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F1: is the Formula 1 film starring Brad Pitt worth it?
High emotion, adrenaline, and male rivalries… American cinema has long made motor racing a central theme and is not about to stop now. The film F1, co-produced by Lewis Hamilton and starring Brad Pitt and Javier Bardem, is about to be released on June 25th, 2025… But is it worth all the buzz? Review.
By Violaine Schütz,
and Chloé Bergeret.
After the “Brat Summer”, here comes the “Brad Summer” and the rise of the “F1Core” trend… Judging by the success of the feature Ford v Ferrari (2019) starring Matt Damon and focusing on building a car supposed to beat Ferrari, Hollywood seems to have found its winning formula. Speed, suspense, explosive starts. In short, pure thrills…
F1, Joseph Kosinski’s new film starring Brad Pitt
Throw in American actor Brad Pitt as lead character, seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton as co-producer, and Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) as director, and you’ve got one of the biggest blockbusters of summer 2025.
Produced by Apple Original Films and distributed by Warner Bros. France, F1 is expected to make a splash. Just like the Netflix series Formula 1: Drive to Survive did. It has all the right ingredients to take pole position at the box office…
A “Brad Summer” on the horizon thanks to F1
This feature film, scheduled for June 25th, 2025, tells the story of a veteran driver named Sonny Hayes, played by Brad Pitt. This tattooed lone wolf with dirty clothes, a van, bulging muscles, and lots of sex appeal, comes out of retirement to mentor a young racing driver and save the Formula 1 team of an old friend, played by Javier Bardem. All while seizing the opportunity to triumph on the track and become the best driver in the world.
A former Formula 1 star from the 1990s, Sonny Hayes suffered from a serious car crash during a race. He then took a break, fell into depression, got married several times, became addicted to gambling, and kept racing in low-level circuits. No matter the track, the intrepid racing driver is hooked on the rush of speed…
A star-studded cast with Kerry Condon and Javier Bardem
Let’s be clear, Brad Pitt is the $200 million trump card of the film. The latter even drives a real race car in F1. With his soulful gaze and bad-boy swagger, he brings a great deal of humanity to the character of Sonny Hayes, a man who pushes boundaries and breaks rules on the track.
It is with great pleasure that we discover Irish actress Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin, 2022) as a car engineer and love interest of the protagonist, as well as Spanish star Javier Bardem (Dune: Part Two, Skyfall) as the head of a failing racing team. We’re less convinced, however, by British actor Damson Idris (Outside the Wire) who overdoes it a tad as the arrogant young driver vying with Sonny Hayes.
An immersive Formula 1 experience
Formula 1 fans will be thrilled to know that real-life drivers make appearances in F1, including Lewis Hamilton himself. The British racing driver also oversaw the film’s authenticity to ensure it stayed true to actual race conditions. He even took Brad Pitt on a high-speed ride.
The race scenes are ultimately spectacular and deeply immersive. Why? Because they were shot during actual Grand Prix between 2023 and 2024. They used cutting-edge cameras on the cars, and sometimes on helmets. That technique gives viewers the impression that they’re right inside the car. It all adds up to a theme-park thrill ride, especially if you watch it in IMAX.
Tate McRae, Doja Cat… a dazzling soundtrack
If F1 boasts a dream cast on screen, the soundtrack of the film is very entertaining too. The action kicks off at top speed with a race scene powered by a Led Zeppelin hit. Aside from the numerous rock tracks, the score was composed by Hans Zimmer and an all-star lineup of international musicians. Among them, singer-songwriter Tate McRae interprets the song Just Keep Watching, a high-voltage pop anthem.
Don Toliver and Doja Cat contribute the brilliant Lose My Mind, while superstar Rosé (from the K-pop band Blackpink), Burna Boy, and Peggy Gou are also featured on the soundtrack of what appears to be one of 2025’s landmark films. Yet, Formula 1 purists might frown at the overuse of safety cars, over-the-top effects, and Sonny Hayes’ astonishing number of sabotage attempts against rival teams.
As for us, we might have liked a bit more emotional depth in the confrontations between the young driver (Damson Idris) and the seasoned pro (Brad Pitt). However, we have to admit that the formula of F1, built on adrenaline and eternal charisma of the Fight Club actor, crosses the finish line with flair.
F1 (2025) directed by Joseph Kosinski, starring Brad Pitt and Javier Bardem, coming out on June 25th, 2025.
