F1 (2025) review: A High-Octane Feature That Ignites Adrenaline

Believe it or not but this film isn’t about cars or speed, it’s about second chances and legacy. F1 at its core is an underdog story, we meet Sonny Hayes, the brash American played by a rugged Brad Pitt who is a last resort for the APXGP F1 team as they are desperate for a replacement driver. 

Director Joseph Kosinski brought us Top Gun: Maverick (2022), as soon as this film starts you can feel his influence. The big scale practical effects blended seamlessly with CGI, he is able to control the sound and the visuals to create a thrilling, arresting piece of cinema. Sonny is a straight talking, no messing, unconventional American driver who will put you in your place and risk everything to win. His methods are playful and risky but soon enough, everyone believes in Sonny’s unpredictable strategy.

F1 (2025) is a character story that happens to be based around the formula 1, this film is about Sonny and his journey from loser to winner, from gambler to racer. It was engaging to jump between heart felt, comedic moments off the track then return to the thrilling, breathtaking moments on the track. F1 (2025) is a film about passion, Sonny comes alive on the track and he is forever chasing a feeling of freedom and perfection.

Sonny races with rookie driver Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), who is everything you imagine a rookie to be; cocky, confident and never basking in the glory. Sonny on the other hand mentors him and encourages him to believe in himself. Alongside Sonny’s own character arc of leaving his legacy and proving everyone wrong, he also moulds a winner out of JP. 

I will mention for those who don’t know, ‘The Chain’ by Fleetwood Mac is famously associated with F1 and actually accompanied one of the films trailers yet it was nowhere to be heard. I was a little disappointed, it didn’t ruin the film for me but it did feel like it was missing over the final race scene with Sonny. 

This is a film for both F1 fans and newbies alike, although the film is dramatised and a few of the moments were elevated for the screen, it is hard to deny how enjoyable this feature was. It places fictional characters inside the real world of F1, encountering real racers along the way, including producer Lewis Hamilton. 

F1 (2025) isn’t a film about cars, it’s about the people inside them. It brings humanity to a sport which is incredibly mechanical, it brings gambling to a sport which is all about precision, it brings playfulness to a sport which is all about risk. Formula 1 is a fascinating sport and watching it on screen was breathtaking, I feared blinking to not miss any moments. This is a high-octane, adrenaline rush feature which will leave you longing to step inside a formula 1 car yourself. 

Probe Points

★★★★☆