Film Review - F1: The Movie

When it comes to summer blockbusters, this one fits the bill perfectly.

I have to say, this might be the best commercial for Formula 1 ever made. The producers have done a spectacular job showcasing the sport.

There’s a story here too. Formulaic, yes, but that’s not a bad thing. The reason it is a formula is because it works. The classic tension between old and new is front and centre, with the ever-charming veteran Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) squaring off against the cocky, always-distracted newcomer Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). You’ve got a romantic interest in Kate (Kerry Condon) and the wise old mentor in Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), who also serves as the catalyst for the plot.

Ruben kicks things off as the struggling owner of APX, a Formula 1 team on the brink of collapse. Desperate to save it, he reaches out to his old friend Sonny, once a racing star himself, now living a nomad life after a tragic accident that forced him to reassess everything. Ruben’s plea draws Sonny back into the sport, and reluctantly, he agrees to help.

Sonny is your classic broken man in his late fifties, haunted by regrets but still clearly talented at racing. The first thirty minutes do a great job of introducing the characters, even if the beats are predictable. The middle section is where the film stumbles. Not much happens beyond extended racing sequences and the usual interpersonal tensions. I wanted the film to give more time to the supporting cast as that would have made the eventual victory more emotionally satisfying.

The film travels across iconic Formula 1 circuits worldwide and the track scenes are absolutely breathtaking. That’s to be expected with Joseph Kosinski at the helm, the same director behind Top Gun: Maverick. Still, leaning so heavily on the racing to carry the story - especially in the weaker middle - makes the climax less impactful. There’s only so much high-speed adrenaline I can personally take before it starts to become tiresome.

What I did appreciate, especially as someone who doesn’t watch F1, is how the film portrays the sport. It shows racing not just as raw speed but as a game of strategy, teamwork and precision. The attention to on-track technique and behind-the-scenes decision-making adds a layer of depth I didn’t expect.

But the real star of F1: The Movie is the production itself. Every frame is polished to a shine, particularly the many, many branded appearances on wrists, helmets, cars, suits, laptops, phones, even socks. The product placement is so extensive that I wouldn’t be surprised if half the film’s $200 million budget was recouped through sponsorships.

That’s not a criticism, just an observation of how the business works. The film is designed to be a box office hit and it succeeds. It’s got the action, the actors, the soundtrack by Hans Zimmer and just enough plot to string it all together.

Is it worth the ticket price? Absolutely.