“What’s wrong with golf or tennis?” Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem) says to Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) as he lies on the hospital bed after a crash. This is the exact spirit I expected as I sat down for Joseph Kosinski’s F1 The Movie, headlined by Brad Pitt. The visual race track presented speed, spectacle, and pure adrenaline. Filmed at real circuits like Silverstone, Monza, Las Vegas, and Abu Dhabi, the movie captures every rev, roar, and screech with cinematic brilliance. Here’s the review!
F1 The Movie Review
What’s It About? (Duh)
Sonny Hayes, played by Brad Pitt, is the grizzled ex-Formula 1 racer whose career ‘never was’ because of a tragic crash in the 90s. The rugged gambler living in his van after losing all his money calls for a redemption arc in front of the world again. After being persuaded to join his failing F1 team, Apex GP, Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), Sonny comes back to mentor rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris).
The overconfident rookie and stuck in the past 90s champion is the is classic sports‑movie material: familiar, earnest, but effective. Kate (Kerry Kodon) is the tech-savvy engineer responsible for APX GP to survive; Sonny and his team must finish in the top ten in the following nine races. How Hayes helps his friend keep his team, navigate his way through brutal crashes, while also trying to change the narrative, is what forms the story.
Racing Visuals
If you’re chasing the instinctive thrill of F1, the film is your checkered flag. The cinematography thrusts you directly into the driver’s seat, feeling the G‑forces and the tension of split-second decisions. Hans Zimmer’s orchestral storm, interwoven with real engine growls, underscores the pulse-pounding sequences like a well-timed pit stop. You feel every turn, crash, and overtake. Watch it in the IMAX for a better experience.
What Worked
While F1 The Movie is driven by its jaw-dropping visuals, it’s the cast that keeps it on track. Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes gives us a reliably magnetic performance, a retired racing legend pulled back into the sport to mentor the next generation. He balances grizzled charm with emotional restraint, never overplaying the drama but carrying it with believable weight. Damson Idris, as rookie driver Joshua Pearce, is a standout for us! His intensity and vulnerability bring authenticity to the underdog narrative. Kerry Condon adds sharpness and warmth as the team’s lead engineer, while Javier Bardem brings his usual unpredictable flair as the team principal.
That said, the story itself coasting more than it accelerates. The plot follows familiar sports film tropes—redemption arcs, mentor-mentee bonding, high-stakes races—but doesn’t dive deep into the emotional mechanics behind them. Still, the characters are engaging enough to make you root for them, even if the script occasionally runs on autopilot. F1’s biggest drivers, like Carlos Sainz, Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, and Toto Wolff cameos, made it more engaging.
Also Read: These 6 Formula 1 Films Will Get You Hyped For Brad Pitt’s F1 Movie
What Didn’t
The film could’ve had more actual racing sequences instead of relying heavily on dramatic crashes for tension. A deeper dive into the strategy and the psychological pressure of the sport would’ve been a cherry on the cake. While the action dazzles, the film misses the opportunity to explore the full spectrum of Formula 1’s complexity. More balance between spectacle and substance could have elevated the story beyond the surface.
Final Verdict
F1 The Movie revs past expectations with its breathtaking visuals, immersive sound, and charismatic leads. It may not reinvent the wheel, but it barrels down the track with the gusto of a pit‑lane sprint—an entertaining leap for F1 on the big screen.
Also Read: Brad Pitt, Ines de Ramon Clicked At Premiere Of Actor’s Film F1. They Look Breathtaking!