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Otago Daily Times
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Cinematic spectacle, but lacking emotional drive
Damson Idris (left) and Brad Pitt in F1. PHOTO: WARNER BROS. PICTUIRES /TNS Director: Joseph Kosinski| Cast: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, Javier Bardem Rating: (M) ★★★+ REVIEWED BY AMASIO JUTEL Re-entering his high-octane motor vehicle bag, Joseph Kosinski's follow-up to Top Gun: Maverick boasts cinematic spectacles worth the price of admission alone. Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a relic racer turned motor-junkie-for-hire, who, despite the odds stacked against him, gets behind the wheel one last time. Win a race, or Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem) will be forced to sell the racing company he owns a majority stake in, APXGP, to his unsporting, money-hungry board. The only problem: APXGP are dead last and not looking likely to change anytime soon. Fronted by an arrogant, hot-shot kid racer looking for his next paycheck when the company inevitably sells, Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), and technical director and team lynchpin Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon), it's a classic underdog story — can a has-been who never-was turn the team around, or will such an ambitious move be the final nail in Ruben's coffin? Not only is the overarching story classic, it is simple, with a lacklustre resolution soliciting the lowest common denominator global audience F1 will attract. Although F1 is emotionally uncomplicated, it is a technical marvel. The 375 kmh racing is captured on disbelieving camera setups, impossibly panning during races to prove to viewers (perhaps even more impossibly) that it is Pitt and Idris driving the rigs. High-stakes racing beckons stomach-turning crash sequences, which are scored by an electric soundtrack from Hans Zimmer. Off the track, the tech-specific nuances and intricacies of racing are gripping — the race strategy rivalry between team-mates sets up a textbook archetype of overcoming differences. Between the explosive sequences, Bardem emphatically chews the scenery, Idris is full of swagger, and Condon is too good for the movie she is in. But with most of the film's focus on the veteran, Pitt, it is disappointing how mentally checked out, and quite frankly, lazy, this performance seems. This is, perhaps, the fault of the script, which does not measure up to 2023's Ferrari, a late-period Michael Mann film starring Adam Driver as Enzo Ferrari. Mann, known for his layered protagonists, gives Driver true emotional stakes and a philosophical drive that hums throughout the two-hour runtime. F1 is an effective commercial for the sport; well-explained and advertised to non-F1 viewers who have never heard about soft or hard tires, slipstream, or Drag Reduction Systems.
Time Out
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time Out
Where was ‘F1: The Movie' filmed? The locations behind the Brad Pitt racing epic
After filming neon-streaked light cycle races in Tron: Legacy and high-altitude dogfights in Top Gun: Maverick, director Joseph Kosinski brings the summer blockbuster to the Formula One circuit. Officially licensed by Formula 1, the Brad Pitt-led F1: The Movie one-ups previous motorsport films with unparalleled access to real-life racing seasons, immersive first-person camerawork from modified cars, and cameos by champion drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. Pitt steers aerodynamic beasts as Sonny Hayes, a yesteryear driver hired as a last-ditch option by FI team APX GP, an outfit much closer to bankruptcy than titles. Meanwhile, Londoner Damson Idris plays Pitt's impetuous, insecure young teammate Joshua Pearce. Together, the veteran and the rookie trot across the globe's flashiest Grade 1 circuits, with occasional pitstops for a pint at the pub and a post-race party at a Las Vegas club. This is how and where they pulled it all off. Where were the races of F1: The Movie filmed? The racing scenes were all shot at actual tracks, from trial laps at Silverstone Circuit in the UK to a final nail-biter at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Daytona International Speedway, Florida Brad Pitt's Sonny Hayes is introduced in a non-F1 setting at Florida's Daytona International Speedway that hosts the '24 Hours of Daytona'. To footage of the endurance race, a fictional 'Chip Hart Racing' team was embedded within the 2024 edition. The crew used a Porsche and a BMW (from competing Daytona teams Wright Motorsport and Turner Motorsport) for the rainswept opening race sequence. Silverstone, UK Once Sonny's skills behind the wheel are established, he attempts a Formula One comeback with training sessions and early races at Silverstone, home of the British Grand Prix. Located near villages of Northamptonshire, Silverstone hosted Kosinski and his crew during July 2023's Grand Prix weekend. Filming took place during practice laps or the short breaks during actual races. Pitt and Idris really did most of the driving, pushing the pedal on modified Formula 2 cars with Formula 1 fittings. The Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi Other tracks used in the film include Hungary's Hungaroring, Belgium's Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Italy's famous Monza Circuit, Circuit Zandvoort in the Netherlands, Japan's Suzuka course, Mexico City's Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, and finally, Abu Dhabi's futuristic Yas Marina Circuit – the last track of the season. Where were the non-racing scenes filmed? Christina's Coin Laundry, New Smyrna Beach, Florida After his Daytona victory, Sonny Hayes can be spotted at Christina's Coin Laundry, which operates every day of the week at Florida's New Smyrna Beach. This is where he runs into his former teammate and now manager of APX GP, Ruben (Javier Bardem). Pappas Drive-In and Family Restaurant, New Smyrna Beach, Florida As Ruben tries to persuade Sonny to come out of retirement, the racer grabs a bite at the neighbouring Pappas Drive-In and Family Restaurant. The eatery has been a local staple since 1970. Sadly, shortly after F1 wrapped filming here in March 2024, Pappas Drive-In burnt down in a fire. The site remains closed, with the owners confirming the restaurant's demolition in a social media post from August. It might be some consolation that Pappas is now immortalised on screen, as the hungriest movie star in cinema history tucks into one of its pies. McLaren Technology Centre, Woking, England After a career-ending injury, Sonny is shown to have left the competitive racing circuit in the 1990s. As he plans his big comeback to F1, we find him and young rookie Joshua undergoing rigorous physical training and attending press conferences at the APX GP headquarters. The team might be struggling on the leaderboard, but APX's base boasts sleek, spacious modernist architecture. The McLaren Technology Centre in Woking stood in for the fictional team's headquarters. One shot shows Damson Idris using the high-tech facilities to push his physical limits, while Pitt jogs around the distinctive semi-circular glass building. Opened in 2004, the building has also been used in Star Wars series Andor as a spaceport on the planet Coruscant. The Globe Inn, Leighton Buzzard, England In between practice sessions for his big Formula 1 return, Sonny meets the team's technical director, Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon), as they indulge in some friendly banter over pints. The rendezvous spot in this case is The Globe Inn, a cosy pub nestled by the Grand Union Canal in the Bedfordshire market town of Leighton Buzzard. Omnia Nightclub and Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas, USA When his F1 team makes its way to Las Vegas for the US Grand Prix, Joshua has a moment of clarity at a nightclub inside Caesar's Palace. The club sequence also features a cameo from Dutch DJ Tiesto, who performs his Sexxy Red collaboration OMG!, an exclusive single that features on the film's soundtrack. A mainstay in numerous Las Vegas-set films, the interiors of Caesar's Palace also feature when Condon's Kate McKenna 'parent traps' bickering teammates Joshua and Sonny into a conciliatory drink. Who stars in F1: The Movie? Brad Pitt gets top billing in F1: The Movie for playing racer Sonny Hayes, joined by Snowfall star Damson Idris as his teammate Joshua. The Banshees of Inisherin breakout Kerry Condon plays APX GP's technical director Kate, while Oscar-winner Javier Bardem supports the ensemble as team owner Reuben. Other cast members include Tobias Menzies (The Crown), Kim Bodnia (Konstantin in Killing Eve), and Sarah Niles (Dr Fieldstone in Ted Lasso). Many real-life F1 drivers and team CEOs appear as themselves, including the likes of Lewis Hamilton (who also serves as producer and consultant), Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and many more. When does F1: The Movie come out? F1: The Movie releases on June 25 in UK and Ireland cinemas and June 27 in the US. The film is scheduled for a streaming release on Apple TV+ after its theatrical run. . .
Gulf Weekly
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Weekly
Tarmac theatrics
A visual masterpiece for new and seasoned fans: Review of F1 The Movie, brought to you by Bahrain International Circuit. Director: Joseph Kosinski Cast: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, Javier Bardem Genre: Sport/Drama Rating: 4.5 popcorns out of 5 Try to imagine combining the visual spectacle of Top Gun: Maverick, a Gladiator-level musical score, the effortless charm of Brad Pitt, the racing passion of Lewis Hamilton, with the backing of Warner Brothers and Apple and a production with unparalleled access to every corner of F1. The end result is a visual masterpiece that manages to find a way of appealing to both an F1 newbie and the most seasoned of motorsport fans. The film focuses on the struggling Apex Grand Prix team and its ambition to get back to the top of the sport. Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, an ex-driver whose career was ended by a racing incident back in 1993. He is brought out of retirement by Apex GP team boss (Javier Bardem) to revive fortunes at the team and perhaps teach a lesson or two to young teammate Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). For the regular F1 fan, the combination of the film's authenticity, together with the visual spectacle will not disappoint. Indeed, staying true to the sport was a key factor for the involvement of Lewis Hamilton as a producer and the endorsement of F1 and the FIA for the film. During filming, Brand Pitt and Damson Idris learned to drive real cars, at real F1 venues, driving at speeds of up to 300km per hour. The cars themselves are F2 cars, modified by Mercedes to blend in seamlessly with the real F1 grid. The scenes you see at race weekend from Silverstone through to Abu Dhabi have all been shot during the actual race weekends, to the extent that during the filming periods, F1 effectively had 11 teams running. Even the smaller touches nod to the real life feeling of F1, with no better example than the cameo of Guenther Steiner and his inevitable fruity language. Add to that the familiar voices of David Croft and Martin Brundle on commentary to support narrative direction and explanations of the action for newer fans, with appearances from the entire 2023 grid (drivers and cars) and numerous other familiar faces from the world of F1, there is plenty for fans to get their teeth into. And that's before taking in the visual treat of the racing shots. Given the amount of filming that was undertaken outside of races, the movie was able to capture new and unique camera shots which go well beyond what fans are used to on broadcast. F1 has always been an impressive visual feast on any normal race weekend, but the film takes the viewing pleasure and immersive experience to a whole new level. Add to that the musical genius of a score by Hans Zimmer and it's hard to not become totally spellbound by the action. There is also plenty in there for new or even non-F1 fans. Whilst the authenticity necessitates the use of a fair amount of F1 jargon, the commentary, radio chatter and scripting do an excellent job to guide the viewer through the technical details. Brad Pitt is unsurprisingly cool, perhaps best described as a combination of an American version of James Hunt, with the driving style that would make Max Verstappen look timid in comparison. Idris as his teammate provides a cheeky young English vibe that sits well alongside Pitt's more roguish humour, whilst Javier Bardem as team boss Ruben adds significant weight to carry the story along, supported by the Irish charm and cutting insight of Kerry Condon as the team's technical director. Whilst the film does walk the careful line of trying to appeal the widest audience possible (and rightly so), there will be the inevitable clamour from the hardcore F1 crowd that the film has oversimplified the sport, or that certain small details don't match real life (such as the team headquarters of Apex being filmed at McLaren). Others may say that the storyline isn't the most sophisticated of journeys. To claim any of that would miss the entire point of the film. If you want proper, true-to-life F1, watch the Senna documentary (or just watch an F1 race), and if you want a weaving complex narrative, take on one of Brad Pitt's earlier efforts in Seven. This is unashamedly Hollywood; a true summer entertainment blockbuster and a visual masterpiece celebrating the pinnacle of motorsport. The efforts to remain true to life to F1 do more than enough to give this film credibility. Most of all, the movie will undoubtedly bring in a new audience to F1, in the same way that Formula 1: Drive to Survive continues to achieve. Not only will it help the sport in its expansion efforts, given that anyone watching this around the world, young or old, cannot fail to be mesmerised by the spectacle of the sport. Given what Warner Brothers and Apple have put into the film for production, and the supporting efforts to promote this film, there is no doubt that this is another landmark moment for F1. F1 The Movie releases in Bahrain today, June 26. It's well worth a trip to the big screen.
NZ Herald
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Herald
Max Verstappen interview: I've told Red Bull I will be here next season
Verstappen's efforts to go incognito, entering the test under a pseudonym, 'Franz Hermann', were predictably unsuccessful. 'Well, I knew it would come out,' he says. 'I mean, I wore my own helmet so I was hardly trying to hide it. I just didn't want to be on the entry list, that's all. I didn't want people rocking up at 8am.' Breaking the GT3 lap record probably did not help his bid for anonymity, either. Verstappen says he had 'a lot of fun' at one of motor racing's most feared circuits in the world, but scotches suggestions that he might surprise everyone by taking a sabbatical next year to indulge his non-F1 passions. It would make sense in one respect, I suggest, in that it would afford him the opportunity to see how F1's new regulations shake out and which team is the most competitive. 'No,' he says firmly. 'It is not in my mind to take a year off. I know in the future I want to do other things. And I'm already, slowly, you know, tasting a bit of it. But no, I will be in F1 next year.' The question is: where? While Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull until 2028, rumours that he might seek to switch teams, rumours which first surfaced in the middle of the Christian Horner saga last season, when Verstappen's father Jos and mentor Helmut Marko were both at war with his team principal, have never truly gone away. Toto Wolff, the Mercedes principal, openly courted the Dutchman during the height of that saga, before eventually promoting teenager Kimi Antonelli. But neither Antonelli nor George Russell has contracts beyond the end of this year, meaning the Brackley team remain one possible destination. Aston Martin, too, would undoubtedly pay a king's ransom to sign the fastest driver currently on the grid. So, I ask, can Verstappen categorically state he will be at Red Bull next season? 'I mean, I've said it many times,' he replies. Has he, though? Has he not said 'There is no reason to leave as long as I'm happy', or 'I'll stay as long as I'm competitive', or some variation thereof? 'Well, I've said it to the team,' he insists. 'I think that's the most important thing.' So he won't say it publicly? Surely until he does, speculation that he might leave is inevitable? 'Yeah, but I mean, we also don't know if I will wake up tomorrow, you know what I mean? You just never know. This is the thing.' Reading between the lines, it feels as if Verstappen is saying he is 90% sure he will stay but does not want to guarantee it publicly, partly to keep the pressure on Red Bull, partly in case the team suddenly fall apart over the next few races and he needs an exit strategy. That does not look as if it will happen. While Red Bull are no longer the dominant force they were two seasons ago, as it stands they are the only team other than McLaren to have won a race this season. Verstappen has taken three pole positions as well as his memorable victory in Suzuka. More importantly, he is still in title contention, sitting third in the drivers' championship, 32 points behind Oscar Piastri, albeit still with work to do. As McLaren's dominant performance in Miami showed, they are head and shoulders above their rivals in the right conditions, and competitive across the board. Advertise with NZME. 'Look, we can't always win,' Verstappen says. 'But are we happy with the pace we have in the car right now? No. I mean, I think no one is except for McLaren. And they aren't standing still, either. So we need to improve. Our one-lap pace is okay, but they have a massive advantage when the tyres start overheating. That's where everyone else is just… yeah, not on the same level.' Could the forthcoming changes to the rules on flexi-wings, due to be introduced in Barcelona later this month, be a game changer? Verstappen looks doubtful. 'It might make a little difference, but not much,' he says. More likely, he is going to need Lando Norris and Piastri to keep taking points off each other, allowing him to stay in touch while Red Bull try to close the gap. The inter-team dynamic at McLaren is certainly an interesting one. With Piastri currently on four wins to Norris' one, the pressure on the Briton is ramping up all the time. Verstappen could be excused for adding to it. But he declines to stick the boot in. 'Honestly, I think both of them are very good,' the 27-year-old replies when asked whether he now sees Piastri as the bigger threat. 'Lando, I think, has the pace. It just hasn't really come out yet over a [sustained] period of time. But I think it's still going to be a tight championship for them. I don't know where I'm going to be. I'm just trying to maximise every result. At the end of the day, we can't rely on them to make mistakes. It has to come from us.' Verstappen's reluctance to stir the pot is increasingly his preferred modus operandi. While he can be punchy when he wants to be, and quick to anger, he says he is tired of F1's constant controversies and prefers to stay out of them if he can. He does not get drawn into seemingly outlandish rumours that Horner might be fired after this race, saying: 'I have no idea where that comes from. I had people writing me like, 'what is this about?' And I was like, 'Excuse me!? I have no idea what you're talking about.' The problem is that now with social media, more and more people try to get a voice or try to act as a professional media outlet or whatever. But yeah, it's nonsense. Honestly, I really don't know where it comes from.' He refuses to react to Norris' parting shot in Miami, that Verstappen 'did not race smart', costing himself a possible podium, burning up his tyres in a pointless defensive battle with the McLaren. 'Lando can say what he wants,' he says. 'Honestly, I enjoyed it. I know it makes headlines, which is what drives the sport. But for me, it's not worth my time to try and counter that again. I race how I race.' He says he is '50-50' about next year's new regulations when he might have been expected to write off next year's cars as oil tankers which will require the drivers to 'coast' at some tracks in order to replenish battery power. Even the FIA's recent about-turn on swearing – described by Russell on Thursday as 'ridiculous' and 'strategic' on the part of the president – fails to get a rise. Verstappen was the first victim of the president's clampdown last year when he was handed what amounted to a community service order for swearing in a press conference in Singapore. 'Honestly, I'm not interested anymore,' he says. 'I live my life. As soon as I leave the paddock here, I don't think about it. I did my stuff on the Nordschleife. I have other projects going on with GT3 that I'm really passionate about. My [simulator] racing activities with Team Redline. I'm busy. That keeps me away from all the gossip or potential stuff that goes on here. I don't have any interest.' Anything that gets in the way of racing is of no interest to him. Even Brad Pitt. Verstappen says he hopes the new Hollywood film F1, released next month, is a success, but adds 'it is not something which really excites me personally', confirming that he declined to film extra scenes with Pitt himself. 'We spoke about it, but at the end of the day, it didn't really materialise. But that's fine. It's not why I'm here.' The irony, I say, is that controversy is the lifeblood of F1. His spicy on-track battles with Lewis Hamilton in 2021, or Norris last year? His furious row with 'cry baby' Russell last year? Netflix and F1 must be desperate for him to engage? 'Yeah, but then we get punished for it,' he says. 'So that's it. I don't want to get into 'you said this, he said that' arguments anymore. It's always then written up as a big controversy. I talk when I need to talk. But in general, I prefer just to live quiet, you know?'
