A racing legend is coaxed into leading a struggling Formula 1 team and mentoring a young hotshot driver while chasing one last chance at redemption. A film by Joseph Kosinski, starring Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, Kim Bodnia, Sarah Niles, Shea Whigham, Samson Kayo, Joseph Balderrama, Callie Cooke, Liz Kingsman, Simon Kunz, Will Merrick, Abdul Salis, and Javier Bardem.

F1

Joseph Kosinski
(2025)
★★★★☆

Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a freelance American racing driver, helps team owner Chip Hart (Shea Whigham) win the Daytona 24 Hours. Despite the victory, Sonny passes on Chip’s offer to join the team full-time. He even turns down the Rolex Daytona watch given to the winners, saying he’s already got one.

The 24 Hours of Daytona, officially known as the Rolex 24 At Daytona, is a famous 24-hour sports car endurance race held every year at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Usually taking place on the last weekend of January, it marks the start of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. The race is run on a 3.56-mile track that combines Daytona’s high-speed oval with a challenging infield road course. Teams of three to five drivers take turns behind the wheel, racing continuously for a full day. Multiple classes of cars, including high-tech prototypes and GT cars, compete at the same time, each aiming for a class victory. Since its start as a 24-hour event in 1966, the race has become one of the world’s most prestigious endurance contests, attracting top manufacturers like Porsche, Ferrari, Cadillac, and BMW. Winners receive a coveted Rolex Daytona watch, and the event is celebrated for its exciting atmosphere and unique fan experiences.

Sonny’s former teammate from 30 years ago, Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), tracks him down for help. Ruben reveals that he now owns an F1 team called APXGP. Despite having a young and talented driver, the team has been struggling because they’ve never won a championship. Ruben pleads with Sonny to join as a driver and turn things around; if they don’t succeed, the board will force him to sell the team. Sonny initially refuses, but Ruben convinces him by telling him this is his chance to prove he’s the best driver in the world. Ruben then hands Sonny a first-class ticket to England, even though Sonny hasn’t agreed to join yet.

Formula 1 (F1) is the highest class of international open-wheel, single-seater automobile racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). It features the fastest and most technologically advanced race cars, competing in a series of Grand Prix events held on circuits and city streets around the globe. Each season, drivers and teams compete for the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships, showcasing incredible skill, precision, and teamwork. Since its inception in 1950, F1 has grown into a thrilling sport known for high speeds, cutting-edge engineering, and intense competition. Races typically last about 90 minutes, pushing drivers to their physical and mental limits as they navigate challenging tracks at speeds exceeding 200 mph. It is widely regarded as the pinnacle and most prestigious form of motorsport in the world.

At Silverstone Circuit, home of the British Grand Prix, British driver Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) test drives the APXGP car developed by technical director Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon) but can’t figure out what’s wrong with it. Sonny makes a surprise visit and asks to drive the same car. While he struggles with the modern F1 technology, he’s able to identify the car’s problems, impressing both Kate and team principal Kaspar Smolinski (Kim Bodnia).

The Silverstone Circuit is a historic and iconic motor racing track located near the villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury in England. It is best known as the home of the British Grand Prix, which it first hosted in 1948 and has been a regular part of the Formula 1 calendar since 1987. The circuit, originally built on a World War II Royal Air Force bomber station, is 5.891 kilometers (3.66 miles) long and features 18 challenging turns, including famous corners like Maggotts, Becketts, Abbey, Copse, and Stowe. Known as one of the fastest tracks in Formula 1, cars can reach speeds of up to 319 km/h during races. The track’s high-speed corners and technical sections make it a favorite among drivers and fans alike. Silverstone also holds a special place in F1 history, hosting the very first World Championship race in 1950. The winner of the 2024 British Grand Prix was Lewis Hamilton, driving for Mercedes. He secured a record-breaking ninth victory at Silverstone with a race time of 1:22:27.059, narrowly beating Max Verstappen by 1.465 seconds. Lando Norris finished third, followed by Oscar Piastri in fourth place. The 2025 British Grand Prix is scheduled for 6 July 2025.

The tension between Sonny and Joshua intensifies after Joshua’s manager and cousin Cashman (Samson Kayo) tells him about the potential team sale due to poor performance, which would cost Joshua his job. Arrogant and determined to prove himself, Joshua wants to win the race and beat Sonny to show investors he’s the team’s best driver. At the British Grand Prix, Sonny ignores Kaspar’s order to let Joshua pass and they collide. Neither of them finishes the race.

During the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring, Sonny deliberately crashes into other drivers to trigger safety cars, which slow down the field and help Joshua move up to the midfield, earning the team their first points.

The Hungarian Grand Prix is a Formula 1 race held annually at the Hungaroring, a 4.381 km (2.722 mi) circuit located in Mogyoród, near Budapest, Hungary. First held in 1986, it was the first F1 race behind the Iron Curtain and has been a permanent fixture on the F1 calendar since then. The track is known for its tight, twisty layout with few straights, often compared to a karting circuit, requiring high downforce and excellent car balance rather than outright power. Overtaking is difficult, making qualifying and race strategy crucial. The race usually takes place in hot summer conditions, with the circuit situated in a natural bowl that offers good viewing from grandstands, especially around the main straight. The Hungaroring is about 20 km from Budapest, allowing fans to combine the race with visits to the vibrant city. The winner of the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix was Oscar Piastri driving for McLaren Mercedes. He secured his maiden Formula 1 victory at the Hungaroring, finishing the 70-lap race in 1:38:01.989. His teammate Lando Norris finished second, giving McLaren their first 1–2 finish since the 2021 Italian Grand Prix. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton came in third, marking his 200th career podium. The race took place on 21 July 2024. The 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix is scheduled for 3 August 2025.

With Sonny’s experience and unconventionally aggressive tactics, APXGP’s F1 ranking improves and the underdog team becomes a media sensation, giving Ruben and the team hope that they could actually win the Formula 1 World Championship. But Sonny still harbors secrets he hasn’t shared with anyone.

In the 2025 Formula 1 season, points are awarded to the top 10 finishers in each Grand Prix race. The winner receives 25 points, second place gets 18, third place 15, and points continue down to 1 point for the driver finishing tenth. Since 2019, drivers finishing in the top 10 could earn an extra point for setting the fastest lap during a race, but this bonus was eliminated in 2025 to avoid strategic pit stops solely aimed at securing that point and to prevent situations where drivers outside the points could interfere with the bonus.

Directed by American filmmaker Joseph Kosinski from a screenplay by Ehren Kruger, F1 is a drama film about a racing driver who returns to Formula 1 after 30 years away to help save a struggling team from going under.

The narrative is compelling and the entire cast delivers impressive performances, particularly Damson Idris and Brad Pitt. While the racing sequences are exhilarating, the story drags somewhat in the middle, especially with Sonny’s tragic accident being shown repeatedly through flashbacks and characters watching footage of it.

However, the film excels in cinematography, brilliantly capturing the excitement and danger that F1 drivers face under pressure. Shot using a custom camera module developed by Apple, these sequences are incredibly immersive, and combined with Hans Zimmer’s soundtrack, they make you feel like you’re sitting in the cockpit alongside the driver.

Apple created a custom camera module for the F1 movie by engineering a device that looks identical to the standard onboard broadcast cameras used in Formula 1 cars but is powered entirely by iPhone components. This camera houses an iPhone 15 Pro’s 48-megapixel sensor, an A-series chip, an iPhone battery, and a neutral density filter to control exposure in bright racing conditions. The module runs a specially customized version of iOS tailored for high-quality cinematic filming, recording video in a log format using Apple’s ProRes codec to provide filmmakers with enhanced flexibility in color grading. The engineering challenge was to design a camera that could withstand the extreme conditions inside an F1 car—intense shock, vibration, heat—while matching the exact dimensions, weight, and aerodynamic profile of existing broadcast camera modules to avoid impacting the car’s performance or violating FIA regulations.

Beyond the immersive experience, F1 also features numerous real Formula 1 drivers appearing as themselves, which adds authenticity to the racing scenes. The film includes some of the biggest names on the current F1 grid: Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Sergio Pérez, George Russell, Carlos Sainz, Oscar Piastri, Pierre Gasly, Valtteri Bottas, Kevin Magnussen, and Daniel Ricciardo, among others. These drivers represent top teams like Mercedes, Red Bull Racing, Ferrari, McLaren, and Aston Martin. Their appearances alongside the fictional characters played by Brad Pitt and Damson Idris help create a realistic portrayal of the Formula 1 world.

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Since the film was shot using both custom cameras and traditional IMAX-certified digital cameras, including Sony VENICE models and DJI Ronin 4D stabilized rigs, F1 deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible. It’s nearly impossible to get this kind of cinematic experience at home.

A private screening of F1 took place on 21 May 2025 in Monaco, ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix weekend. The event was organized by Formula 1 Management and held in a movie theatre in Monaco, attended by 18 of the 20 F1 drivers.

The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the most prestigious and famous races in the Formula 1 calendar. Held every year on the narrow, winding streets of Monte Carlo and around Monaco’s harbor, it has been part of F1 since 1950, with roots going back to 1929. The circuit is known for its tight corners, elevation changes, and extremely narrow roads, making it one of the most challenging tracks for drivers. Famous sections include Casino Square, the slow Fairmont hairpin, and a unique tunnel where drivers must quickly adjust to changing light. Because overtaking is very difficult, qualifying position and race strategy are crucial. The race is often called the “Crown Jewel” of Formula 1, testing drivers’ skill and focus like no other event. Its glamorous location on the French Riviera and rich history make it a highlight of the F1 season. The 2025 Monaco Grand Prix took place on 25 May 2025. The winner of the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix was Lando Norris driving for McLaren. He started from pole position and managed to hold off strong challenges, including from Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, to secure his second win of the season. Norris completed 78 laps with a race time of 1:40:33.843, finishing just over 3 seconds ahead of Leclerc, while his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri finished third.

F1 premiered at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on 16 June 2025. The film was theatrically released in the United States on 27 June, by Warner Bros. Pictures.

F1 Movie: How Martin Donnelly’s crash inspired Brad Pitt film
In qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix in 1990, mechanical failure caused his Lotus to crash into the barriers at 160mph. While he was in an induced coma, his organs started to fail and his heart stopped twice. His condition was so bad he was given the last rites by a priest. Yet, he came through it all and his accident has inspired the story for one of the biggest films of the year – the box office-topping F1: The Movie.

F1 Drivers Let Us Know Just How Realistic F1: The Movie Really Is
F1 is unlike any theatrical experience you’ll have this year. The Brad Pitt-starring movie from Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski and produced by legendary blockbuster-maven Jerry Bruckheimer delivers on its need for speed. The selling point for the film, similar to Kosinski’s Maverick, is the fact that Pitt and co-star Damson Idris drove the cars themselves on F1 tracks. While they didn’t participate in the races, every interior shot of the actors behind the wheel is actually them.

F1 movie races to top spot at box office with $140m opening weekend
F1: The Movie has enjoyed a successful launch, taking $55m in the USA and Canada and over $140 million worldwide in its opening weekend. The movie was shot with IMAX digital cameras and presented in the IMAX 1.90:1 aspect ratio for its whole length, so it’s no surprise that IMAX contributed $28 million of that opening figure, accounting for 19% of the total. This makes it the most successful global opening for an Apple-backed movie release so far, out-pacing Napoleon (2023) with $78.8 million and Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) with its $44 million (worldwide opening weekend).

‘F1’ Rundown: Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Every Formula 1 Racer in Brad Pitt’s Movie
In the Apple film, Pitt plays a retired Formula 1 driver, Sonny Hayes, who returns to racing to mentor and partner with a rookie teammate Joshua Pearce, played by Idris, for the fictional Apex Grand Prix team. The film also stars Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, Javier Bardem, Kim Bodnia, Sarah Niles and Samson Kayo. The cast also worked closely with real race car drivers like Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion and the first Black driver to compete in Formula 1. Hamilton was also involved with writing the script and producing the film for his Dawn Apollo Films production company. Some scenes were filmed at actual Formula 1 events, such as British Grand Prix, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Rolex 24 at the Daytona sportscar and more. Many active Formula 1 drivers make appearances as themselves throughout the film.

Brad Pitt opens up on ‘extraordinary’ experience of shooting ‘F1 The Movie’
Brad Pitt has described his involvement in F1 The Movie as “one of the most extraordinary experiences” of his illustrious career. Pitt stars as former F1 driver Sonny Hayes, who returns to the sport to partner rookie team mate Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris, at the fictional APXGP team – who slot alongside the existing 10 outfits up and down the pit lane. Filming of F1 has taken place at real events, including at 2024’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Ed Sheeran Releases New Song “Drive” From ‘F1: The Album’
Produced by John Mayer and Blake Slatkin, Drive features Mayer on guitar alongside Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl on drums, bassist Pino Paladino and keyboardist Rami Jaffee, with additional keyboards and drum programming by Slatkin. Directed by Chris Villa, the music video for Ed Sheeran’s “Drive” incorporates racing imagery by featuring Sheeran singing on a racetrack while Formula 1 cars speed past him and even fly through the air, visually capturing the high-speed thrill of F1 racing. The song was released on 20 June 2025.

Blackpink’s Rosé Shuts Down The Vegas Strip In ‘Messy’ Music Video From ‘F1’ Movie Soundtrack
ROSÉ‘s new song “Messy” was released on on 8 May 2025, as part of the official soundtrack for the upcoming F1® The Movie, titled F1 The Album. The track, produced by Lostboy and Burns, is a sleek and passionate pop ballad where ROSÉ sings about an intense and perhaps chaotic relationship, using the central theme “let’s get messy” to convey a desire for raw and uninhibited connection. Directed by Colin Tilley, the official music video for “Messy” was released simultaneously and features ROSÉ navigating glamorous locations in Las Vegas at night, including a bar, a theater, and cityscapes. Notably, the video also includes exclusive, never-before-seen footage from the “F1” movie, starring Brad Pitt and Kerry Condon, interwoven with ROSÉ’s scenes, creating a visual link between the song’s themes and the film’s world. The filming of the music video even caused a temporary shutdown of the Las Vegas Strip, highlighting the scale and anticipation surrounding both the song and the movie.

Hans Zimmer on Composing the Film Score of ‘F1 The Movie’
To score F1The Movie, director Joseph Kosinski brought aboard the legendary Hans Zimmer and his co-composer Steve Mazzaro, with whom the filmmaker collaborated on in Top Gun: Maverick. “We spent forever figuring out the tempo of the music against the picture. If the music went too fast, the picture looked slow. If the music went too slow, it was out of sync. We found an overall tempo that enhanced the speed of the film. And one of the things that was unusual for us is we never slow down; even in dialogue sequences, there is still like a pulse of something going on.”

Don Toliver & Doja Cat Hit the Fast Lane for New Song ‘Lose My Mind’
On Wednesday 30 April 2025, Don Toliver dropped off the music video for “Lose My Mind,” directed by
Christian Breslauer, after teasing the song just 24 hours earlier. The song will appear on the soundtrack for the new movie F1, and in the visual, both Don and Doja suit up for a race of their own, with the former hopping behind his own race car and the latter getting tinkered with as she spits some venomous bars.

Haptic Trailer For ‘F1’ Movie Lets You Feel The Race On Your Phone
The haptic trailer for the F1 movie was released on Apple TV on 11 June 2025. It is available exclusively on the Apple TV app for iPhones running iOS 18.4 or later, using the iPhone’s Taptic Engine to provide responsive vibrations synced with the on-screen action. Apple premiered the haptic trailer during this week’s 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference. There, the company announced, among other things, its next iPhone operating software, iOS 26, which promises to screen scam calls and hold your place in the dreaded phone waiting line when you’re stuck on hold.