Last week saw the cinema premiere of F1: The Movie, starring Brad Pitt. While I’m not exactly a Formula 1 fan, Brad Pitt is one of my favourite actors—so I couldn’t miss the chance and went to see F1 on the big screen.
If you haven’t seen the film yet, here’s my clear recommendation: go enjoy it at the cinema. Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, an older driver returning to the game after 
thirty long years. It wouldn’t be fair to describe the plot in detail—you should experience it yourself. I’ll just say it’s not a hard-core racing documentary, but a gripping story full of adrenaline and emotion. It’s a feel-good tale about second chances and the idea that it’s never too late to change course. And I have to admit, the racing sequences have a fantastic atmosphere. It also feels authentic thanks to appearances by real F1 drivers like Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Another stamp of quality is the director: Joseph Kosinski, who also made Top Gun: Maverick.
Like most women, I love fashion—and handbags, of course. There’s a scene where Brad Pitt walks through the paddock with an elegant green vintage shoulder bag that caught not only my eye. The bag, which forms part of Sonny Hayes’s on-screen visual identity, is handmade in Costa Rica. Not even a week after the premiere, it’s drawing attention worldwide. Behind this hand-crafted satchel is our Costa Rican brand PACTO Vintage Racing Helmets and it’s made from premium cowhide leather. The designer and creator of the bag is the owner of the Pacto brand, Mr. Danilo Coto Cruz.
The story of our local Costa Rican brand PACTO is a textbook example of how quality and authenticity can break through all the way to Hollywood productions. In May 2023, a British film production company contacted this small but highly meticulous Costa Rican brand, requesting several green leather bags with a cream stripe to be part of a collection for racing drivers. The order was to be delivered by February 2024.
Naturally, PACTO asked what film it was for, but the response was brief and mysterious: “It’s confidential; we can’t tell you.” They accepted the order anyway and—true to their careful craftsmanship—produced and delivered 12 original bags.
Only later, after receiving non-disclosure agreements, did they learn the name of the company that had placed the order. From the clues and timing, they began to suspect it was the highly anticipated F1: The Movie starring Brad Pitt. Even then, there was no guarantee their bags would actually appear on screen.
Then came the surprise—paparazzi shots from the Hungarian Grand Prix began circulating on social media, showing Brad Pitt with a PACTO bag over his shoulder. Official confirmation arrived with the film’s premiere, where the bags appear in several scenes.
PACTO captured what resonates today not only in fashion but also with consumers: authenticity, handcraft, story, and quality. F1: The Movie isn’t just a story about fast cars—it’s also a story about the global potential of local brands.
Immediately after the release, people started Googling phrases like “Brad Pitt F1 bag,” “F1 The Movie leather bag,” and “Costa Rica handmade fashion,” possibly kick-starting a new global fashion icon.
If you’re looking for an original gift, you now have the chance to 
purchase this iconic bag directly from the maker for USD 980. I think it will be fascinating to watch how this story evolves.
For me personally, this is the biggest takeaway from F1. When we have a good idea, believe in it, and do things honestly, with passion and determination, even a small local project can become something that crosses borders—both geographic and conceptual. The path isn’t always straight; it’s often winding and full of obstacles. But if we persist, have a vision, and keep our direction, we can go much further than we ever imagined at the start.
And that’s why this Costa Rican story makes me so happy. It’s proof that dreams don’t come true by accident—they come true because we go after them.
