Films at their best: F1 The Movie (2025)

Hello, and welcome back to my blog series on anticipated cinema watches of 2025 and 2026.

This week, we will be diving into F1 The Movie, starring Brad Pitt, which was released in UK cinemas on June 25, 2025.

Warning - Spoilers

Plot

Sonny Hayes, a former Formula 1 driver, has spent the past few years as a racer-for-hire, after a crash in 1993 left him doubting his full potential. After winning the 24-hour Daytona race, he's approached by a former teammate and owner of the APXGP F1 team, who asks him to be their second driver. He tells Sonny that unless their team win one of the Grand Prix races left in the season, his investors will sell the team. With that, Sonny agrees.

Joshua Pierce, a rookie, meets Sonny and fears the downfall of APXGP will affect his career. Sonny studies the F1 machinery and proposes that APXGP use enhanced aerodynamics to build their speed. Sonny and Joshua don't get along, and the pair end up competing at the British Grand Prix, resulting in a crash. Sonny triggers safety car periods at the Hungarian Grand Prix to secure a high finish for APXGP. Joshua ends up in a hazardous accident after not accepting Sunny's advice and misses the next three races. However, he later returns and forces Sunny into an accident.

Kate McKenna, APXGP's technical director, hears from Sunny that he races to capture the moments when he felt untouchable in his career. After APXGP were forced to remove their upgrades, Sonny realised during the Las Vegas Grand Prix that he wasn't carrying a random playing card with him during his race, resulting in an accident. Rubén Cervantes, APXGP's team owner, discovers that Sonny's previous career injuries left him with risks of blindness and death, and he then fires him. Meanwhile, Joshua uses Sonny's tactics and realises how useful they are. Sonny persuades Rubén to let him return.

Fast forward, and it's a successful win for APXGP, after Sonny sacrifices his own victory so that Joshua can move into first place during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Image courtesy of: Apple Studios/Apple Original Films and Warner Bros. Pictures 

Analysis 

If I could describe this movie in one word, I would say it was exhilarating. Viewers are made to position themselves in the driver's seat of Formula 1 racing and experience the anticipation of driving. Along with some devastating car crash scenes that literally go up in flames!

The movie's use of song choice matched well with the corresponding scenes. I felt like I went through various emotional rollercoasters during the movie, as one minute the racers were taking place and the next minute I was faced with character struggles and tensions.

The vehicle sound design was engineered to a high standard. You could sense when a gear change was about to happen, or a sudden break and even a wheel spin. It was music to my ears and added to the thrill of the storyline.

Damson Idris. Image courtesy of: Apple Studios/Apple Original Films and Warner Bros. Pictures 

Filming During Live Race Weekends/Cameo Appearances

Interestingly enough, the racing scenes in the movie took place at the 2023 and 2024 World Championships during Grand Prix weekends. Along with various cameo appearances from F1 stars, including Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz.