Brad Pitt's got a need for speed lately ... only this time he's trading in his bullet train for a super fast race car.
The "Bullet Train" star was in Austin, TX on Friday for the start of the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix.
Brad is set to star in a new movie about F1, which is skyrocketing in popularity across the country ... with legendary driver Lewis Hamilton among the producers.
The upcoming film is said to have Brad playing a former racer turned team owner who comes out of retirement to coach up the next generation of drivers.
Brad's already looking the part ... slipping on a pair of bright orange ear muffs to protect from the sound of those powerful F1 engines.
BP was also rocking some sweet shades, blue jeans and a matching blue jacket at the Circuit of the Americas racetrack ... surely a fit that would make Austin's favorite son, Matthew McConaughey, proud.