Brad Pitt is back behind the wheel — not in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’s stunt scenes, but as a retired Formula 1 driver making a wild comeback in Joseph Kosinski’s F1: The Movie. Produced in collaboration with Lewis Hamilton and featuring real F1 tracks and footage, this blockbuster was always going to be a spectacle. But does it live up to the hype?

Speed, Style, and IMAX-Ready Action

From the first frame, F1: The Movie makes its intentions clear — this is not a grounded docudrama, it’s pure cinematic adrenaline. Shot with high-tech camera rigs at actual Grand Prix weekends (yes, Brad Pitt really drove an F2 car at Silverstone), the movie puts you in the cockpit like never before. The roar of engines, blistering overtakes, and Hans Zimmer’s electric score make the racing sequences feel massive, visceral, and sometimes surreal.

Director Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) brings the same high-flying energy to the asphalt. The results? A full-throttle IMAX experience that sacrifices some believability for visual and emotional payoff.

Classic Story, Star Power

Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a former F1 legend pulled out of retirement to mentor rookie sensation Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). The fictional APX GP team is the grid’s underdog, and the film leans into familiar sports drama tropes — aging champion with a past, young driver with something to prove, and a team with everything to lose.

What elevates it is the commitment. Pitt brings weight and grit to Sonny, while Idris is a standout as the cool-headed but determined Pearce. Kerry Condon and Javier Bardem round out a cast that knows exactly how to balance charm with tension, even when the script leans a bit too predictable.

Fast and Loose with the Facts

Let’s be clear: this is not Senna. Hardcore F1 fans may scoff at the film’s technical inaccuracies and hyper-speed plot. Team dynamics, pit stops, and racing strategy are simplified — sometimes wildly so — but for general audiences, the authenticity of on-location filming and real race footage makes up for it.

Still, some of the movie's logic defies even Hollywood physics. Can a new team really perform like this in their first season? Probably not. But for a summer blockbuster, realism takes the back seat to emotion and energy.

Final Lap: Should You Watch It?

Absolutely. F1: The Movie may not be a purist’s dream, but it’s a high-octane, full-sensory joyride that brings fresh energy to racing films. It blends old-school storytelling with next-gen visuals and star power. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of the sport or just in it for the thrill, this one deserves a big-screen viewing.