It seems that Brad Pitt's 'F1' film truly prepared well.

      Apple TV through YouTube

      The highly anticipated first trailer for Brad Pitt’s Formula 1 film—appropriately titled F1—was released this Thursday afternoon. It's three minutes long and, I must say, it made an impression on at least one racing fan. I have no expectations that this film will be good or even memorable, but I commend Pitt and director Joseph Kosinski of Top Gun: Maverick for their research.

      The film's premise is that Pitt plays an established racing driver who has built a career for himself, though not in Formula 1. The trailer opens with him competing in the 24 Hours of Daytona, which caught my attention sooner than I expected. Sports car racing is rarely depicted on the big screen, and when it is—like in Gran Turismo—it often misrepresents tracks, as with the Hungaroring being shown as Le Mans. It’s ridiculous. This film, however, portrays the real deal, largely because Apple invested substantially in hiring Brad Pitt.

      We later find out that Pitt's character, Sonny Hayes, actually won his class at Daytona. Unfortunately, those around him, including the younger driver he is training, played by Damson Idris, view him as a failure because he never succeeded in F1. While that may annoy some fans, including myself, who know there are other superior forms of motorsport beyond Formula 1, it’s beside the main point. Earlier in the trailer, we hear Fleetwood Mac’s classic song “The Chain.”

      Fleetwood Mac has gained popularity among younger fans, but this has more significance than it may appear to recent F1 enthusiasts or long-time fans who didn’t grow up watching the sport on the BBC. “The Chain” served as the theme song for the network’s F1 broadcasts for decades, from the 1970s through the ’90s, and again when the series briefly returned in the late 2000s. Notably, those later intros featured narration by Sir Patrick Stewart—a great choice.

      In any case, using “The Chain” was a clever move. We also see clips of Hayes leading crew members racing up Spa-Francorchamps’ Eau Rouge, along with scenes from Silverstone and Abu Dhabi. There may be other tracks I missed; none immediately caught my eye, as I have found F1 quite dull over the past four years. I’m considering giving it another try this weekend, primarily to wrap my head around the concept of Lewis Hamilton in a Ferrari.

      I generally don’t enjoy many racing films. I found Gran Turismo unbearable, despite most of my acquaintances who watched it liking it. I also didn’t care for Rush for reasons I can hardly remember now. I did think Ford v. Ferrari was quite good, so if F1 is at least that quality, I’ll be satisfied. The plot is akin to that of Top Gun: Maverick or 2001’s Driven, featuring Sylvester Stallone—though let’s face it, few films can match the exhilaration Driven provides in its 117-minute runtime. It feels as though everyone involved was on drugs, and it makes you feel that way, too.

      Brad Pitt and his team have high expectations to meet! But honestly, even if F1 turns out to be disappointing, it will likely be quite captivating in IMAX. The film is set to hit theaters in the United States on June 27.

      Have any tips? Send them to [email protected]