Will F1 Movie prove to be another racing flop?

Motor sport fans are, of course, ‘up-to-speed’ when it comes to recognising a racing stinker and although we have much faith in Joseph Kosinski’s talents as a director – his Top Gun: Maverick had the ability to, well, take your breath away – it may be tough to keep an audience on the edge of its cinema seats when it comes to tyre management.

Drama in Formula 1 is a given – that’s why the film is being made – but serious crashes still occur, which is why it can’t be seen to ride rough over protocols. Criticism has been made of teaser clips that have shown cars flipping, and then there was Brad Pitt’s character replying to a question about safety with a Hollywood-assured, “Who said anything about safe?”

Will we see the aggressive pressing of pedals when overtaking? What about a Ford v Ferrari (inset, above) upshift in gears while flat-out? Will drivers stare across at each other to build tension? Then there was Grand Prix (inset, below) where spectators are eating ripe pears… in spring! Perhaps that’s for Amateur Gardening, not Motor Sport.

With its access to the Formula 1 grid you’d imagine that this new film would deftly steer a line between realism and a riveting storyline. Perhaps it does… or it might turn out to be a £260m turkey.