Today, Friday June 27 marks the official (local) release date of the F1 movie. While it might be considered one of the most authentic F1 movies ever created to many, there has been a lot of controversy spreading amongst fans about the movie’s accuracy, entertainment factors, and also the romantic subplot and how that translates into the bigger picture of how women are viewed in the motorsport world. 

Some fans think the movie is highly entertaining, authentic, and fun to watch. They say the realistic track footage (captured during the actual race weekends) made it all the more worthwhile. It makes the movie more appealing to viewers and can create a gateway for new fans. I mean, who doesn’t like to watch new movies? They might become really excited to watch a real Grand Prix. It is being compared to Top Gun: Maverick, but about cars. Those who really like the movie say that Brad Pitt did an excellent job playing Sonny. He was passionate and quite charming, and his relationship with Idris added a lot of character. 

Fans who heavily criticized the movie think that the plot is bland and rather unrealistic. They also dislike that the actual F1 drivers were in the background, despite being the most important part of F1. Secondly, many disliked the decision to hire Brad Pitt, a 60 year old man who has never actually raced in F1, while the actual F1 drivers who put their heart and soul into their careers were just in the background. The film also, to add viewer entertainment, added very dramatic and over-the-top crashes, despite all that has been done to prevent those from happening again. Newcomers who don’t know much about F1 and are using this movie as a way in might gain very biased opinions on what F1 really is. Additionally, there is a romantic subplot between Sonny and his Technical Director. Many fans have criticized this relationship because of its unrealism. Additionally, some people have also said that they didn’t really care for a romantic relationship, and just wanted to see the racing. 

This is only just a dip into an analysis on the movie. I have not had the opportunity to watch this film yet, so look out for more upcoming posts about my personal opinions!