The world of Formula One continues to expand, this time into the world of film with a fictional story cleverly woven into modern racing. F1 follows Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a driver who comes out of retirement to save his friend’s team from collapse and must drive alongside hotshot rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris).
Contrary to the thoughts of some, Formula One is at times one of the more exhilarating sports and racing experiences on the planet. Capturing that excitement and tension, and having it translate on screen, was always going to be one of this film’s biggest challenges. Well, mission accomplished because the race sequences are very authentic to the F1 experience, perfectly emulating the thrill of the race with heart-pounding moments. The races in here I liken to the flight sequences in Top Gun: Maverick – high-octane action full of adrenaline that’s utterly electrifying. The sound design, especially through the races is phenomenal. Hook up the best sound system you’ve got and set your subwoofer to the max to feel every rev of the engine and every turn. The layered sounds of cars racing the track is incredibly immersive, locking me into the action as if I’m watching an F1 race.
It’s clear they filmed a lot of content at real-world F1 races (with the help of some visual effects) and that also adds to the authentic and immersive vibe. Seeing cameos from drivers, commentators and teams makes it all feel a lot more real than it actually is. All of these elements – the sound, cinematography and pacing combine to craft exhilarating races that are without a doubt the film’s highlights.
Now while this is very authentic in representing the F1 experience, there are many areas that are heightened and overdramatised for the sake of cinema. And that’s okay, because this isn’t a motorsport documentary. If you want the most accurate peek into F1 you’d watch Drive to Survive. This is made for entertainment, which it nails while also representing the sport in the best way it can. The character-centric story ebbs and flows between being a serious drama and a soap opera, but it’s interesting nonetheless. For a movie that’s 2 hours and 30 minutes long, this thing moves faster than Piastri overtaking Verstappen. It’s always pushing the story forward and throwing little curveballs where it can to keep things engaging. Now the overall concept of the has-been coming back and feuding with the new blood is by no means entirely original, but the journey is a fun one regardless.
The success of the story and intrigue in the characters stems in part from Brad Pitt’s presence. He brings this suave attitude and charm to the role which makes his every scene just as interesting as the last. Sometimes you get instances where a huge movie star isn’t able to disappear into a role, but not when it comes to Pitt. This is a case of perfect casting as Pitt plays the has-been driver so well it’ll have some people questioning whether he’s based on a real person. His charisma carries the film through some occasionally forced, cliche dialogue, while his chemistry with co-stars is a delight to see. Javier Bardem (Cervantes) and Kerry Condon (Kate) are great in every scene they share with Pitt. I’d say they’re great outside of those moments too, but almost every time they’re on screen Pitt is there anyway. They sell their respective roles and enhance the drama where necessary.
Being a movie about the Formula One, it makes sense that the narrative is focused on the drivers and winning races, but there is some solid character work to go along with it. The constant back and forth between Hayes and Pearce is where the drama and tension comes from, and while that’s certainly entertaining, I would have liked a couple more emotional hooks. Pearce, for instance, doesn’t have much of an emotional drive which makes the character feel almost a little one note. Damson Idris plays the role well and has some great banter with Pitt, but I would’ve liked the character to be expanded on slightly more. Meanwhile Sonny Hayes is such a blast to follow that I wouldn’t mind seeing him pop up in a Fast & Furious film.
In the end, F1 is exactly what I wanted the movie to be as a fan of the sport. It’s an exhilarating ride with fantastic race sequences that’ll have you immersed in every single turn. The visuals, sound and pacing work in harmony to craft an electrifying experience that’s fun and rewarding even if you don’t buy into the more overdramatised elements of the story. Some dialogue is a little contrived, resulting in some soap opera-like moments, but they’re not a huge blight on the film. Just know that Brad Pitt is a star and his presence is what takes the film to the next level, exuding infectious charm in every scene.
9.1/10
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