‘F1: The Movie’ Reviewed

Formula One drivers are driven to drive, and short of a fatal car crash, nothing will end this drive. After suffering severe injuries at a race for Lotus in Spain, the F1 prodigy Sonny Hayes’ (Brad Pitt) career is over. Moving on, he took to gambling (his new addiction) and marriages (three times) as a substitute for his former career – he failed them all.

He now lives the life of a nomad, driving around in his decrepit van, looking to work as a racer-for-hire. At least this work still puts him behind the wheel of a race car.

His former Lotus teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), now owner of the formidable APXGP F1 Team, is in trouble. Investors in his group will sell the team unless Ruben wins one of the nine remaining Grand Prix races held globally each year. APXGP F1 has come in last in recent competitions.

Ruben sees the chance to win and keep his team if he can only convince Sonny to drive for them. Sonny reluctantly agrees when Ruben tells him that he could become known as “world’s best driver” by winning.

Now he’s off to APXGP F1 headquarters to meet his fellow teammates. This includes the principal financier, technical director and his highly ambitious co-driver, Joshua Pearce (Damon Idris). Joshua is overly ambitious to achieve wins as he too knows that the company could easily be sold if they don’t win at the upcoming races.

He sees Sonny as a liability because of his age and makes a disparaging remark about “nice to know aging seniors can get a second chance.” Hearing her son make this disrespectful remark, Joshua’s mother demands he apologize to Sonny and be more cooperative. He does. Things are finally looking better for the two drivers.

The F1 team doesn’t have much success at the first competitions: the cars are flawed, the pit stops take too long and other drivers tend to crash into them. Sonny also notes weaknesses in the design of their cars, issues he hopes will be rectified so he and Joshua can win a race. He asks the technical director to never mind safety issues and design the cars for “combat.” Inclement weather, bad pit stops, faulty car design remain a part in the teams ongoing losing streak.

The team still doesn’t have a win as they approach the end of the season and the final race at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Prior conflicts, collisions, animosities and anger are put aside as the team readies for the final run - they all want a win. The winner will not have an easy run though, other drivers block each other’s cars, cause crashes and explosions, risking all to be the first person to cross the finish line. Joshua, Sonny and one other ruthless driver head for the finish line and with only seconds remaining, Sonny’s back in his decrepit van again.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Credits: “Spiderhead,” “Top Gun – Maverick”), “F1: The Movie” runs 155 minutes and is a “should see” for a good story with an exciting insight into Formula One racing. It is convincingly shown by skilled actors, outstanding cinematographers and a gifted director. Should anyone question how long it would take to change a tire on their car, the answer is in the movie.