Brad Pitt’s new movie, F1: The Movie, is already getting a lot of attention, even before its release. The film is directed by Joseph Kosinski, who also directed Top Gun: Maverick. It tells the story of a former Formula 1 driver who returns to racing many years after a crash ended his career. The movie was made with help from real F1 teams and drivers and was filmed during actual Grand Prix events in 2023 and 2024. It is set to open in theaters in the UK on June 25, 2025, and in the US and Canada on June 27, 2025.
Key Takeaways
- F1: The Movie was shot live at actual Formula 1 Grand Prix events in 2023 and 2024, with current F1 drivers appearing as themselves.
- The lead actors trained to drive custom-built cars based on Formula 2 models, modified by Mercedes to look and perform like F1 cars.
- The film was made with F1’s full support and is designed to make the sport more exciting and accessible to a wider audience.
Critics Say the Movie Feels Like a Classic Blockbuster
People who saw early screenings have been very positive. Drew Taylor from The Wrap said the movie is “absolutely incredible” and called it “one of the coolest, most entertaining movies” he’s ever seen. He said it has strong emotions and exciting moments.
The podcast The Nerds of Color said the movie is “fun” and “fast-paced” with a lot of heart. They thought the race scenes were the best part, saying they made the audience feel like they were inside the car.
Tim Chan from Penske Media said the film made him feel more emotional than he expected. He also said Brad Pitt’s performance stood out and that the soundtrack fit the racing scenes perfectly.
Maude Garrett from Nerdist said the movie had everything: action, emotion, pacing, story, and character. She even said she might become an F1 fan because of it.
Erik Davis from Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes said the film “hits the gas and doesn’t stop.” He praised the race scenes, the sound, the editing, the music, and the performances. He also said it reminded him of an “old-school summer blockbuster.”
The Story Follows a Former Star Trying to Prove Himself Again
Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a racing driver who was at the top of his game in the 1990s. But after a bad crash, his F1 career ended early. Thirty years later, Hayes is no longer racing. He becomes involved again when Ruben Cervantes, a former teammate, asks him to join his struggling team, Apex GP. Ruben is now the team owner and is trying to save the team from collapse.
Hayes joins Apex GP and teams up with a young and talented driver named Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris. The movie focuses on the relationship between the two drivers. The main idea is that in Formula 1, even teammates compete against each other, and Hayes must learn to work with Pearce to get another shot at success.
Javier Bardem plays Ruben Cervantes. Tobias Menzies also has a role. Real F1 drivers from the 2023 season, including Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, and Lance Stroll, appear in the film as themselves.
Real F1 Cars, Tracks, and Drivers Were Used in Filming
The filmmakers wanted the racing scenes to feel as real as humanly possible. So, they filmed during actual F1 race weekends in 2023 and 2024 at tracks like Silverstone, the Hungaroring, Spa, Suzuka, and Yas Marina. The production team worked with all 10 F1 teams and had permission from Formula 1 and the FIA to film on-site.
Brad Pitt and Damson Idris trained as drivers at the Winfield Racing School at Paul Ricard. They learned how to handle real race cars from professional stunt drivers Luciano Bacheta, Craig Dolby, and Duncan Tappy.
Haas rookie driver Oliver Bearman said Pitt did “an impressive job” behind the wheel and had clearly trained hard. He added, “It is going to be a huge hit and it is going to make people want to watch F1, which is really the goal of it.”
The Cars Were Specially Built to Look and Perform Like F1 Machines
The cars used in the movie were based on Formula 2 models. Formula 1 cars are too complex and expensive to recreate, so the production team worked with Mercedes Applied Science to design cars that looked like F1 vehicles but were easier to use and film.
Mercedes engineer Juan Villalba explained that they had to adjust the cars’ size and design, including stretching the wheelbase and redesigning the front wing. The team built six cars in total. These cars were built to race at real speeds and carry cameras inside them.
Director Joseph Kosinski said they developed new cameras based on those used in Top Gun: Maverick. With help from Sony, they made the cameras smaller—about one-quarter the size of the originals, so they wouldn’t slow down the cars.
F1 Teams Helped the Movie Film During Race Weekends
Filming at live races took detailed planning. The production team worked with F1’s media director, Ian Holmes, and hired former McLaren communications lead Tim Bampton to coordinate between the movie and F1’s many departments.
At the 2023 British Grand Prix, they filmed the Apex GP cars on the grid. Because filming happened during a real event, safety was very important. The FIA allowed the scene but had a backup plan to exit the track through a crash gate if needed.
F1’s logistics head James Boughton said the team worked closely with race promoters, who were supportive. The film team had short windows, sometimes only 9 or 10 minutes, to get the footage they needed while not interfering with the race.
Kosinski called it “a live stage play in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators, while shooting at 180mph.”
F1 Drivers Reacted After Watching the Film
Several F1 drivers watched an early screening in Monaco. Carlos Sainz said, “We will see things that might be a bit too American or a bit too Hollywood. But honestly, I enjoyed the whole film.” Lando Norris said the story was “inspirational” and had “a lot of different meanings.”
George Russell said it was impressive to see how real F1 drivers and team principals were shown in the film. He said it was funny to watch himself appear in scenes with Brad Pitt. Charles Leclerc said the driving shots were “incredible” and that the camera angles were unlike anything he had seen before. He also said the movie could help bring new fans to Formula 1.
Kimi Antonelli said the movie was “long but really well made.” Max Verstappen did not attend the screening and said, “I’ll download it on Apple.”
Music from Big Stars Is Part of the Film’s Promotion
The movie’s soundtrack is also getting attention. Atlantic Records released Tate McRae’s new single, “Just Keep Watching,” on May 30. The music video, directed by Bardia Zeinali, shows McRae surrounded by F1 gear, racing tires, and neck-training equipment. The video has already reached over 4.3 million views and is trending on YouTube.
The full soundtrack, called F1 THE ALBUM, will be released on June 27. It includes songs from artists like Ed Sheeran, ROSÉ, Doja Cat, Burna Boy, Madison Beer, Myke Towers, and Mr. Eazi. Atlantic Records has previously produced music for Barbie (2023), Twisters (2024), and The Greatest Showman (2017).
Tate McRae also started her Miss Possessive Tour in June 2025 in Hamburg, Germany. She will perform 61 shows across two continents, ending the tour in November at Acrisure Arena in California.
The Film Will Be Released Worldwide in June 2025
F1: The Movie will be released by Warner Bros. Pictures. It opens in the UK on June 25, 2025, and in North America on June 27, 2025. Many Fan-First Premiere Screenings on June 23 have already sold out.
The film took over two years to make, though the idea came about when director Joseph Kosinski talked with Lewis Hamilton about wanting to make a realistic racing movie. Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, helped shape the project and served as a producer.
Kosinski said the film could not have happened without the help of Formula 1 and its drivers. They allowed his team to film on track, inside the paddock, and during real race weekends. Kosinski said the goal was to show the sport as it really is, and everyone involved helped make that possible.
