Wow. Thanks to the new trailer for F1 starring Brad Pitt, the upcoming Formula One racing movie just jumped to the top of my most-anticipated films of 2025 list.
Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick), F1 depicts the story of Sonny Hayes (Pitt), a new member of the fictional APXGP racing team, which is led by Javier Bardem. Hayes is “the best that never was,” according to the trailer, and a veteran presence to mentor the rising talent of APXGP’s rookie driver, Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). Check out the new trailer below, which sees Pitt’s race car zoom pass Ferrari. (Sorry, Leclerc.) Hopefully, loud engine-revving will shake every damn movie theater this summer.
The film—which, by the way, has F1 legend Lewis Hamilton on board as a producer—is slated to premiere on June 27, 2025. In the meantime, Pitt did divulge a few details about its plot. “So [Sonny Hayes] has a horrible crash, kind of craps out and disappears,” Pitt told Sky Sports. “His friend, played by Javier Bardem, is a team owner. They’re a last-placed owner, 21, 22 on the grid. They’ve never scored a point. They have a young phenom played by Damson Idris. He brings me in as a kind of Hail Mary, and high jinks ensue.”
Pitt also hinted that Kosinski will bring back some of his signature camera tricks, à la his last film, Top Gun: Maverick. “Tell you what’s amazing about it,” the actor continued. “You’ll see the cameras mounted all over the car. You’ve never seen speed, you’ve never seen the G-forces like this. It’s really amazing.”
According to ESPN, Kosinski’s production set up camp on the racetrack itself at the 2023 British Grand Prix, whipping around an F2 car, setting up shop in its own garage, and trotting out both characters for the national anthem. “I’m a little giddy right now, I’ve got to say,” Pitt said. “It’s great to be here. Having such a laugh, time of my life.”
For now, I’d simply like to direct your attention to how damn cool—and believable!—Pitt looks in F1 gear. Look at the shot below. The man’s strutting across the grass in a white suit, which has ads for God-knows-what all over it, and he doesn’t care about the prying journalist and his newsboy cap. He even unzips his suit at the top, because the man is biologically flame-resistant! To hell with it! Sonny Hayes even wears little racing booties, which only Sonny Hayes can pull off.
Anyway, Sonny, if you’re reading this, just know you’re my hero.
