Hollywood has long attempted to capture the authenticity of Formula One (F1) on screen, with the sport inspiring numerous documentaries and reality television shows, such as “Drive to Survive.” Many fans complain that an authentic F1 movie has never been produced. However, that all changed with “F1,” the new film starring Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes and Damson Idris as Joshua Pearce. 

Sonny Hayes, a former driver who has dabbled in his racecraft in multiple different racing organizations, now finds himself looped back to where he started, Formula One. Unlike most sports dramas with glory-chasing characters, Sonny Hayes is simply here to help a friend, utilizing his extensive experience in the field to take accountability for the team.

Joshua Pearce, a young, talented and cocky rookie, has rapidly risen through the ranks, catching the eye of teams who are eager for a second driver. Unlike Hayes, Pearce isn’t weighed down by age and is hungry for podium positions. Nonetheless, his inexperience is exposed through his struggles on the track and his obsession with crafting the perfect media image. The pair’s tense rivalry soon evolves into mutual respect. With Hayes by his side, as both a mentor and teammate, Pearce has to learn that F1 isn’t all about media perceptions of himself. 

The movie’s biggest strength is its ability to capture and replicate how real F1 drivers race. They were able to deliver the fans such an authentic experience because it was filmed at actual Grand Prix race tracks with professional F1 cars and drivers. They also implemented realistic aspects of tire strategy, pit stop timing and track conditions, which effectively reflect real races.

Of course, there are plenty of cameos starring F1 celebrities, including drivers such as Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. This was a key factor in appealing to more fans.

Ultimately, “F1” succeeded in its goal of attempting to capture the authentic emotion of the F1 sport, and it was able to capture realism mixed with drama, creating a solid movie about a sport weaning in moral lessons of experience meeting youth, team over ego, humility in success, and resilience and redemption.

Overall, I would give it a 4.1/5