Warner Bros. Pictures

Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Written by: Ehren Kruger
Run Time: 2 hours 36 minutes

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Director Joseph Kosinski loves to push the limits of cinematic speed. Previously he’s re-engineered the light cycles of Tron: Legacy (2010), showcasing their velocity in visually stunning fashion. While more recently he’s sent Tom Cruise flying high again in the fast and furious fighter jets of Top Gun: Maverick (2022). Showing no signs of slowing down then, his latest adrenaline-fuelled project, F1 The Movie sees the director steer audiences towards the elite and expensive world of motorsports.

Brad Pitt stars as Sonny Hayes, an ex-Formula One driver who was forced to retire from the top class of racing after a near-fatal crash. Years later, friend and owner of Apex Grand Prix racing team, Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), recruits Sonny to help save his team’s season as rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) struggles to keep up with the other, more established teams. Together the pair must bridge the gap between old and new to take the team into pole position.

It’s a fairly predictable set-up and one that’s been seen many times before, after all the novice versus the veteran is a well-trodden trope of the sporting genre. Although, in the case of F1 The Movie they at least find themselves on the same side, albeit not before some childish rivalries can be worked out first.

Elsewhere, the premise further veers the plot into cliche-ridden territory. Audiences are often reminded of Sonny’s traumatic past; flashbacks and shots of a gnarly scar on his back give him the stereotypical hero’s tragic backstory, while an inevitable romantic subplot with the team’s technical director Kate (Kerry Condon) takes advantage of Pitt’s star-power charm. Yet, for all of its admittedly conventional storytelling it never dwells long enough in the moment for it to become tiresome, instead it swiftly makes way for the film’s turbocharged main attraction: the racing.

At this point, Kosinski’s track record speaks for itself but if any further proof was needed of his talent for delivering high-octane vehicular action, F1 The Movie is it. Working in tandem with cinematographer and long-time collaborator Claudio Miranda, the pair create racing sequences that are nothing short of electric. At times the camera operates so closely in line with the asphalt that it gives audiences the thrill of feeling like it’s actually them behind the wheel, not the racers. Kosinski ensures that an all-encompassing view of the action is achieved though, as from driver POVs to overhead shots, wide angles and close-up details, every inch of the competition is captured, and masterfully so.

Invigorating action like this then requires a similarly epic score to soundtrack it, and thankfully none other than Hans Zimmer is on hand to do just that. His thrilling compositions complement the sound design for every acceleration, tire change and overtake, pulsating through the screen, repeatedly matching the film’s top speeds. These camera and sound technicalities are crucial for sustaining the film’s relentless pace of action, however there are further creative elements at play too.

It’s here where screenwriter Ehren Kruger makes up for some of his aforementioned trackside cliche indulgence, as he does well to infuse Sonny’s mischievous nature into the scenes of racing too. His backstory includes a range of post-F1 jobs from taxi driver to professional gambler, and with a playing card in his pocket and plenty of tricks up his sleeve, Sonny makes for a fascinating competitor on the track. His unusual antics and inspired strategies make the races far more engaging than some of those in other genre counterparts and gives viewers a satisfying combination of exciting narrative stakes and expertly calibrated action.

Conversely there’s a levity to the drama off the track, of course the tension gradually builds before each race but Kosinski makes sure there’s a lot of fun to be had too. Pitt still has the movie-star quality needed to lead a blockbuster like this, taking every line in his stride. Whereas young co-star Damson Idris comfortably holds his own alongside him. It’s Kerry Condon who often steals the show though, playing mediator between the immature athletes she’s forced to manage. While Javier Bardem is having an absolute ball playing the passionate, immaculately dressed owner of the team. Together, they make for an effortlessly watchable ensemble that allow this sporting drama to race through its runtime.

For those unschooled in all things Formula One, there is quite a lot of racing jargon and sporting terminology thrown around. However, the well-written race commentaries guide viewers through the events with ease, accommodating even the most ignorant of viewers. Irrespectively, with such consistently exhilarating action driving F1 The Movie forward at every turn, it’s all but impossible not to get swept up and enjoy the ride.

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Star Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

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