REVIEW - F1 The Movie: Was It Accurate?

Formula 1 is as intense as it seems, especially on a big screen in theaters. Formula 1, famously known as F1, is a motor-sport that uses racing cars to compete on various tracks around the world. There are 10 teams and each team has 2 players. Because of this, F1 is a team sport, meaning they share the same engineers, mechanics, and mentors to help them succeed. During a F1 season, each team competes in 24 Grand Prix's, which are race events. Each time a racer finishes on the podium, they gain points which determine who wins the championship for the year. Formula 1 is a complex sport and there is also so much more than just the races. In a new movie created by Apple, called F1, the story follows a middle aged man named Sonny Hayes who is a former F1 driver. Unfortunately, he had to step down due to a serious accident. Ever since then, he has been living in his van, taking part in random racing jobs. One day, after a race in NASCAR, Hayes is approached by an old friend who offers him a part at his F1 team, APXGP. He reluctantly accepts the offer and is back in F1 after 30 years. The movie shows the hardships he goes through involving his struggles with himself, his teammate, and the media.
When I walked into the theater, I had my doubts about this movie. I have a vast amount of knowledge on the topic of Formula 1 and some of the things shown were not accurate. Some of the events were changed to fit Hollywood's standards, making it more dramatic than it would be in real life. In the movie, Joshua Pearce, Hayes' teammate, runs over a curb and hits him spinning in the air. This would not happen in real life. Additionally, the movie included misogynistic undertones. In a scene, during one of the Grand Prix, Sonny Hayes makes a pit stop to change his tires. For some reason, the only mistake done during the pit stop was made by the only female worker. The character had no other characteristics, other than the fact she made one mistake, causing the racer to lose a significant amount of time. The only other female character in the show was also just dumb down to being the main character's love-interest, rather than the movie focusing on the fact that she was the first ever female engineer to work in the F1 business. Despite the conversational themes in this movie, it was quite good. It was action packed and for most of the time I was on the edge of my seat. Though, I sometimes wish movies would give women a bigger role, other than being only a love interest.