt for what became a pivotal meeting.
Brad Pitt played Sonny Hayes in F1: The Movie
|PA
"We had dinner at our place in Oxford, and suddenly the door opens and there's Brad Pitt in the driveway and he says, 'Thank you for having me for dinner,'" Wolff recalled. "So that was a bit of a surreal experience."
Susie Wolff was also present at this gathering, where the original concept placed Pitt's character at the heart of a championship battle.
The initial script had Pitt fighting for a world championship as a driver in his prime, but Hamilton wasn't having it.
"That's not going to go; you're much too old for a Formula 1 driver," the British driver told him under no uncertain terms.
LATEST SPORT NEWS:
Lewis Hamilton posed with Brad Pitt and Damson Idris at the F1: The Movie premiere
|GETTY
"Brad was not impressed by it," Wolff revealed.
"He felt that he was in his prime to be a Formula 1 driver."
The creative team were forced to rework the story. Pitt's character, Sonny Hayes, became a retired driver returning to help struggling team APXGP - a far more realistic role for someone in their sixties.
"How they adapted the script was fantastic because it was credible. His role was credible," Wolff said.
Toto Wolff was delighted with the final outcome, declaring 'it's good entertainment' and the revenue has been 'phenomenal'
|REUTERS
The film's success has been astounding. It's already the highest-grossing sports movie of all time, despite being released just four months ago, raking in over £467million globally.
The F1 paddock gave it their seal of approval too: "We looked at it at the premiere in Monaco around the Grand Prix, and we liked it," Wolff explained.
"There was nothing that was not to be liked."
"It's good entertainment, and the revenue that the movie has been generating is phenomenal," he added.
Hamilton's insistence on authenticity clearly paid off, creating a blockbuster that both motorsport insiders and audiences worldwide have embraced.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter