Brad Pitt is back behind the wheel in F1, a high-stakes racing drama that sees the 61-year-old actor play a once-promising Formula 1 driver looking for redemption decades after a career-halting crash. The film, from Apple Original Films and set to hit theaters on June 27, follows the story of Sonny Hayes, a former F1 driver from the 1990s who’s given one last shot at glory by a struggling race team.
Directed by Top Gun: Maverick filmmaker Joseph Kosinski, F1 is Apple’s latest attempt at breaking into the blockbuster film space. The film blends trackside tension with inter-team conflict, as Pitt’s character returns to the sport not just to race, but to rebuild his reputation. The trailer, released Monday, teases both blistering racing sequences and emotional intensity, positioning the film as part sports drama, part comeback story.
Hayes, once dubbed “the greatest that never was,” is recruited by his former teammate Ruben Cervantes, now a team owner played by Javier Bardem. The dynamic shifts when Hayes is paired with Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), a rising rookie who’s less interested in mentorship and more focused on domination. Their rivalry forms the core of the narrative, with off-track egos clashing as fiercely as on-track engines.
What sets F1 apart visually is that it was shot during actual Formula 1 events, adding a layer of realism and speed that traditional sets can’t replicate. According to Warner Bros., which will distribute the film theatrically, the production is “immersed in the exhilarating and cinematic world of F1.” It’s clear the intention is to create an adrenaline-fueled experience that feels authentic to fans of the sport.
With F1, Apple is betting on a different outcome. This is one of its first films to receive a wide theatrical release backed by extensive promotion, suggesting the company wants to move beyond prestige streaming and into true mainstream success. Whether audiences turn out in large numbers remains to be seen, but the parallels between Pitt’s character and the film’s own prospects are hard to ignore. Like Sonny Hayes, F1 arrives with something to prove.
The film will eventually make its way to Apple TV+, but its high-speed action and immersive visuals suggest it’s best suited for the big screen. F1 opens in theaters June 27.
