We are so back—and I mean it.
I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun at the movies—F1 The Movie is everything I needed from a summer blockbuster.
F1 The Movie is an absolute blast. It grips you from the first lap and doesn’t let go. With breathtaking camerawork and fast-paced editing, it throws you into the driver’s seat—every turn, every swerve, every tire squeal felt deep in your chest. Backed by Hans Zimmer’s insane score and what might be the best soundtrack of the year (I can't stop listening to it), F1 The Movie isn’t just a sports drama movie—it’s a full-throttle cinematic experience.
The story follows Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a former Formula 1 driver who rose to fame in the 1990s. After an unexpected turn forces him into early retirement, he spirals into gambling and starts racing across different disciplines, including NASCAR.
After the 24 Hours of Daytona, Sonny hits the road in search of his next adrenaline rush. Along the way, an old friend, Ruben (Javier Bardem), offers him a chance to race in his F1 team, APXGP. Hesitant at first, Sonny is given a plane ticket to London in case he changes his mind. After Ruben leaves the diner, Sonny asks the waitress, “Close friend of yours made you an offer that was 100% positively too good to be true, what do you do?” She replies, “How much are we talking about?” Sonny tells her it’s not about the money, and she responds, “What is it about then?”
Sonny doesn’t race for the money or the fame—he races for the thrill. It’s all about the emotion the adrenaline stirs in him. There’s a moment in the movie when he explains why he races—he’s chasing that moment when everything goes silent when it feels like he’s flying. And it lands, because that’s exactly how real F1 drivers describe it. That’s the magic. That’s the high.
When Sonny arrives in London, tensions quickly rise between him and his new teammate, Joshua “JP” Pearce (Damson Idris). Sonny sees JP as an arrogant, hot-headed rookie, while JP sees Sonny as a washed-up know-it-all who refuses to listen. Working together doesn’t come easily—cars crash, voices are raised, and egos collide both on and off the paddock. Even in training, their differences are obvious. JP relies on cutting-edge tech and high-intensity routines to sharpen his skills and build endurance, while Sonny sticks to old-school methods: a deck of cards, a couple of tennis balls, and running circuits. Their clash runs deep, reflecting not just how they race but who they are.
But it’s not just about the two of them. The entire APXGP team starts out in disarray—disorganized, tense, and struggling to find any rhythm (who can blame them? They’ve never finished a race in the top ten, which isn’t good for APXGP). At first, no one is truly on the same page. But as the season unfolds, cracks begin to mend. Slowly, they learn to work together. For Hayes and Pearce, that turning point comes when they realize they share more than they thought. Beneath their rivalry lies a quiet, mutual wound: both lost their fathers when they were young. That grief, though only briefly mentioned, feels like the core of what drives them, shaping who they are, and deep down, why they race.
Yet even with that shared past, their visions of racing couldn’t be more different. Sonny wants none of the spotlight or spectacle; he races with quiet focus, for the thrill, how it makes him feel (probably driven by a need to make his father proud—and maybe, to prove something to himself). JP, in contrast, is all about the hustle. He’s always on his phone, building his brand, chasing clout, smiling for cameras (even when there’s nothing to smile about), partying, and locking down endorsement deals. For him, Formula 1 is more than just racing—it’s a path to fame, wealth, and recognition.
But somewhere between the races, late nights, and inevitable setbacks, something shifts. Their rivalry softens into something more layered—frustration gives way to understanding, and competition turns into connection. They begin to challenge each other’s beliefs, hold each other accountable, and push one another to be better, not just as drivers, but as people. By the end, what began as a fractured partnership becomes a true team, built on respect and growth.
With F1 The Movie, Joseph Kosinski once again delivers the summer’s ultimate blockbuster (our dads’ new favorite movie is about to drop). With sharp, immersive camerawork, he makes us feel like we’re right there in the middle of the action with Hayes and Pearce. The camera placement during the Grand Prix scenes is pitch-perfect, capturing the energy and angles of a real broadcast—but this time, it’s on the biggest screen you could ask for (the things I would give to watch the races in IMAX every Sunday). I was on the edge of my seat for the entire 156 minutes—and don’t be scared by the runtime; it flies by as fast as an F1 car.
Another thing I absolutely loved about the movie is the way it handles the race sequences. Even if some might feel they run a little long, the movie actually lets us see the races—and that adds so much to the experience. They’re not just edited into montages set to music or reduced to a few dramatic highlights. Instead, the movie gives us time to settle into each race, to feel what it’s like to be on the paddock, and to experience the pressure in real time. You get to understand how it all works—from the pit crews to the strategy calls—and see the work behind every lap. That immersive approach makes every race feel earned, and it pulls you deeper into the world of F1.
I can’t finish this review without mentioning Kerry Condon’s character, Kate. She plays the technical director of APXGP—and the first woman to hold that position in Formula 1. Honestly, it’s one of the most badass parts of the movie. I love that they gave this critical role to a woman, especially since, in real life, no woman has held the position of technical director yet (though many would be more than qualified to do so).
Women have made major contributions to the F1 world, and it’s important to recognize that. Susie Wolff, for example, is the Managing Director of the F1 Academy—a female-only, Formula 4-level racing series launched by Formula One Group. Hannah Schmitz is the Principal Strategy Engineer at Red Bull Racing. And Laura Muller recently became Esteban Ocon’s full-time race engineer at Haas, making her the first woman to hold that position full-time in F1 (and that’s only to name a few).
While Kate’s role in the movie is fictional, it represents a powerful and long-overdue step forward for representation in the sport. Seeing a character like her on screen was not only refreshing but also inspiring—it hints at the direction Formula 1 could take, and hopefully will. These moments add meaningful depth to the story.
All in all, I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun at the movies—F1 The Movie is everything I needed from a summer blockbuster.
Watching this in IMAX feels like being dropped into the middle of a Grand Prix—every engine roar, every split-second decision, all larger than life. Honestly, I would’ve watched it all over again the second the credits started rolling. And when it opens in theatres on June 27? You better believe I’ll be seated in IMAX again!
Photos: Apple TV+
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