If you’re not a Formula 1 racing fan, you may not appreciate the new F1 movie now in theaters. My son, Joshua, and I enjoy watching F1 races and thoroughly enjoyed this film.

I’ve written in this column before about our mutual enjoyment of watching Formula 1 races on television, and it is a bucket list item of Joshua and mine to attend a Formula 1 race in person sometime. Although it’s not quite the same, this movie was almost like being there.

The movie was shot using IMAX cameras, so of course we wanted to see it in an IMAX theater. Watching this film on a screen that measures about 52’ x 72’ does put you close to the action. Plus, the movie was shot on-location at several F1 races throughout the season and featured the British Grand Prix, Hungarian Grand Prix, Italian Grand Prix, Belgian Grand Prix, Las Vegas Grand Prix and the final race of the year. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

FIA, the governing body of F1, collaborated with the production team; racing sequences were adapted from footage of the real 2023 and 2024 World Championships, with real-life F1 teams and drivers appearing throughout, including Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso, and Lewis Hamilton, who was also a producer.

Brad Pitt plays the lead character, Sonny Hayes, a nomadic racecar driver who returns to Formula 1 after a 30-year absence. He was an up-and-coming superstar on the track until an accident halted his career. After recovering, he drove whatever kind of cars in whatever races he could, just to get back on the racetrack. He said it wasn’t for the money; it was for the feeling he got while competing.

Then his former teammate and current F1 team owner, Ruben Cervantes, masterfully played by Javier Bardem, encourages Hayes to “audition” to drive for his struggling racing team, Expensify APXGP. If Cervantes’ team suffers through another season without a win, he will lose the team to the investors.

I won’t spoil the ending, but you can probably guess what happens. Or does it? There are a couple interesting twists near the end of the film. If you’re a racing fan at all, you will love this movie. Make sure you stop by the restroom before entering the theater, as the film runs 2:35 plus 20 minutes of previews and commercials.

MOVIE SIMILARITIES

While watching F1, I couldn’t help but think about other movies where older athletes whose careers were interrupted by injuries or life in general come back for another shot at glory.

The first one that came to mind was the recent film The Last Rodeo, about a PBR cowboy who suffers a serious injury that ends his career, but he returns 30 years later, hoping to win prize money for his grandson’s surgery. In the end, he finishes second in the big three-night event in Tulsa and wins enough to cover the medical bills.

It also reminded me of The Natural, starring Robert Redford as Roy Hobbs. In that film, a baseball prodigy’s career is sidetracked after being shot by a mysterious woman whose motivation is never explained. Many years later, Hobbs is given a chance at a tryout with the New York Knights, signs with the team and ultimately helps them win the pennant.

I was also reminded of the movie The Rookie. This film is not an overly dramatic, scripted underdog tale, but rather based on the true story of Jim Morris. Dennis Quaid plays Morris, a baseball player whose initial rise from the minor leagues is sidetracked by a shoulder injury. Years later, Morris, who is now a high school teacher and baseball coach, is coerced by players to attend a Tampa Bay Rays tryout. They sign him to a minor league contract and Morris makes his Major League Baseball debut at age 35.

Everybody loves a story where the underdog comes out on top, and that’s truly the similarity between these four movies.

TULSA BEACON RADIO

Tune in to “Tulsa Beacon Weekend” radio show every week, featuring interviews with local and national guests, talking about everything from politics to family issues. This week my guest will be Brent Callison, to share stories about his recent baseball journey around the Northeast. The show airs on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. CST on 970am KCFO.