Brad Pitt and Hans Zimmer might bring their power to F1®: The Movie, but the film’s 155-minute runtime may leave you wishing for a pit stop.

Before diving in, I need to issue a disclaimer. F1®: The Movie was the second film in a double feature, which normally wouldn’t be a problem—even with its bloated runtime. But this wasn’t a typical day. With friends and family in Israel scrambling for safety during the Israel–Iran conflict, my focus and emotional headspace were far from where I’d want them to be while watching a film of this scale. That context inevitably shaped my experience, and it’s only fair to acknowledge that going in. Because of this, the film didn’t work for me in the same way as Ford v Ferrari.

Once hailed as Formula 1’s next big thing, Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) saw his career derailed by a devastating crash in the ’90s. Decades later, he’s become a drifting veteran of the racing world, bouncing from team to team with no real sense of purpose. That changes when his old teammate, now APXGP team owner Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), convinces him to return to the F1 circuit in a last-ditch effort to save a struggling team.

Sonny’s comeback pairs him with rising star Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), a rookie determined to make his own mark. As the season progresses, rivalries flare, egos clash, and the lines between mentor and competitor blur. Sonny even brings ideas to technical director Kate (Kerry Condon) about ideas for the car. With redemption on the line and the ghosts of Sonny’s past lurking in every corner of the track, F1®: The Movie blends high-speed spectacle with a story about legacy, second chances, and what it means to finish strong—even if you’re not in first place.

I have to be honest: while I’m not a racing fan, I admire the authenticity Joseph Kosinski is chasing here. Maybe it’s something he picked up working with Tom Cruise on Oblivion and Top Gun: Maverick, but the first rule of any sports film still applies—if I don’t buy the actors competing in the sport, the film falls apart on a basic level. And yet, somehow, Brad Pitt behind the wheel at high speeds feels believable. The same goes for Damson Idris, who holds his own alongside Pitt both in and out of the car.

Behind the camera and playing over the soundtrack is a hybrid score that blends orchestra and synths—classic Hans Zimmer, but with a distinctive F1® twist. His conversations with Lewis Hamilton helped shape his approach, imagining the orchestra as the human inside the machine and the electronics as the machine itself. It’s a metaphor that not only fits the sport but gives the film’s sonic landscape a layered, unpredictable edge. While I’m mixed on the film overall, Zimmer is once again in top form—and very likely headed toward another Oscar nomination.

Adding further to F1®: The Movie‘s sense of authenticity are real appearances from all ten Formula 1 teams and their drivers from the 2023 season. Familiar figures from the sport—commentators Martin Brundle and David Croft, team CEOs, and even Hamilton himself—make cameos, reinforcing the blurred line between fiction and the real-world grid. Hamilton also serves as a producer on the film. Production began during the 2023 season, only to be interrupted by hot labor summer, forcing filming to stretch into the 2024 calendar.

Kosinski isn’t just blending action and drama with real-world racing intensity; Ehren Kruger’s screenplay also leaves room for levity. After all, you don’t cast Brad Pitt without making space for his signature charm. To say it works to some extent feels fair. But maybe the most interesting angle here isn’t the film’s origin in a Netflix docuseries—it’s that Kosinski intentionally focuses on the underdogs. This isn’t about the championship front-runners; it’s about the team stuck at the back of the pack, fighting not just for wins but for survival.

F1®: The Movie isn’t a DNF by any means—but it’s not exactly pole position either. It has moments of genuine thrill, a rousing Zimmer score, and a committed performance from Pitt, yet it sometimes coasts on vibes when it needs tighter storytelling. Whether the emotional detachment was the film’s fault or a product of the day’s weight, I can’t say for certain. I’m not a racing fan, which may also play a role. What I can say is that I admired the craft more than I felt the rush.

DIRECTOR: Joseph Kosinski
SCREENWRITER: Ehren Kruger
CAST: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, Kim Bodnia, and Javier Bardem

Warner Bros. Pictures will release F1: The Movie in theaters on June 27, 2025. Apple Original Films will release the film on Apple TV+ at a later date. Grade: 3/5

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