A Formula One driver comes out of retirement to mentor and team up with a younger driver.
If you’ve never been a fan of Formula One racing, you will be after watching this film. Not only did director Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) deliver a highly exhilarating theater experience that must be viewed on the biggest IMAX screen possible, it is also educational, diving into the vivid details of how complicated the sport can be without feeling like a classroom lecture.
This film also provides hope for those who have fought every battle and lost, but are still determined to rise to the top. How can you not respect that? This message comes through in the characters, especially the lead, Sonny Hayes, played by the legendary Brad Pitt. After decades of not reaching his full potential, he is comfortable with the life around him. Even though his peers may feel differently, he stands firm and unashamed of the life his choices have produced. It is all inspiring, showing that life is more pleasant when you do not care what the people or the world around you think. He is free, and whether the sun is shining bright or he is caught in endless thunderstorms, he finds happiness and peace with every card he is dealt.
There are slight similarities between the characters in this film and those in Kosinski’s last film, Top Gun: Maverick, where the older generation comes in to motivate the young. However, it is not forced and feels natural. Yes, there are jokes and back-and-forth banter between the young and old, but it feels earned.
Sonny Hayes is teamed up with Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), who is another standout in this film. He has a great relationship with his mother, cousin, and team, and he possesses worldwide fame. On top of that, the man can dress his behind off with some of the flashiest threads money can buy. He has money, and it is obvious. However, he is not the typical ego-driven maniac who thinks he has it all figured out and needs to be humbled by the older generation. He is just confident in his skills, and rightfully so, given his track record. Still, he cannot reach full success on his own, and that is where Sonny comes in.
The relationship between not only these two but their entire Apex racing team is an experience in itself. Everyone involved is somewhat of a master in their department, and it all depends on them working together to seize the day and win the ultimate prize. Frankly, all of the characters in the film are pleasant, with vast personalities, knowledge, and drive. Getting to know all the mechanisms that must work in harmony to reach the finish line will open your eyes to a world you did not even know existed.
What is also impressive is the spotlight on the particulars of the cars and what takes place under the hood. Seeing technicians in the lab create designs to improve wind resistance, where mere tenths of a second can make the difference between winning and losing, is the kind of stuff that makes you want to enroll back in school just to learn more. To say each tenth of a second is important is an understatement. It is not only crucial for victory but for survival. One wrong move could result in a tragic death, and because you care so much for the characters, the film becomes emotional. There are moments when you gasp for air, hoping everything will be okay. The editing that delivers those pivotal moments is some of the best in Hollywood.
The film is an overall hit and one of the better films of 2025. It has a great soundtrack and a beautiful score by one of the best composers in the world, Hans Zimmer. When he is attached to a film, it automatically raises the quality. This man knows how to reach your emotions with his musical compositions. The sound design is also spectacular and easily one of the best parts of the film. The sound design and mixing stand out, and you will appreciate them even more depending on your theater experience. Splurge on a premium movie theater if possible, but if none are available in your area, a standard auditorium will still deliver a thrilling ride.
Top Gun: Maverick was a perfect score in my opinion, and F1 falls just slightly behind. The only reason this film is not quite on the same level is due to a small blip in the narrative during the first act that may leave you puzzled. In one or two brief moments, I was unsure where the film was headed, but the confusion passed quickly. The majority of this two-and-a-half-hour movie flows smoother than you might anticipate given the runtime. You barely feel it unless you have to use the restroom. But it is so good, you will be inspired to hold it.
Last but not least is the perspective and vantage points from all different angles of racing. This would not have worked if the editors had failed, but they succeeded with flying colors. Every time you thought you had seen it all, the visuals delivered more, placing you in the driver’s seat as if you were there yourself. It is such a stimulating adventure that you will remember it forever.
This film is for everyone, old and young, and will be remembered as one of the greatest sensations you have had at the movies.
Video Review:
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