F1 review: Brad Pitt movie is thrilling but two-dimensional

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A star rating of 3 out of 5.

The opening of F1 is very promising.

As the strains of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” fill the air, seasoned racer Sonny Hayes (portrayed by Brad Pitt) makes his grand entrance at the 24 Hours of Daytona, an endurance race set in Florida.

Following a triumphant display of his usual flair, he exits the vehicle and growls threateningly at the subsequent driver, “Relinquish your lead – I’ll end you.” However, does he linger around or even claim the trophy or the costly watch presented to him? Absolutely not. Instead, he merely gathers his $5,000 prize money and departs.

Sonny, who often does his laundry at a laundromat, is a perpetual racer, always chasing the next exciting race.

As a once-promising Formula 1 racer who met a crushing end in the 1993 Spanish Grand Prix, I watched as my career unraveled before my eyes. All I had left were a penchant for gambling and a string of failed marriages. But then, out of nowhere, my former teammate Ruben (Javier Bardem) extended an olive branch, inviting me to join Apx GP – the F1 team he now manages. This opportunity for redemption ignited a spark within me, offering a glimmer of hope that I could once again find success in the world of racing.

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If Apx GP doesn’t manage to secure a victory, it finds itself significantly behind teams like Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull, and other prominent F1 teams. In fact, the situation is so dire that Ruben is contemplating selling the team.

As we’ve reached the midpoint of the season, signing Sonny becomes a crucial final opportunity, given that he’ll be teamed with the impetuous newcomer Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). True to form, Sonny quickly resorts to risky maneuvers to get ahead on the track.

In essence, F1 shares many similarities with Top Gun: Maverick, having the same director (Joseph Kosinski), producer (Jerry Bruckheimer), and writer (Ehren Kruger). Much like how that movie captivated audiences with its awe-inspiring IMAX-worthy aerial sequences, F1 promises to astonish you with its breathtaking racetrack footage.

Accompanied by Sonny and Joshua, as well as Max Verstappen and other drivers, everything flowed smoothly alongside Lewis Hamilton (who also played a part in the movie production).

As I journeyed across various grand prix locations, from the historic Silverstone in Great Britain to the vibrant circuits in Hungary, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Las Vegas, and Abu Dhabi, Kosinski skillfully portrays the allure and excitement of life as a Formula One driver.

Unfortunately, the excitement ends when the checkered flag is waved. Outside of the race track, the narrative can become overly dramatic, whether it’s about Sonny’s growing relationship with Kate, the lead engineer from Apx (portrayed by Kerry Condon), or the power play to oust Ruben, masterminded by Tobias Menzies’s cunning corporate manipulation.

Regarding Pitt, often seen with tattoos adorning his bare chest, he finds himself stepping into a two-dimensional character that doesn’t quite sit well with him.

Sonny, a character often bordering on stereotype, lacks complexity, which seems discordant with an actor skilled at conveying deeper emotions through their eyes.

In this setting, Sonny devotes much of his time to dreaming up elaborate card tricks or bouncing tennis balls off walls instead.

The relationship between him and Joshua, initially marked by dislike, has evolved into mutual respect – a development as clear as the lack of subtletly that characterizes this movie since its beginning.

In this context, Idris Elba, who delivers an outstanding performance in the underrated TV series Snowfall, serves as a compelling contrast. However, it’s worth noting that in many scenes, Sarah Niles, portraying Joshua’s mother in Ted Lasso, outshines them all with her convincing acting skills.

With an extravagant score composed by Hans Zimmer, this portrays a fantastical version of the pinnacle of racing sports. Essentially, it’s like Top Gun, but with rain tires.

Give some consideration to the race commentators as well, who find themselves in a challenging position of having to clarify the intricate racing rules, which Sonny seems to frequently disregard, in a way that is clear and easy to understand for the audience.

But then that is the least of the narrative crimes this fun-but-dumb movie pulls.

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2025-06-18 16:35