Strap in and start your engines, this week on Born to Watch, we're taking on the cinematic beast that is F1 The Movie (2025). Brad Pitt trades fighter jets for Formula One as Sonny Hayes, a retired driver dragged back into the chaos of elite racing alongside cocky rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). There's speed, sound, IMAX glory… and maybe a few questionable story choices.
In this episode, the full BTW crew is on deck - Whitey, Gow, Dan on the Land, and Damo, and they're not holding back. Is this just Top Gun: Maverick on a racetrack? Is Joseph Kosinski officially a one-trick pony? And why is every racing movie somehow also a comeback story?
Whitey sets the tone, questioning whether plot even matters when you're being assaulted (in a good way) by next-gen racing footage and a Zimmer-lite score. Gow flexes his motorsport credentials (yes, there are receipts), and Damo… well, Damo claims the movie is actually about him and his snobs reporting comeback arc. Dan drops a surprise Rocky IV montage reference, and it’s weirdly accurate.
The team dives into:
Brad Pitt’s weathered, soulful Sonny Hayes and whether he's just Han Solo with back pain
Damson Idris as Joshua Pearce — the most punchable F1 driver in cinematic history?
Javier Bardem's nose (and his performance, too)
Kerry Condon: great actor, but was she the wrong choice for this role?
Behind-the-scenes tech: 15 car-mounted cameras, ultra-HD visuals, and the evolution from Top Gun’s cockpit magic
Why this movie somehow avoids emotional impact… but still works (kind of)
They also introduce a new scale: the Cry-O-Meter. F1 The Movie clocks in at a solid 0%, but after last week's Jerry Maguire tear-fest, it's a welcome change. No tears here, just turbocharged takes, unexpected flashbacks, and a healthy amount of yelling about JP's lack of accountability.
This episode is also stacked with detours in true BTW fashion: a serious debate over Sonny's medical history, a full-scale takedown of every sports movie trope, and a truly wild side story about magnum condoms, Chuck Norris standees, and motorsport modelling gigs from the 90s.
LISTEN NOW if you want:
Honest reviews that go off the rails (in the best way)
Laughs, facts, and semi-legit motorsport insight
A breakdown of why F1 The Movie is fun, flawed, and maybe kind of perfect for the big screen
Whether you're here for Brad Pitt's midlife crisis, Damson Idris' ego, or just want to hear if JP survives the podcast, this episode is a must-listen.
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