What is the premise of the F1 movie?
The movie follows Sonny Hayes, played by two-time Golden Globe winner Brad Pitt. Sonny is a veteran Formula 1 driver who was forced to retire in the 90s after a dreadful crash, leaving a man who was once at the pinnacle of his sport scarred and heartbroken by the accident.
The film begins with a now middle-aged Sonny wasting away and feeling sorry for himself after his dreams were snatched away from him – but he is offered a way out. Sonny is given a job mentoring young rookie driver Joshua Pearce (played by Damson Idris), and if he can bury his demons and leave the past in the dust, they may just have a chance of winning the World Championships with the help of each other.
Despite the film’s rather simple name of “F1: The Movie”, the film explores complex themes of redemption and trauma, as the story delves into the personal struggles faced away from the sport, as well as the drive to win on the track. The drama promises to be fast-paced, with the film aiming to capture the thrill of the grid and the contrasting emotions of ecstasy and agony defined by winning and losing.
Is the F1 movie based on true events?
No. The F1 film is fictional. The characters and plot lines are not based on real-life people and events; however, the movie is inspired by the real world of Formula 1 and looks to show the ins and outs of the sport and the mentality of the top drivers.
The film follows fictional team APXG, but race footage was filmed at real Grand Prix racecourses Monza and Abu Dhabi, and a car was built by Mercedes-AGM to make the movie as realistic as possible. On top of this, the movie includes several real-life F1 drivers, including seven-time world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton.
Who makes up the F1 movie cast, and when is it set to be released?
Alongside Lewis Hamilton, who is also named as a producer of the film, other world champions appear in the movie. Some big names include Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Fernando Alonso, Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz Jr.
Alongside Bratt Pitt in the main cast are Javier (from Skyfall), Kim Bodnia (Killing Eve), Tobias Menzies (The Crown), Shea Whigham (Mission Impossible: The Dead Reckoning), Sarah Niles (Ted Lasso) and Will Merrick (Skins).
The film was directed by Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski and will use a soundtrack produced by Hans Zimmer. Pitt is also listed as a producer of the film alongside Hamilton and Jerry Bruckheimer, who produced the Pirates of the Caribbean films.
The Warner Bros. film is set to premiere at theatres on June 25 internationally and on June 27 in the United States, which is just two days before the Austrian Grand Prix. It has officially been rated PG-13 for strong language and action.
