I’ve been itching to write about F1: The Movie for weeks, but life kept throwing me into the pits—work, errands, the usual chaos. Finally, at 1:57 AM, with a coffee in hand and the quiet of the night, I’m ready to unpack this high-octane spectacle. Brad Pitt, Joseph Kosinski, and the roar of Formula 1 promised a thrill ride, and while F1 delivers enough horsepower to keep you glued to the screen, it left me wishing I’d felt more of a spark. It’s a film that’s got the polish and the pedigree, but as I sat down to reflect, I realized it’s more of a fun lap than a race I’ll be replaying in my head.
From the moment the lights go down, F1 hits you like a shot of adrenaline. Pitt, as Sonny Hayes—a washed-up racing star clawing his way back after a brutal crash—struts onto the screen in a slow-motion blaze of glory, backed by a Led Zeppelin track that screams, “This is gonna be big.” And it is. The drone shots swooping through the racetrack, the helmet cams putting you inches from the asphalt—it’s the kind of immersive rush that made me forget my overdue laundry. Scrolling through X, I saw fans losing it over the visuals, with one user calling it “like being strapped into an F1 car.” I get it. My heart was pounding during those race sequences, but by the third or fourth near-identical lap, I was checking my watch, wondering if I’d have time to write this before crashing for the night.
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Pitt’s Sonny is the kind of role I love him in: weathered, charming, a little broken but still fighting. Watching him, I couldn’t help but think of late nights I’ve spent chasing my own comebacks—nothing as glamorous as F1, but the grind feels familiar. He’s easy to root for, even if the “aging mentor vs. cocky rookie” dynamic feels like it was ripped from a playbook I’ve read before. Kosinski, who I adored for Top Gun: Maverick, leans hard into that same formula here—swap jets for cars, add a whiff of gasoline, and you’re halfway there. X users have been buzzing about Pitt’s “cool uncle energy,” and yeah, he’s magnetic, but I kept waiting for a twist that never came.
The real surprise for me was Kerry Condon as Kate, the team’s whip-smart engineer. She’s not just there to prop up the guys; she’s the backbone of the operation, and every scene she’s in feels sharper, more alive. As someone who’s often juggling a million things and still trying to prove my worth, I connected with her quiet confidence. X posts have been calling her the film’s secret weapon, and I’m nodding along—she’s the kind of character I wish I’d seen more of growing up. If only the script gave her more room to shine instead of stretching the runtime to a bloated two-and-a-half hours. By the time the film was counting down “nine races left,” I was mentally trimming scenes, thinking about how I’d rewrite this to keep the pace as tight as my deadline to get this review done.
Technically, F1 is a beast. The sound design rattled my bones, and the visuals are so crisp I could almost smell the burning rubber. But as I sit here, typing in the wee hours, I can’t shake the feeling that it’s all a bit too safe. The story hits every beat you expect—training montages, rivalries, a big final race—and while it’s executed with flair, it’s not the kind of film that’ll keep me up at night thinking about what could’ve been. I wanted it to take a risk, to veer off the track and surprise me, but it sticks to the racing line like it’s afraid to spin out.
F1: The Movie is a blast if you’re in the mood for a slick, crowd-pleasing ride—and after weeks of procrastinating, I’m glad I finally carved out time to see it. But as I finish this review, bleary-eyed and buzzing from caffeine, I’m left wanting a film that dared to push the limits as much as I’ve pushed mine to get these thoughts down. It’s entertaining, it’s gorgeous, but it’s not the checkered flag I hoped for. Maybe next time, I’ll catch a film that matches the late-night energy I’m pouring into this.
F1: The Movie roars with dazzling visuals and immersive drone shots that outshine 2019’s Ford v Ferrari’s more grounded cinematography, dropping you right into the cockpit with heart-pounding intensity that X users can’t stop raving about. Yet, where Ford v Ferrari gripped me with its raw, authentic tale of Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles battling corporate constraints and personal demons for a gritty Le Mans victory, F1 plays it safer, leaning on a polished Top Gun: Maverick-style formula that feels predictable. The emotional depth and risk-taking of Ford v Ferrari’s underdog story hit harder than F1’s slick, repetitive races, leaving me wishing the latter had dared to swerve off its well-trodden track.
F1: The Movie is a turbo-charged spectacle that delivers heart-pounding visuals and Brad Pitt’s undeniable charisma, but its predictable playbook and bloated two-and-a-half-hour runtime keep it from matching the raw, soulful punch of Ford v Ferrari. Kerry Condon’s standout performance as the sharp engineer Kate adds fresh spark, yet the film’s reluctance to take creative risks leaves it stuck in a familiar gear. As I type this at 2:04 AM, finally stealing a moment to reflect, I see F1 as a thrilling ride for Formula 1 fans and casual viewers alike, but one that crosses the finish line without claiming the podium it could’ve earned with tighter pacing and bolder storytelling.
