Aging former Formula One prodigy Sonny Hayes has spent the last 30 years as a racer-for-hire, following a career-ending crash at the 1993 Spanish Grand Prix. After winning the 24 Hours of Daytona, he is approached by his former teammate Rubén Cervantes, owner of the struggling APXGP F1 team, who asks him to be their second driver. Sonny reluctantly agrees after Rubén insists that victory will prove he is the “best in the world.”
Sonny meets the team, including technical director Kate McKenna and ambitious rookie Joshua Pearce. At the British Grand Prix, Sonny and Joshua compete against each other, resulting in both crashing out. At the Hungarian Grand Prix, Sonny deliberately collides with rivals to trigger safety car periods, allowing Joshua to secure APXGP's first top-ten finish. During the rain-affected Italian Grand Prix, Sonny advises Joshua to remain on slick tires, elevating him to second place, but Joshua crashes while attempting to overtake Max Verstappen.
Following an anonymous tip alleging Kate’s car upgrades are illegal, APXGP is forced to remove them. Sonny drives recklessly during the Las Vegas Grand Prix and crashes, and is subsequently fired by Rubén after it is discovered that Sonny’s 1993 injuries left him medically unfit for F1. Sonny learns that Peter Banning orchestrated his signing and the anonymous tip to sabotage the team. Sonny persuades Rubén to let him return, and at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, sacrifices his own chance of victory to allow Joshua to win, securing APXGP’s future.
Brad Pitt stars as Sonny Hayes, a nomadic racer-for-hire and former Formula One driver for Lotus. Damson Idris plays Joshua Pearce, a hotshot rookie who drives for APXGP. Kerry Condon portrays Kate McKenna, the APXGP technical director, and Javier Bardem plays Rubén Cervantes, the APXGP team owner and Sonny’s former teammate. Tobias Menzies appears as Peter Banning, a sly APXGP board member.
Lewis Hamilton, a Formula One driver, was also a producer for the film. Numerous other Formula One drivers and personnel appear in the film as themselves, including Martin Brundle and David Croft, who provide commentary for races depicted in the film.
Development of the film began in December 2021, with Brad Pitt, Joseph Kosinski, Ehren Kruger, and Jerry Bruckheimer attached to the project. Filming took place during Grand Prix weekends of the 2023 and 2024 World Championships, with the collaboration of the FIA. Racing sequences were adapted from real-life races, with F1 teams and drivers appearing throughout. Six modified Dallara F2 2018 chassis were created for filming, some powered by Mecachrome V634 engines, some by GP3 V6 engines, and one by an electric motor.
Hans Zimmer composed the film’s score, combining orchestra and electronic music to reflect Formula One’s history and technology. The film's soundtrack, F1 the Album, features artists including Don Toliver, Doja Cat, Rosé, Myke Towers, Tate McRae, and Ed Sheeran.
F1 grossed $634 million worldwide. Reviews were generally favorable, with 82% of critics on Rotten Tomatoes giving the film a positive rating. Critics praised Brad Pitt’s performance and the film’s kinetic direction. Motorsport media reception was mixed, with praise for the racing sequences but criticism for the plot and character development.
A sequel to F1 was officially greenlit in February 2026.