F1: The Movie

UK Release Date. 25 June 2025
Certification. 12A
Running Time. 2 hours 35 mins
Director. Joseph Kosinski
Cast. Javier Bardem, Kim Bodnia, Kerry Condon, Damson Idris, Brad Pitt.
Rating. 71%

Review.

F1: The Movie is everything you would expect from the director of Top Gun: Maverick. A full-on adrenaline rush, with the same swagger as Top Gun: Maverick, and a big screen spectacle harking back to the glory days of summer blockbusters like Top Gun, Lethal Weapon, Days Of Thunder and Bad Boys.

Joseph Kosinski‘s production is entirely a work of fiction, unlike its contemporaries, Ron Howard’s Rush and James Mangold’s Ford vs Ferrari, which have some element of truth underpinning the storyline. The film requires a considerable suspension of disbelief from the outset - F1: The Movie will never appease Formula One fans for a variety of reasons - but a reminder, F1: The Movie is entertainment, not a sports documentary.

The story follows Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a driver who walked away from the sport decades ago and inevitably finds himself coaxed back to help the struggling APX GP team. Pitt does what he does best, bringing a mix of cool confidence and quiet vulnerability that makes the character believable even when the setup itself stretches reality to its limits. 

F1: The Movie may not break new storytelling ground, but it is one hell of a thrilling ride. Following the success of Top Gun: Maverick, Joseph Kosinski’s high-octane direction is once again impressive, paired with immersive cinematography, stunning visuals and a pulsating score from Hans Zimmer, which only adds an extra layer of intensity to the action. The soundtrack also employs the evergreen Ed Sheeran’s Drive and the delightfully gallus Bad As I Used To Be by country music artist Chris Stapleton.

However, it is the on-track action that is the real draw. Every millisecond of race action in F1: The Movie is truly immersive. Groundbreaking new, smaller IMAX cameras sit on the cars, placing the viewer so close to the track action that you can practically smell the asphalt. The sound design is phenomenal. You feel the roar of the engines and the thump of the tyres through the corners. You’re not watching the race - you’re living it.

Authenticity would appear to be of paramount importance, and Kosinski was granted unparalleled access throughout the season, filming trackside and in the paddock on race day at real-life circuits (Silverstone, Monza, Hungaroring and Abu Dhabi). Genuine Formula One drivers, team principals and race engineers are routinely spotted in the background. In addition, the decision to film at McLaren’s Technology Centre in Woking was a masterstroke. Yet, the film would have benefited from a more realistic approach to the race sequences. There is scant regard for the mandatory practice and qualifying sessions, and some of the audacious race tactics employed by Sonny Hayes to rack up points would surely fall foul of the FIA rulebook.

However, a more glaring shortcoming of F1: The Movie is the disappointing representation of women in motorsport. Kerry Condon brings weight to the role of APX GP’s steely Technical Director, Kate McKenna - the first female Technical Director in F1 in history. Clearly influenced by real-world figures like strategist Bernie Collins, the character offered mountains of potential and promise. Out of all the directions the screenwriters could have taken with McKenna, a romantic dalliance with her own team’s driver was the worst possible choice for the film's narrative. Whatever character development Condon brought across the first half of the film was promptly thrown out of the window in Las Vegas. The culmination of Kate McKenna's arc left a bad taste in the mouth. In the era of F1 Academy that champions female representation and inclusion, F1: The Movie sends a damaging message to global audiences, setting Formula One’s reputation back by years.

A predictable plot explores, albeit briefly, themes of legacy, ego, teamwork and emotional redemption, before settling on the harsh commercial realities of Formula One. The film won’t satisfy Formula One fans who demand that every minutiae is correct. In the end, F1: The Movie aims to introduce Formula One to a broader audience, and it just might, thanks to the action-packed set pieces that spark curiosity for the sport. It’s loud, it's bold, and it's exactly what you’d want from a summer movie experience. The problem is, the world's most glamorous sport is nowhere near as thrilling as Joseph Kosinski's two-hour commercial.