F1 the Movie – Review

Sonny Hayes, played by Brad Pitt, was an up-and-coming Formula 1 driver competing against the likes of Senna, Schumaker and Prost until a horrific career-ending crash 30 years ago forced him to leave the F1 paddock. In the following years, we learn that he’s been through several marriages and spends his time living a nomadic life. At one point, he was a professional gambler and a New York taxi driver. He now travels around in his camper van, competing in racing events like the 24 Hours of Daytona, Le Mans and Dakar. He’s still fast and has an aggressive driving style with his experience and race craft, giving him an edge with a superhuman Alonso-like awareness of his competitors’ strategies and track positions.

An old buddy, Ruben (Javier Bardem), who was Sonny’s teammate in F1 in the 90s, is now the owner of the struggling fictional Apex Grand Prix team (APXGP). Ruben gives Sonny a call, begging him to return to the pinnacle of motorsport and lend a hand to mentor their rookie prodigy driver Joshua “Noah” Pearce, played by Damson Idris, as they try to secure the three-year-old team their first points.

Ok, so surely this is a Mark Webber/Oscar Piastri kind of situation? No, Ruben wants Sonny to suit up and be Joshua’s teammate.

You might think that after 30 years, Sonny might be a bit rusty, out of shape or even a little shaken by the horrific accident that ended your career? Not Sonny, he slips back into things quickly and sets about turning around the fortunes of APXGP. After one push lap of testing, he’s got the seat.

Sonny joins APXGP mid-season for the British Grand Prix. It turns out he’s a natural leader and has good ideas on how to improve the car, working closely with the team’s head of aerodynamics, Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon). He’s charming with the kind of macho swagger of a 1970s Formula 1 driver. He’s relaxed, confident and with a bit of a nonchalant attitude, performing card tricks during team meetings. But there are times when you see Sonny is highly competitive and willing to be the ultimate team player. As the season progresses, their performances start to improve. This might seem unrealistic, but it has happened before in F1. This is just a bit more exaggerated, but it is needed to push the story along.

The Film is directed by Joseph Kosinski and the team behind Top Gun: Maverick (excluding Tom Cruise). Interesting new camera angles you wouldn’t normally see on a race weekend allow you to see these modern hybrid V6 F1 cars from a new perspective. The audiovisual experience is great, even though these are hybrid era cars. The racing scenes are exciting, and what makes the movie fun.

Brad Pitt’s F1 The Movie is a love letter to F1; it’s a bit more commercialised, no doubt due to Liberty Media’s influence. However, sponsors have played a major role in F1 since 1968, when Team Lotus used Gold Leaf sponsorship and private entry, Team Gunston did the same using a Brabham. The plot can be a little cheesy at times, and there are plenty of Hollywood tropes, but at its core, it’s a macho action film that’s about the racing; the plot comes second.

As filming began in 2024, most of the drivers that appear in the film are from that season, with Liam Lawson driving for AlphaTauri making an appearance. Several of the Team principals also feature. But for the most part, they are background characters with a few of the Team Principale having a few lines. Sky Sports F1 commentators Martin Brundle and David Croft provide commentary for the races, which adds a layer of realism.

If you’ve never seen a Formula 1 race, this would be an exciting action film, much like what Drive to Survive did to draw people into the world of F1. I’m certain F1 The Movie will introduce new fans to the sport with this fictional tale, and that’s a good thing. If you’re a diehard F1 fan, you could pick apart each scene, analysing it for what they did right or wrong. But that’s not the point, so grab yourself a popcorn and enjoy this fictional F1 tale at the cinema because, like Top Gun: Maverick, action films like this are best viewed on the big screen.

Director: Joseph Kosinski
Cast: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Javier Bardem, Kerry Condon
Run-time: 2hr 36m