The film opens with Sonny Hayes, a once-promising American Formula One driver, competing impressively in the 24 Hours of Daytona endurance race under the guidance of Chip Hart. Despite his skillful performance that helps Chip's team secure victory, Sonny declines a full-time offer to join Chip's team, choosing instead to continue his nomadic lifestyle, living out of his van and drifting between racing events. His past is marked by a devastating crash at the 1993 Spanish Grand Prix while racing for Lotus, which abruptly ended his F1 career and left him with lasting physical and emotional scars. Since then, Sonny has struggled with gambling addiction and failed three marriages, living a transient life haunted by what might have been.

Sonny's life takes a pivotal turn when Ruben Cervantes, his former teammate and now owner of the struggling APXGP Formula One team, approaches him at a laundromat. Ruben offers Sonny a chance to return to F1 as the team's second driver, explaining that APXGP faces imminent sale unless they win at least one of the remaining nine Grands Prix in the season. Though initially reluctant, Sonny agrees out of loyalty to Ruben and a desire to reclaim his lost glory.

At the Silverstone Circuit, Sonny meets the core members of the APXGP team: Kaspar Smolinski, the ambitious team principal; Kate McKenna, the technical director; chief mechanic Dodge Dowda; and Joshua Pearce, a confident and cocky British rookie driver. Joshua, managed by his cousin Cash, fears losing his place if the team fails, and he dismisses Sonny as an outdated has-been. Sonny, in turn, views Joshua as reckless and overly self-assured. During his test drive, Sonny struggles to adapt to the modern F1 car's advanced technology but quickly identifies critical weaknesses in the vehicle's design. Pushing the car to its limits, he crashes but impresses Kaspar enough to secure a full-time seat.

The season's first race at the British Grand Prix is fraught with challenges. Sonny's car stalls before the start, and the team's pit crew falters with slow stops, pushing both drivers to the back of the field. Sonny defends a pit crew member, Jodie, from Joshua's harsh criticism, showing his protective nature toward the team. Despite tensions, Sonny invites Kate out for a beer to discuss improving the car's maneuverability, but she initially sees him as a self-centered hothead. Meanwhile, Joshua studies Sonny's old racing footage, trying to understand his style.

At the Hungarian Grand Prix, Sonny deliberately crashes his car to trigger a safety car period, exploiting F1 rules to gain a strategic advantage. This risky move helps Joshua secure the team's first points finish, signaling APXGP's potential. Kate begins to recognize Sonny's value and starts developing the combat-ready car he envisions.

The Italian Grand Prix brings a dramatic turning point. Sonny advises Joshua to gamble on slick tires in wet conditions, a bold strategy that propels Joshua to second place. However, Joshua's impatience leads him to attempt an early overtake on Max Verstappen, resulting in a fiery crash. Sonny heroically rescues Joshua from the burning wreckage, but the incident strains their relationship. Joshua's mother, Bernadette, blames Sonny for encouraging reckless behavior, deepening the tension.

While Joshua recovers from his injuries, Sonny takes on a promotional role for the team and improves his own race performances. Joshua returns at the Belgian Grand Prix with a more aggressive attitude, culminating in a collision with Sonny that damages both cars and heightens their rivalry. To ease the friction, Kate organizes a poker game, tricking the two drivers into bonding over shared backgrounds. Sonny reveals he intentionally lost the game to Joshua, and later that night, he and Kate become romantically involved.

The team faces a severe setback when an anonymous tip accuses Kate of using illegal materials in the car upgrades. The FIA investigates and forces APXGP to remove the enhancements, crippling their competitiveness. Frustrated and distracted, Sonny skips his usual ritual of drawing a random playing card before the Las Vegas Grand Prix, a superstition he believes keeps him safe. His reckless driving leads to a crash, landing him in the hospital. During Sonny's recovery, Ruben discovers the full extent of Sonny's 1993 injuries, realizing that continuing to race risks permanent blindness or death. Concerned for Sonny's well-being, Ruben fires him from the team.

In the meantime, APXGP board member Peter Banning reveals himself as the architect behind both Sonny's signing and the anonymous complaint. His goal is to sabotage the team, force Ruben out, and take control. Peter offers Sonny the position of team principal if he agrees to let the team fail, but Sonny refuses, remaining loyal to Ruben.

Joshua, reflecting on his own recklessness, acknowledges fault for his earlier crash and recommits to the team's success over personal glory. Sonny, concealing his worsening vision and headaches, persuades Ruben to allow him to race in the final event of the season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The FIA clears Kate of wrongdoing and reinstates the car upgrades, giving APXGP a fighting chance.

The climactic Abu Dhabi race is a tense battle among Sonny, Joshua, and top drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Joshua pushes hard on worn tires but is overtaken by Hamilton and Leclerc. Sonny collides with George Russell, causing a red flag that halts the race and allows both APXGP cars to be repaired. The race restarts for a three-lap sprint to the finish. Sonny overtakes Leclerc and strategically blocks Hamilton, sacrificing his own chance at victory to help Joshua move into the lead. In a dramatic final lap, Hamilton and Joshua collide, clearing the path for Sonny to seize his first Formula One win. The victory secures APXGP's future, saving the team from sale.

After the race, Joshua receives an offer to join Mercedes but chooses to stay loyal to APXGP. Sonny quietly prepares to retire from Formula One, parting amicably with Joshua and promising to see Kate again. The film closes with Sonny competing in the Baja 1000 off-road race in Mexico, racing not for money or fame but for the pure love of the sport, smiling when asked why he continues to race.

Throughout the story, Sonny's journey is marked by personal redemption, mentorship, and loyalty. His relationship with Joshua evolves from rivalry to mutual respect, while his bond with Kate deepens amid the pressures of racing and team politics. The film also explores the cutthroat nature of Formula One, with boardroom betrayals and regulatory battles threatening the team's survival. Sonny's ultimate triumph is not just a race win but reclaiming his identity as a racer and embracing the unpredictable thrill of competition on his own terms.

The ending of F1 The Movie (2025) shows Sonny Hayes and the APXGP team fighting to secure a crucial Grand Prix victory to save the struggling team. After intense racing and personal challenges, Sonny helps the team win a race, securing their future. Joshua Pearce, the young rookie, grows through the experience, and Sonny declines a full-time contract, choosing to continue his nomadic racing life.

Expanded narrative of the ending scene by scene:

The final race weekend arrives with APXGP under immense pressure to win at least one of the remaining Grands Prix to avoid the team being sold. The atmosphere is tense in the team garage, where team principal Kaspar Smolinski, technical director Kate McKenna, and chief mechanic Dodge Dowda prepare the cars meticulously. Sonny Hayes, the veteran driver, and Joshua Pearce, the ambitious rookie, are both focused but carry different burdens--Sonny with his past and Joshua with his future.

As the race begins, Sonny takes an aggressive but calculated approach, pushing the limits of the car and the track. Early in the race, Joshua struggles with consistency and pressure, making a few mistakes that cost him positions. Sonny, meanwhile, uses his experience to navigate through the field, overtaking rivals with precision. The team communicates constantly, adjusting strategy to respond to weather changes and competitors' moves.

Mid-race, a crash on the track brings out a safety car. Sonny seizes this moment to pit and switch to fresher tires, a move that surprises the other teams. Joshua, learning from Sonny's example, manages to stabilize his pace and climb back up the order. The tension builds as the race restarts, with Sonny and Joshua running close together, symbolizing the passing of the torch.

In the final laps, Sonny battles fiercely for the lead. The camera captures his intense focus, the sweat on his brow, and the roar of the crowd. Joshua, now more composed, supports Sonny by holding off rival drivers, allowing Sonny to maintain position. In a dramatic last corner, Sonny executes a daring overtaking maneuver, crossing the finish line first.

The team erupts in celebration, knowing this victory secures their place in Formula One. Ruben Cervantes, the team owner, embraces Sonny, grateful for his return and leadership. Joshua, though disappointed not to win, acknowledges Sonny's skill and the lessons learned.

After the celebrations, Sonny packs his belongings into his van, preparing to leave. Chip, a team representative, approaches and offers Sonny a full-time spot on the team. Sonny thanks him but declines, choosing to continue his life as a racing nomad, free from long-term commitments.

The film closes with Sonny driving away from the circuit, the sun setting behind him, symbolizing both an end and a new beginning. Joshua remains with the team, ready to build on the foundation Sonny helped create.

Fate of main characters at the end:

• Sonny Hayes: Wins the crucial race, saves the team, but declines a permanent contract, returning to his nomadic racing lifestyle.
• Joshua Pearce: Gains maturity and respect, stays with APXGP to continue developing as a driver.
• Ruben Cervantes: Secures the future of his team through Sonny's victory.
• Kaspar Smolinski and Kate McKenna: Continue their roles managing and developing the team, buoyed by the win.

This detailed ending highlights the themes of redemption, mentorship, and the balance between personal freedom and team loyalty without editorializing or interpreting beyond the narrative facts.

In the 2025 movie F1 The Movie, no characters die. The film centers on Sonny Hayes, a former Formula One driver who suffered a severe crash at the 1993 Spanish Grand Prix that ended his F1 career but did not result in his death. The story follows his return to racing and mentorship of a rookie driver, focusing on their struggles and competition rather than fatal incidents.

The crash that ended Sonny's career is a pivotal backstory element, but it is portrayed as a near-fatal accident from which he survived and later returned to racing in other disciplines. There are no deaths of main or supporting characters depicted in the film, and the narrative emphasizes recovery, redemption, and competition rather than tragedy.

Additionally, the film draws inspiration from real-life F1 crashes, such as Martin Donnelly's 1990 Spanish Grand Prix crash, which was severe but non-fatal. This real event influenced the movie's depiction of Sonny's crash but again, no character death is shown or implied in the film.

Yes, F1 The Movie (2025) has a post-credits scene. In this scene, Brad Pitt's character, Sonny Hayes, is shown test driving a Baja racer on a beach and sand dunes. This moment is a literal "ride off into the sunset" for Sonny, symbolizing a new chapter or a satisfying conclusion to his story. The scene was originally planned as the film's opening but was moved to the end, giving it a fresh meaning. It leaves the door open for potential future stories but also works as a fitting end to Sonny's journey.

The post-credits scene visually depicts Sonny embracing desert racing, highlighting his enduring passion for racing beyond Formula 1, and it serves as a teaser for possible sequels or further exploration of his character.

Sonny Hayes struggles with adapting to the new F1 machinery during his test drive, which leads to a crash at the Silverstone test. Despite this, his skill is recognized by the team principal Kaspar Smolinski, who signs him to the team.

Sonny Hayes and Joshua Pearce have a strained relationship marked by contrast: Sonny is a seasoned veteran focused on the love of driving, while Joshua is an ambitious, self-absorbed rookie concerned with social engagement and career advancement. Joshua worries about his job security and feels he must outperform his teammates, including Sonny, to impress investors.

Ruben Cervantes, Sonny's former Lotus teammate and current owner of the APXGP F1 team, offers Sonny a test drive to fill a vacant seat. He informs Sonny that the team is at risk of being sold unless they win one of the remaining nine Grands Prix, and he relies on Sonny to help save the team.

Sonny interacts with Kaspar Smolinski, the team principal; Kate McKenna, the technical director; and Joshua Pearce, the ambitious British rookie driver. These characters are central to the team dynamics and Sonny's integration into the APXGP team.

After a severe crash at the 1993 Spanish Grand Prix ended his F1 career, Sonny Hayes became a gambling addict, lost three marriages, and lived a nomadic lifestyle racing sporadically. His return to Formula One is marked by these personal challenges.

The 2025 movie F1 The Movie is rated PG-13 and is generally not recommended for children under 12 due to its content. It contains coarse and strong language, mild sexual content, moderate profanity, and mild violence, mostly related to intense and realistic racing crashes.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects for children or sensitive viewers include:

• Scary and intense racing scenes with visceral crashes, flying debris, and injuries, including brief images of burns, dislocated joints, and scar tissue.
• Aggressive driving and physical altercations such as pushing and shoving during arguments.
• Mild sexual content including brief passionate kissing, nightclub scenes with scantily clad dancers and revealing clothing, and some partial nudity (bare shoulders/back).
• Coarse and moderate strong language throughout the film.
• Themes involving risks and consequences such as gambling and bending safety rules in racing, which may require parental guidance to discuss.
• Brief depiction of alcohol use and mild drug references.

Overall, the film is aimed at teens and adults, with parental guidance advised for viewers aged 12-13, and it is unsuitable for younger children due to its mature themes and intense action.

In the 2025 movie F1 The Movie, there is no mention or indication that a dog dies. The plot and character summaries focus entirely on the story of Sonny Hayes, a retired Formula One driver returning to racing and mentoring a younger driver, with no reference to any dog or related subplot. The available sources, including detailed plot summaries and behind-the-scenes information, do not mention a dog or any event involving a dog dying.

The board member, Peter Banning, tried to sabotage the APXGP team because he wanted to take control of the team by pushing out the current owner, Rubén Cervantes. Banning planned to install Sonny Hayes as the new face of the team under a different ownership group, hoping that the media attention and recent wins would attract more investment. To achieve this, he forged and anonymously filed documents around car modifications that Sonny and Kate McKenna had designed, triggering an investigation that sidelined the upgrades and made the car uncompetitive. His goal was for the team to fail so badly that Rubén would be forced out, allowing Banning to take over the team and profit from the new arrangement.