The highly anticipated movie F1 will soon be hitting Dutch cinemas. The project – a collaboration between the producers of Top Gun: Maverick, tech giant Apple, and racing driver Lewis Hamilton – promises to provide a truthful depiction of the pinnacle of motorsport. Without giving away the plot prematurely, we can report that F1 is visually impressive, although true racing fans may grit their teeth at the sight of the many clichés.
The synopsis of F1 is now widely known – Hollywood star Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a Formula 1 veteran who gets a second chance at APX GP, a struggling backmarker team. There, he faces off against promising rookie Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris. The numerous trailers promoting the film in recent weeks have somewhat revealed these details. Additionally, a significant portion of the scenes were filmed during actual race weekends. Anyone who has been following the news around the film will therefore know exactly when to expect victories – or crashes.
However, it also works to the film’s advantage that real racing footage was used for F1 – Pitt and Idris drove in modified Formula 2 cars during various sessions. The on-track action is a joy to watch; the tension and speed of Formula 1 are palpable. Director Joseph Kosinski, who was already praised for his footage of fighter jets in Top Gun: Maverick, delivers another technical masterpiece with F1.
Who is F1 for?
While the mise-en-scène is impressive, the plot unfortunately leaves much to be desired. Seasoned racing fans had been warned multiple times that F1 is primarily a Hollywood movie, but the fact that the already unbelievable story contains so many clichés remains disappointing. A handful of Grand Prix races feature massive crashes, laughable strategies, and unlikely victories. Is F1 just an old-fashioned action movie for the average cinema-goer to mindlessly munch popcorn to? That’s debatable. Perhaps the Formula 1 novice will be overwhelmed by the numerous team meetings and endless chatter about tire strategies.
Not to mention the occasionally wooden acting from Brad Pitt. In this regard, F1 is certainly not his best work. His co-star Kerry Condon is a believable technical director – the same unfortunately cannot be said for the upgrades she delivers to APX GP. Damson Idris also makes a convincing contribution, but it’s Oscar winner Javier Bardem who steals the show. The Spaniard shines as the eccentric team owner and former driver Rubén Cervantes.
Liberty Media will undoubtedly be delighted with this Hollywood outing. F1 is primarily a powerful showcase for the sport and will undoubtedly attract a new influx of fans, even if only for one race weekend. Fans who can spend their money on the premier class through merchandise purchases and collaborations with companies like Disney and LEGO. Mission accomplished.
