Adventurers in search of the last chance – the latest racing film puts live races in the shade

A fan shop in the middle of Manhattan, a simulator arcade in Boston, races in Austin, Miami, and Las Vegas – Formula 1 seems to be everywhere in the USA right now. And now it's even arrived in Hollywood. With the minimalist title "F1 – The Movie," but with the maximum effort for a sports film.

When it comes to the scenes and sound, even the increasingly perfect live broadcasts pale in comparison. This is no surprise, since producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Joseph Kosinski shot the film with the expectation of being able to go into great detail. The best possible consultant for this was record-breaking world champion Lewis Hamilton, who had originally approached the filmmakers for a different reason. He wanted to play a role in "Top Gun," but unfortunately, filming didn't fit into his schedule.

In the F1 film, which hits Swiss cinemas next week, another megastar takes center stage. His cheeks compressed beneath his helmet, his eyes a mere slit behind the visor, superstar Brad Pitt visually transforms into the aging, wandering racer Sonny Hayes. A soldier of fortune, always looking for one last chance; he gets it at the very last racing team.

The classic underdog story, but made more piquant by the fact that Hayes is tasked with helping the snotty, talented Joshua Pearce (played by Damson Idris) to triumph. The plot revolves around a technical director falling in love against all her principles, and the obsession of a desperate team boss and a sleazy investor. Slightly exaggerated, it brings together all the character traits that make the Formula 1 cocktail so colorful.

Co-producer Hamilton's signature style is unmistakable, but he himself plays a minor role, other than participating in the race. His character manifests itself in Hayes and Pearce, to whom he lends his real-life thoughts as they philosophize about the fascination of motorsport.

These subtle details create a realism that distinguishes the F1 film from many other sports dramas and heroic tales on screen. The crew invested considerable effort in filming real Grand Prix action over two years, with a dedicated pit and dedicated racing cars for the fictional APXGP team. Formula 1 played along, because CEO Stefano Domenicali knows full well that there can be no better advertising campaign for the premier class than being present in cinemas and on the Apple TV+ streaming service.

Despite all the realism, the outcry from purist racing fans is inevitable. While some dialogue is peppered with technical jargon, the plot offers insight into strategy meetings and racing factories, some scenes are, of course, entirely based on the film script. "Don't forget, it's Hollywood," director Kosinski told the drivers at an exclusive preview. Presumably, some of the pros also had to chuckle at the pit order "Plan C," where the letter stands for chaos. This isn't all that far off, though, considering the complaining between the cockpit and the control center at real races.

Accidents and tricks are commonplace in the script, as they are in reality. However, the filmmakers emphasize the importance of teamwork far more strongly. This may not seem spectacular at first glance, but it reflects the essence of a sport in which thousands of people are behind every race car.

The film crew's attention to detail perfectly matches that expectation. This is probably one reason why Formula 1 management was so open to Hollywood's wishes. The other, of course, is the broad impact the racing epic will have – the target audience is not hardcore fans, but new segments, increasingly female and young.

Motorsport is ideal for entertainment, as the long line of racing films underscores. The scenes on the track always guarantee drama, the complexity of the characters makes it easy for any storyteller, and powerful images are inherent in a discipline that constantly operates at the limits. Occasionally, it becomes difficult to distinguish what seems more absurd—the reality of motorsport or fiction.

It's no surprise that the makers of the F1 film based their film on the 1966 classic. Hollywood director John Frankenheimer's goal in his fast-paced love story starring James Garner and Yves Montand was to capture the racing action, with all its fascination and mercilessness, as realistically as possible. The love story of a racing driver who falls in love with the wife of a former teammate is negligible. But the driving scenes are spectacular, filmed live with one of the first in-car cameras at the races in Monza, Spa, and Monaco. The dramatic editing and sound even won Oscars. Former Formula 1 drivers Phil Hill, Jim Clark, and Jochen Rindt served as believable extras. The actors' characters were modeled on John Surtees, Lorenzo Bandini, Jackie Stewart, and Richie Ginther.

It takes a bit of patience to be captivated by the daredevil's enthusiasm in Steve McQueen's self-produced sports car epic. "I wanted an honest film," said the American. For McQueen, the 1971 film about endurance racing was not just a job, but above all a passion. The role model for his role was the Swiss Jo Siffert, who, however, did not live to see the film's release. The racing footage is so realistic because a Porsche 908 was filmed in the real 24-hour race. McQueen wanted to take part, but the insurance company objected. Therefore, the story of the rivalry between two racing drivers and two brands features many racing scenes and little dialogue. Among them is a famous saying: "For us, racing is living. The time between races is just waiting."

Indeed, Tom Cruise is also suited to playing a racing driver, as the 1990 blockbuster demonstrates. It's about a rookie in the grueling and accident-prone North American NASCAR racing circuit. The story tells of unusual male friendships and rivalries between mechanics and racers, with Nicole Kidman playing a neurosurgeon. Kidman and Cruise had an affair on set, and later married. Previously, there had been American motorsport romances like "Speedway" with Elvis Presley. "Days of Thunder" is not entirely unjustly considered "Top Gun on wheels" and was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, who also oversaw the new F1 film. The film's music was composed by Hans Zimmer, and one of the defining songs was "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" by Guns N' Roses. Tom Cruise even set a lap record at Phoenix Raceway during filming.

A huge project to dramatize such a spectacular Formula 1 season as the 1976 for the cinema. The duel between Niki Lauda and James Hunt, and above all the fiery accident at the Nürburgring, was a defining moment at the time. Oscar winner John Howard delved deeply into the subject matter in 2013 and heavily involved Niki Lauda in the production. The Austrian personally selected Daniel Brühl as his actor. The duel between two very different racing drivers is vividly portrayed in rather gentle images. On the one hand, Lauda, ​​ruthless and goal-oriented, on the other, the Briton Hunt, a true bon vivant. Through the events, the two learn to respect each other. The German subtitle "Alles für den Sieg" (Everything for Victory) captures the bitter competitive situation. It wasn't much of a stretch for Lauda to really lose his life.

To venture into the family history of the Ferrari brand requires courage in itself. Michael Mann recounts the relationship struggle of Laura and Enzo Ferrari, not omitting the illegitimate son Piero, who was adopted much later. This darkly told melodrama thrives on an alternation of artistic images and aggressive racing scenes. The lead roles were cast in 2023 with superstars Adam Driver and Penélope Cruz. The focus is on the grueling Mille Miglia street race, and the production adheres closely to the true events. In 1957, Ferrari's survival was at stake in a duel with Maserati, so a win in the classic race was essential. The film does not shy away from the catastrophe shortly before the end, when a tire on the car of Spaniard Alfonso de Portago bursts, killing the driver, passenger, and nine people. The moviegoer is left with horror.

An article from the « NZZ am Sonntag »