The road to redemption goes 200 mph. Brad Pitt steps into the cockpit for a high-octane crowd-pleaser that dares to mix grit with glory.
🏎️ Back on Track
Director Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) brings the same kinetic realism and mechanical awe to F1, a sleek sports drama fueled by style, speed, and sentiment. Think Days of Thunder by way of Creed, with IMAX shots that practically put you behind the wheel.
The story follows Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a former Formula 1 prodigy who vanished from the scene after a devastating crash in the ’90s. Thirty years later, he’s living out of his van, racing where he can, and staying far from the spotlight—until a desperate team owner (Javier Bardem) convinces him to race again, mentoring rookie phenom Joshua Pierce (Damson Idris).
It’s a classic sports story. Washed-up legend. Brash rookie. One last shot. And it works.
⚡ The Apex Effect
What really sets F1 apart isn’t the script—which plays it safe—but the experience.
Every race is a visceral event. Shot on-location during real Grand Prix weekends, Kosinski and cinematographer Claudio Miranda use a mix of GoPros, drones, and cockpit cams to create some of the most immersive racing scenes ever filmed. This is as close to driving an F1 car as most of us will ever get.
Hans Zimmer’s pulsing score pushes the adrenaline higher, and the sound design makes every gear shift and tire squeal feel seismic. If you’re going to see this, see it in IMAX.
📽 The Drivers and the Drama
- Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes: Magnetic as ever, Pitt plays Sonny with a weary charisma. He may not stretch too far emotionally, but he knows exactly how to command a screen.
- Damson Idris as Joshua Pierce: Electric. He nails the arrogance and vulnerability of a young driver on the edge of greatness. This should be a career-launcher.
- Javier Bardem as the desperate team owner: Funny, tragic, and relentlessly human. One of the film’s secret weapons.
- Kerry Condon as the team engineer: Grounded and sharp. Her chemistry with Pitt adds an undercurrent of tension, even if the romantic subplot feels unnecessary.
The team dynamics echo Ford v Ferrari, with pit crew politics, engineering gambles, and strategy battles offering a deeper view of the sport. Thankfully, there’s no cartoon villainy here—just professionals trying to win.
✨ Spoiler-Free Pit Stop
This movie knows what it is. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel—it just makes sure every turn is tight, every gear change hits, and every emotional beat lands hard enough to matter.
It’s longer than it needs to be (2h 36m), and the third act drags a touch, but when it counts, F1 sticks the landing.
⛽ Spoiler Section – The Final Lap
Ready? Helmet on.
Yes, Sonny wins. He doesn’t die. He doesn’t crash. The movie fakes us out with a potential health scare, blurry vision, and a “could be fatal” condition—but thankfully, it avoids melodrama. He gets his redemption lap.
Joshua Pierce grows up too, shifting from selfish hotshot to a true team player. There’s some shake-and-bake strategy near the end, with Sonny holding back opponents so Pierce can surge ahead—until a collision knocks both frontrunners out and Sonny takes the win by inches.
No sabotage. No evil rivals. Just smart racing.
Also: yes, there’s a poker scene. Yes, Brad Pitt folds a winning hand to let the kid have a moment. Yes, it’s kind of cheesy. But it works.
✅ What Works
- Outstanding racing cinematography
- Killer score and sound design
- Brad Pitt and Damson Idris have legit chemistry
- Believable portrayal of team dynamics and F1 culture
- A satisfying, emotional ending that earns its big finish
❌ What Doesn’t
- Formulaic structure (you’ve seen this story before)
- A romantic subplot that feels tacked on
- Overlong runtime, especially in the second act
- Not enough risk in the storytelling—it plays very safe
F1: F1 might not reinvent the genre, but it's the most thrilling racing film since Ford v Ferrari and a true theatrical event. Kosinski delivers on what he does best: immersive, high-stakes spectacle with just enough heart to matter. – Asmodeus
