Synopsis:
Dubbed “the greatest that never was,” Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) was FORMULA 1’s most promising phenom of the 1990s until an accident on the track nearly ended his career. Thirty years later, he’s a nomadic racer-for-hire when he’s approached by his former teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), owner of a struggling FORMULA 1 team that is on the verge of collapse. Ruben convinces Sonny to come back to FORMULA 1 for one last shot at saving the team and being the best in the world. He’ll drive alongside Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), the team’s hotshot rookie intent on setting his own pace. But as the engines roar, Sonny’s past catches up with him and he finds that in FORMULA 1, your teammate is your fiercest competition–and the road to redemption is not something you can travel alone.
Sun Review:
Brad Pitt returns to the big screen with real grit, playing a former F1 legend turned underdog comeback king. And while the storyline follows a familiar track (think Top Gun: Maverick in a race suit), the execution is slick, stylish and full-throttle fun. From Monaco to Silverstone, the global backdrops are jaw-dropping. The racing sequences are filmed with such realism that at one point we almost grabbed the armrest and braked. Thanks to some seriously technical filmmaking (aided by real F1 crews and custom-built camera cars), the film makes you feel every swerve, skid and gear shift. Pitt brings effortless charisma to Sonny Hayes — he’s weathered but wise, a driver with something left to prove. Damson Idris is sharp as the rookie teammate with both talent and attitude, and Javier Bardem adds spice as the team boss with his own stakes on the line. Sure, it doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel — you’ll probably see the big moments coming before they happen. But it’s not trying to be subtle. It’s trying to thrill, and in that department, F1 doesn’t just cross the finish line — it drifts across sideways with smoke pouring off the tyres.
Sun Verdict:
If you love action, sports dramas, or just want to see Brad Pitt drive faster than Eskom can say “Stage 6,” this movie is for you. It’s the loud, fast, feel-good blockbuster we didn’t know we needed this winter.