F1 The Movie is not in the same league as Top Gun: Maverick or Only the Brave, but it’s a clear step above Joseph Kosinski’s more uneven efforts like Tron: Legacy or Oblivion. It’s a little formulaic, a bit heavy-handed with its exposition, and sometimes hampered by one-note supporting characters. But when it’s in motion—when the cars are screaming down straights, weaving through chicanes, and risking it all on the final lap—it’s exactly the kind of summer movie spectacle we don’t get enough of anymore. Not a podium finish, but definitely worthy of a strong showing in the points.
‘F1 The Movie’ Review
F1 The Movie, directed by Joseph Kosinski, marks another high-octane entry into the filmmaker’s growing legacy of immersive, technically ambitious blockbusters. After the massive critical and commercial success of Top Gun: Maverick, Kosinski trades fighter jets for Formula 1 cars—and while F1 The Movie doesn’t quite reach the tightly constructed narrative heights of Maverick, it delivers an undeniably visceral experience and enough spectacle to satisfy most audiences, especially those unfamiliar with the world of F1.
The story centers on Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a “he who never was” F1 driver coaxed out of retirement to help resuscitate APXGP, a fictional bottom-tier Formula 1 team on the verge of collapse. His former teammate Ruben, played by Javier Bardem, recruits Sonny as a last-ditch effort to save both the team and his own job. Hayes is paired with the team’s hot-headed rising star Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), setting the stage for a familiar but effective mentor-mentee dynamic.
From the outset, the film is built to impress with scale and realism. Kosinski and his crew famously embedded themselves in the real-world F1 paddock during production, filming with actual teams and tracks—just as he emphasized practical effects in Top Gun: Maverick. That dedication pays off. The race sequences are breathtaking, capturing the sport’s blistering speed, violent cornering, and hair-raising intensity with stunning clarity. There’s real danger on screen, and Kosinski wrings every ounce of adrenaline from it.
Pitt, at 61, might not be the most plausible F1 driver on paper, but he brings enough charm, steely confidence, and physical credibility to mostly sell the role. He’s not Tom Cruise, but he doesn’t need to be—he leans into the gravitas of an aging racer with something left to prove, playing Hayes with a calm, sharp edge that grows more compelling as the film progresses.
Narratively, F1 The Movie hits many of the same beats as Top Gun: Maverick. The seasoned veteran returns to prove his worth. The young talent resents the interference. They clash, they bond, and ultimately push each other toward greatness. It’s a proven formula, but the film lacks the balance and character specificity that made Maverick so resonant. Sonny’s personal stakes feel real, while Joshua’s stakes feel recycled and never as deeply embedded.
Kerry Condon stands out as Kate, the team’s tough and intelligent technical director. Her evolving relationship with Sonny gives the film some needed heart. Tobias Menzies, on the other hand, feels completely miscast as a cartoonishly villainous board member whose role veers too far into cliché and unnecessary. His character is one of the film’s weakest elements, detracting from the more grounded drama around the team’s fight for survival.
Where F1 The Movie struggles most is in its script. The dialogue is often too expository, leaning heavily on explaining F1 basics to the audience—point systems, team politics, and so on. It’s understandable for a film hoping to broaden the sport’s appeal, but it can come off as overbearing, particularly for viewers already familiar with Formula 1. It frequently feels like an extended introduction course to the sport.
That said, the entertainment value is real. Kosinski proves again that he understands cinematic scale better than most working directors today. The movie is visually exhilarating, the racing choreography is some of the best ever committed to screen, and it captures the glamour and risk of F1 with an almost documentary-like authenticity. This is not a lazy or hollow blockbuster—it’s one made with clear passion and reverence for the sport, even if the story itself is more serviceable than wholly new.
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F1 The Movie is not in the same league as Top Gun: Maverick or Only the Brave, but it’s a clear step above Joseph Kosinski’s more uneven efforts like Tron: Legacy or Oblivion. It’s a little formulaic, a bit heavy-handed with its exposition, and sometimes hampered by one-note supporting characters. But when it’s in motion—when the cars are screaming down straights, weaving through chicanes, and risking it all on the final lap—it’s exactly the kind of summer movie spectacle we don’t get enough of anymore. Not a podium finish, but definitely worthy of a strong showing in the points.
Score: 7/10
F1 The Movie (2025)
- Cast: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem, Kim Bodnia, Tobias Menzies, Shea Whigham
- Director: Joseph Kosinski
- Genre: Action, Drama, Sports
- Runtime: 156 minutes
- Rated: PG-13
- Release Date: June 27, 2025
- Movies Like F1: Gran Turismo, Ferrari, Twisters