'F1' Review

Old-fashioned racing movie brings thrills and great characters to the big screen

Racing films are a tale as old as time. Whether it's horses, cars, or running, race films have maintained great cultural significance since the birth of cinema. Coming from an automotive family, I have always been partial to auto racing. From essential classics such as Grand Prix (highly recommend) to contemporary icons such as Talladega Nights and Cars, auto racing films have been a staple in our household. With this being said, hearing there was a Joseph Kosinski film starring Brad Pitt as an F1 driver coming out in 2025 catapulted this to one of, if not my most anticipated film of the year. I am delighted to proclaim that Kosinski did not disappoint and managed to create something far more than an F1 advertising campaign, but a legitimatly high-quality piece of film-making.

I would like to preface by saying, if you enjoyed Top Gun: Maverick, you will absolutely love F1. It is also quite similar to the excellent and riveting Grand Prix (1966), but is able to differentiate itself substantially with era and messaging.

F1 is driven by its high-quality characters, all of whom feel complex. Brad Pitt gives an excellent portrayal of a faded race car driver motivated by the thrill of racing, alongside Damson Idris as his young and cocky counterpart. The conflict between these two is key to the film, and despite the ease which other characters could have been neglected for this drama, Kosinski decided to flesh them out as well. F1 gives the space needed to allow all characters to go on the journey that shapes the film, and it is quite frankly wholesome to watch. I again must praise Brad Pitt for doing what he does best and really owning this film as Tom Cruise does in Mission: Impossible. With such great characters, this film manages to keep things light-hearted and approachable for the masses, but does know when to get serious and sentimental in all the right places.

The pacing in this film is nothing short of fantastic, perfectly blending action and drama without making it feel like the “slow parts" are unnecessary. They are quite essential and add some much needed depth and stakes to the story. While some racing films struggle with feeling boring when they are not on the track, F1 never feels boring and quite frankly flies by.

Arguably the main attraction of the film, F1 is superbly well crafted. Apple spared no expense in actually having the actors work with modified F2 cars and classic filming techniques to capture awe inspiring racing footage. Kosinksi's focus on using as many practical effects as possible and blending it with minimal CG is the way things should be done. This is not a film to watch on a phone or small TV but the largest IMAX or Dolby format you can possibly see it on, as it is easily one of the most intense racing films ever made. Spectacular sets, incredible sound design, and wonderful cinematography all create what will easily be the most immersive theatrical experience of 2025 that MUST been seen in theaters.

I was pleasantly surprised and immersed by the world building present throughout. I always knew F1 racing was a complex team sport, but I had no idea the depth that it runs, and walked away having learned a lot about the sport. F1 does an excellent job of explaining certain rules and incidents to the audience without ever belittling us, and instead inviting us to enjoy and appreciate the story on a more technical level. Even when it portrays rules and incidents that already make sense to racing enthusiasts, the movie finds a way to inform without babysitting.

F1: The Movie is an absolute triumph of the 90s summer blockbuster that many viewers have longed for the return of. It's a film that retreads some familiar ground, but goes its own way to tell something fresh. With fantastic cast to give us great characters, intense action, and quality storytelling, this film is something special to be experienced not just once but several times in the theater with friends. Kosinski delivers another fun summer blockbuster that I plan on seeing several more times with more friends and family, and personally I couldn't be more excited.