Brad Pitt’s ‘F1’ Gets Early Praise From Critics it’s “So Freaking Good”

The checkered flag hasn’t dropped yet, but Brad Pitt’s F1 is already picking up speed with critics. Early press screenings of the racing drama are generating strong buzz, with reactions praising the film’s style, energy, and precision.

Described as a throwback to the crowd-pleasing blockbusters of summers past, F1 sees Pitt behind the wheel as Sonny Hayes, a retired Formula One driver haunted by a devastating crash. He’s pulled back into the high-octane world to mentor a rising star, played by Damson Idris, in a high-stakes Apex Grand Prix showdown.

Jazz Tangcay of Variety called the film’s technical elements “flawless,” singling out its sound, score, and cinematography. Variety’s Clayton Davis praised Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, saying they “shine brightest when sharing the screen”. “So freaking good,” was the verdict from Maude Garrett of Nerdist and Breakroom, who added she might have loved it even more if she were a motorsport fan to begin with.

Director Joseph Kosinski’s latest project aims to blur the line between cinema and sport. Cars were custom-built using Formula 2 chassis enhanced with F1-grade components, and scenes were shot on location at actual Grand Prix events. The production even enlisted Mercedes engineers to ensure every turn and pit stop rings true.

Shot across real F1 circuits over a year, the production embedded itself into the sport’s elite ecosystem. At a press conference earlier this year, Kosinski revealed the challenges of working within the strict confines of the race weekends. “We get these 10 or 15 minute slots… I’d have to shoot these scenes in these very short, intense, high-speed windows. But the crowd you’re seeing was really there in the stands. I don’t think the crowd realized that Brad Pitt was in the car that was in front of them,” he said.

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, F1 is set to roar into theaters on June 27 in the US and June 25 in the UK, distributed by Apple and Warner Bros. Based on this early momentum, it’s not just engines that will be roaring this summer.

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