F1 (marketed as F1 the Movie) is a 2025 American sports drama film directed by Joseph Kosinski and written by Ehren Kruger. The movie stars Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a retired Formula One prodigy who returns after 30 years to help his former teammate’s underdog team, APXGP. Supporting roles are played by Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem, and Tobias Menzies.
A collaboration between Apple Studios, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Plan B Entertainment, and Dawn Apollo Films, the film was produced by Pitt, Kosinski, Bruckheimer, and seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton. Hans Zimmer composed the score.
Premiering at Radio City Music Hall on June 16, 2025, and released in U.S. theaters on June 27, the film grossed $605 million worldwide, becoming:
- The highest-grossing auto racing film ever
- The top-grossing Apple Studios release
- The biggest box office hit of Brad Pitt’s career
Plot
Aging American driver Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), sidelined since a crash in 1993, is asked by his old teammate Rubén Cervantes to save the struggling APXGP F1 team. Teaming up with rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), Sonny battles modern racing technology, internal rivalries, and sabotage from within the team’s board.
Despite injuries, political intrigue, and personal demons, Sonny redeems himself in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix by securing a dramatic first victory, saving APXGP from collapse. The film closes with Sonny turning toward off-road racing, hinting at a new chapter.
Cast
- Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes
- Damson Idris as Joshua Pearce
- Kerry Condon as Kate McKenna
- Javier Bardem as Rubén Cervantes
- Tobias Menzies as Peter Banning
- Kim Bodnia, Sarah Niles, and others in supporting roles
- Numerous real F1 drivers and team principals, including Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, and more, appear as themselves
Production
Announced in December 2021, the project reunited Kosinski, Bruckheimer, and Kruger after Top Gun: Maverick (2022). Lewis Hamilton served as both producer and advisor to ensure authenticity.
Filming began at Silverstone in July 2023, with Pitt and Idris driving modified Formula Two cars equipped with custom Apple-designed onboard cameras. Footage was captured during actual 2023 and 2024 Grands Prix weekends with FIA’s cooperation. Additional scenes were filmed at Monza, Spa, Las Vegas, Yas Marina, and Daytona.
The budget was reported between $200 million and $300 million, partly offset by sponsorship deals from brands like EA Sports, IWC, Tommy Hilfiger, Heineken, and Mercedes-AMG.
Music
Hans Zimmer, with Steve Mazzaro, composed a hybrid score mixing orchestral and electronic elements to mirror Formula One’s fusion of human skill and machine precision.
The soundtrack, F1 the Album, featured singles by Don Toliver, Doja Cat, Rosé, Myke Towers, Tate McRae, and Ed Sheeran.
Release
- World Premiere: June 16, 2025, Radio City Music Hall, New York
- U.S. Release: June 27, 2025, by Warner Bros. Pictures
- Streaming: Apple TV+ (later date)
- Re-released in IMAX on August 8, 2025, due to high demand
Reception
Box Office
- Worldwide gross: $605 million
- U.S./Canada: $186 million
- Overseas: $419 million
- Biggest debut in Apple Studios history; surpassed World War Z (2013) as Pitt’s top-grossing film
Critical Response
- Rotten Tomatoes: 82% positive
- Metacritic: 68/100 (“generally favorable”)
- CinemaScore: A
- Praised for racing sequences, visuals, and Pitt’s performance
- Criticized by some for predictable plot and underwritten female roles
Motorsport Media
Motorsport outlets applauded the authentic race footage but found the story “Hollywoodized.” Top Gear called it a “crowd-pleasing blockbuster,” while Motor Sport said it felt “unrealistic despite access.”
Legacy and Future
F1 is credited with raising Formula One’s global profile and proving Apple Studios’ viability in theatrical distribution. A sequel or franchise is already under discussion following its commercial success.
