There is a very specific kind of magic that happens when a movie star with nothing left to prove decides to have the time of his life. We saw it with Tom Cruise hanging off a plane. We saw it with Keanu Reeves back in the Matrix. And now, we are seeing it with Brad Pitt behind the wheel of an open-cockpit missile.
"F1," which roared into theaters on June 25, 2025, is not just a movie about driving fast in circles. It is a full-throttle, IMAX-sized shot of adrenaline that reminds you why we go to the movies in the first place. Clocking in at a hefty 156 minutes, the Joseph Kosinski-directed drama doesn't just earn its runtime - it uses every second to build a world that feels as tactile and dangerous as the sport it depicts.
Pitt stars as Sonny Hayes, a racing legend whose glory days are so far in the rearview mirror they're practically antiques. When we meet him, he's a ghost haunting the fringes of the motorsport world. Enter Javier Bardem's Ruben Cervantes, a team owner whose Formula 1 outfit is circling the drain. Ruben needs a miracle. Sonny needs a reason to get out of bed. The pitch? Come out of retirement, lead this ragtag crew, and mentor a young hotshot named Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) who has the raw speed but lacks the wisdom to survive the political and physical meat grinder of F1.
It is a classic sports movie setup, sure. But "F1" isn't interested in just replaying the hits. Kosinski, fresh off the insane practical-effects high of "Top Gun: Maverick," brings that same obsession with authenticity here. You feel the vibration of the engine in your chest. You feel the G-force pressing down on your ribs. This is a movie that understands that the real drama of racing isn't just the crash - it's the terrifying silence in the cockpit just before the lights go out.
Pitt is, unsurprisingly, movie-star perfection here. He's got that grizzled, salt-and-pepper charm that makes you believe he's a man who has seen too much and lost just as much. But he's also having a blast. You can see it in the way he saunters through the paddock, the way he trades barbs with Kerry Condon's Kate McKenna, the team's no-nonsense technical director. Pitt doesn't just play Sonny Hayes; he inhabits the myth of the guy. He's the cool uncle who shows up with a leather jacket and a story about that one time in Monaco.
But the film doesn't rest entirely on Pitt's shoulders. Damson Idris is a revelation as Joshua Pearce. He's not just a reckless kid; he's a hungry predator who sees Sonny as both a mentor and an obstacle. Their relationship is the film's beating heart. It's not a simple "passing the torch" narrative. It's messy, competitive, and often petty. They clash, they bicker, and they push each other to the absolute limit. Idris holds his own against a titan, bringing a raw, electric energy that makes you want to see him win - and occasionally want to see him get knocked down a peg.
Then there's Javier Bardem. The man is having a career renaissance playing intense, slightly unhinged leaders. As Ruben, he's a bundle of nerves and ambition. He's sweating through his linen shirts, begging his star driver to save his team. Bardem brings a humanity to a role that could have been a cliché. He's not just a suit; he's a guy who put everything on the line and is watching it burn.
The supporting cast is stacked. Tobias Menzies plays Peter Banning, presumably a rival team principal with a stick in a very uncomfortable place. Kim Bodnia chews scenery as Kaspar Smolinski. Sarah Niles and Will Merrick round out the ensemble, adding texture to the high-stakes world of F1 politics.
At 156 minutes, does "F1" feel long? Sometimes. The middle act gets bogged down in team politics and sponsorship drama. But when the film shifts back to the track, it is transcendent. Kosinski stages the racing sequences with a clarity that is breathtaking. You always know where the cars are, who is in front, and what's at stake. It's a masterclass in action filmmaking. He doesn't rely on shaky cam or cheap tricks. He puts you in the seat.
The film has been out for over a year now, and it's aged remarkably well. It's the kind of movie you stop channel-surfing for on a Sunday afternoon and end up watching through to the end credits. It has a TMDb rating of 7.8/10, which feels about right. It's not a perfect film, but it's a wildly entertaining one.
"F1" is a reminder that there's still room for old-school movie stardom. It's a story about legacy, redemption, and the absurd amount of courage it takes to go 200 miles per hour in a car that weighs less than a sofa. It's loud, it's brash, and it's a hell of a lot of fun. If you missed it in theaters, do yourself a favor. Crank up the surround sound, turn off your brain, and put the pedal to the floor.
