As I'm sure many Formula One fans are, I was apprehensive about Hollywood's take on the crown jewel of the motorsport industry.
And when Carlos Sainz cautioned fans to take the action-packed film with a pinch of salt, well, that was my mind made up. I wasn't going to like it, and I would be critical, and that was that.
I'll hold my hands up and admit how wrong I was. While the more technically oriented fans will require a pinch of salt, all in all, "F1" is a fast-paced, has-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat watch that's guaranteed to be enjoyed by Formula One fans, newbies, and lay people alike.
Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a driver forced to retire from Formula One after a serious accident. In the aftermath, he lives a nomadic existence, but, still a great talent, he lends himself as a sort of racer-for-hire.
Getting into the nitty gritty of things, the visuals in "F1" are nothing short of epic. The film opens with Sonny gearing up to start his shift for Porsche in the 24 Hours of Daytona.
As a disclaimer, I watched the film in IMAX, but all I can say is wow. It truly felt like I was sitting in the driver's seat, speeding down the straights and through the chicanes as sparks flew from the cars around me and fireworks created a colourful explosion in the night sky.
Brad Pitt is Brad Pitt. There was never any question over whether his acting was going to be up to scratch.
Kerry Condon and Brad Pitt in "F1." (Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures / Apple Original Films)
I was, however, intrigued by the rising star that is Damson Idris.
There's a fine line between confident and cocky, and I wasn't too sure whether the 33-year-old had crossed it when he appeared at the 2025 Met Gala in a racing helmet to promote his upcoming role, but I can confirm his dancing on that fine line was warranted.
For someone with minimal acting credits under his belt, you could argue director Joseph Kosinski took a huge leap of faith, but it certainly paid off.
Damson plays Joshua Pearce (JP), a rookie driver keen to prove his worth as his team APXGP crashes and burns before his eyes. Boasting immense talent, he has the weight of being the team's number one driver on his shoulders; That is, until Sonny Hayes shows up and reverses team orders.
The youngster and his older teammate swing back and forth between rivals and friends throughout the film as they battle it out for grid positions.
As a viewer, you can feel JP's drive to survive (pardon the pun) in the sport, but by the same token, his immaturity and naivety shines through.
Kerry Condon and Damson Idris in "F1." (Photo by Scott Garfield - Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures / Apple Original Films)
And then you have our very own Kerry Condon. Proud Thurles woman that she is, Kerry bears her Irish accent in "F1," and at first, I wasn't convinced of her role in the film.
It's undetermined whether this was due to heavy scripting, a lack of fun with the role amid the seriousness, or the fact that her Irish accent stuck out like a sore thumb, but Kerry quickly shook it off and shone bright amongst a stellar cast.
Having linked up with Northern Irish F1 analyst Bernie Collins after taking on the role, the Tipperary woman embodied her character Kate McKenna, APXGP technical director, perfectly.
In terms of the plot, there are a few plot holes to bear in mind from a Formula One rules and regulations perspective.
And while we all love a good romance storyline, it's a tad annoying that Kate, a woman with a high-profile job in Formula One, practically swoons for Sonny, the sweet-talking, hunky driver.
That being said, the romance storyline isn't the essence of Kate's character, and instead, her intelligence and talent are repeatedly highlighted.
As aforementioned, "F1" is action-packed; it's fun; it's fast-paced. For the Tom Cruise fans, it's easy to tell that the film was directed by the same man at the helm of "Top Gun: Maverick."
It's a Pitt stop of a movie in that it's not something I think I'll sit down and watch again as, much like Pirelli tyres, I think it would lose its grip on my attention, but "F1" takes pole position in the new release rankings for me.
*This article was originally published on Evoke.ie.
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