F1: The Movie — Engines Blaze, Bonds Form, and a New Era of Racing Ignites to Life

Directed by: Joseph Kosinski

Starring: Damson Idris, Brad Pitt, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, Kim Bodnia, Lewis Hamilton, and Javier Bardem

Rating: PG-13

Run Time: 156 mins

Release date: June 27th, 2025

Opening: Establishing the Veteran and the Rookie

I went into this screening totally blind, and I’m glad I did, it let me really take in just how good of a blockbuster F1: The Movie is.

Right from the jump, we meet Brad Pitt’s Sonny Hayes: a freelance driver, racing legend with rockstar swagger, and the weariness of someone who’s spent too many seasons chasing checkered flags. The film sets him up perfectly—media chaos, tense track moments, and quiet rituals in his van as he shuffles cards and picks one unseen. Pitt absolutely owns this role, making Sonny the kind of cool, unbothered veteran you can’t help but root for. Sonny’s long past caring about fame or money; he’s in it for the thrill and the craft. That all shifts when he’s pulled back into F1 by an old friend and former teammate, Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), to race for his team and partner up with a hungry young driver, Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris).

Joshua Pearce is a hungry rookie with a big social following and a deep bond with his mom—someone just as hooked on the spotlight as he is on winning. Pearce feels like Willie Beamen 2.0 (yeah, Jamie Foxx in Any Given Sunday), all raw instincts and drive to prove he belongs in a sport that was never built with him in mind. Idris nails it; you feel the stakes every time he suits up, needing to show Sonny—and the world—that while he might be the past, Pearce is the future.

Their first meeting is marked by tension, as the old guard sizes up the new kid, both wary yet quietly curious. It’s a dynamic less about who racks up more wins and more about what they learn from each other off-track. Sonny’s old rituals are a small but telling thing—even at the top, drivers hold on to superstitions because it’s the only way to feel a bit in control. Pearce watches, skeptical yet intrigued, eager to soak up anything that might give him an edge.

It’s kind of like if Kobe and Jordan ended up teammates, mentor and rival at once, pushing each other’s buttons because deep down, they’re more alike than either wants to admit. Sonny sees Pearce’s raw talent and fire, maybe even tries to steer him away from the same mistakes that once stunted his growth. That clash, paired with their quick wit and undeniable chemistry, is what gives this film its real heartbeat.

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Behind the Wheel: Racing and Sound That Hits You

There’s one thing I’ll say about director Joseph Kosinski and cinematographer Claudio Miranda: they’re a winning team (they also gave us the stunning visuals in Top Gun: Maverick back in 2024). When it comes to crafting IMAX-worthy shots, these two don’t miss. The cockpit angles practically press you against the glass, tire smoke unfurls in widescreen glory, and pit stops play out like dance numbers where every split-second counts. At one point, I even caught myself leaning my body like I was actually behind the wheel.
But it’s the sound design that seals the deal. Engines rumble with real heft, tires screech through corners, radio chatter cuts through tense silences, and those brief pauses right before disaster? They make your heart race—mine sure did.

Hans Zimmer’s score ties it all together nicely. Every moment feels dialed in, whether it’s Pearce sharing a private scene with his mother scored to Afro-beats, or the lead actors tearing down the track to pulse-pounding music that keeps the audience right on the edge. Together, the visuals and sound remind us why racing on film can be just as thrilling—if not more—as any big-budget action sequence.

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Inclusion and Diversity on the Team

What feels especially timely is how the film shows the team behind the cars: a diverse crew of engineers, mechanics, and strategists. Kerry Condon’s Kate McKenna, the APXGP technical director, stands out as sharp and confident, while Abdul Salis brings an easygoing vibe as Dodge Dowda, the fun-loving chief mechanic.

I also love how the film plays with the attraction between Kate and Sonny—it’s this forbidden thing that quietly builds. Kate tries to keep it strictly professional, worried it’ll jeopardize her reputation and authority. But Sonny (or maybe just the moment itself) finds a way to break down that wall.

The film doesn’t beat you over the head with it, but it does give a real sense of what it’s like for a driver from an underrepresented background to navigate unspoken barriers. It mirrors the bigger conversations happening around diversity in elite sports—something seven-time F1 world champion, actor, producer, and advocate Lewis Hamilton has been pushing for his entire career.

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Legacy, Mothers, and Facing the Mirror

Pearce’s story stays grounded through his mother, Bernadette Pearce (Sara Niles). Her constant encouragement, quiet worries, and reminders to keep his morals front and center make it clear his victories aren’t just about personal glory—they’re tied to family and the whole team.

Sonny, meanwhile, is wrestling with his own legacy: fame that feels hollow, rivalries that left scars, and the haunting question of when it’s time to step aside. You see it in those quiet, late-night moments when he’s alone, replaying the crash that nearly ended everything. He doesn’t want that same fate for Pearce—he’d rather see him thrive than be injured.

Bardem gives a solid turn as Ruben Cervantes, the APXGP team owner, fighting to keep his crew afloat. Ruben’s slick, maybe even a bit desperate, banking on Sonny to help him survive the season’s nine races and avoid a sell-off. But it’s not just business—there’s real history and loyalty here, and you see how much Ruben struggles to balance his love for the sport with the weight of family and friendship.

And then there’s Tobias Menzies, stealing scenes as Peter Banning, a board member whose shady, conniving moves make him the perfect antagonist. You can’t help but loathe him, which only proves how good Menzies is at what he does.

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Learning F1 Without Feeling Lectured

A risk in any sports film is the dreaded info-dump, but here, you pick up F1 mechanics naturally. Need to grasp DRS zones, tire compounds, or the tension between engineers and drivers? It’s built into the character moments and race-day pressure. You walk away more informed without ever feeling like you sat through a lecture.

Honestly, it even made me want to dive deeper into how these machines work and what’s going on in the minds of the people who build and race them. I found myself curious about the car’s model and drag. That balance of teaching through story is one of the film’s biggest strengths.

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Verdict: A Must-Watch in IMAX

F1: The Movie isn’t just for racing fans—it’s a solid action sports story with some flaws, but still absolutely worth catching in theaters. Sure, Sonny’s motivations could’ve been more precise, and there are a few injury recoveries that stretch believability, but overall, it’s entertaining as hell. Brad Pitt and Damson Idris have a chemistry that makes you root for both their wins and their personal growth. The immersive driving scenes, killer sound design, and a score that pulls you in keep the adrenaline high.

Seen in IMAX, F1: The Movie is a must-watch: a thrill ride, humor, and the bittersweet truth of what it means to chase glory. Whether you’re a longtime F1 fan or someone who’s never heard “pole position” before, this film hooks you from the first engine roar to the final checkered flag. I give this film an 8/10.