Dubbed “Speed and Soul: The Heartbeat of Racing in F1 the movie (2025),” the long-awaited cinematic spectacle directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, with seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton as a producer, has finally roared onto the global stage. This film is not just a love letter to Formula 1 fans, but a high-octane blockbuster designed to thrill both racing enthusiasts and general audiences alike. With Brad Pitt leading the cast as Sonny Hayes, a retired F1 driver coaxed out of retirement to mentor a young, ambitious teammate, “F1” delivers a sensory blasting experience that marries the visceral excitement of motorsport with the emotional depth of a character-driven drama.
Set against the backdrop of real-world Formula 1 races, the movie’s authenticity is unprecedented. Scenes were filmed during actual Grand Prix weekends, with the fictional APXGP team’s garage set up alongside real F1 teams, and actors Brad Pitt and Damson Idris performing many of their own driving stunts in modified Formula 2 cars. The result is a film that feels less like a Hollywood fabrication and more like a thrilling documentary with a dramatic narrative woven in. The cinematography by Claudio Miranda, known for his work on “Top Gun: Maverick,” immerses viewers in the cockpit, making the speed, danger, and beauty of F1 racing palpable.
What sets “F1” apart is its commitment to realism and its exploration of the mentor-mentee dynamic. Sonny Hayes, played by Brad Pitt, is a former prodigy whose career was derailed by a devastating crash. He is drawn back into the world of F1 by team owner Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), who needs Sonny to help rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) reach his full potential and save the struggling APXGP team. The film’s emotional core lies in the evolving relationship between Sonny and Joshua, as well as the high-stakes pressure of the racing world, where every decision can mean the difference between victory and disaster.
Despite its predictable plot, “F1” is elevated by its stellar cast, breathtaking visuals, and the palpable passion of everyone involved. The film’s release has been met with critical acclaim and strong box office performance, proving that there is still appetite for original, adult-oriented blockbusters in an era dominated by franchises and streaming. For fans of motorsport, “F1” is a dream come true—a chance to see their favorite sport celebrated on the big screen with all the spectacle and drama it deserves.
F1:the movie 2025
- English F1 | Korean F1 더 무비| Japaness F1 エフワン
- Directed by Joseph Kosinski | Screenplay by Ehren Kruger
- Based on Original story inspired by Formula 1
- Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Joseph Kosinski, Chad Oman, Lewis Hamilton
- Cinematography Claudio Miranda
- Edited by Stephen Mirrione
- Music by Hans Zimmer (score), Joseph Trapanese
- Starring Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Javier Bardem, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, Sarah Niles, Kim Bodnia, Samson Kayo
- Production companies Apple Original Films, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Skydance Media, Dawn Apollo Films
- Distributed by Warner Bros Pictures (international theatrical), Apple (streaming)
- Release dates June 25, 2025 (international), June 27, 2025 (North America)
- Running time Approximately 140 minutes
- Country United States, United Kingdom (co-production)
- Language English
- Budget $200+ million (official budget undisclosed, but widely reported as over $200 million)
- Box office Projected $115 million+ worldwide opening weekend
- Rating PG-13
Table of Contents
Movie F1 rating
Rotten Tomatoes 88–89% (Certified Fresh)
IMDB 7.2 (as of release week)
Director Joseph Kosinski’s filmography
Joseph Kosinski is known for visually stunning, high-energy films such as “Tron: Legacy” (2010), “Oblivion” (2013), “Only the Brave” (2017), and the global hit “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022). His style is characterized by immersive cinematography, dynamic action sequences, and a focus on character-driven stories. For “F1,” Kosinski worked closely with real F1 teams and drivers to ensure authenticity, and the film was shot during actual Grand Prix weekends, with actors performing many of their own driving stunts in modified Formula 2 cars. The production was a massive logistical undertaking, involving multiple countries and hundreds of crew members.
Movie F1 starring
Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt – Instagram): A retired F1 driver who returns to mentor a young teammate and help save a struggling team.
Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris – Instagram): A talented but arrogant rookie driver who must learn to work as part of a team.
Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem – Instagram): The owner of the APXGP team, who recruits Sonny to help turn the team around.
Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon – -): The team’s technical director, who keeps the team running smoothly.
Banning (Tobias Menzies – -): A ruthless board member who threatens to take over the team.
Bernadette (Sarah Niles – -): A key member of the APXGP team.
Kaspar Molinski (Kim Bodnia – -): The team principal.
Samson Kayo (Samson Kayo – -): Another team member.
F1 Car collection
Expansive Apex GP: APXGP A25
The APXGP A25 is based on the Dallara F2 2018 chassis. The Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team and Rodin Motorsport collaborated to directly create the F1 car that appears in the movie. In the film, it is set that the car only undergoes regulation-compliant modifications for two seasons, evoking the feel of the 2021 season. For the purpose of filming, the aerodynamic package was designed to resemble an F1 car as closely as possible within a short period and with limited budget.
- McLaren Formula 1 Team: McLaren MCL60, McLaren MCL38, McLaren MP4/5B
- Scuderia Ferrari HP: Ferrari SF-23, Ferrari SF-24
- Oracle Red Bull Racing: Red Bull Racing RB19, Red Bull Racing RB20
- Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team: Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance, Mercedes-AMG F1 W15 E Performance
- Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team: Aston Martin AMR23, Aston Martin AMR24
- BWT Alpine F1 Team: Alpine A523, Alpine A524
- MoneyGram Haas F1 Team: Haas VF-23, Haas VF-24
- Scuderia AlphaTauri: AlphaTauri AT04
- Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team: RB VCARB 01
- Williams Racing: Williams FW45, Williams FW46
- Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake: Alfa Romeo C43
- Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber: Kick Sauber C44
- Team Lotus: Lotus 101
- Chip Hart Racing: Porsche 911 GT3 R
- Turner Motorsport: BMW M4 GT3
Movie F1 plot summary
The protagonist, Sonny Hayes, was once a highly regarded F1 super rookie, but after a serious crash while chasing Ayrton Senna at the 1993 Spanish Grand Prix that left his car half destroyed and himself severely injured, he was forced to end his racing career. Afterward, Sonny spends many years wandering aimlessly, divorcing his wife and living in a van, scraping by at the bottom of society. He earns money through gambling and consistently participates in minor (or unofficial) racing events, but struggles with trauma and a sense of loss.
The film begins with Sonny working as a last-minute substitute driver at the Daytona 24-hour race, carrying his team to victory. He refuses to touch the trophy, saying it would bring bad luck.
Sonny’s longtime friend and team owner, Ruben Cervantes, decides to bring Sonny into his perennial backmarker F1 team, APXGP. The team has not won a race in two years, and this season has not scored a single point, putting them on the brink of being sold. Ruben asks Sonny to mentor rookie driver Joshua Pierce and help rebuild the team over the remaining nine races.
Sonny returns to the F1 cockpit after a long absence, but the team remains stuck at the bottom due to failed car setups, confused strategies, and repeated pit stop mistakes. During test runs, the car spins and gets wrecked in high-speed corners, and suffers from oversteer and understeer in low-speed corners, showing its poor performance. During pit stops, a faulty wheel gun is left in front of the tire and gets run over as the car leaves, highlighting the team’s chaos. Even tire strategies are not followed properly—when Sonny asks for soft tires, the team gives him hards instead.
The APXGP team also features a second protagonist, Joshua Pierce (nicknamed JP). Joshua is highly talented but lacks humility and is more concerned with his social media presence and reputation than racing. He calls Sonny “old man” and is wary of him, leading to constant bickering and a full-blown generational conflict between the two. On the track, their rivalry leads to a collision in their first race together, resulting in a double retirement—the worst possible outcome.
Afterward, Sonny deliberately collides with other cars to create space for Joshua to move up, securing points for the team. However, in one race, Joshua ignores Sonny’s advice and recklessly attempts to overtake, resulting in his car flipping and burning out in a crash.
With Joshua out due to injury, Sonny steps up and leads the team to better results on his own. During this time, Kate McKenna, the team’s first female chief engineer, takes Sonny’s advice and significantly improves the car’s performance, while also forming a romantic relationship with him. The pit crew also regains confidence and enables more precise racing. Joshua, initially unwilling to admit that his stubbornness caused the crash, eventually acknowledges his mistake after multiple simulations of the incident.
As time passes, Sonny sees his younger self in Joshua, and Joshua learns cool-headedness and strategy from Sonny. The team’s atmosphere gradually improves, and teamwork is restored. Sonny manages to finish races with only minor damage to the front wing, effectively “building” a new car three times, and gifts Joshua a P10 finish. APXGP goes on a winning streak and even finds itself in contention for podium finishes.
However, one day during a rain-soaked final race, Joshua ignores Sonny’s advice and attempts an overly ambitious overtake, causing his car to hit a curb and fly into the woods, resulting in a serious injury. Joshua is sidelined for three races, and upon his return, internal politics result in the team’s upgraded parts being declared illegal due to falsified documents. Frustrated, Sonny pushes his car to the limit in qualifying mode during a race, crashes, and is hospitalized. During his hospital stay, it is revealed that Sonny has metal rods in his spine, leading to his dismissal from the team.
After being released, a board member who likes APXGP offers Sonny the role of team principal or head of strategy after the team is sold. It turns out that this board member was behind the falsified documents. Sonny convinces his friend Ruben, who had given up hope, to let him return to the cockpit. Before the Abu Dhabi race, Sonny sends a message to the board member and enters the race.
In the end, Sonny and Joshua cooperate in the final race, with Joshua giving way for Sonny, who ultimately wins. Sonny hands the championship trophy to Ruben and quietly retires from racing, telling Joshua, “APX is your team now.” Sonny leaves to find joy in racing again as a last-minute substitute driver, and the film concludes.
Movie F1 ending spoiler
However, one day during a rain-soaked final race, Joshua ignores Sonny’s advice and attempts an overly ambitious overtake, causing his car to hit a curb and fly into the woods, resulting in a serious injury. Joshua is sidelined for three races, and upon his return, internal politics result in the team’s upgraded parts being declared illegal due to falsified documents. Frustrated, Sonny pushes his car to the limit in qualifying mode during a race, crashes, and is hospitalized. During his hospital stay, it is revealed that Sonny has metal rods in his spine, leading to his dismissal from the team.
After being released, a board member who likes APXGP offers Sonny the role of team principal or head of strategy after the team is sold. It turns out that this board member was behind the falsified documents. Sonny convinces his friend Ruben, who had given up hope, to let him return to the cockpit. Before the Abu Dhabi race, Sonny sends a message to the board member and enters the race.
In the end, Sonny and Joshua cooperate in the final race, with Joshua giving way for Sonny, who ultimately wins. Sonny hands the championship trophy to Ruben and quietly retires from racing, telling Joshua, “APX is your team now.” Sonny leaves to find joy in racing again as a last-minute substitute driver, and the film concludes.
Movie ending explained
The ending of “F1” is a celebration of teamwork and personal growth. Sonny’s return to racing helps him overcome the trauma of his past, while Joshua learns the value of humility and collaboration. The film’s final race is a metaphor for overcoming adversity and achieving one’s full potential, both on and off the track.
True story related
While “F1” is a work of fiction, it is inspired by real events and personalities in the world of Formula 1. The film’s commitment to authenticity—filming at real races, using real cars, and featuring real drivers—makes it a unique and immersive experience for fans of the sport. The story of a veteran driver mentoring a young talent is a familiar one in motorsport, and the film’s themes of redemption and teamwork resonate with real-life experiences in the paddock.
The production of “F1” was a massive logistical undertaking, involving filming at real Grand Prix events around the world. Brad Pitt and Damson Idris performed many of their own driving stunts in modified Formula 2 cars, adding to the film’s authenticity. The fictional APXGP team’s garage was set up alongside real F1 teams, and the film features cameos from real drivers and team principals. The project was a true collaboration between Hollywood and the world of Formula 1, with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton serving as a producer and consultant.
Movie F1 box office
The film’s budget is estimated to be over $200 million, though producers have refuted rumors of a $300 million budget. With such a high production cost, the film would need to earn at least $400–500 million worldwide to break even. Early box office projections suggest a strong opening weekend, but the film’s long-term financial success will depend on international performance and word of mouth.
“F1” is projected to earn over $115 million worldwide in its opening weekend, with strong pre-sales in North America and Europe. The film is expected to perform particularly well in markets where Formula 1 is popular, and its release is timed to coincide with the Austrian Grand Prix, further boosting interest. While it is too early to determine the film’s total box office take, early signs are positive.
Movie review
Critics have praised “F1” for its breathtaking visuals, thrilling action, and strong performances. The film’s predictable plot is offset by its technical achievements and emotional depth, making it a standout summer blockbuster. Overall, “F1” is a fun, well-made movie that does justice to the sport and delivers a satisfying cinematic experience.
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