F1: A Thrilling Ride with a Familiar Plot

When it comes to filmmaking, director Joseph Kosinski knows how to deliver a high-octane experience. From the Lightcycles of Tron: Legacy to the aerial acrobatics of Top Gun: Maverick, Kosinski has proven his ability to make audiences feel like they're moving at lightning speed. So, it's no surprise that he's a natural fit for a film about Formula One racing. F1, starring Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, and Javier Bardem, is set to hit theaters on June 27, 2025. The film is directed by Kosinski and written by Ehren Kruger and is rated PG-13 for strong language and action.

The film offers a visceral experience of being strapped to the hood/side/back of a speedy car. The inventive cinematography and brilliant sound design work in tandem to create a powerful effect that leaves viewers feeling like they can practically smell the burning rubber on asphalt. However, the film falls short in some key narrative and storytelling arenas, which hamper the 156-minute epic.

Brad Pitt uses every ounce of his star power playing driver Sonny Hayes, but the movie still fails to overcome two key hurdles: fast cars and crashes/explosions can't disguise the fact that the script is excessively trope-ridden and formulaic. For those who don't know the various rules and regulations of the sport going into the movie, it provides very little assistance and asks that you figure everything out via context.

The story follows an aging but still passionate driver Sonny Hayes, who gets a golden ticket to train a hotshot rookie named Joshua Pearce. Things start off rocky as the team fails to synchronize and mistakes are made. But as Sonny and Joshua start moving in the same direction toward their target goal, personality conflicts are overcome. With the help of technical director Kate McKenna using her knowhow to make the cars work best for the drivers in the tandem driving sport, they start to win.

F1 is basically a collection of sport movie cliches. Stock characters and story can be fine if properly packaged into a breezy 90-minute feature, but the Formula One feature asks for an hour-plus more than that, and it's too big an ask. Stakes and emotional investment dwindle when the moviegoer is left waiting for the next obvious plot development to unfold, and that comes paired with disappointment as you consistently recognize that the work isn't going to make any effort to try something new.

It can't be denied that some people find comfort in a movie like this, as it's a nostalgic throwback to a past era of filmmaking. But if I'm seeking that kind of comfort, I simply go back to watch the titles from the late 20th century that originated it. Anyone's desire to see the storytelling evolve and to get something sincerely fresh out of the experience will be wanting. Those seeking a similar aesthetic thrill can also find it elsewhere, with recent titles springing to mind including James Mangold’s Ford v Ferrari.