F1 Movie Review: Brad Pitt Races to One of His Most Authentic Roles Yet

No CGI, no ego, Brad Pitt brought more than his soul to the role in his recent film. The film showed it was not about showing off F1 cars—it was about the emotions invested in the sport.

Here is our version of the F1 movie review, where Pitt brings real grit to the screen. He shines in this high-octane F1 drama that makes the sport, the film, and himself ‘unforgettable’. 

Plot details of F1 movie

Sonny Hayes (played by Brad Pitt) is a retired Formula 1 driver. He comes back after three decades. He survived a near-fatal crash back then.

He comes back to mentor a young driver, Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), to revive their team APXGP. Ruben (Javier Bardem) is the owner of the team. He was once Sonny’s driving partner. Now, he invites Sonny to save his team with his old-school driving panache.

The film then tells the story of a revival and redemption in terms of Sonny and the team. The hush-speed racing action is unrelenting. It includes intense real-time Formula One driving. Brad Pitt confirmed he drove himself in these scenes. 

Watch the trailer here:

Actors’ performances in F1 movie

Brad Pitt is smooth in his acting in this movie. He is cool. He is calm yet powerful. He smiles and keeps his nerves composed even in front of the media. The best part? He knows when to smile. Why do I say that? Because he keeps pointing to Joshua, “What are you smiling at?” It is not our victory yet, Pitt’s Sonny reminds him. He knows his timing. Fantastic!

He has done plenty of films before, but this one hit hard somehow. There was something more mature and captivating than the rest of his performances that showed his star power with authenticity. He is both relatable and compelling. He showed a person who had seen a downfall up close. This person did not hesitate to make a comeback, even when it involves high stakes.

He is quietly wrestling with his personal demons but stays casual with everyone like a pro. His easy charm and emotional core bring new joy to the story.

On the other hand, Damson Idris demonstrates a young driver, full of energy and eager to prove himself. He is emotional as well, but quick to show them.  He is a rookie and showcases his acting range. Alongside Brad Pitt, it is a major step in his acting career, strengthening his potential. 

Moreover, Kerry Condon and Javier Bardem are superb as well. Bardem shows an intelligent team owner who is doing all he can for his team to win. Condon is a tough technical expert and is crucial for her team’s victory. 

What do critics add to F1 movie review?

A positive critics’ consensus is seen on Rotten Tomatoes, which says, 

“Driven by Brad Pitt’s laidback magnetism and sporting a souped-up engine courtesy of Joseph Kosinski’s kinetic direction, F1 The Movie brings vintage cool across the finish line.”  [Source]

The critics all agreed on one thing- the flick is quite thrilling, especially when it is helmed by Konsinski. Pitt is cocky and carefree, which makes his character interesting, the critics believe. 

The camera placements within the vehicle give a real feel to the flick. It promises not to rely heavily on special effects. Therefore, the racing sequences were so full of life. 

Fans reaction

Fans are ecstatic after watching a movie that was worthy of a cinematic experience. Brad Pitt was loud and generated ‘cool’ vibes. Some of the fans even cried in the cinema. Several of them mentioned that they liked everything about it- the music, the racing, the plot, and the characters.

They did not feel disappointed and thought their two-and-a-half hours were thankfully not wasted. 

Is it worth watching?

YES, YES, YES! A veteran actor, now portraying a veteran racer, shows that he is aging gracefully. It is one of the most legitimate performances that I have seen of him in years. He is just a relaxed, speedy racer who knows his game. He is not as furious as the young blood, Damson Idris, who plays Joshua Pearce.

 

 

 

 

 

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Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes does not appear boastful or proud, even for a split second. He knows he was the best thirty years ago. His accident led him to stop racing in F1. He is a confident, macho man who knows his every move is calculated and believes in it.

He knows he can give his best when he is not driving but ‘flying’. His presence, gait, and dialogue delivery were all full of panache, which gave a bold performance on screen. And we loved it!

I am not an F1 fan, but Sonny made me enjoy every bit of it. One good thing about the movie that doubled the fun was the adrenaline rush we experienced from several races. It was a good thing that the director thought of pouring tons of action through a plethora of races. The final race in Abu Dhabi was critical for the team. It took our intrigue levels through the roof.

I do not know much about F1 sport. I am not familiar with its jargon. Still, I was absolutely hooked on the entire race sequence. I wanted to see whether Sonny and his team would win. I was even interested in whether his partner Joshua would win. It was surprising to see Sonny’s concern. He sat in the car without his card in his pocket. Was it his superstition?

The director told British GQ something about Sonny’s ritual of playing cards before each race. He said,

“I think it comes from doing something where you are putting your life at risk every day…Brad also has superstitions. He would only get into the car from the left side. First, he had to put one shoe on and then the other.” [Source]

His father was a gambler, and he wanted to stay connected to his roots. It was also about taking risks. He gambled with what life offered at each lap of his race. Each mile was full of deadly turns. 

What we liked

• Brad Pitt’s effortlessly charismatic performance 
• Authentic racing sequences 
• Emotional core of the story
• Strong supporting cast 
• Direction and visual style

What could be better

• Deeper backstory for Sonny
• More exploration of Sonny’s use of cards as a subplot 

Our rating: 7.5

Is F1 movie available for streaming?

F1 movie (PG-13) is now running in cinemas only, distributed by Warner Bros. It is not available for online streaming at the moment. 

Genre: Car action, motorsport, drama

IMDb rating: 7.9

Rotten Tomatoes: 83 percent on Tomatometer (critics’ score) and 97 percent on Popcornmeter

Cast: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem, Tobias Menzies, Sarah Niles

Director: Joseph Konsinski

Writers: Joseph Konsinski, Ehren Kruger

Producers:  Joseph Konsinski, Jerry Bruckheimer, Lewis Hamilton, Brad Pitt, Jeremy Kleiner, Dede Gardner, Chad Oman

Release date: June 27, 2025

Movie runtime: 2 hours 35 minutes

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