‘F1' Speeds Toward Redemption on Motorsport’s Grandest Stage

The 2025 Austrian Grand Prix may have delivered on-track drama last weekend, but F1: The Movie is where the real adrenaline kicks in. After four years in the making, the Brad Pitt-led motorsport film has finally roared into cinemas and is already gunning for blockbuster territory. Helmed by director Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) and co-produced by seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton, F1 isn’t just about fast cars and flashy circuits. Set against the roaring backdrop of Formula One’s global stage, it manages to balance grit with glamour while still keeping both hands on the wheel.

F1 smartly leans into familiar tropes: the seasoned vet, the hotshot rookie, and the underdog team trying to prove they belong on the grid. At the centre of it is Sonny Hayes, a former F1 driver whose career was cut short after a devastating crash at the 1993 Spanish Grand Prix. Decades later, he’s pulled back into the motorsport by his old teammate Ruben Caraves to help the struggling APXGP team claw its way out of the back markers and win the Formula One World Championship.

If the plot sounds predictable, that’s because it is—but the execution is what makes it work.  Kosinski knows how to fuse visceral action with grounded human drama, and F1 is no exception. He doesn’t just give us flashy overtakes or slow-motion crashes, though these shots definitely keep the momentum running and have us gripping the edge of our seats. We also get the tension behind the scenes: the crunch-time engineering calls, team conflicts, and the silent pressures of ageism in a sport that worships youth. Like any great race, every lap carries emotional weight, making the action feel earned rather than just explosive.

The script is written with accessibility in mind. Even if you can’t tell your DRS from your ERS, the film makes racing strategy, telemetry data, and paddock politics easy to grasp without bogging you down in jargon. And for longtime fans? There are plenty of subtle nods, inside jokes, and references that only those who’ve sat through an entire race weekend (and post-race press conference) will truly appreciate. Sharp-eyed viewers might even spot familiar F1 drivers in the background, turning crowd shots into a fun Easter egg hunt. 

Of course, there’s a dash of Hollywood flair that bends the rules a little. Some manoeuvres would’ve drawn an instant black flag in real life while a few overtakes defy both physics and regulations set out by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). As long as you remember it’s fiction, it all fuels the drama without taking you out of the ride.

It’s hard to imagine anyone else slipping into the fireproof race suit of Sonny Hayes. Brad Pitt plays the fictional former F1 driver with such lived-in ease, it’s easy to forget he’s an A-list celebrity. But don’t let his calm demeanour fool you—beneath Sonny’s weathered composure is the quiet ache of a man still haunted by the accident that ended his career and left a legacy unfinished. 

In the years since leaving the paddock, Sonny has turned to professional gambling. It’s a detail that might seem throwaway at first but cleverly mirrors how he approaches racing: always calculating odds, reading his opponents, and knowing when to go all-in. That strategic edge makes him just as compelling off the track as he is on it.

What makes Pitt’s portrayal click isn’t just the physicality (yes, he really drove Formula 2 cars specially modified for the film). It’s his emotional restraint. He doesn’t oversell the pain. Instead, it simmers in the way he scans the grid, or talks about racing like it’s both a drug and a ghost. Whether he’s cracking dry jokes with engineers or silently psyching himself up before lights out, Pitt is magnetic without ever needing to floor it.

Meanwhile, Damson Idris delivers a standout performance as rookie driver Joshua Pearce. As Hayes’ younger teammate, he’s every bit the modern F1 driver—sharp, brash, and fiercely competitive. At first, Pearce is convinced he can take the championship on raw talent alone. It’s only after a major setback that he begins to understand winning in F1 isn’t a solo pursuit but rather a sport that demands trust, teamwork, and strategy.

His dynamic with Pitt’s Hayes is tense from the get-go. Where Sonny is old-school and methodical, Pearce brings all the panache. Watching the two slowly find common ground over the season and shift from rivalry to reluctant alliance is one of the film’s most satisfying arcs. Idris not only holds his own beside Pitt, but matches him beat for beat. By the final race, their chemistry feels like the payoff of a pairing that has finally found its rhythm.

As APXGP’s team principal and Sonny’s former teammate, Javier Bardem plays Ruben Cervantes with a weariness that never tips into self-pity. He’s caught between mounting pressure from investors and a legacy he’s desperate to salvage, but beneath the anxiety is a man who still believes his team has what it takes to rise through the ranks. Bardem’s chemistry with Pitt feels natural, as though they really did share a past life on the circuit. 

Kerry Condon shines as Kate McKenna, APXGP’s sharp-tongued technical director and the first woman in F1 history to hold the role. Her portrayal avoids cliché and never overstates the gender dynamics, which is exactly what makes it land. You believe she’s earned her spot on the pit wall because she’s simply the most capable person for the job. My only gripe is the romance subplot. There’s a flicker of romantic tension between Kate and Sonny, which could’ve easily been left out without affecting the story. That said, it never overshadows Kate’s importance to the team  (we love seeing women thrive in male-dominated fields!).

This is where F1 really laps the competition. Kosinski and cinematographer Claudio Miranda built custom camera rigs to mount inside real F1 cars to capture cockpit shots, tight overtakes, and sweeping circuit views like never before. At times, it feels like you’re strapped into the car yourself. The film was shot during actual race weekends at real F1 circuits, adding a layer of authenticity that’s hard to fake. 

Watching it in IMAX elevates the experience even further. From the piercing whine of the engine to the bone-rattling collisions, the sound design throws you into the visceral chaos of a live Grand Prix. You feel the tremors. You hear the roar of the crowd. You see the heat shimmer rising off the tarmac. There’s also a clear reverence for the sport’s history in the way it’s framed. From subtle nods to the Senna era to liveries that echo iconic team colours, the film captures the spirit of F1 through meticulous, loving detail.

F1 doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to. What it does is deliver an exhilarating ride that balances spectacle with soul. It’s a sports movie that understands the stakes behind every turn, pit stop, and podium finish while still making space for humour, heart, and a touch of cinematic flair. Whether you’re a die-hard fan who can name every team chief or someone who’s never sat through a full race, F1 pulls you straight into the driver’s seat and lets you feel the thrill of the chase.

Rating: 8.5/10

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