‘F1’ review: A winning combo of turbocharged racing and laidback charm

F1 dares you to dislike its characters or the film itself. There is no shortage of charmers or crowd-pleasing moments in the movie based on the Formula One World Championship and steered with verve and heart by Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski.

Brad Pitt is at the head of the queue, a hot-cool dude who makes race car driving look as easy as a buggy ride on a beach. Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, who might have up there with Ayrton Senna if he hadn’t been in a near-fatal crash. Sonny is now following the “It’s not about the money” principle, content to pick up modest pay cheques at minor events.

When Sonny is approached to join a team owned by his friend Ruben, he cannot refuse. One reason is that Sonny’s Zen exterior conceals a repressed desire to win at Formula One. The bigger reason is surely Ruben, who is played by Javier Barden with scene-stealing warmth.

The list of irresistibles includes talented British actor Damson Idris as Joshua, who is the star of Ruben’s team but lacks the headline-grabbing wins that will put him in the big league. There are times when Sonny and Joshua find themselves in direct contest with each other, rather than with their rivals....

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