Buckle up: F1 The Movie is all about speed, rivalry and redemption

When Brad Pitt suits up for a comeback, expectations run high. In F1: The Movie, Pitt returns to the big screen as Sonny Hayes, a retired Formula 1 driver pulled back into the sport to mentor a promising rookie.

What unfolds is a fast-paced, visually thrilling story of redemption, mentorship and motorsport mayhem that hits the throttle from start to finish.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the movie tells the story of two drivers – one with a storied past, the other just beginning to carve his legacy.

Pitt’s Hayes is a washed-up legend with a bruised ego and plenty to prove, while Damson Idris shines as Joshua Pearce, a rising star with raw talent and a chip on his shoulder. Together, they race for APXGP, a fictional underdog team trying to make a dent in a sport dominated by motorsport giants.

The pairing sparks a classic “passing the torch” dynamic: Pitt, grizzled and world-weary; Idris, hungry and impulsive. Their chemistry anchors the film, and while the screenplay does not dig too deeply into either man’s psyche, the actors elevate it with raw charisma.

Photo by Warner Bros

Pitt is magnetic in his most grounded performance in years, while Idris, as Pearce, brings real depth to a role that could have been cliché.

What truly sets F1 apart is its astonishing realism. Kosinski and cinematographer Claudio Miranda filmed at real Grand Prix races—from Silverstone to Spa to Abu Dhabi—over two seasons.

The racing sequences are filmed not with green screen trickery but using actual modified Formula 2 cars piloted by the actors themselves.

Cameras are mounted inside cockpits, putting the audience inches from the driver’s helmet at 200+ mph. It’s dizzying, immersive, and frequently breathtaking.

Thanks to producer Lewis Hamilton, who also advised on technical racing authenticity, the film avoids the usual Hollywood stylisation of motorsports.

Photo by Warner Bros

Instead, we get the sounds, sweat, and stakes of real F1—vibrating gear shifts, tense pit-wall chatter, and the relentless pressure of shaving milliseconds off every lap.

Kosinski’s slick direction prioritises feel and flow over character nuance. The film looks incredible—gleaming cars under desert lights, slow-motion tyre changes, rain-drenched corners—but emotional complexity sometimes takes a back seat.

Moments that should land with emotional force (like Hayes confronting his past or Pearce wrestling with fear) skim the surface.

Javier Bardem and Kerry Condon (as APXGP’s brilliant technical director) both shine in roles that bring personality to the paddock.

Photo by Warner Bros

Bardem infuses Ruben with charm and desperation, while Condon adds sharpness and wit. But other supporting characters, including rival drivers and sponsors, are mostly window dressing.

And herein lies the main critique: F1 doesn’t quite break new ground narratively. At its heart, it’s another underdog story—complete with a last-lap climax—that leans on familiar sports movie tropes. What makes it different is not what it tells, but how it tells it.

As someone who could not care less about Formula 1 races before, I now have a newfound appreciation for the sport. Thanks to the movie, if you do decide to make the trip to the cinema, go for the technical—jaw-dropping visuals that put you directly in the cockpit, showcasing the visceral thrill of Formula 1 like no film before.

The real-world immersion makes it a must-see for motorsport fans and IMAX junkies.

But if you want a deep character study movie where you want to dissect character motives and plots, this is not the movie for you. However, the movie is smartly crafted, and a pulse-pounding ride with enough emotional fuel to keep it grounded.

However, if speed, sweat, shiny cars, and a very fit sixty-something Brad Pitt is your thing, F1 delivers lap after lap.

And yes, it does have some flashes of thoughtful meditation on ageing, legacy and fear—but who cares, right? F1: The Movie is now playing in theatres worldwide. IMAX recommended.