F1 is a racing movie that does everything a sports story should, but the repetitive nature of Formula 1 – as well as the tale being told – frequently makes this speed-obsessed feature something of a slog.
In a summer that features Superman, dinosaurs, a fantastic family, Rage-infused zombies, and an alien who loves Elvis, F1 might be the most far-fetched film of the season.
That’s because the central concept concerns a man in his 60s driving a Formula 1 car, which is patently ridiculous. But such is Brad Pitt’s star power that the movie barely acknowledges that fact, aside from listing a couple of ageing drivers from the past, and cracking some jokes at the sexagenarian’s expense.
His character is the beating heart of the new movie, however, so your enjoyment of F1 will depend on if you can suspend your disbelief for this racing flight of fancy.
What is F1 about?
Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, who starts the film winning the 24 Hour race in Daytona, then immediately getting out of dodge, because Sonny is a man who “spends his whole life starting over.”
But a visit from Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem) changes everything, with his former teammate presenting an offer, as well as lots of exposition.
Ruben owns the APX Grand Prix Team, but problems in the boardroom and on the track have left him $350 million in the hole. APXGP is in last place, they’ve never finished in the top 10, their best driver has left, and his backup is a rookie, and if Cervantes doesn’t find wins from somewhere, he’ll lose the team.
“Sounds like you need a new board,” says Sonny. “I need a new driver,” comes Ruben’s response, giving Hayes the chance of a lifetime, as well as the opportunity to right the wrongs of his past.
As protocol demands in these situations, Sonny initially refuses the call. But this is also a pretty conventional sports movie, so Hayes is soon answering that call, crossing the racing threshold, and trying to turn Ruben’s fortunes around before the end of the season.
Rookie vs Maverick
Sonny is given back-story, personality, weaknesses, and strengths – as well as a secret he’s harbouring – but new team-mate Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) doesn’t fare as well, being a pretty one-dimensional character.
A young British driver, Josh lacks maturity, and doesn’t appreciate his boss “giving a second chance to the elderly” rather than finding him a competitive colleague.
And you can see his point. Sonny crashes a car during his first training lap, makes reckless manoeuvres during his first race, and plays fast-and-loose with the rules in a way that positions him as smart, but really makes Hayes looks like a dangerous liability and an irresponsible cheat.
The pair initially clash on and off the track, and we won’t spoil how their story develops, but if you’ve ever seen a sports movie – or other Jerry Bruckheimer productions like Days of Thunder and the Top Guns – you can probably guess how it all goes down.
Sonny vs Lewis and Max
What sets F1 apart from such similar fare is the technology and cutting edge equipment at director Joseph Kosinski’s disposal, enabling him to film in and around real Formula 1 cars.
He was also able to shoot those cars at actual Grands Prix, in races that pit the fictional characters against champions like Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and Fernando Alonso.
It adds an air of authenticity to proceedings that ups the ante, bringing the races to life by putting the audience in Josh and Sonny’s seats.
But that attention to detail also means F1 gets pretty technical on race days, and if you aren’t already familiar with the mechanics of the Drag Reduction System or the problem with dirty air or the difference between hard and soft tyres, you’ll likely be scratching your head.
The problem with Formula 1
There’s also an issue with the nature of Formula 1 itself, as while there’s weeks between races in the sport, here we’ve got a new contest every 15-20 minutes, making for a repetitive viewing experience.
This isn’t helped by the cyclical nature of the story. You can put one of your drivers in an accident that lands them in hospital, but not two. Similarly, a single safety car sequence is great, but two feels like overkill.
And in a testosterone-fuelled sport that’s dominated by men, it’s good to spotlight women who are underestimated because of their sex. And Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon) – who is the first female technical director in Formula 1 – is a compelling character, when she’s not functioning as a love interest.
But to have APX mechanic Jodie also similarly undervalued – but in a way that feels more like an afterthought – labors that point, and makes the film feel like its going round in circles like the drivers at its core.
Is F1 good?
At 155 minutes, F1 is too long, especially when the film is telling a relatively simple story of rivals putting their differences aside to become a team.
But the movie has two things going for it – some amazing race footage that puts you inside a Formula 1 car on race day, and Brad Pitt.
He’s giving a performance you’ve seen him deliver before, with Hayes easygoing, laid-back, cocky, and cool. But the charm he brings to Sonny is irresistible, and enough to carry F1 all the way to the chequered flag.
F1 score: 3/5
It shouldn’t take this many minutes or races to tell such a straightforward tale, but when Brad Pitt is onscreen, and when the movie gets to the point, F1 is a winner.
Did anyone die on Poop Cruise? Update on Netflix’s Trainwreck