F1: The Movie opened in Indian theatres Friday, June 27 in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
You’ve already got my attention by putting Brad Pitt in an F1 movie. But F1 isn’t just star power and shiny cars. The film has cool Formula One races, slick action, and a good bit of drama both on and off the track, making it more than just a flashy lap around the circuit
Plenty of pedal to the metal
F1 follows Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a former racing prodigy whose F1 dreams crashed early, leaving him drifting through minor races, nursing gambling habits, and collecting failed marriages. That is, until his old teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), now the desperate owner of the struggling Expensify APXGP team, calls him back for one last shot.
Already on the team is Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), the hotshot rookie who is not really keen on the idea of an ageing legend stepping into his spotlight. Their dynamic is shown as classic old-school vs. new-school, and it clashes both on and off the track. Add in Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon), the sharp technical director trying to be the best at her job, and you’ve got all the ingredients for a messy, entertaining comeback story.
The writing of F1 keeps the pace tight and engaging throughout. Pitt nails the role of Hayes with effortless charm, swagger, and that unbothered veteran cool. Idris stands his ground as Pearce, never feeling overshadowed despite the star power in the film, and their chemistry as reluctant teammates-turned-rivals is genuinely fun to watch.
Absolutely unreal racing scenes
A racing movie lives or dies by how good the racing looks, and F1 leaves (most of) the competition in the dust. The cinematography is simply outstanding. It has massive, sweeping stadium shots to seamless one-take sequences chasing cars around the track. And each one of these frames feel like they belong on a poster.
But F1 doesn’t stop at looking slick. It leans into the full sports drama package.
The races in the film are fast, loud, chaotic, and completely exhilarating with near misses and crashes galore. You can feel the tension in every corner and the adrenaline of every overtake. I’ve never watched a real F1 race in my life, but the film had me grip my seat as if the thrilling races were happening in front of me.
But F1 doesn’t stop at looking slick. It leans into the full sports drama package. The APXGP team is practically falling apart with various car design issues, pit stop crew problems, and a failing roster no one wants to be part of. Hayes just crashes into the scene with his unorthodox ways, ruffling some feathers but also forcing the team to confront its problems head-on.
The drama between Hayes and Pearce is believable and has the right amount of tension and humour. Bardem does his role well as the stressed-out team owner, while Condon keeps the team grounded as the no-nonsense female technical director that has something to prove. Everyone brings their A-game here.
Trailer
Authentic, accessible, amazing thriller and full of heart
Director Joseph Kosinski, along with Top Gun: Maverick producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Ehren Kruger, clearly know how to make such super entertaining and character-focused blockbusters. They have nailed the formula down. Their attention to detail is obvious in this movie, and the involvement of F1 legend Lewis Hamilton as a producer ensures that the film’s authenticity stays on track.
The visual authenticity also comes from the fact that the film was shot during actual F1 events with real locations, and famous professional drivers making appearances in the film. But what’s even better is how accessible it is for newcomers. You don’t need to know your soft tyres from your hard tyres to enjoy this ride.
The film explains F1 strategies and how rivalries work in this world without slowing things down or overloading on jargon. You get a peek into the tactics, mind games, and chaos behind the scenes, all delivered naturally through the story. By the end, even casual viewers will walk away with a newfound appreciation for the sport, and maybe even know what “warm tyre advantage” means.
