The F1 movie is a sports drama about an aging former Formula One driver who returns to the grid to mentor a young rising star, while trying to save a struggling team and confront his own past.

Core story

At the center of the film is Sonny Hayes, a once-promising F1 driver from the 1990s whose career was derailed by a massive crash that forced him into retirement and left him living a far more ordinary life. He is called back by his old friend and team owner Rubén to join the fictional backmarker team APXGP, both as a driver and as a mentor to their talented but impulsive rookie, Joshua Pearce.

What the movie is about

The movie is mainly about:

  • A comeback story: an older driver returning to the most intense level of motorsport despite serious past injuries and doubts about whether he still belongs there.
  • Mentorship and rivalry: Sonny and Joshua form a tense mentor–protégé relationship that swings between respect, ego clashes, and on-track incidents as they push each other to the limit.
  • Saving an underdog team: APXGP is on the brink of being sold unless they can win at least one race, so every Grand Prix becomes a high-stakes chance to keep the team alive.

Racing, drama, and stakes

Across real F1 circuits and a full season of races, the story mixes:

  • High-speed race sequences and dramatic crashes, including a fiery accident that injures Joshua and forces both drivers to rethink their approach.
  • Internal team politics and sabotage, as a board member secretly works against APXGP to force a sale, putting Sonny in a morally compromised position.
  • A final do-or-die race where Sonny and Joshua must put aside their conflicts, use risky strategy, and fight the established front-runners to secure a win and the team’s future.

Tone, rating, and feel

The film aims for a grounded but cinematic look at modern Formula One, using real cars, real tracks, and involvement from the sport’s organizers to make the racing feel authentic while still telling a Hollywood-style underdog story. It’s rated PG-13 for strong language and intense racing action, but does not lean heavily into graphic violence or adult content.

TL;DR: F1 is about a washed-up ex-driver making a risky comeback to help a rookie and an underdog team fight corrupt forces and chase one last, career- defining victory in Formula One.