Movies

F1 The Movie: Wild Plot, Real Racing Secrets—Everything You Need to Know Before Watching

BBG News

F1 The Movie” is now playing in U.S. cinemas and IMAX screens this Friday, boasting the makings of a major summer hit with its massive budget (over $200 million) and star-studded cast featuring Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, along with appearances by Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and other Formula 1 drivers. If you’re new to F1 or enjoyed the movie but found yourself puzzled by terms like tires, safety cars, DRS, don’t worry, we have some answers for you below (with a little help from Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal who is also an executive producer and makes an appearance in the film).

Can a 61-year-old man who hasn’t raced in Formula 1 in more than 30 years actually be a competitive driver? 

In this film, Brad Pitt plays the character Sonny Hayes, who despite being an actor of 61 years, his age isn’t specified for the role. This allows for the possibility that Pitt might be depicting a younger individual. According to director David O. Russell, “I don’t believe Sonny is 61 either.

In this cinematic tale, let’s imagine our protagonist, Hayes, was a budding racing sensation at the age of 18 during the Barcelona event. This makes him approximately 50 years old in the film. It’s worth noting that back then, it wasn’t uncommon to have more mature drivers on the track. For instance, Luigi Fagioli, who triumphed at 53 in the 1951 French Grand Prix, is still the oldest driver to win a race in Formula One. Compare this to Fernando Alonso, the current grid’s eldest racer, who, as a two-time world champion driving for Aston Martin, will turn 44 by the end of July. However, Alonso hasn’t tasted victory since 2013.

In the movie, Hayes demonstrates his driving prowess by contributing to his team’s victory in the opening 24-hour endurance race at Daytona. Although transitioning to Formula One right after may seem challenging, as per Wolff, it is not completely out of the question. “Driving cars,” Wolff explains, “is like learning to ride a bicycle; you don’t forget that skill.

What is DRS? 

In F1 races, there’s a system called Drag Reduction System (DRS) that is also featured in the movie. At specific parts of the track, like straightaways, drivers can activate this system by opening a flap on their car’s rear wing. This reduces aerodynamic drag, helping them to catch up and overtake other racers. However, a car must be within one second of the driver they aim to surpass before using DRS.

What do all the tire terms mean?

In simpler terms, Wolff describes grip as a tire’s ability to adhere to the ground. The more securely the tire is gripping the surface, the faster you can navigate through turns. However, it’s crucial to be aware that exceeding the tire’s maximum grip limit will lead to overheating. The goal is to find the optimal grip – a balance where the tire sticks well without losing its grip and sliding.

Tires suitable for dry track racing – often referred to as slick tires – are categorized into three types: Soft tires provide the best traction but wear out quickly, making them perfect for qualifying laps or situations where a driver needs a quick speed boost. On the other hand, hard tires endure longer – saving on pit stops – but offer less grip, leading to slower lap times. Medium tires strike a balance between these two extremes.

In wet or damp environments, racing teams opt for semi-slick tires, which have grooves that aid drivers in navigating tracks without standing water or those that are drying. Compared to them, the deeper grooves on wet tires can handle more water and are ideal for rainier days.

So what’s the deal with F1 “teammates?” 

In each of the 10 Formula 1 teams, there are two drivers who are competing in every race for two titles: the Constructors’ Championship (where the combined points and trophies from both drivers contribute to the team) and the Drivers’ Championship (where a single driver is crowned world champion). Drivers tend to prioritize the individual title as it significantly impacts their personal legacy and brand. However, despite working together on the track, they often strive to outperform each other to reach the finish line first.

The main conflict in Formula 1 (F1) centers on the veteran driver Hayes and his teammate Joshua Pearce from the APXGP race team, who’s a promising British racer. It’s not unusual for drivers in F1 to have disagreements. According to Wolff, “Tension is always present, something you just need to deal with.” That’s just how it goes.

Toby Wolff could certainly provide insights: Being at the helm of Mercedes, he was tasked with navigating the rivalry between Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula One champion, and Nico Rosberg, who clinched the 2016 title against Hamilton before retiring. The relationship between these two drivers was strained, particularly after Rosberg exploited a team-prohibited engine mode during the 2014 Bahrain Grand Prix to gain an edge over Hamilton. Hamilton reciprocated this move in Barcelona a month later.

Drivers are programmed to compete fiercely, prioritizing victory above all else, according to Wolff. He likens it to a lion in a car versus a puppy outside. “They’re driving with clenched teeth,” he says. The team principal’s job is to step in and halt this aggressive approach when necessary, and that’s what Mercedes did during their dominance from 2014-2020, where Lewis Hamilton won four titles (in 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2020) and Nico Rosberg won one in 2016. Additionally, Mercedes secured eight consecutive Constructor’s championships from 2014-2021.

Can they actually redesign the car like that between races? 

In Formula 1’s F1, Kate McKenna (portrayed by Kerry Condon, an Oscar nominee), the technical director at APXGP, adjusts the car’s design to enhance the team’s performance. This is a common practice in real-world Formula 1 racing. Although there are stringent technical rules that dictate the structure of an F1 car, teams can devise innovations within these constraints to gain a competitive edge. For instance, before the 2020 season, Mercedes altered their steering column design so that drivers could adjust the tire alignment by pushing and pulling the wheel. This steering innovation proved so advantageous that it was banned for future seasons.

What’s the difference between a virtual safety car and an actual safety car? 

Incidents such as on-track collisions and minor skirmishes can temporarily slow down a race. In cases where safety is not immediately required, the officials signal a “virtual safety car”. This doesn’t involve any physical car entering the track, but all racers are instructed to decrease their speed by about 30-40% of their regular racing speed. As a result, the distance between the racers remains consistent until the race resumes.

In serious collisions where clearance of track debris takes longer, a real vehicle known as the safety car joins the track. Other cars follow this safety vehicle closely, although overtaking is not allowed while the safety car is active. This allows a driver who was far behind the leading car to significantly close the gap, almost eliminating their deficit. As Wolff puts it, “It essentially restarts the race.

Does the situation raise the query: might a Formula 1 teammate intentionally collide to provide an edge? It’s highly improbable for multiple reasons. Initially, a driver faces potential harm or even death in a collision. Secondly, a historical instance in Singapore in 2008, where Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr. admitted that his team requested him to intentionally crash during the safety car period so teammate Alonso could advance positions while other cars were refueling, led to a humiliating scandal. The incident, labeled “Crashgate,” resulted in penalties for the Renault team leaders and even threats of expulsion from F1.

The risk just isn’t worth it. 

Given the 200 m.p.h.-plus speeds we see in F1, how often do drivers get hurt, or worse? 

A research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in 2025 revealed that from 1950 to 2023, there were 264 total injuries and 43 deaths in Formula One (F1) events. The study analyzed data from 865 F1 drivers. Although a death rate of 5% for F1 drivers might seem alarmingly high, it’s important to note that most fatalities occurred in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Since the start of the 2020s, no F1 driver has lost their life. The study suggests that the advancements in safety regulations in Formula One have led to a significant decrease in total injuries, total deaths, and most injury classifications.

Are all F1 races the same number of laps? 

Yes, every Formula One (F1) race must be a minimum of 305 kilometers (approximately 190 miles), but the number of laps varies depending on the design and length of each track. For instance, the Belgian Grand Prix can be completed in just 44 laps at the long Spa circuit, whereas the shorter Dutch circuit demands 72 laps.

An exception to this general rule is the Monaco street circuit, which only spans 260 kilometers or approximately 162 miles. The tight roads and numerous sharp turns on the Monaco track result in slower lap times, necessitating a shorter distance to complete the race within Formula One’s two-hour time limit for races. In extreme cases of suspensions due to poor weather conditions, a race can last up to three hours; however, most are typically completed in about 90 minutes.

What did the drivers think of the movie? 

The feedback appears to be favorable from real F1 drivers; they watched it prior to the Monaco Grand Prix in May. Present during the screening was Kimi Antonelli, the young Mercedes debutant driver who completed his high school finals shortly after securing a third-place podium finish at Montreal in June. Unsurprisingly, what caught Antonelli’s attention was the 2 hour, 36 minute duration. “It’s incredibly long,” he remarked later on.

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2025-06-27 17:06

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