F1 Parent Guide

A golden boy on the 1990s racing circuit, Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) was headed for the top until a crash nearly killed him. In the three decades that followed, Hayes hit rock bottom before returning to racing. He’s no longer on the storied Formula One circuit: he’s driving any race he can enter, just for the fun of it.

Then an old rival returns to his life. Ruben (Javier Bardem) owns a failing F1 team and is desperate for a new second to support his lead driver, Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). Pearce is talented but hasn’t won a single race all season. If things don’t turn around, Ruben will lose the team.

The fifty-something Hayes is reluctant to return to a young man’s sport, but he finally capitulates and is soon part of the APX team – sparring with Pearce; urging design changes on Kate (Kerry Condon), the team’s lead engineer; and arguing race strategy with Kasper (Kim Bodnia). Hayes is talented, unconventional, fearless, and more than a little bit reckless. He’s convinced that racing isn’t simply driving fast; it’s combat on the track. As the APX team absorbs Hayes’ attitude, it’s possible they might actually win – if Pearce’s arrogance and Hayes’ demons don’t destroy them first.

What keeps this story moving isn’t just the cars zipping around the track, but the development of the characters and their relationships. Pearce initially views Hayes with antagonism, first as a drag on the team and later as a rival. He’s sullen, uncooperative, and eventually works to undermine Hayes. As events overtake him, Pearce makes the paradoxical discovery that developing humility can be a steppingstone to real confidence instead of shallow bravado. His maturation journey is the truly rewarding part of the tale. As for Hayes, the old saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” rings true – but this old dog is so canny he’s teaching old tricks to young pups.

I enjoyed this film far more than I expected, which is saying a lot because I have never been remotely interested in any kind of racing. To keep me interested, any car racing movie must be more than just scenes of fast cars whizzing around a track (although there are plenty of those and fans will love them). To hold my attention, a racing movie needs to tell a gripping story, and F1 manages to pull that off, largely thanks to the cast. Not surprisingly, Brad Pitt is the heart of the film, his exhaustion and world-weariness contrasting with his physical courage and fierce determination. Pitt’s roguish grin and unparalleled ability to portray lovable bad boys certainly help sell the part – and the film.

There’s no doubt that action fans will love this movie – and Brad Pitt will be a draw for an even larger audience. If you’re thinking of bringing the family, bear in mind that the PG-13 rating is accurate, thanks to the nearly four dozen profanities, repeated scenes of car crashes, and some implied sexual activity. The film is also overlong (at two-and-a-half hours), so don’t buy a large drink unless you are willing to step out of the tense scenes for a bathroom break. Plan carefully – trust me, you won’t want to miss any of this fast and fun ride.

About author

Kirsten Hawkes

Kirsten Hawkes has a BA in Political Science and English and has worked in international development and medical education and marketing. Kirsten enjoys reading, watching movies, and debating politics with her husband and sometimes unwilling children.