"F1: The Movie" offers thrilling racing and a Hollywood escape

Credit: Kick The Concrete

The most-anticipated movie of the summer, “F1,” was released worldwide on Friday. Hype built over the past few years because Brad Pitt was starring in the film, and “Top Gun: Maverick” director Joseph Kosinski and renowned producer Jerry Bruckheimer were behind the camera. Not to mention Lewis Hamilton was an executive producer serving as a consultant to ensure that the project would be as realistic as possible. Promotion for the movie was out of this world and included a stunt with Damson Idris at the Met Gala, a clothing capsule with Tommy Hilfiger and not one, but two star-studded premieres in New York and London.

We attended a showing of “F1” in the suburbs of Denver on Thursday night and decided to spend the extra money ($22 for a ticket) to watch it in IMAX, considering that’s how it was intended to be viewed. While the experience didn’t have quite the fanfare of “Star Wars” or “Barbie,” with people dressing up and cheering throughout the movie, there were people wearing jackets, T-shirts and hats representing McLaren, Williams, Mercedes and lots of Red Bull Racing supporters.

The film is fun! There’s clever jokes throughout and some of the banter between characters is pretty entertaining. The race scenes are thrilling. The camerawork is incredible and hearing the sound of the F1 cars in the theater is exhilarating. Technically, Pitt and Idris drove F2 cars, but the sound editors made sure the roar was just as fantastic. 

Note to cinemas: There should be F1 watch parties like they have for boxing events.

Yes, the storyline of “F1” is far-fetched: a 60-something Sonny Hayes returns to chase his dream of winning a Formula 1 race to help save his buddy from losing a fledgling team that he owns. Hayes’ chippy style of racing and manipulative tactics would not fly in Formula 1. There’s one especially cheesy scene when the team, APX GP, rallies around him that elicits an eye-roll. A dramatic crash might happen once a season in real life, not every single race as in the movie. And the overall story of the team’s turnaround in the season would simply never happen. But as with any major Hollywood picture, we don’t go to the movies to get a completely accurate documentary. We went to escape and to be inspired by something outside of ourselves. And that is what “F1” does through Hayes’ persistence and the hope of a miracle.

Credit: Apple TV+

While Pitt’s Hayes is the main character who is a bit of a stereotype, Idris shines as his rookie teammate, Joshua Pearce. When Hamilton visited the set, he thought that Pearce’s character was too cool and mature for his age and position. Idris’ response was that Pearce’s role model is Hamilton himself. The seven-time champion eased up. Idris is 33 years old playing a driver in his early 20s and he pulls it off well. He looks and acts boyish in the beginning of the movie and his character development, confidence and swagger grow maybe a bit rapidly to be realistic, but organically enough for the sake of the film.

One of the topics that is touched on is the movement for diversity in the sport. Hamilton has been open about experiencing racism in his journey and advocates for more opportunity for minorities and the underprivileged. It seems like this film is an extension of that work.

“I wanted it to be diverse and really reflect the real world,” Hamilton told GQ Italia. “I hope kids watch it and think, ‘Oh my God, there’s someone there that I could be.’"

APX GP has several Black team members, including Pearce, who would be only the second Black driver in the history of the sport after Hamilton. There are also multiple women on the team, including Kate McKenna, the team’s head engineer played by Kerry Condon. She predictably becomes Hayes’ love interest — copy and paste from “Top Gun” — which is a bit annoying. But while the push for diversity continues on the real grid, it is refreshing to see representation on the Hollywood one that doesn’t feel forced.

Credit: Apple TV+

It is fascinating how embedded in the real world of Formula 1 the film is. This is thanks to Hamilton convincing the motorsport series to embrace the project and his close involvement throughout the process. (Who else was excited to see his movie company, Dawn Apollo Films, in the opening credits?) Several other F1 figures became producers, including Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali. The movie was filmed during actual race weekends, including British Grand Prix, Mexico Grand Prix and Monza. APX GP’s base in the movie is actually McLaren’s headquarters in Woking, England. The sponsorships from actual brands like IWC, MSC and Geico give the film credibility. 

There are also cameos from drivers and other figures from around the grid. Fans were thrilled when Guenther Steiner appeared in the film’s trailer and yes, he is in the movie. There are also little references like the color of the tyres that F1 purists will appreciate.

Credit: Apple TV+

Formula 1 has grown rapidly in the past five years or so, fueled by Liberty Media’s initiative to expand the sport and the undeniable impact of Netflix’s “Drive To Survive.” “F1: The Movie” has potential to make a similar splash on the global market, especially the United States where viewership continues to climb. If casual observers of F1 haven’t found the sport thrilling enough, especially with Max Verstappen’s dominance the past few seasons, perhaps the drama and triumph of the movie will draw them in.