A Ferrari Team Formula 1 car. Photo by Fernando Alonso/Creative Commons
The motorsport world is abuzz, not over a controversial race or a heated driver feud, but because of a movie. The upcoming Formula 1 film starring Brad Pitt ignited a frenzy among fans of car racing and not necessarily in the way its producers might have hoped. Long before its June 27th, 2025 release, the F1 fan base on The City College of New York (CCNY) campus, online, and all over the world are trying to figure out the plot. They wonder if this Hollywood production can capture the story of competitive teams that support star drivers who move their cars over 370 kilometers per hour at G force speed.
Brad Pitt in a still from the upcoming movie F1. Courtesy Apple TV+.
Criticism began as soon as behind-the-scenes clips started surfacing online. Fans quickly scrutinized everything from the film’s title to its release date, which inconveniently falls on the weekend of the British Grand Prix. “Why would you drop the movie during the middle of a race weekend? Why not wait until the F1 summer break, when fans are actively looking for content to fill the gap?” Brandon Ignacio said. The CCNY engineering graduate student passionately follows Mexican driver Checo Perez and wonders if producers understand the fans. “It feels like they didn’t even consider their core audience when picking the date.”
The movie’s title, F1, has been a particular sore point. “It’s bland, uninspired, and doesn’t scream Formula 1 at all,” Ignacio complained. Each new clip or image from the set has only fueled skepticism. The racing sequences seem fake and the portrayal of the racetrack scenes lean too heavily on clichés.
“It’s like they watched a couple of races and decided they knew the sport,” joked CCNY business major Erick Martinez. “I’ll probably watch it, but not for the story—just to spot the real-life drivers.”
Erick follows the Red Bull Racing Team and has a more balanced perspective than some fans. “It’s not supposed to be a documentary—it’s a film inspired by F1. It might not be 100% accurate, but it could still be entertaining and bring new fans to the sport,” he said, jokingly adding, “ Yes, it’s going to be dramatic and exaggerated—it’s Hollywood.”.
Despite criticism, some recent leaks have softened opinions. One moment from the set caught fans’ attention for its humor. “I’ve been an avid hater of this F1 movie,” said Shreya, a fan who comments on TikTok from the U.K, “But, I might need to backtrack—this is genuinely so funny and unserious.”
She and other fans seemed soothed, and amused because of what happened at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the last race of the season. The three winners Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz, and Charles Leclerc, were honored and the champagne flowed. But then, right after the ceremony, they watched Charles Leclerc and George Russell get up on the podium, again, to enact a scene with Brad Pitt. “It was such a funny moment after the emotional turmoil of the actual Abu Dhabi Grand Prix,” Shreya said on TikTok, “I might give the movie a chance, but I’m still not sold on the plot or storyline.”.
In true F1 fan fashion, many have turned their critiques into humor. Fans created memes and graphics parodying the film’s fictional team, APX, in the same style as Formula 1’s official social media content. One meme hilariously depicted Brad Pitt as “New Driver for Red Bull,” while another announced a new “driver” for APX—a retired F1 racer.
“It’s all in good fun,” said Brandon. “If anything, the memes are making me more excited to watch it. At least we’ll have something to laugh about if it is bad.”
Whether the film becomes a box-office hit or a meme-worthy flop, it is part of F1 folklore now. As Erick Martinez put it, “Love it or hate it, we’ll all be talking about it. And maybe, just maybe, that’s the point.”
Series: Sports
