Brad Pitt and Damson Idris steer this dynamic, fast-paced feature film. Our JP gives his take on “F1® The Movie.”
F1® THE MOVIE
Warner Bros. Pictures / Apple Original Films
- Directed by Joseph Kosinski
- Screenplay by Ehren Kruger
- Story by Joseph Kosinski, Ehren Kruger
- Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Joseph Kosinski, Lewis Hamilton, Brad Pitt, Karan Johar, Dede Gardner, Chad Oman
- Starring Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, Javier Bardem
Studio Synopsis:
From Apple Original Films and the filmmakers from “Top Gun: Maverick” comes the high-octane, action-packed feature film “F1,” starring Brad Pitt and directed by Joseph Kosinski. The film is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Kosinski, seven-time FORMULA 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Chad Oman. Dubbed “the greatest that never was,” Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) was FORMULA 1’s most promising phenom of the 1990s until an accident on the track nearly ended his career. Thirty years later, he’s a nomadic racer-for-hire when he’s approached by his former teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), owner of a struggling FORMULA 1 team that is on the verge of collapse. Ruben convinces Sonny to come back to FORMULA 1 for one last shot at saving the team and being the best in the world. He’ll drive alongside Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris, “Snowfall”), the team’s hotshot rookie intent on setting his own pace. But as the engines roar, Sonny’s past catches up with him and he finds that in FORMULA 1, your teammate is your fiercest competition—and the road to redemption is not something you can travel alone.
JP’s Take:
The world of auto racing is truly one of the most exhilarating sports in the world. With drivers speeding around the track at 200+ MPH, it also ranks among the most perilous activities out there. From a young age, I’ve been captivated by the excitement of F1, Le Mans, IndyCar, and more, often daydreaming of gripping the wheel of a fast machine myself. I’ve even attended some amateur races when I was a kid. It’s a dazzling mix of glamour and high stakes, where every race is charged with vigor.
However, racing is not solely about cutting-edge cars and blistering speeds. It encompasses the relentless effort, commitment, and emotional highs and lows that come with the territory. The journey of a driver is marked by countless hours of practice, teamwork, and the pursuit of perfection, all while navigating the intense pressure of competition.
Every race tells a story filled with triumphs and challenges, while showcasing the passion that drives both the drivers and their teams. The drama on and off the track keeps fans like me coming back for more and eager to witness the next chapter in this stirring saga.
“F1® THE MOVIE” tells the chronicle of a champion who never was by centering on Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a dedicated former race car driver with a tragic past. Once a rising star in the Formula 1 racing arena, Hayes’ career was abruptly halted by a devastating crash that left him near death. Enter Hayes’ former Lotus teammate and friend, Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), now team owner of APXGP, who offers Hayes a second chance at victory as Sonny struggles to put his life back together. Sonny’s second chance comes with a catch: he must team up with a rookie driver named Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). While Joshua has impressive talent, he still needs to polish his skills. Meanwhile, APXGP is currently facing financial difficulties and urgently needs funding and sponsorships to remain competitive in the F1 scene.
The dynamics between Pearce and Hayes are electrifying to watch. You take Sonny Hayes — the once promising Jedi Knight of F1, now a grizzled yet still viable racer — jockeying for position with a young, highly skilled newbie who has yet to win a race. Each of them has something to prove as they tango on and off the track in a game of who can outrace who. As they work together, they discover more about each other, and their professional bond deepens alongside their personal connection. There’s a sweet, developing romance between Hayes and Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon), the technical director and chief engineer. It feels natural and genuine, while avoiding any clichés or forced moments. There is also villainy afoot, when one of Ruben’s co-chair members tries to pull a fast one on him and the team, making Ruben question the loyalty of his business partners.
With a film titled “F1,” you can bet your bottom dollar that you’ll witness some of the most gripping racing shots known to the big screen. The sound of the engines of these hypercars is beastly, not to mention the in-your-face approach director Joseph Kosinski (the director of “Tron: Legacy,” “Oblivion,” “Only the Brave,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” and “Spiderhead”) takes in presenting these autos in motion. The action was invigorating, as I sat on pins and needles watching the tit-for-tat on the racing circuit. These are some of the moments I found myself dictating to the characters on the screen as to how they should make their moves.
In addition to Pitt, Idris, Condon, and Bardem, the cast includes: Tobias Menzies portraying Peter Banning, a member of the APXGP board; Kim Bodnia as Kaspar Smolinski, the team principal of APXGP; Sarah Niles in the role of Bernadette Pearce, who is Pearce’s mother; Will Merrick as Nickleby Hayes’ race engineer for APXGP; Joseph Balderrama playing Rico Fazio, Pearce’s race engineer at APXGP; Abdul Salis as Dodge Dowda, the chief mechanic for APXGP; Callie Cooke as Jodie, the tire gunner for pit stops at APXGP; Samson Kayo as Cashman, who is Pearce’s cousin and manager; Shea Whigham as Chip Hart, the owner of Chip Hart Racing; and Luciano Bacheta as Luca Cortez, a reserve driver for APXGP.
If you’ve ever attended a racing event, you understand the excitement of watching powerful machines in action, whether live or on TV. This film takes you beyond just observing; it puts you right in the driver’s seat, allowing you to feel the intensity of the race. The story, as a whole, plays out like a mini sports exposé — chronicling the drama, the pitfalls, and the rise to fame and fortune — all in a 2-hour, 36 minute time frame.
Although I’m not able to attend mega events like F1 or others I’ve mentioned above, “F1® THE MOVIE” is the closest to the real deal as I’ll get for now. This movie is such a blast! I might even catch it more than once.
Official Site: F1
