F1 - A racing spectacle that delivers on action and on its soundtrack, but what about the plot?

With the highly anticipated film F1 hitting theatres, Rookie Reporters, Noah and Gemma, both found the chance to go see the movie in cinemas. They offer their respective thoughts on the film while delivering a rating they feel best fits F1.

(Image Credit to Warner Bros/Apple Original Films)

Upon watching F1, one can clearly see that this is a “Tom Cruise” style of film. 

Why? To give a simple answer, both Top Gun: Maverick, which saw Tom Cruise reprise his role as Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, and F1, which follows former Formula 1 driver Sonny Hayes as he returns to the sport three decades after a horrific crash, share the same director: Joseph Kosinski. 

But it’s only by watching F1 does one see the close ties between two wildly different movies. For starters, like how Maverick returned to the Top Gun Academy to mentor a new class of pilots, F1 sees Sonny Hayes return to the Formula 1 grid to mentor young rookie Joshua Pearce. In addition, both F1 and Top Gun: Maverick feature redemption stories of sorts; Maverick had to redeem himself after feeling responsible for the death of his co-pilot Goose in the original film, whereas Sonny Hayes’ redemption story sees him chasing a Formula 1 victory in his return to the series. 

This isn’t to say that F1 is a bad movie. While the plot does feel predictable at times - though this might just be how I perceived the movie as a Formula 1 fan and content creator - it does not take away from the experience. In addition, considering that Top Gun: Maverick was a highly successful movie, it should be worth repeating the story elements that brought the film success through F1, something that director Joseph Kosinski does to great effect.

So I guess “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is Joseph Kosinski’s model?

Another reason why I believe F1 is set to succeed falls on the movie’s characters. In this regard, one can look no further than rookie driver Joshua Pearce, whose future in Formula 1 relies on the success of APX GP, the fictional eleventh team featured in the film. While viewers who aren’t highly familiar with Formula 1 might find themselves rooting against a driver who is trying to paint his own path over playing a team game, Formula 1 fans watching the movie might feel some sympathy with Joshua Pearce in this regard. After all, it’s extremely often that drivers find themselves needing to prove themselves in order to make it in Formula 1; look no further than Alpine’s Jack Doohan or even every Red Bull second driver since Daniel Ricciardo left the team. It is clear that this circumstance allows F1 fans to connect with Joshua Pearce, allowing for viewers to understand the character’s struggles. 

It’s not just Joshua Pearce though. This audience-character dynamic with Sonny Hayes is true for a lot of the movie’s characters. From the redemption arc of the female tyre gunner (who I found to be a bright spot in the film’s often-clouded perception of women in motorsport), to the worries of a concerned mother (who viewers will recognize as Sharon from Ted Lasso), it’s possible for audience members of all kinds to understand the characters’ struggles throughout the movie. 

Plot Summary:

Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the film follows the journey of Sonny Hayes – a former Formula 1 driver who was thought to be WDC potential – whose career was cut devastatingly short after a brutal accident. After short stints in other racing series such as the 24 Hours of Daytona, he was finally pulled back into the world of Formula 1 by former teammate, Ruben Cervantes, who was hoping for Hayes to be his ‘Hail-Mary’ after being plunged into debt as a result of his struggling racing team APX GP. What follows is a film full of action, emotion, drama and, of course, racing which allows viewers to immerse themselves in the world of Formula 1 and the story of APX GP. 

Soundtrack:

One thing that F1 nails is the music. Including a soundtrack that features a host of all-star musical talents including Ed Sheeran, Rosé, Don Toliver, Dom Dolla and Tate McRae, the film’s music was truly the star of the show. The tracks, many of which were complete with F1 references and nods to the sport, truly brought the film together, bringing real emotion and feeling to the spectacle. From Tate McRae’s ‘Just Keep Watching’ bringing the energy at the halfway point to Ed Sheeran’s ‘Drive’ blaring throughout the end credits, music was an element that truly brought F1 to life. This seems to be a common feature shared by Joseph Kosinski's films; in Top Gun: Maverick, the music was a crucial element that was able to transport the audience back to 1986, blending emotional nostalgia with modern style, signaling the beginning of a new era for the franchise.

Cameos:

Featuring clever cameos from some of our favorite Formula 1 faces including David ‘Crofty’ Croft, Will Buxton, Natalie Pinkham and Martin Brundle (as themselves) for commentary and interviews, and some of the past and present grid to provide some real competition for APX GP, F1 blends fiction with reality as it brings together the stars of the track and the legends of the silver screen to create a totally immersive cinema experience for all.

Promotion/Marketing

The promotion and marketing for F1 has been full of star-studded premieres, extravagant stunts at events and billboards popping up at race events.

Damson Idris, Met Gala 2025 – At this year's Met Gala, Damson Idris (Joshua “JP” Pearce in the movie) showed up to the carpet in a full APX GP race suit and bedazzled helmet. He posed for the cameras before having the race suit ripped off, revealing an all-red look underneath. Idris brought fun to fashion’s most exclusive carpet, producing a spectacle worthy of the MET and simultaneously drawing attention to the movie. With Ferrari driver and fashion icon Lewis Hamilton already being a chair at this year’s MET, it was truly F1 coded and definitely got everybody talking about the movie.

Google Maps – Perhaps one of the most unexpected collaborations for the movie was with Google Maps. This involved the iconic Circuit de Monaco being given a Hollywood makeover. When using Apple Maps, you can zoom in on the circuit and see little F1 cars! A mini McLaren heads along the Pit Garage area, where further down a black and gold APX GP car with the number 7 sits! When using the 3D feature, you can even see mini-cars in the pit garages!

Private Drivers’ Screening – The grid was treated to a private screening of the new movie, ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix. The current grid (with the exception of Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll) were joined by other prominent figures such as Toto Wolff and Stefano Domenicali on an afternoon in May. Despite this screening becoming somewhat of a joke on social media, and widespread speculation that the drivers weren’t actually huge fans of the movie, there is no doubt that it got people talking. After all, as the saying goes, “all press is good press.”   

F1 Movie Premiere, London – On Monday 23^rd June, London’s Leicester Square played host to the European Premiere of F1 ahead of the film’s release. The premiere saw the stars of the movie, including Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, walk a red carpet alongside stars of racing, Lewis Hamilton and Bianca Bustamante. Other famous faces included Naomi Campbell and incredible musical guests like Ed Sheeran, Tate McRae and Raye. The celebrities went all out, with looks from Valentino, Balenciaga and Balmain, making the event appropriately glitzy for a movie about such an elite sport.

F1 Movie World Premiere, New York – Similar to the premiere in London, F1 premiere was flashy, extravagant and, above all, made a statement. This time, the majority of the current grid were in attendance with their partners and team representatives, many taking part in short red-carpet style interviews. Notable figures from the Formula 1 sphere Madeline White, Laura Winter and Hannah Berner, hosted the event which transformed Times Square into a track, featuring some F1 cars in the venue!

Noah’s verdict:

While the plot may feel predictable at times to Formula One fans watching the movie, it doesn’t take away from the overall experience. Even if it does, the racing and cinematography, alongside an incredible soundtrack and a score from the legendary Hans Zimmer, more than make up for any plot weakness. I believe F1 is going to be an Oscar contender next March and you should take the time to see it at least once while it is in cinemas.

Verdict: 4.5 stars out of 5  

Gemma’s verdict:

Despite having to suspend your disbelief at certain “strategies” and turning a blind eye to the issue of where any form of racing governing body is in all this, F1 is a truly enjoyable watch. It’s full of racing action, thrilling rivalries and emotional moments but, above all, it’s just fun. The movie brings the action, energy and emotion that comes with the sport and turns it into a star-studded spectacle for the big screen. F1 is a movie that can appeal to both die-hard fans of the sport and those who have never watched a Grand Prix in their life. Already on TikTok, there have been dozens of people who want to get into racing after watching the movie and that can only be a good thing for motorsport. To add, the amazing soundtrack, the cameos of racing royalty and some lighthearted humor kept me invested throughout the film’s run. 

Verdict: 4.75 stars out of 5 

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Article written by Noah Guttman and Gemma Hickey