The F1 Movie

a discursive piece i wrote about the F1 movie trailer before the movie's release in june

Hollywood has moved into the fast lane, but does it know the roads it's driving on?

The upcoming Formula 1 movie starring Brad Pitt, F1, seems to have already sparked intense debate within motorsport communities, many months before its debut in cinemas. The overwhelming number of news articles that appeared when I googled the film, as a motorsport fan myself, piqued my interest. According to the directors, the F1 film aims to bring the ‘adrenaline-fueled’ world of F1 to mainstream audiences and create more attraction for the sport, especially in America, where it has not been received as well as its counterpart, NASCAR. However, other than its unrealistic settings and potentially misogynistic themes, there is another concerning and sensitive topic that seems to have been overlooked by film producers. ‘Who said anything about safe?’ This line, spoken by Pitt's character, Sonny Hayes, seems to completely disregard motorsport’s long journey to optimise safety, allowing drivers today to participate in their sport without the fear of tragedy looming over their passion. 

When faced with this plethora of headlines, I have to admit I was in some state of disbelief - while the strict restrictions still face some opposition today, most fans and drivers would agree on the necessity of regulations that have been placed over the years, so what could have caused such a blatant dismissal of one of the key aspects of motorsports? Dramatic flair? Bad writing? Or perhaps a complete misunderstanding of the significance safety holds in a sport such as Formula One, where many drivers have tragically been involved in life-changing and even fatal accidents. Though considering that Lewis Hamilton, a Formula One driver famous for campaigning for driver safety, is co-producing this film, many fans, including myself, would hope this is not the case. Many argue that this dramatic line trivialises the immense progress made in motorsport safety over the decades: one example of many being Bianchi’s fatal crash in 2014, and the consequent implementation of Halo cockpit protection and numerous other safety regulations have undoubtedly saved lives since. For many, this attitude towards safety contradicts the sport’s values, sending a harmful message to potential new fans - glorifying recklessness and the sport’s dangerous past, redecorating it as ‘thrilling’. This problem becomes even more concerning when considering the numerous A-list actors within the cast; it's a message that will likely be broadcast to millions. 

However, an argument can be made that this concern may be overstated - any motorsport fan today understands how crucial safety is, and that the Hayes’ line should be viewed within the context of cinema rather than as a reflection of modern Formula One - after all, dramatisation and exaggerating elements of danger are commonly used in films, attracting a bigger audience. Motorsport has always been viewed as exciting, and such themes can be capitalised on to create engagement, something that can be observed in Netflix’s Drive to Survive, a docuseries on the last seven seasons of the sport, popular despite its obvious dramatisation of events. Fans of ‘old age’ motorsport might even argue that safety advancements, while crucial, have diluted the raw danger that once defined the sport, making it less exhilarating to watch. Understandable, given the number of sleep-inducing races over the past couple of years since the beginning of Verstappen’s Redbull dominance. 

Whether this film will contribute positively to F1’s legacy or sensationalise its dangers remains to be seen at its June debut, but the discussion it has sparked reflects the ever-present arguments surrounding safety versus spectacle.

Thanks for reading haha, I've been revisiting stuff I've written in preparation for my final exams and I wanted some opinions on this piece. I haven't watched the movie yet so I'm still saving my judgement... (thought the filming process last season was funny to watch lol)

peace out

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