I didn’t want to like the F1 movie – but I can’t stop thinking about it

I’ll admit it — I walked into F1: The Movie with my arms metaphorically crossed.

As a lifelong F1 fan, I’ve been protective of the sport for as long as I can remember. I know the rules. I’ve watched the politics unfold, celebrated underdog podiums, and been burned by controversial calls that still sting. And I had very little faith that a glossy Hollywood production — starring Brad Pitt, no less — would get it right.

For months, we saw snippets: cameras filming trackside at real races, actors milling around the paddock in fake team gear, whispers of a “fictional 11th team” on the grid. It all felt a bit… off. Like F1 was being dressed up for people who didn’t really understand it.

So I went into the screening expecting a mess. I was ready to nitpick. Ready to cringe. Ready to tell my friends, “It looks cool, but it’s not real Formula 1.”

And then something unexpected happened.

I loved it.

Not in a “well, it wasn’t terrible” kind of way. I actually had a blast watching it.

F1: The Movie is full of the things I feared most — implausible storylines, dramatics that would never pass an FIA steward review, and yes, a 60-year-old ex-driver being handed a seat in the middle of a season after more than three decades out of the sport. But somehow, it all works. It takes those wild ideas and packages them in a film that feels thrilling, energetic, and — most importantly — fun.

Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a former F1 driver coaxed out of his carefree, nomadic life racing in various series to mentor a young rookie, played by the excellent Damson Idris, at a struggling team called Apex Grand Prix. The premise sounds like parody on paper, but once you settle into it, the story does exactly what it needs to: it makes you care.

The film doesn’t waste time explaining every rule or detailing every technical nuance. It’s not made just for us die-hard fans. But it also never talks down to the audience. It respects the spectacle of Formula 1 and lets the atmosphere speak for itself – through roaring engines, pit lane chaos, and sweeping shots of grandstands packed with real fans.

And those race scenes? Genuinely jaw-dropping. Director Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) delivers the most exhilarating on-screen racing I’ve ever seen. The camera work is next level. There are moments that actually had me tensing up in my seat, even though I knew it was all scripted. That kind of immersion is rare — and absolutely worth the price of admission.

Pitt is reliably charismatic, but it’s Damson Idris who really leaves a mark. He brings just the right mix of swagger and vulnerability to his role. His character, Josh Pearce, might be fictional, but he feels familiar — like a blend of real F1 rookies we’ve watched come up through the ranks. The dynamic between Hayes and Pearce is a bit formulaic, sure, but it’s entertaining and heartfelt.

The supporting cast adds colour without overshadowing the racing. Javier Bardem is clearly having a great time as the team boss, and Kerry Condon brings steeliness and warmth to her role as the team’s technical chief — even if her storyline deserved a little more depth by the end.

Is it perfect? No. There are moments where realism takes a backseat and you just have to roll with it. A few scenes go full Hollywood in a way that might make purists roll their eyes. And yes, there are missed opportunities — especially when it comes to giving female characters more meaningful screen time.

But here’s the thing: not everything needs to be a documentary. F1: The Movie isn’t trying to be a behind-the-scenes exposé. It’s a love letter to speed, competition, and second chances — with just enough grit to feel grounded, and just enough gloss to feel cinematic.

Most importantly, it might be the first time in years that F1 has felt truly accessible on the big screen. Not just for those of us who live and breathe it, but for the people we’ve been trying to get into it for years — partners, friends, siblings who still don’t know the difference between a red flag and a yellow one.

So yeah, I expected to hate this movie. I wanted to nitpick every corner, every gear shift, every violation of parc fermé.

Instead, I walked out smiling. Heart racing. Thinking, I wouldn’t mind watching that again.

And if it helps even one person fall in love with Formula 1 the way I did all those years ago? Then I’m all for it.