- PG-13
- 2h 36m
- Directed by
-
- Joseph Kosinski
- Story
- Ehren Kruger
- Premiered
- June 25, 2025
- Language
-
- English
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $250,000,000.00
- Revenue
- $626,222,234.00
- Awards
-
- 1 win & 8 nominations total
- Country
-
- United States of America
F1
- Production
-
- Plan B Entertainment
- Jerry Bruckheimer Films
- Dawn Apollo Films
- Apple Studios
Spoiler
Joseph Kosinski's highly anticipated "F1," a gripping action-drama set to release on June 25, 2025, plunges audiences into the exhilarating and perilous world of Formula 1 racing. Starring Brad Pitt as the legendary, yet fallen, racer Sonny Hayes, the film chronicles his reluctant return to the sport he once dominated. The narrative opens with Sonny, a figure haunted by a past career-ending crash at the Spanish Grand Prix, showcasing his enduring skill in the 24 Hours at Daytona. Despite a triumphant performance that secures a win for Chip Hart's (Shea Whigham) team, Sonny, living a nomadic existence out of his van and grappling with past demons including gambling addiction and three failed marriages, declines a full-time offer.
His solitary life takes an unexpected turn when an old friend and former racing contemporary, Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), tracks him down. Cervantes, now the owner of the struggling APXGP Formula 1 team, faces the grim prospect of losing his entire operation. He implores Sonny to join APXGP, not just to compete, but to mentor their promising, albeit cocky, rookie driver, Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). The team desperately needs a Grand Prix victory to survive. Though initially hesitant, Sonny’s deep-seated loyalty to Ruben compels him to accept.
Arriving at the iconic Silverstone Circuit, Sonny is introduced to the APXGP inner circle: the sharp technical director Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon), team principal Kaspar Smolinski (Kim Bodnia), and chief mechanic Dodge Dowda (Abdul Salis). The dynamic between Sonny and Joshua is immediately fraught with tension. Joshua, managed by his cousin Cash (Samson Kayo), harbors anxieties about his own future should the team falter and views Sonny as an outdated relic. Sonny, in turn, finds Joshua’s arrogance grating.
Sonny’s first experience with a modern F1 car proves challenging. Unfamiliar with the cutting-edge technology, his initial test drive falls short of expectations, culminating in a crash. However, he identifies critical flaws in the vehicle’s design, a perspective that, despite some skepticism from Smolinski, ultimately earns him a place on the team.
As APXGP gears up for the British Grand Prix, the pressure mounts. During a press conference, Sonny faces intrusive questions about his personal struggles, a stark reminder of the public scrutiny that accompanies his return. The race itself begins with a disheartening stall of Sonny’s car on the starting grid. Further setbacks plague APXGP, with a slow pit stop costing them valuable time and positions. Joshua’s frustration boils over, leading to an outburst directed at pit crew member Jodie (Callie Cooke), which Sonny attempts to defuse, though Jodie later requests he refrain from intervening.
Sonny’s interest in Kate McKenna is evident, though Ruben subtly discourages any romantic entanglement. Undeterred, Sonny approaches Kate directly, proposing a radical idea: a car engineered for aggressive, combat-style maneuvering to gain an edge on the track. Kate, however, initially perceives Sonny as a self-serving hothead, prioritizing individual glory over team cohesion. Meanwhile, Joshua studies Sonny’s racing style and the infamous crash that defined his past.
The Hungarian Grand Prix sees Sonny deliberately holding up the pit stop to demand specific tires, a move that tests Kaspar’s patience but ultimately allows APXGP to strategize. Sonny then engineers a calculated crash, triggering safety cars and providing APXGP with a crucial advantage, leading to their first significant victory. This strategic brilliance begins to shift Kate’s perception of Sonny, and she starts developing the specialized car he envisioned.
The Italian Grand Prix presents a dramatic turn. APXGP is performing well until Joshua, disregarding Sonny’s counsel to wait for the opportune moment, attempts an aggressive overtake on Max Verstappen. The maneuver results in a devastating crash, igniting Joshua’s car. In a heroic act, Sonny pulls Joshua from the burning wreckage. At the hospital, Joshua’s mother, Bernadette (Sarah Niles), confronts Sonny, blaming his advice for the accident.
While Joshua recovers, Sonny dedicates himself to promoting the team, and his own performance improves in subsequent races. Joshua’s return at the Belgian Grand Prix is marked by another collision with Sonny, reigniting their animosity. Kate orchestrates a poker game, ostensibly a casual encounter, but it serves to bring the two drivers together. Despite their competitive banter, Joshua emerges victorious, securing preferential treatment for the remaining races. Unbeknownst to many, Sonny deliberately allowed Joshua to win. Later, a romantic connection blossoms between Sonny and Kate.
Their burgeoning relationship is interrupted when Ruben reveals an anonymous complaint filed with the FIA regarding the materials used in Kate’s custom car for Sonny. The demand for the upgrades’ removal threatens to cripple APXGP. During the subsequent race, a furious Sonny crashes out while competing against Sergio Perez, landing him back in the hospital. Ruben visits, expressing anger that Sonny never fully disclosed the severity of his past injuries, and urges him to step away from racing.
APXGP board member Peter Banning (Tobias Menzies), revealed to be the architect of the forged complaint, approaches Sonny with an offer: join his new team and help him oust Ruben and sell APXGP. Simultaneously, Joshua confides in his mother, acknowledging his own recklessness as the cause of his injuries, not Sonny’s advice, and vows to be more responsible.
The season culminates at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Sonny decisively rejects Banning’s offer with a defiant gesture, reaffirming his loyalty to Ruben, who permits him to race. The FIA also clears Kate. The final race is a nail-biting spectacle. Joshua, pushing his worn tires to their limit, is overtaken by Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Sonny collides with George Russell, but both APXGP drivers manage to pit for fresh tires. In a selfless act, Sonny relinquishes his own chance at victory to allow Joshua to compete. However, Joshua crashes with Hamilton, presenting Sonny with a renewed opportunity. Despite his vision blurring, Sonny crosses the finish line, securing the win and saving APXGP from being sold.
In the aftermath, Joshua receives an offer from Mercedes but chooses to remain with APXGP. Sonny announces his retirement from Formula 1. He shares a poignant farewell with Kate, promising a future reunion, and parts amicably with Joshua. Sonny then heads to Mexico to compete in the Baja 1000, not for glory or reward, but for the pure love of racing, demonstrating that for him, it’s never been about the money.
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