Questions

What is the plot?

Sonny Hayes, an aging American former Formula One driver, lives a nomadic life racing sporadically after a career-ending crash at the 1993 Spanish Grand Prix. He struggles with gambling addiction and has had three failed marriages. After winning the 24 Hours of Daytona, Sonny is approached by his old Lotus teammate Ruben Cervantes, who now owns the struggling APXGP F1 team. Ruben offers Sonny a test drive to fill a vacant seat, explaining that the team’s investors will sell unless APXGP wins one of the remaining nine Grands Prix that season. Sonny reluctantly agrees, motivated by Ruben’s promise that a win would make him "the best in the world".

At the Silverstone Circuit, Sonny meets the APXGP team: team principal Kaspar Smolinski, technical director Kate McKenna, chief mechanic Dodge Dowda, and the ambitious rookie driver Joshua Pearce. Joshua is cocky and focused on outperforming his teammates to secure his position, fearing the team’s sale could cost him his job. Sonny struggles to adapt to the modern F1 car during his test and crashes, but Kaspar recognizes his skill and signs him to the team.

Sonny begins racing alongside Joshua, but their relationship is tense. Joshua is self-absorbed, more interested in social media fame and personal advancement than team success, while Sonny races for the love of driving. Their rivalry and contrasting personalities create friction within the team.

The team’s performance is poor initially, and they suffer a disastrous race at the Spanish Grand Prix, echoing Sonny’s past crash there. Despite setbacks, Sonny’s experience and insight help identify weaknesses in the car and team strategy. He pushes the team to improve the car’s performance and works to mentor Joshua, attempting to bridge their differences.

As the season progresses, Sonny and Joshua gradually develop a more cooperative relationship, learning to work together to maximize the team’s chances. The team’s morale and performance improve, but the pressure mounts as the investors’ deadline for a win approaches.

In the climactic final race in Abu Dhabi, the tension is palpable. Sonny and Joshua race fiercely but strategically, balancing personal ambition with team goals. The race is intense, with close overtakes and high stakes. Ultimately, Sonny’s skill and determination lead APXGP to a crucial victory, securing the team’s future and saving Ruben’s ownership.

After the victory, Sonny prepares to leave, returning to his nomadic lifestyle. However, Chip, a team representative, offers him a full-time spot on the team. Sonny declines, thanking Chip but choosing to continue his independent path.

The film ends with Sonny driving away in his van, symbolizing his enduring love for racing and freedom beyond the constraints of professional Formula One.

What is the ending?

⚠ Spoiler – click to reveal

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.

Is there a post-credit scene?

⚠ Spoiler – click to reveal

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.

What specific challenges does Sonny Hayes face when adapting to the modern Formula One cars after his return?

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.

How does the relationship between Sonny Hayes and the rookie driver Joshua Pearce develop in the story?

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.

What role does Ruben Cervantes play in Sonny Hayes's return to Formula One?

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.

Who are the key members of the APXGP team that Sonny interacts with, and what are their roles?

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.

What personal struggles has Sonny Hayes faced since his initial Formula One career ended?

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.

Is this family friendly?

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.

Who dies?

⚠ Spoiler – click to reveal

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.

Does the dog die?

⚠ Spoiler – click to reveal

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.

Why did the board member try to sabotage

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.