F1 - Brad, the Pit Lane and Pure Cinematic Adrenaline

F1 - The Movie

English - Sports/Drama

135 mins
In Cinemas

Back during my college days, I was introduced to F1 thanks to a couple of my close buddies, who followed the sport religiously. For about four years after, I did too, though not with the same interest as cricket. Those were the glory days of Schumacher, Hakkinen (my favourite), the up-and-coming Raikkonen, Alonso, and a young Lewis Hamilton (one of the producers of this film!). Over time, I picked up a few technicalities—how track conditions (rain, heat) affect tire strategy, how team decisions shift in real-time—but for me, it was always about the man behind the wheel. 

Sports movies, especially about racing, have been few and far between, mainly due to the sheer challenge of capturing authenticity on screen. For me, Rush and Ford v Ferrari are easily among the best mainstream entries (Senna a brilliant documentary). 

Naturally, I was curious to see what Brad Pitt and director Joseph Kosinski (of Top Gun: Maverick, Oblivion, and Tron: Legacy fame) would bring to the table, especially with the cinematic technology available today and the real-world access granted by F1 itself.

The story is basic and, frankly, done to death: Veteran driver Sonny Hayes (Pitt), once a rising star and now a drifter of sorts, is called back into the racing world by his old friend and team owner, Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardiem). He has to partner with a young, gifted rookie—Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), to help save the struggling Apex GP team. Add ego clashes, some one-upmanship, a lack of teamwork, eventually a feel-good ending. No surprises here.

There is some flab in the form of a romantic subplot. Can we please stop with the trope that a successful woman must also have a romantic angle to feel “complete”? 

That said, the racing strategies shown are quite interesting—though I am not sure how accurate they will feel to F1 purists. The film smartly avoids getting too technical ( given that i do not follow the sport now, i had to google a bit though), but it will help make it more accessible. Overall, it fires on all cylinders and plays out as the perfect summer popcorn fare—with definite repeat value.

The commitment to authenticity is simply outstanding. No expense has been spared, with solid production values. The movie was shot during actual race weekends across iconic circuits like Silverstone, Monza, Budapest, Las Vegas, and Abu Dhabi. Despite following a fictional team, it seamlessly blends real F1 teams, cars, and even appearances by legendary drivers( which brought raucous applause from fans in my screening!)

The camera work is stunning. Cockpit views, wide-angle shots, sweeping race track sequences—all beautifully executed. Cinematographer Claudio Miranda ( his previous stellar work in Top Gun: Maverick) delivers some of the best visuals seen in a sports movie. It is immersive without being dizzying, especially with so much in-cockpit action. Add in a killer soundtrack featuring Doja Cat, Ed Sheeran, and a score by Hans Zimmer, it is a premium cinematic experience.

I was initially surprised Zimmer signed on for this, given that it would be compared with his legendary score for Rush. I did not expect this to reach the same heights, but to my pleasant surprise, the blend of electronic and techno elements gives it a fresh vibe. The main F1 theme is solid, and in the last 20 minutes? Zimmer is in GOD mode, keeping us on the edge, matching the pulsating happenings on the screen. (Fans will definitely catch a few familiar cues.)

Brad Pitt has not looked this good on screen in at least 20 years(minus the Ocean movies). His manly charm, charisma and screen presence effortlessly carry the film. Damson Idris (no relation to Idris Elba!) is excellent as the cocky but brilliant rookie. Javier Bardem, as the team owner and Hayes’s friend, is the emotional core. He is so damn good and looks every bit the part in tailored suits and a sharp accent.

Irish actor Kerry Condon (best known as the voice of F.R.I.D.A.Y. in the Marvel films and Mike Ehrmantraut’s daughter-in-law in Better Call Saul) shines in her mainstream breakthrough role as the team’s technical director. Sarah Niles (the stoic therapist from Ted Lasso) also has a lovely part as Joshua’s mother.

I had a super great time watching this on a gorgeous IMAX screen. I can only imagine how incredible this would be in 4DX or immersive formats like ScreenX.

Beyond the spectacle, it stirred memories of those Monday morning conversations post race conversations in college. Debating Hakkinen vs. Schumacher and the common hatred for Hamilton. F1: The Movie  is not the deepest sports film ever made, but it captures the rush, the thrill and the raw allure of Formula 1. For fans old and new, this easy watch is more than enough reason to buckle up.