F1 - The Film's Highs and Lows

The film premiered in June 2025, starring Brad Pitt; Damson Idris; Kerry Condon and Javier Bardem. It centres around Sonny Hayes, who returns to the sport after a 30-year absence to save his old teammate's underdog team, APXGP, from collapse. The film was directed by Joseph Kosinski, who also worked on Top Gun: Maverick. Seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton, was one of the producers on the film and worked closely with the crew to make it as realistic as possible.

---

What got fans hooked?

The film featured many spectacular racing scenes and visuals. Reviewers widely praised the thrilling, immersive race sequences and the overall cinematic feel. Especially in IMAX or big screens, where the sounds and visuals truly made you feel as if you were inside the car with the drivers. As someone who was fortunate enough to watch it in the cinema, it was such an amazing film and was truly brought to life by Joseph Kosinski. Many audience members would agree and noted how the sound design and camerawork put you in the driver's seat.

Critics have highlighted the film's polished direction, sound, and cinematography, giving it blockbuster energy and pace reminiscent of Top Gun: Maverick. It has been given strong Rotten Tomatoes ratings of 82-88% and has an extremely high audience score of 97%.

For both general audiences and non-F1 fans, this movie is an energetic sports drama with wide appeal. On many occasions, the film leaves you on the edge of your seat wondering what is going to happen next. It leaves the audiences wondering and guessing every step of the way. Some reviews and fan comments noted it could change minds about Formula 1 racing for people who aren't already fans.

What were the drawbacks?

Many critics and diehard fans said the plot was formulaic - echoing standard sport movie beats rather than offering depth of surprising twists. Many people online, on platforms like Reddit, have said the plot line of the movie was very generic and predictable.

Hardcore Formula 1 fans point out technical inaccuracies and unrealistic racing behaviour, making some sequences unfaithful to the real sport. Some fans said it felt way too Hollywood and lacked real strategic or sporting stakes.

Some reviewers criticised the character writing. Saying that some of the emotional arcs and subplots felt forced or underdeveloped. A few mentioned the pacing suffers due to repetitive or weak dramatic beats.

Overall, F1: The Movie is widely seen as a fun, visually thrilling sports drama that excels in style and spectacle. But, it also leans on familiar storytelling and takes creative liberties with Formula 1 that may not satisfy the most hardcore fans. However, the film is a good representation of the drama and tension we see in Formula 1 year on year.