F1: Brad Pitt in Pole Position on the Big Screen

Released on June 25, 2025, F1 is a box office hit. Starring Brad Pitt and directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick), the film promised a spectacular dive into the world of Formula 1. Two weeks later, the gamble appears to have paid off.

A Comeback Story on the Grand Prix Stage
In F1, Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a former racing legend who retired from the sport after a dramatic crash. He’s called back to the track by Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), the boss of the fictional APXGP team, to return behind the wheel and mentor a rising star, Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). Their mission: to rescue a struggling team mid-season.

The story, clearly inspired by classic sports redemption arcs like Rocky Balboa, focuses on the dynamic between the aging mentor and the young hotshot. Kerry Condon plays Kate McKenna, the team’s technical director, who brings a strategic edge, though her character could have used more development.

High-Speed Technical Immersion
What truly sets F1 apart is its visual authenticity. Shot on nine real-world tracks—including Silverstone, Monza, Spa, and Abu Dhabi—often during actual Grand Prix weekends, the film puts viewers right on the starting grid. The fictional APXGP team even fielded a real, custom-designed Formula 1 car on the track, blending seamlessly with real teams.

Director Joseph Kosinski, alongside cinematographer Claudio Miranda (Oscar winner for Life of Pi), used ultra-high-definition on-board cameras to deliver a visceral experience. In IMAX, every turn, engine vibration, and impact is amplified. Rarely has a sports film achieved such cinematic realism.

Lewis Hamilton: The Expert Behind the Scenes
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is more than a cameo in the film—he’s also a co-producer who played a crucial role in ensuring its credibility. He advised the team on driver behaviour, paddock dynamics, and dialogue. “I didn’t want it to be a caricature,” he said in interviews.
Hamilton appears briefly on screen, as do other real-life stars like Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and Fernando Alonso, along with real technical staff. He also pushed for greater diversity both in front of and behind the camera—an issue he has long championed.

Box Office: A Global Hit
With a reported budget between $200 million and $300 million, F1 was one of Apple Studios’ riskiest bets. But so far, it’s paying off: just two weeks after release, the film has already grossed nearly $300 million worldwide.
In France, it had the biggest opening of summer 2025, with over 158,000 tickets sold on its first day. In the U.S., it pulled in nearly $60 million during its opening weekend—a sign that Formula 1, long considered niche in America, is finally reaching a broad audience.

Mixed Reviews from Critics
The film has been widely praised for its immersive visuals, gripping race sequences, and Brad Pitt’s star power. Many reviewers noted how well the film introduces the intricacies of a sport often seen as inaccessible.
However, some Formula 1 insiders, like journalist Chris Medland, sharply criticised one particular scene: a driver deliberately causing a crash to gain an advantage. Seen as completely implausible and deeply unethical by F1 standards, this moment struck a nerve. For many, it undermines the film’s credibility and betrays the sport’s strict code of conduct. Other criticisms focus on overused tropes, such as the wold-weary mentor and the fiery young talent, as well as underdeveloped supporting characters—especially the women.

F1: A Gateway for New Fans
Despite its flaws, F1 succeeds where many sports films fail: it sparks curiosity. It effectively introduces viewers to strategies, technical choices, aerodynamics, internal rivalries—without overwhelming them. Rather than drowning the audience in jargon, it lays a solid foundation for understanding a sport that is, at its core, collective, complex, mechanical, and deeply human.

F1 is a spectacular film, grounded in a real passion for motorsport. While the writing lacks subtlety at times, its visual ambition and mainstream appeal are undeniable. For fans and newcomers alike, it’s a lap worth taking.
And one question lingers: has Formula 1 finally found its Top Gun?

Bonus: This film makes an excellent companion to the "Formula One" chapter in Shine Bright 3e. It offers a vivid and entertaining perspective on the world of F1, making classroom discussions about sports, technology, and values even more engaging and relevant.