F1: The Movie (2025), directed by Joseph Kosinski, roars onto the screen with a thrilling blend of Hollywood drama and authentic racing spectacle. Starring Brad Pitt as a grizzled former driver leading the fictional APXGP team, alongside rising star Damson Idris and a supporting cast of real F1 icons, the film captures the sport’s heart-pounding intensity through groundbreaking camera technology and real Grand Prix settings. With a budget reportedly between $200–300 million, innovative iPhone-based filming, and Lewis Hamilton’s technical expertise, F1 aims to redefine sports cinema, drawing fans and newcomers alike into its underdog tale of passion and redemption.
Movie shots were taken during 2023 and 2024 F1 Grand Prix weekends at iconic circuits (Silverstone, Monza, Spa-Francorchamps, Hungaroring, Zandvoort, Suzuka, Mexico, Las Vegas, Yas Marina, and Brands Hatch for a crash scene). The APXGP team had its own garage, motorhome, and grid presence, blending seamlessly with real teams. Pitt and Idris drove modified F2 cars during non-session times, with stunt drivers handling formation laps.
F1: The Movie delivers a turbo-charged spectacle that bridges the gap between Formula 1’s adrenaline-fueled reality and Hollywood’s dramatic flair. With groundbreaking camera innovations, real Grand Prix settings, and Lewis Hamilton’s technical guidance, Joseph Kosinski’s film captures the sport’s visceral intensity while telling a heartfelt underdog story. Though some F1 purists may nitpick its technical inaccuracies and romantic subplots, the film’s immersive action, authentic racing sequences, and star-studded cast make it a thrilling ride for fans and newcomers alike. As it accelerates F1’s global appeal, F1: The Movie proves that the pursuit of speed—on track and on screen—never fails to captivate.
The plot
The film follows Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a former Formula 1 driver who, after a career-ending crash in 1993, lives as a nomadic cab driver and racer-for-hire. He’s recruited by his former Lotus teammate Rubén Cervantes (Javier Bardem), owner of the fictional APXGP team, to save the struggling team. Sonny mentors rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) while navigating team dynamics, a romance with technical director Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon), and the high-stakes world of F1. The story emphasizes teamwork, passion, and an underdog narrative over money and fame. Pitt and Idris underwent months of training to drive real race cars, avoiding “helmet acting” (fake acting). Their microexpressions in cockpit shots added realism, as “ the driver’s eyes don’t lie.” Alongside Pitt, Idris, Bardem, and Condon, the film features Tobias Menzies and supporting roles with real F1 personalities, including drivers and team principles, adding authenticity. Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time F1 champion, served as a co-producer, ensuring technical accuracy. Hamilton provided script input, reviewed technical details (e.g., gear sounds, tire compounds), and mentored actors on driving. His involvement ensured a focus on authenticity, including portraying women in key roles, like Kate as technical director.
Camera Innovations
Cinematographer Claudio Miranda, who worked on Top Gun: Maverick, collaborated with Sony to build and develop lightweight cameras (10 cm x 10 cm, a quarter the size of Maverick cameras) to minimize weight on race cars. Up to four cameras were mounted on each car at 15 positions, with RF transmissions hidden in the car’s floor. These allowed high-quality IMAX footage without compromising performance. Apple engineered a custom camera module using iPhone hardware (which are likely the iPhone 15 Pro’s 48-megapixel sensor and A17 Pro chip) to fit F1 broadcast camera spaces. It recorded in ProRes codec with a log format of post- production flexibility and ran custom iOS firmware, resulting in capturing cockpit POV shots and enhancing immersion. Panavision’s remote control system allowed wireless 180-degree panning and focusing, enabling dynamic shots like overtaking sequences where cameras shifted from the driver to other cars. This was a step beyond Top Gun: Maverick, where camera positions are fixed. Kosinski monitored 16 cameras from the base station, directing camera operators like a live TV broadcast.
Movie shots were taken during 2023 and 2024 F1 Grand Prix weekends at iconic circuits (Silverstone, Monza, Spa-Francorchamps, Hungaroring, Zandvoort, Suzuka, Mexico, Las Vegas, Yas Marina, and Brands Hatch for a crash scene). The APXGP team had its own garage, motorhome, and grid presence, blending seamlessly with real teams. Pitt and Idris drove modified F2 cars during non-session times, with stunt drivers handling formation laps.
Budget
The film’s budget is debated, with estimates ranging from $200 million to $300 million. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Joseph Kosinski disputed the higher figure, citing rebates from filming locations (e.g., England, Abu Dhabi) and sponsorships on the APXGP car, similar to real F1 teams. These reduced the net cost, though Apple Original Films hasn’t disclosed an exact figure.The high budget reflects the film’s ambitious scope, including filming at real F1 races, custom camera technology, and extensive actor training. Sponsorships, like those visible on the car, offset costs, mirroring F1’s commercial model.Interesting Facts
- Mercedes boss Toto Wolff suggested using modified Formula 2 cars (with F1-style bodies) for filming, as they were robust and nearly as fast. Six F2 cars were adapted with Mercedes AMG’s help to carry cameras, batteries, and transmitters. Pitt and Idris trained for months, starting in F3 and progressing to F2, with Pitt reportedly within 5 seconds of top F2 times.
- Despite F1’s great success, hardcore F1 fans noted errors, such as unrealistic pit stop timings, fictional tire degradation, and DRS misuse. Some criticized the lack of female team members beyond Kate, whose romance subplot questioned her professionalism. However, the film’s action and practical effects were widely praised, with fans enjoying
- The movie has achieved various ratings, from a weighted average score of 68 out of 100 from Metacritic, to an “A” grade on an A+ to F scale from Cinemascore, and a 7.9/10 rating from IMDB. The film holds an 83% approval rating based on 344 critics’ reviews from RottenTomatoes, with the consensus stating, “Driven by Brad Pitt’s laidback magnetism and sporting a souped-up engine courtesy of Joseph Kosinski’s kinetic direction, F1 the Movie brings vintage cool across the finish line.”
F1: The Movie delivers a turbo-charged spectacle that bridges the gap between Formula 1’s adrenaline-fueled reality and Hollywood’s dramatic flair. With groundbreaking camera innovations, real Grand Prix settings, and Lewis Hamilton’s technical guidance, Joseph Kosinski’s film captures the sport’s visceral intensity while telling a heartfelt underdog story. Though some F1 purists may nitpick its technical inaccuracies and romantic subplots, the film’s immersive action, authentic racing sequences, and star-studded cast make it a thrilling ride for fans and newcomers alike. As it accelerates F1’s global appeal, F1: The Movie proves that the pursuit of speed—on track and on screen—never fails to captivate. 
This took me right back to my London days, when Sundays meant gathering with friends to watch F1. The mix of adrenaline and drama sounds perfect , Formula 1’s precision with Hollywood’s flair. Just hoping the pit stops are short and the conversations even faster than the lap times.
Very interesting article!!!!!