CinemaBravo

In F1 The Movie, Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, dubbed “the greatest that never was” — FORMULA 1’s most promising phenom of the 1990s, until a tragic accident on the track nearly ended his career.

Thirty years later, Sonny has become a nomadic racer-for-hire when he’s approached by his former teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), now the owner of a struggling FORMULA 1 team on the verge of collapse. Ruben convinces Sonny to return to FORMULA 1 for one last shot at saving the team and proving himself as the best in the world.

Sonny is paired with Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), the team’s hotshot rookie who’s determined to carve his own legacy. But as the engines roar, Sonny’s past resurfaces — and in FORMULA 1, your teammate is often your fiercest rival. The road to redemption, it turns out, is one you can’t drive alone.

F1 is a high-octane cinematic experience that fuses Hollywood star power with the visceral thrill of professional racing. From the moment the lights go out, the film plunges viewers into the electrifying world of Formula One, delivering a relentless barrage of speed and excitement that demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible.

It’s funny, aggressive, adrenaline-pumping, and surprisingly heartwarming — a film so damn entertaining you’ll want to see it again.

While the story certainly follows an underdog arc, it smartly stays grounded in the stark realities of F1. At the heart of the film is Brad Pitt’s Sonny Hayes — an aging driver making a comeback, whose journey is filled with twists and emotional turns that culminate meaningfully in the climactic final race.

The film acknowledges that Formula One is a brutal meritocracy. Only a handful of teams and drivers genuinely contend for the championship each year. The real drama lies in the battle for points, the relentless push for improvement, and the rare chance for that one perfect Sunday when everything clicks. This grounded lens makes Sonny’s underdog arc far more compelling and authentic than your usual Hollywood fantasy.

Indeed, F1 prioritizes kinetic energy over lengthy exposition. It wisely leans into momentum, letting the roar of the engines and the blur of the track tell much of the story. Yet within this high-speed environment, the dynamic between Pitt’s Sonny and Idris’s Joshua Pearce is surprisingly intense and emotionally satisfying.

Their on-screen chemistry shines as they navigate the volatile balance between partnership and rivalry — a highlight of the film that adds depth to the breakneck narrative.

Ultimately, F1 is a thrill ride that works precisely because it understands its subject. Loud, fast, and fiercely entertaining, the film captures the very essence of Formula One. If you’re after an adrenaline rush and a peek into the unforgiving yet exhilarating world of motorsport, buckle up and head to the cinema — this one’s built for the big screen, achieving fast, furious Pitt stop perfection.

‘F1 The Movie’ is now showing in Philippine theaters from Warner Bros. Pictures.