He’s not F3, not F2—he’s F1. Brad Pitt speed-races back to the big screen in F1, a sleek sports drama directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick), with a screenplay by Ehren Kruger and a story crafted by both, produced by legendary blockbuster architect Jerry Bruckheimer. The trio, who previously made jets cool again—now turn their sights to Formula 1, trading skies for tracks without losing a single ounce of adrenaline.
We’re introduced to Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a once-promising racer turned washed-up recluse, now living in a beat-up van and sustaining himself on PB&J, ice rinses, and rugged morning workouts. He’s far from the glory days, but after a win at the 24 Hours of Daytona, Sonny is approached by his former teammate Rubén Cervantes (Javier Bardem). The two were once F1’s golden boys; until Sonny’s reckless driving style led to a career-ending crash, derailing his dreams and leaving him spiraling into gambling, divorce, and mediocrity. Rubén, on the other hand, became a team owner and now runs APXGP F1, a team that’s $315 million in debt and one bad race away from being sold off entirely.
Rubén offers Sonny a chance to climb back into the driver’s seat and it is not just, but a gamble. But Rubén makes a strong case: “People already think you’re a broke man in a van. All you need is one win.” And just like that, Sonny’s redemption arc is in motion, alongside APXGP’s.
Reentering the track decades later, Sonny is partnered with hotshot rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). Joshua’s fast, fiery, and everything Sonny used to be. When asked why he chose racing, Joshua quips, “Money, fame, and free clothes.” Although, beneath that Gen-Z stride, lies a legacy: his passion is inherited from his father, something revealed in a touching exchange with his mother, Bernadette (Sarah Niles). He’s not just racing for himself, he’s racing for history.
At first, Sonny and Joshua clash. Joshua mocks Sonny for being “geriatric,” while Sonny sees in Joshua a younger version of himself that he’s not entirely proud of. Their egos cause friction, nearly tanking the team. But the irony? The very things they hate in each other are what they share: stubbornness, raw talent, and a hunger to win. The generational gap is played cleverly throughout, especially in how each man handles the media. Joshua can’t stay off his phone, scrolling for clout and criticism. Sonny, not a screen in sight, he’s old-school, and proudly so.
Eventually, the two reach an inevitable, but satisfying, breakthrough. Sonny becomes Joshua’s mentor, offering advice like, “It’s just outside noise. Put your head down and drive.” And when Joshua finally echoes that mindset, “The media, engagement, followers—it’s all just noise. I’ve gotta focus on the race,” you feel the emotional shift. “Three laps is a lifetime. Go win this thing.” They’re no longer competitors, but teammates and that’s when the magic happens.
The film also teases a romance between Sonny and team director Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon), the first woman to hold the title. Their chemistry is enjoyable, but the subplot feels a bit wedged in especially since Joshua doesn’t get a parallel arc. Rumor has it Simone Ashley was originally cast as his love interest, but her role was reduced to a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo. The lack of a romantic subplot for Joshua, especially with a POC love interest feels like a missed opportunity. Viewers deserved a gentle POC love as did Ashley deserved more than background actor treatment.
At its core, F1 is about two very different drivers learning that greatness isn’t about age or Instagram followers but it’s about resilience, humility, and knowing when to let someone else take the wheel. Sonny says, “I was next, and then it was all taken away. I lost my seat, my money, my sanity. I didn’t really lose the titles, records, or trophies—but my love for racing. So I started driving. Didn’t matter the car, the circuit, who was watching—I was driving. I was good.” That’s the emotional engine of this film: the idea that purpose can still exist after the pit stops of life.
The racing sequences, thanks to real F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, who helped oversee the production (and yes he does make an appearance in the film), are genuinely exhilarating. The sound design rumbles through your seat; the score thunders across theater walls; and the in-car POV shots of Pitt and Idris deliver a front-row ticket to the thrill of the sport. While the script plays it a bit safe and some lines flirt with cheesiness (“Sometimes when you win, you lose. It’s the Sun effect”), the emotional resonance and star power make up for the predictability.
Damson Idris more than holds his own alongside Brad Pitt, proving he’s not just leading man material, he’s box office material. And in many ways, F1 feels like Pitt’s meta moment: a story about aging out of your prime and still finding a way to matter. Joshua’s line, “I’m going to win a million races. You should at least have one” hits harder when you think about Hollywood itself. Pitt, a generational icon, passing the torch to Idris, who’s just getting started.
F1 turned me from a race track rookie into a full-blown Formula convert. It’s a high-speed, high-stakes, heart-hitting story about comebacks, collisions, and crossing the finish line together.
