Courtesy Warner Bros.

Let’s get this out of the way: F1 is not just one of the best sports movies of the year—it’s one of the best movies, period. From the moment the engines rev in the opening scene to the triumphant, throttle-wide finale, this 2.5-hour cinematic joyride never stalls, sputters, or slows. If you’ve ever wondered what Top Gun would be like with wheels and European accents, look no further. F1 is the high-octane answer.

Much like the sport it celebrates, F1 starts grounded—intimate, character-driven, mechanical. But with each featured race, the cinematography accelerates into something grander, bolder, and borderline operatic. Director Joseph Kosinski (who also made Top Gun: Maverick) knows how to build momentum. By the time we’re swooping through Las Vegas and barreling down Abu Dhabi at 200mph, the visuals are so immersive, it’s like you’re strapped into the cockpit, white-knuckled and grinning.

But F1 doesn’t just look good. It feels good. It’s one of those rare films that nails almost every element it attempts. The acting? Superb. Leads Brad Pitt and Damson Idris share a mentor-protégé chemistry that hums with humor, ego, and eventually respect. Their on-screen relationship grounds the film with real stakes, emotional pull, and more than a few lump-in-the-throat moments. A supporting cast of Kerry Condon as team strategist (and Pitt love interest), Callie Cooke as a green thumb pit mechanic, and Abdul Salis as pit crew manager accomplish the same. Meanwhile, team principal Javier Bardem steals every scene he’s in with just the right amount of mischief.

As for the script, it’s as sleek as the cars. Witty, tight, and surprisingly tender. My favorite line—“We have the driver”—lands with the sort of simple, shiver-inducing finality that only great sports movies can deliver. It’s a mic-drop moment wrapped in gasoline and goosebumps.

And the soundtrack? Let’s just say Hans Zimmer’s Daft Punk/Tron Legacy inspired score is worth listening to over and over again (because I already have). Equal parts orchestral swagger and modern synth edge, the score pulses in time with your heartbeat, amplifying both the quiet drama and pedal-to-the-metal spectacle.

What truly lifts F1 into greatness, though, is its underdog story. This is a movie that believes in hard work, redemption, and the wild, beautiful idea that anyone—given grit and guts—can defy the odds. It’s a love letter to the roar of engines, yes, but also to second chances and friendships forged in fire.

At 2.5 hours, it could have easily overstayed its welcome. But it never does. If anything, I wanted more. Another lap. Another corner. Another finish-line fist pump.

Bottom line: F1 is a cinematic victory lap—full of heart, horsepower, and pure movie magic. See it on the biggest screen you can find. Then see it again.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️