F1: The Movie (2025) Review – Brad Pitt’s Formula 1 Masterpiece Is a Must-Watch on IMAX

If You’re Not a Racing Fan, You Will Be After This

Joseph Kosinski’s F1: The Movie isn’t just about Formula 1—it’s about redemption, resilience, and roaring through life’s tight corners. Backed by Apple Original Films and featuring Brad Pitt at the wheel (literally), this isn’t your average sports flick. It’s a turbo-charged IMAX experience that feels like strapping into a real F1 car, heart pounding, sweat dripping, engine screaming.

Whether you’re a motorsports enthusiast or simply a lover of powerful storytelling, F1 delivers everything a great movie should—adrenaline, authenticity, and aching humanity.

A Story That Hits the Gas on Emotion

Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a washed-up racer haunted by a brutal crash in the ’90s. Now older and wiser, he’s called back into the sport to guide Joshua Pearce, a rising star played impressively by Damson Idris. Together, they race for a fictional team, APXGP, built from the ground up to blend seamlessly into real-world F1 action.

But this isn’t just a comeback story. It’s about passing the torch, finding purpose in unlikely partnerships, and making peace with your past. Every pit stop, every corner, every flash of the checkered flag holds emotional weight.

Stunning Visuals That Feel Like a Front Row at Monaco

Shot during real Formula 1 races across nine global circuits, including Silverstone and Spa, this film sets a new benchmark for sports cinematography. Forget shaky close-ups and artificial green screens—F1 gives you the real roar of engines, the blur of tires, and the thrill of overtakes captured in glorious IMAX.

Director Joseph Kosinski, the genius behind Top Gun: Maverick, brings his signature visual flair with Hans Zimmer’s powerful score racing in tandem. The cockpit scenes are jaw-droppingly immersive. You don’t just watch; you feel the g-force.

Brad Pitt Shines—Even in a Helmet

At 61, Pitt proves he’s still a magnetic screen presence. His Sonny Hayes is not a flashy action hero but a complex, world-weary man looking for a final lap of meaning. Damson Idris adds fiery ambition and emotional depth as Pearce, while Javier Bardem, as the team principal Ruben Cervantes, injects dry humor and gravitas.

The chemistry between the cast is undeniable, and their camaraderie on and off the track elevates the story into something deeply human. Pitt even drove a modified F1 car himself—hitting speeds close to 200 mph—earning genuine respect in the racing world.

A Cultural Fusion of Speed and Soul

The film also benefits from its diverse casting and global storytelling. It doesn’t just feature racing legends in cameo roles (hello, Hamilton and Verstappen), it captures the spirit of a global sport where technology, politics, and personality collide.

This isn’t just a film about racing—it’s a film that feels like racing.

A Soundtrack That Sets the Pulse Racing

Zimmer’s musical genius is matched beat-for-beat by a killer original album featuring Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, Rosé, Chris Stapleton, and Tiësto. The music is wired directly to the film’s emotional heart—it’s poetic, powerful, and pulse-raising.

Final Verdict: A Near-Perfect Pole Position

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

F1: The Movie is not just one of the best racing films ever made—it’s one of the best movies of 2025. It’s a technical triumph, an emotional ride, and a visual feast that belongs on the biggest screen possible.

For fans of cinema, sport, and storytelling alike, this is not a movie to stream on your couch—it’s a film to experience in IMAX. Don’t wait. Don’t blink. Just buckle up.

Why You Should Watch It Today:

• Brad Pitt’s most charismatic performance in years

• Real F1 cars, circuits, and cameos from actual F1 drivers

• A score by Hans Zimmer that will haunt and hype you

• Groundbreaking IMAX visuals

• A script that races your heart as much as your eyes