Brad Pitt Drives F1: The Movie with Star Power and Style
Anytime Brad Pitt steps into the lead, people notice—especially when he’s racing million-dollar cars at 200 mph. F1: The Movie, directed by Joseph Kosinski, shifts the big-screen spotlight onto the world’s most elite racing circuit. And yeah, Pitt knows how to grip an audience, just as his character Sonny Hayes grips the wheel—confident, cool, a little battered but still chasing glory.
It doesn't hurt that Kosinski, the guy who made jets look impossibly slick in Top Gun: Maverick, uses his eye for speed and glossy visuals to turn every lap into a spectacle. There’s a real sense of being thrown into the chaotic noise and color of a live Formula 1 race—all turbo-charged by Hans Zimmer’s booming score. Racing scenes play out like rollercoasters, best enjoyed on the widest screen you can find. When Pitt’s eyes narrow in the rearview mirror and engines growl, adrenaline isn’t just a plot device. It’s the whole movie’s heartbeat.
A Familiar Story Underneath the Fast Cars
Pushing all that surface shine, though, you get what most racing fans will expect from a Hollywood sports drama. Sonny Hayes is the grizzled old wolf, coaxed back to the track for ‘one last run.’ He’s paired up with up-and-coming prodigy Joshua Moretti, played by Damson Idris, whose energy bounces perfectly off Pitt’s cool detachment. Their dynamic brings both some friction and a few lighter moments, though nothing about their relationship ever truly defies the playbook. If you’ve watched any underdog sports film in the past two decades, you know where this is headed way before the checkered flag drops.
Javier Bardem enters as the team boss with his usual gravitas, lifting basic boardroom banter into full-throated drama. Kerry Condon brings spark to the grid as the team’s technical expert, but her role feels oddly thin—almost like her scenes were trimmed to keep the spotlight tight on Pitt. It’s a missed opportunity in a film that could use more strong personalities beyond its testosterone-fueled core.
The film tries for late emotional depth with a twist revealing Sonny’s medical condition, but that plot thread barely gets out of first gear. It pops up, adds a bit of tension, but never really lands. Kosinski seems far more comfortable with the roar of engines and the glint of sunlight on carbon fiber than with characters whose struggles linger after the race.
Released in India on June 27, 2025, F1: The Movie is a full-tilt, high-gloss ride that knows exactly what it wants to be. If you live for the rush of Formula 1 and the glow of movie-star charisma, strap in. Just don’t expect any surprises beneath the helmet.
Write a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *