'F1 The Movie' Review: Brad Pitt-starrer speed drama is predictable yet enjoyable

Khaleej Times

4 days ago

Let's not pretend this film wasn't going to turn heads. Brad Pitt behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car? Sign me up twice.
Directed by Top Gun: Maverick maestro Joseph Kosinski, F1 The Movie takes the same "strap-you-in-and-launch-you" energy from fighter jets to Formula cars. The camera work is thrilling — viscerally shot, impossibly intimate — and yes, Apple Studios built a custom lens just for this. Because why settle for a GoPro when you can flex your trillion-dollar budget?
Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a once-great racer whose career crashed and burned — literally — after an accident in the 1990s. Now he's coaxed back to mentor a struggling team owned by his old-time friend Ruben Cervantes, played with glorious chaos by Javier Bardem. The team's first-choice driver is an ambitious rookie, Joshua Pearce (a solid, understated Damson Idris).
At one point in the film, he asks Sonny, "When was the last time you won an F1 race?". Pitt brings Hayes' cheeky personality to life, saying, "Same as you."
The story, while fictional, draws inspiration from real events — most notably the harrowing 1990 crash of Irish F1 driver Martin Donnelly, which ended his racing career. Hayes' comeback arc echoes Donnelly's tragedy-turned-legacy, adding a touch of grounded pathos beneath all the horsepower.
And if the setup sounds familiar, that's because it is. Rocky Balboa, Creed, Ford v Ferrari, someone's midlife crisis — it's all here. But what F1 lacks in originality, it makes up for in swagger.
And swagger it has. Shot across real F1 Grand Prix weekends — yes, during actual races — the film blends fiction and reality so seamlessly that at some point you stop noticing the difference. Brad even trained in the cockpit himself, which isn't surprising. If there's one thing he loves more than acting, it's reminding us he can do anything. Speaking of someone who can do anything, Tom Cruise and Pitt were all up for bromance at the film's European premiere in London.
Oh, and did I mention Brad Pitt actually drove a real F1-modified car? Not just for the cameras — properly. Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time F1 champion, who's also a producer on the film, even gave him props for learning the ropes. I guess when you're Brad Pitt, your hobbies include casually conquering elite motorsport.
But let's be clear: while Pitt does drive, he doesn't do all the daredevil work. Unlike Cruise, who regularly flirts with gravity and health insurance policies, Pitt isn't about to hang from planes or take part in complex track manoeuvres. In fact, when asked at the Mexico premiere if he'd ever do a film with Cruise again (after Interview with the Vampire in 1994), Pitt agreed, as long as he's required to stay grounded and not hang off airplanes and "sh**" like that.
Anyway, let's also talk about Javier Bardem, because the man delivers. Playing the team's flamboyant, half-crazed but fully-invested owner, he brings a chaotic warmth to the film. He struts between delusion and genius like he's on a fashion runway in Milan, and honestly? He deserves his own spin-off.
Then there's Kerry Condon, the team's technical director, and the film world's first lady technical director — sharp as a torque wrench, with just enough romantic tension opposite Pitt to give the movie a pulse when the engines aren't roaring. In a way, she's the film's heart — and occasionally its comic relief. Her character adds much-needed grounding to all the testosterone flying around and keeps from turning the into a glorified F1 promotional video with a Spotify playlist
Speaking of which: that soundtrack? We know Hans Zimmer never disappoints. And then there are assists from Doja Cat, Tiësto, Ed Sheeran, and more. Maybe it is all part of a larger plan: to make F1 'cool' again. The sport has always had its fans, sure, but this movie aims to pull it out of the paddock and into pop culture's fast lane. And it might actually work.
But here's where the tires start to skid a little.
At over 2.5 hours, F1 overstays its welcome. In a time of 90-minute attention spans and two-screen viewing habits, this runtime feels excessive. And while it's easy on the eyes and ears, there's no denying the film sometimes plays like a very expensive Formula 1 commercial — there are logos and brands everywhere.
Watch the trailer below:
The plot, while well-executed, is also quite predictable. To reiterate, you've seen this story before: the fallen star, the rising rookie, the climactic redemption lap. So it is clear that you don't come for the surprises — you come for the spectacle.
And that spectacle makes this film a love letter to the sport, shot across real Grand Prix circuits during the 2023–24 season. You name it — Silverstone, Suzuka, Spa, Hungaroring, and yes, Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi — it's all in there. The scenes at Yas Marina, especially under those glowing floodlights, look like a music video sponsored by jet fuel. You can practically smell the desert heat and burning rubber through the screen.
Cameos from real-life racers like Max Verstappen, Hamilton, and other grid regulars blur the line between fiction and documentary. But not everyone will be lured in by the scent of gasoline and glory. If you don't care about cars and the sport, this might feel like a glossy, overlong sports ad. Yet for anyone who's ever watched a race, or just appreciates a well-oiled action machine (on screen or off), F1 hits the gas hard.
Verdict
A roaring, ridiculously good-looking joyride with just enough heart to keep it human. Brad Pitt leads, but Bardem, Condon, and the entire production crew ensure this isn't just a vanity vehicle — it's a turbocharged thrill fest for film lovers and F1 fanatics alike. It is a must-watch in IMAX, and if you want to experience it twice, like me, then make sure the second time is in 4DX.
F1 The Movie