In a lot of ways, the film is closer to an advert for Formula One than anything else. But the actual production is anchored in authenticity.
Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the brain behind Top Gun: Maverick, no expense has been spared in making F1 frighteningly close to the real thing.
As someone who sits through race after race for a job, there were genuinely times where I forgot I was watching a film, and not actual on-board vision from a real Grand Prix.
The crew were embedded on the actual Formula One grid during the 2024 season. The majority of the 20 real drivers make an appearance in some capacity, as do team principals Toto Wolff (Mercedes), Zak Brown (McLaren), Fred Vasseur (Ferrari) and even Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali. Kiwi driver Liam Lawson has two fleeting moments on screen.
And although the actors were never behind the wheel of real Formula One cars, settling for genuine machinery from Formula Two is a very good compromise.
However, while realism has clearly been front and centre in production, there are a couple of moments that are hard to overlook – for purists at least.
The fact Pitt’s character would be well into his 50s, if not 60s, and taking to some of the most iconic tracks in motorsport is hard to ignore. No number of pull-ups would see him through the Eau Rouge corner in Belgium in real life.
That’s not to mention the major plot holes of how he’s able to have earned a Super Licence after 30 years out of Formula One, and how he can compete in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after not taking part in qualifying.
At the end of the day, though, it’s just a film, and one that is enjoyable for the most part.
At a time where the Formula One audience is fragmented into Drive to Survive enthusiasts and old-school fans trying to prove they’re anything but the former, F1 probably has enough for both.
Old-school fans can appreciate the camera technology used, leading to racing scenes that dwarf classics like Days of Thunder or Rush.
Meanwhile, anyone who consumes Formula One in three-minute highlights packages on a Monday morning can at the very least be caught up in the authenticity of saying “ooh look, Lewis Hamilton”.
What’s more, the look into strategy and tactics of a Formula One team is a much-needed insight for casual fans to understand that racing isn’t just about going as fast as you for 50 laps.
Will it do anything to convert casuals into genuine fans of the sport? Perhaps. Will it win best picture at the Oscars? Probably not.
But taking it for what it is, if you have any interest in Formula One, the sport, you’ll probably enjoy F1 the movie in some way, shape or form.
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.
