What would you give to have one last chance at success? Fame? Fortune? Friends? F1 is a thrilling underdog adventure, pitting an old legend who never did versus an up-and-comer who wants it all. A beautiful story arch, backed by a wonderfully thematic soundtrack, and contained within a breathtaking atmosphere, F1 takes a story about cars driving in loops and turns it into an edge-of-your-seat adventure.
F1 tells the story of Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a failed Formula 1 (F1) driver. After a devastating injury, Hayes lost his chance at his ultimate dream, F1 champion. Decades later, his old friend, Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), tells Hayes his team, APXGP, is on the brink of being sold off. Cervantes offers Hayes a spot on APXGP, a Hail Mary shot at a championship. When Hayes joins the club, he meets rising star Joshua Pierce (Damson Idris), an ambitious rookie with dreams of fame and riches. F1 covers the back and forth fight between the two, with Hayes grappling with a fleeting dream and Pierce battling for success.
The conflicts of interest between the characters makes F1 uniquely exciting. Watching Cervantes struggle with the moral decisions of looking out for his friend while on the brink of collapse forces every decision to appear as though there is no right answer. Backdropped, we see the arc of race director Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon), a female engineer determined to prove herself in a male dominated field. But, by far the most interesting relationship, is that of Hayes and Pierce. Hayes is in a constant battle against his hyperisolationist personality, determined to win a championship to fulfill a life long dream, often at the expense of his team. The mirrored conflict of Pierce’s tendencies to sacrifice team success for his own dreams creates a beautiful waltz of struggle, as every step forward for Hayes often results in a step back for Pierce, and vice versa. This back-and-forth dilemma creates a spectacular story line throughout the film, as we want both characters to succeed; however, we know that there can only be one champion.
A phenomenal compliment to these arcs, and something I believe is often overlooked in great films is the phenomenal soundtrack. Most of the film is backdropped with up-beat electronic pop or rock. Yet, even in the music choice, we find contrast. Throughout the start of the film, we hear modern-day pop and rap: “Lose My Mind” by Don Toliver, “Just Keep Watching” by Tate McRae, and more. However, when the shot cuts to Hayes, this modern soundtrack is replaced by 1969 Led Zeppelin classic “Whole Lotta Love.” Even within the music, we get to experience this phenomenal contrast between a young star and an old-time legend.
The cherry on top of this high-paced action is an enthralling atmosphere. Every new location provides its own wonders to enjoy. From the bright lights of Vegas to the towering skyscrapers of Abu Dhabi, the film perfectly exhibits both the buzzing excitement of an F1 audience and the silent apprehension of a racer on the track. For an F1 enthusiast, seeing the famous tracks exudes awe in-and-of itself. But even for people who have never heard of F1, the set-design of the movie is perfectly created.
F1 was an impressive spectacle of a film. As a casual F1 fan, I wasn’t sure if the movie would be too in the weeds and go right over my head. Yet, after walking away from the movie, I was overjoyed. F1 perfectly walks the line between detailed enough where I felt that I was enthralled in the atmosphere of racing without being disoriented by jargon and details I didn’t understand. I walked away feeling more knowledgeable about F1 with an extremely positive viewing experience. Director Joseph Kisinski had a great idea and went above-any-beyond in execution.
Final Rating: 4 stars – Phenomenal Movie.
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