Formula 1 has officially entered its Hollywood era with the upcoming film F1, yes, that’s the title, starring Brad Pitt and co-produced by Lewis Hamilton. This past week, nearly the entire 2025 grid gathered in Monaco for a private screening, and early reactions suggest it might be the most authentic racing film ever made. And for once, the buzz isn’t just from the engines.
Private Screening: Reactions from the Real Grid
Held ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, the exclusive screening drew 18 of the 20 F1 drivers, everyone except Lance Stroll and Max Verstappen. Max was supposedly streaming his sim racing online at home as Franz Hermann. Based on what we’ve seen from paddock insiders and fan-sleuths online, reactions were overwhelmingly positive. Multiple drivers reportedly stayed long after the credits rolled to talk about what they’d just watched, something that doesn’t happen often, especially in a weekend this packed.
The feedback? Simply put, the film nails the feeling of racing. There’s a tangible sense that F1 captured the speed, tension, and danger of modern-day Formula 1 without falling into the usual trap of Hollywood over-stylization. The real driving footage, captured with custom track cameras developed for the production, creates a visceral, almost physical experience. One viewer described it as “Top Gun at 200 mph, just with carbon fiber and tire smoke.”
The Plot: Redemption at 300km/h
The story follows Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a retired F1 driver lured back to the grid to mentor rookie phenom Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) for APXGP, a fictional 11th team inserted into real race weekends during filming. In one of the smartest creative choices, APXGP’s presence never disrupts the integrity of the championship. Instead, it seamlessly blends with real-world teams like Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes, many of whom cooperated directly with production.
From what we know, the movie focuses on themes of redemption, generational change, and team dynamics, all while placing viewers behind the wheel like never before. The real-world footage, captured during actual Grands Prix at circuits like Silverstone and COTA, ensures the action never feels synthetic. Unlike past attempts (Driven, anyone?), F1 looks to have embraced subtlety over spectacle.
Gold Helmet Popcorn Bucket Breaks the Internet
Leave it to Formula 1 to turn even popcorn into a statement. At the Monaco screening, attendees were treated to a black and gold helmet-shaped popcorn bucket, bearing the sleek branding of APXGP. It instantly became a collector’s grail. Online fans are already plotting how to get their hands on one, some joking they’d buy a movie ticket just for the merch.
In truth, the bucket is more than gimmick. Its premium design reflects the level of attention the filmmakers have given every part of the film’s presentation. As one fan put it, “The popcorn bucket has more polish than half the teams’ sponsor decks.” Harsh? Maybe. Wrong? Not really.
Shot Like a Race, Expanded to IMAX
Due to growing demand and reportedly stunning early visuals, F1 will now release in additional IMAX theaters. That decision came after a studio review of the film’s final cut and test screenings that left execs buzzing.
The cinematography is no small feat. Using modified F2 cars fitted with cinema-grade rigs, the crew captured real race speeds with lenses that hug the tarmac and shake with every bump. The result, according to insiders, is a racing film that feels like a race, not a video game or shaky-cam mess.
Several fans noted that the on-track footage is so immersive it may actually surpass Drive to Survive’s dramatized cuts in delivering true racing adrenaline. “It’s like DTS if DTS had DRS and cornering G-force,” one post summarized.
The Team Behind the Camera
This isn’t just a vanity project for movie stars. The talent behind F1 brings blockbuster weight:
- Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick, Oblivion) directs
- Ehren Kruger (Top Gun: Maverick, The Ring) writes
- Brad Pitt, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Lewis Hamilton produce
- Hans Zimmer is composing the score
With that lineup, it’s no surprise the film feels polished. If Rush was a love letter to 1970s F1, F1 is shaping up to be a modern epic, a fusion of raw racing footage, emotional narrative, and technical precision.
Final Lap to Release
Set for a June 27, 2025 release, F1 may not just reshape motorsport cinemait , could also be a pivotal cultural moment for the sport itself. With F1 surging in popularity across the U.S., and newer fans hungry for deeper storytelling, this film could do what Drive to Survive did, only louder, faster, and with fewer dramatic sound effects.
If the private screening’s reaction is any hint, F1 won’t just stick the landing. It might set a new pole position for racing films to come.
Bottom Line:
F1 isn’t another glossy sports flick, it’s a high-octane, exhaust-scented, IMAX-engineered experience with the paddock’s stamp of approval. If real drivers are calling it “authentic,” fans should buckle up. This one’s going full throttle.