'F1' movie review: Brad Pitt's crowd-pleaser is 'Top Gun' on wheels
As an aging wheelman-for-hire on an underdog racing team, Pitt brings plenty of personality – and vroom-vroom steeliness – to the on-the-track thrills of the crowd-pleasing if mildly predictable 'F1' (★★★ out of four; rated PG-13; in theaters June 27).
Director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, the brain trust of 'Top Gun: Maverick,' harness that same need for speed here as the immersive world of Formula 1 races into view in blistering fashion. Hairpin turns and stressful pit stops go a long way toward entertaining F1 fans and neophytes alike, though melodrama and a bloated run time put the brakes on what should be a film that zips.
Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox
After pulling the midnight shift on a 24-hour race and winning at Daytona, Sonny Hayes (Pitt) rolls out to the next driving gig in his minibus – as long as it's got an engine and a steering column, he's game. At a random laundromat, he's tracked down and recruited by his old teammate Ruben (Javier Bardem), whose Apex racing team is one of the worst in F1 and hasn't won a point in 2 ½ years. That and the fact Ruben is $350 million in the hole spells pink slips for him, drivers and crew alike, barring a miracle.
Sonny is a guy needing some serious redemption: Known as 'the greatest that never was,' he spun out professionally and personally in the 1990s, and getting a spot on Ruben's team gives him a second chance. Immediately, he chafes with hotshot rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) and is seen as less than serious by technical director/engineering whiz Kate (Kerry Condon). While character development could use an upgrade overall, Idris and Condon are fun foils for Pitt.
Sonny and Joshua butt heads like a couple of alpha dogs, the new guy flirts hard with Kate (who puts Sonny in his place), and everybody, even the people swapping out tires, need to be a team player with only nine races to go. If this sounds like 'Top Gun' with cars, well, that's pretty much 'F1.' Not that that's a bad thing.
The movie isn't shy about lapping many a trope, yet the white-knuckle action sequences are where 'F1' lives and breathes. Kosinski wants audiences to feel the danger of essentially sitting in a rocket that can go 200 mph, and the euphoria of passing a foe in a Ferrari or having a straight line to the checkered flag. Those go a long way in forgiving the multitude of subplots and the toolbox of car cliches. (And will have you binging "Drive to Survive" soon enough.)
Like Cruise in the cockpit of a fighter jet, Pitt feels like he belongs in the driver's seat, which goes a long way in appreciating Sonny for the entertaining mess of a man that he is. Most of us wish we looked at 31 like he does at 61, but Pitt is weathered enough to be the perfect fit for his older guy's guy roles in 'Wolfs,' 'Babylon,' and 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.'
Sonny is an analog, slightly peculiar fellow who doesn't jibe with a modern F1 landscape – while Joshua runs with a gazillion high-tech gadgets hooked up to him, the veteran is off jogging around a Grand Prix track. And watching Sonny throw his team, important races and everything else into chaos ('Plan C,' he calls it) before figuring his own issues out is delightful stuff.
'F1' leans extremely rousing, though it intrigues when it mines the strategic idiosyncrasies of the motorsport and the psychological and physical toll it takes to be a champion. There's a mental health angle touched on that, if explored more, would have led to a great albeit bleaker movie.
Not that this thing deserves a participation trophy. Watching Pitt burn this much rubber, and with macho panache, puts "F1" in the winners' circle.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'F1' movie review: Brad Pitt brings champion steeliness to racing
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Padres star Manny Machado records 2,000th career hit to join rare club in loss to Diamondbacks
Manny Machado joined an elite club on Monday night in San Diego. The Padres star picked up the 2,000th hit of his career in their 6-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Machado officially reached the mark in the fourth inning of the contest, when he hit a single off Zac Gallen that barely made it past shortstop Geraldo Perdomo and into left field. Advertisement Naturally, that led to a big ovation at Petco Park. Machado entered the night two hits shy of the milestone. He hit a single into left field in the first inning, too. He then backed his historic hit up with a solo home run in the eighth inning, too. Machado is now just the fifth active player in Major League Baseball to record at least 2,000 career hits, and the 297th player in league history. He is also just the 12th player to record 2,000 hits with 350 home runs by his age-32 season. The home run on Monday was the 357th of his career. Machado now has 950 total hits with the Padres, who he signed with as a free agent in 2019. That has him in fifth on the franchise's all-time hits list. Machado first made his debut in the league with the Baltimore Orioles in 2012, and he had 997 hits there before he landed with the Los Angeles Dodgers seven seasons later. Advertisement By comparison, Dodgers star Freddie Freeman is the active hits leader in Major League Baseball. He entered Tuesday with 2,357 career hits — though he's nearly 2,000 short of all-time leader Pete Rose. Jose Altuve, Andrew McCutchen and Paul Goldschmit are the other active players over the 2,000 hits mark. Despite a big night from Machado, who went 3-of-5 at the plate, the Padres couldn't rally back to top the Diamondbacks. The loss, their third in five games, dropped them to 48-42 on the season.
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Justin Thomas Has Big Ideas for What Should Come Next in Golf
Justin Thomas Has Big Ideas for What Should Come Next in Golf originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Back in March, Justin Thomas told the media what many within golf have long been thinking regarding the PGA Tour-LIV saga: "I think we're kind of past the level of exhaustion." Advertisement It's been almost four years since LIV Golf shook up the sport, and Thomas – like most other players – is understandably frustrated. The framework agreement announced in June 2023 expired without a deal, and despite meetings earlier in the year between Tiger Woods, Jay Monahan and even White House officials, no concrete progress has been made. But here's the thing about Thomas: Today, he's not complaining; he's looking at what he can do to help. When I asked him about the future of professional golf last week, his perspective was one of genuine optimism. And honestly, it's refreshing to hear someone focus on solutions rather than problems. "The challenge is reuniting the top players and keeping the competition strong," he explained. "Fans want to see the best go head to head, and we need to make that happen consistently." He's nailed it. Golf's magic happens when the superstars are all battling it out together. Remember those Sunday afternoons that got you hooked? Tiger chasing down Phil or watching Rory go shot for shot with Bryson? That's when golf feels electric – when you know the best players in the world are all right there, trying to rip one another's hearts out. Advertisement Thomas resonated with me as a PGA professional involved in the game's behind-the-scenes efforts to maintain and enhance it, particularly when he talked about golf's untapped potential. It's clear that JT is passionate about strengthening the sport, and his enthusiasm got me thinking more about what we, as an industry, can do to grow and improve golf. "There's also a big opportunity, especially with younger fans and international growth," he told me. "I'd love to see the game become more accessible and modern without losing the traditions that make it special." Justin Thomas (left) Jordan Spieth (center) and Patrick Cantlay sign autographs for young fans at the U.S. Open in Pebble Beach, California, on June 11, Madrid-Imagn Images This isn't just wishful thinking from a young star. Thomas sees real paths forward. The sport has struggled to capture younger audiences who expect different things from their entertainment. They want more personality, more access, more reasons to care beyond just the golf shots. Advertisement "It's a balancing act, but I believe we're headed in the right direction." That optimism isn't naive – it's grounded in what he sees as golf's core strengths. Think about it: In golf, every shot is like solving a puzzle, which keeps you coming back for more. And honestly, where else can you spend four hours with your buddies on a gorgeous course, talking smack and soaking up the outdoors? Same goes for catching a tournament – watching the pros work their magic at stunning venues with friends and family. The real challenge? Making all that appeal to people who don't already get it. Thomas, like many of us in the game, may be exhausted by the LIV conversation, but his energy and optimism about golf's possibilities are infectious. And frankly, that's exactly the kind of leadership voice among those in the professional game that the sport needs right now. Advertisement Related: The Soul of American Golf- A Journey Through the Game's Heart and Heritage Related: Keegan Bradley's 2025 Ryder Cup Vice Captains Could Deliver Victory to US Related: Allow Me to Introduce Myself This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rockies vs. Red Sox Highlights
Top 5 MLB Trade Deadline Targets to Shake Up the 2025 Playoffs! With the July 31st MLB trade deadline approaching, we count down the top 5 players most likely to be traded and how they could transform the playoff race! From Ryan McMahon's slugging to Freddy Peralta's ace potential, these stars could be game-changers. Who's getting dealt? Drop your predictions in the comments, like, subscribe, and stay tuned for more baseball updates! #MLB #TradeDeadline #Baseball 1:33 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
