F1 (2025)

​“F1” stars Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, Javier Bardem, and Sarah Niles.  Released on June 27, 2025, the film has a Formula One driver mentoring a rookie prodigy.

The film was directed by Joseph Kosinski, who also directed films such as “Tron: Legacy”, “Only the Brave”, “Top Gun: Maverick”, and “Spiderhead”.  Racing competitions may seem boring to watch, considering it’s just a bunch of people driving around the track multiple times.  However, they’re actually quite exhilarating when viewers grasp the perilous risks that drivers face in their quest for victory.  I’m not just talking about the hazards on the tracks but also the racers’ mental challenges outside of them.  The world of Formula Racing exemplifies this, as drivers navigate a high-speed roller coaster where one tiny misstep could result in a loss or much worse.  What better way to immerse yourself in this thrilling pinnacle of motorsport racing than by watching it on the largest screen with impeccable sound quality?  This brings us to the latest sports drama that aims to revive the traditional cinematic experience through its authentic storytelling and stunt work, a strategy that previously benefitted “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Mission: Impossible.”  Of course, the movies I mentioned starred Tom Cruise, whereas this film showcases Brad Pitt in the driver’s seat, aspiring to replicate Cruise’s success with practical summer blockbusters.  Does this theatrical experience have the skills to place itself in the winner’s circle, or does it crash and burn with its overly bloated plot and budget?  Let’s find out.

The story follows Sonny Hayes (Pitt), a renowned Formula One driver who was at the height of his career in the 1990s.  However, his glory days abruptly concluded when a devastating crash forced him to retire from Formula One due to his severe injuries.  Consequently, he now leads a nomadic lifestyle in his minivan, racing in various disciplines as a hired racer.  One day, Sonny is reunited with his closest friend and teammate, Ruben (Bardem), a Formula One team owner, to come out of retirement to race for his Apex Grand Prix team.  In addition to this, Sonny is assigned the role of mentor to a rookie sensation named Joshua Pearce (Idris).  However, tensions between the two gradually rise when Joshua’s arrogance and Sonny’s personal issues begin to affect them, as well as the team.  This escalating conflict threatens both of their careers, which could lead to their downfall or even worse consequences.

I’m not much of a fan of Formula One, nor am I particularly eager to watch its Grand Prix events.  However, I occasionally dabble in racing video games, so I guess that counts for something.  Despite that, “F1” became one of my most anticipated films of the summer, mainly due to the talented crew involved, including director Joseph Kosinski.  Aside from “Spiderhead” and “Oblivion,” Kosinski has consistently delivered incredible cinematic experiences that warrant the big screen treatment, especially with his winning combination of storytelling, authentic visuals, and realistic sound mixing.  One standout example was “Top Gun: Maverick,” which significantly outshone its predecessor, not only through its well-written narrative and characters but also by capturing the genuine magic of a movie-going experience.  Joseph Kosinski, recognized for his expertise in computer graphics and CGI effects, certainly has the right mindset for creating an authentically stunning cinematic experience that can’t be replicated at home.  Trust me, I tried.  This time, Kosinski aimed to replicate that success within the realm of Formula One, a strategy that helped similar racing dramas, notably “Ford v Ferrari”, speed their way to victory.

Regarding the trailers, “F1”, or “F1 the Movie” as the marketing promotes it, certainly appeared that it had a shot at racing towards the forefront of cinematic experiences.  It has the usual authentic sound mixing that puts audiences right into the driver’s seat, paired with a grounded drama narrative that puts the characters front and center amidst the sports action.  Do these elements blend seamlessly enough to form a cinematic race worth competing in?  Absolutely!  Though it may not evoke much emotional resonance, “F1” stands out as a conventional sports blockbuster that adeptly captures the riveting and realistic spectacle of Formula One racing, with its entertaining yet formulaic story trailing closely behind.  More importantly, it’s also another remarkable theatrical experience that justifies the hefty ticket prices, especially when enjoyed on a premium screen such as IMAX.

This was highly evident by the returning duo who made “Top Gun: Maverick” a genuine blockbuster masterpiece: director Joseph Kosinski and writer Ehren Kruger.  For the latter, Kruger had his share of misses in his filmography, particularly his involvement in writing three of the five “Transformers” films for Michael Bay.  However, his work as a co-writer on “Top Gun: Maverick,” which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, appeared to have turned his career around.  As a result, Kruger was once again tasked with providing Kosinski with a script capable of competing with the big leagues in the sports genre.  What we got was a narrative that skids through familiar territories seen in other inspirational sports movies, particularly ones involving racing, but offered enough flair to warrant these tropes.  One of them is the rivalry between Sonny and Joshua, both of whom possess contrasting perspectives of Formula One racing and their hotshot egos.  Sonny’s passion for driving often leads him to take perilous risks that could endanger the team and even himself.  On the other hand, Joshua’s arrogance leads him to believe that he can perform better than everyone else to save his team, particularly his own teammates.  This student/mentor dynamic was particularly compelling as it explored how these differing attitudes place their entire team in jeopardy.  While Sonny’s bravado is tempered by an underlying charm, Joshua’s naivety reveals his struggle to grasp the importance of working together as a team. 

The protagonists, mainly Joshua, represented the film’s examination of what might be termed “sports ego,” in which a specific player, or in this case, racer, gets caught up in being the best or something more personal, losing sight of the broader goals of teamwork and sportsmanship.  Regarding the screenplay, the movie didn’t exactly delve into these themes on an emotional level, occasionally letting its fundamentally formulaic plot elements take the lead.  It’s pretty predictable from a storytelling perspective, but it’s also quite lengthy in its runtime, clocking in at over two and a half hours.  While the pacing managed to grab my full attention, mainly due to the racing sequences and cast, a plot like this would be more comfortable if it were twenty to thirty minutes shorter.  The story also had a romance subplot between Sonny and technical director Kate McKenna, portrayed by Kerry Condom.  Unfortunately, this aspect of the story failed to ignite a spark in their relationship, making it unconvincing, with McKenna’s character feeling somewhat underdeveloped due to the clichéd writing.  Fortunately, Kruger was able to maintain a steady pace through the script's fitting perspective on F1 racing and charismatic character traits.  Not only that, but it’s also effective in its themes of egotism and teamwork, even with its familiar narrative structure, showcasing Kruger’s growth as a screenwriter.

Joseph Kosinski further solidifies his reputation as one of the masters of a “blockbuster experience.”  His directorial approach, characterized by wide-angle cinematography, authentic visuals, and a thrilling atmosphere, immerses viewers with an adrenaline-pumping, up-close-and-personal spectacle that makes audiences feel like they’re part of the action themselves.  This immersive quality was most evident in the film’s racing sequences, which stand as a testament to Kosinski’s preference for practical effects and authentic production design over CGI.  This ensured that each scene maintains the realism of watching F1 competitions from a cinematic viewpoint.  More importantly, they’re highly entertaining in the film's tension-filled suspense, especially when Sonny and Joshua are at each other’s throats.  These scenes benefited greatly from Claudio Miranda’s masterful cinematography, capturing every angle with a smooth, immaculate precision, whether from inside the driver’s seat or the racing tracks themselves.

Sound mixing typically plays a pivotal role in making a racing movie more realistic, making it essential to watch on the largest screen with the best surround sound available.  The auditory experience contributed significantly to the film’s impact of the F1 sequences, capturing the roar of the car’s engines and the thrill of the races with impeccable clarity.  With these expertly integrated elements, “F1” emerges as another cinematic tour de force, combining vintage blockbuster appeal with a grounded sense of realism.  Kosinski ensured that a balance between spectacle and substance didn’t go unchecked before sending it off to race with the big leagues.  Because of this, he crafted another blockbuster that’s grand in its execution, as it is fascinating in its portrayal of the Formula One racing world.

Of course, amid the technical aspects, the film is no cinematic experience without its cast following suit.  Even with the script’s mild shortcomings inside the movie’s engine, the actors carried the momentum through their charisma and dramatic heft to achieve the pole position.  Brad Pitt, in particular, delivered a standout performance, embodying Sonny with a blend of charm and sincerity that transformed the character from merely nomadic and seemingly arrogant to genuinely endearing.  Whenever Pitt pulls out the big guns in his conversations, he never fails to draw up a crowd with his charismatic vibe, but he’s also never afraid to express the nuance of Sonny’s subtlety regarding the character’s background.  The movie also saw Damson Idris returning to the cinematic spotlight, four years after his role in Netflix’s “Outside the Wire” alongside Anthony Mackie.  While that particular movie had some entertaining moments, Idris’s performance left much to be desired.  Thankfully, Idris’s performance in “F1” turned out to be a solid improvement over his previous movie role, reflecting the growth in his acting prowess.  Idris effectively captured the essence of Joshua Pearce’s “hotshot rookie” persona, striking a balance between approachability and an underlying arrogance that created tension and complexity in Pearce’s career trajectory.  This role truly showcased Idris’s development as an actor, likely honed through his varied television works in recent years.  Kerry Condon also did a decent job with her role as Kate.  Although her character’s arc was somewhat underdeveloped, Condon’s talent ensured that her performance was impactful enough to warrant Kate’s existence, even amid the film’s romance subplot.  Similarly, Javier Bardem was consistently engaging as Ruben.  With his blend of charm and gravitas, Bardem once again demonstrated his worth as an actor in the industry, delivering a performance that was both entertaining and nuanced.

Overall, “F1” races to the finish line with its cinematic flair, delivering an exhilarating dose of racing action alongside its entertaining, albeit formulaic, narrative.  Regarding Ehren Kruger’s screenplay and its lengthy runtime, it falls a tad short of the impactful storytelling seen in Kosinski’s “Top Gun: Maverick.”  It was a feat that’s understandably challenging to accomplish, especially given the movie's mixed reactions from motorsport media.  I can mostly understand those concerns, particularly with how Kate McKenna was written to make way for its male leads.  Nevertheless, I still appreciate “F1” from both a cinematic and entertainment perspective, as it provides a conventional yet highly invigorating experience that showcases Kosinski’s authentic blockbuster vision.  With its charismatic cast, masterful direction of the racing sequences, solid script, and exceptional sound mixing, “F1” emerges as another grounded blockbuster that races toward the podium with cinematic precision and high-octane finesse.  If you’re looking for an additional reason to pay a hefty price for a trip to the cinema, this film certainly deserves to be that reason.

B+