From the rapid cutting camera shots with compact framing and quick pans, to the adrenaline-pumped music tracks, paired with the thrill of speed and crazy ambition, formed the long-awaited Formula 1 movie, released on June 27th, 2025.

The movie is oriented around two main characters, Sonny Hayes (played by Brad Pitt) and Joshua Pearce (played by Damson Idris). The movie plot is a classic structure of the teacher and the student: an experienced F1 driver returning to the tracks and a young recruit desperate to prove himself to social media.

The interaction between the two drives the tension and excitement of the movie: Hayes getting flashbacks from his devastating crash when he was young which caused him to retire and stopped racing, while Pearce is focused on his own ambition and social media fame, creating an intense rivalry between the two.  

As the racing season begins, Hayes is introduced back to the racing track by his buddy Ruben Cervantes (played by Javier Bardem), the team owner of APEXGP.

Hayes returns not only to save the struggling team from being disbanded and to mentor the young recruit Joshua Pearce, but also for the sake of fulfilling his dream of winning an F1 championship. Hayes is reluctant to mentor Pearce, and their relationship quickly turns into a full-on rivalry due to their clashing goals and personalities.   

As the season goes on, the tension between Hayes and Pearce increases drastically, heavily impacting the team performance during races. Pearce wants to steal the spotlight and portray himself as the new star of Formula 1, while Hayes is focused on humbling the young apprentice and proving to the rest of the team that he is still worthy of being behind the wheel.

Hayes and Pearce’s rivalry moved onto the racing track with them, with aggressive overtakes, bumps and crashes, and constant tension between the two. Every race feels like a competition of not just speed but also pride and ego.  

The racing scenes are the most exciting and hyped-up portions of the film.

The quick cuts and tight shots suspend the audience’s heart, and the roar of the engines and screeching tires immerses you into the scene.

The selective choice of music adds to the intensity, with energetic beats during races and quieter, deeper tones during character development moments. Featuring big artists such as Doja Cat, Ed Sheeran, ROSÉ, and Tate McRae, the soundtrack amplifies the film’s energy and emotional impact.

Apart from the racing, the film shines light on the aspects of Formula 1 that’s most often left out in social media. Hayes struggles with old age, pressure, and his past trauma, while Pearce shows how ambition and fame can consume someone. Their rivalry is more than what meets the eye: it’s a clash of values and personality, one man seeking fulfillment and another chasing worldwide recognition.  

The devoted performances from the actors make the story realistic. Brad Pitt gives Sonny Hayes the character depth, showing both strength and vulnerability. Damson Idris plays Joshua Pearce with young energy and arrogance, portraying perfectly what a recruit should act like.  

The final act in the movie leads to a final dramatic showdown between Hayes and Pearce. The ending emphasizes not which of the two finished first, but the character growth for the two.

However, the ending feels a bit rushed, with a much more sped up pace overall compared to the first half of the movie. It just feels like they wanted to come to a resolution as soon as possible and as a result led to a rushed ending.   

Overall, the F1 movie contains a satisfying mix of racing action and drama. While it’s similar to other sports movies, the strong acting, intense racing scenes, and the thick emotional value make it stand out from the rest. Whether you’re a fan of Formula 1 or just someone looking for an action packed and deep story, the movie keeps you on the edge of the seat from start to finish.