Top F1 Movies Every Racing Fan Should Watch 

If a Grand Prix keeps you on the edge of your seat, F1 movies offer an adrenaline-fuelled alternative for those race-free weekends and quiet off-season months. Formula One fans are in for a treat this summer with the release of Brad Pitt’s F1, and while you wait for this highly anticipated drama to hit a VOX Cinema screen near you, why not check out the top F1 movies every racing fan should watch? 

From retro offerings to modern box office smashes, the top F1 movies portray the glamour, wealth, danger, and drama that moves in this motorsport’s slipstream. If you’re a racing car buff or have become invested in your favourite team and its drivers, an F1 documentary might be your perfect pitstop. So, let's wave the green flag and race toward the best F1 movies and documentaries.

All Eyes on F1

There's a real buzz about Brad Pitt's new racing drama, F1. Directed by Joseph Kosinski and co-produced by F1 legend Lewis Hamilton, this movie is set to offer unprecedented levels of authenticity, with footage shot at official F1 race days. 

Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a talented F1 driver who stepped away from the track in the 1990s after a serious crash. Tempted out of retirement to mentor rookie racer Joshua Pearce (portrayed by Damson Idris), the movie follows Sonny’s emotive journey as he steers the underdog Apex Grand Prix team toward glory. F1 will be released on June 26 across VOX Cinemas. 

Classic F1 Movies that still hold pole position 

The 60s and 70s both delivered podium-worthy F1 movies. John Frankenheimer’s Academy Award-winning Grand Prix (1966) follows the F1 season from the same year. Starring James Garner, Eva Marie Saint, and a host of F1 legends from the day, this movie follows four racing drivers, using their storylines to explore themes of love, ambition, and the devastating dangers of the sport. Although not strictly F1, the 1971 cult classic Le Mans puts the pedal to the metal with an action-packed tale of obsession and speed. The troubled protagonist, racing driver Michael Delaney, is played by motorsport aficionado Steve McQueen, whose acting performance and skills behind the wheel ensure a visceral journey for the viewer.

A modern classic, Rush (2013) shines a spotlight on the real-life rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda (portrayed to great acclaim by Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl). Fast becoming a must-see movie for F1 and racing fans, 2019’s Le Mans ‘66 (Ford v Ferrari) features Matt Damon as automotive designer Carroll Shelby and Christian Bale as race driver Ken Miles, a duo missioned to design a car capable of beating Ferrari. 

Behind the scenes of Formula 1 

Formula 1 documentaries not only get you up close and personal with the precision-engineered cars and the adrenaline rush of a race day, but they also let you under the skin of the drivers themselves. Here is our pick of the best: 

  • Schumacher (2021)  

Through interviews and heart-stopping archive footage, this documentary delivers a surprisingly moving and intimate study of one of F1’s most successful drivers, Michael Schumacher.  

  • McLaren (2017) 

True petrol heads will appreciate this probing look into the man behind the iconic McLaren team. This beautifully shot documentary teaches us that trailblazer Bruce McLaren was an amiable family man, making his untimely death all the more poignant. 

  • Senna (2010) 

An F1 documentary for true documentary fans, Senna follows a non-traditional format. In place of interviews and commentary, we explore Senna’s psyche and the innate risks associated with F1 through candid home videos, TV appearances, and emotive race footage. 

  • Weekend of a Champion (1972) 

Directed by Frank Simon with as much deft precision as an F1 engine, Weekend of a Champion is a love letter to this golden era of racing. Roman Polanski proves himself to be an excellent documentarian as he shadows Jackie Stewart in the buildup to the 1971 Monaco Grand Prix.  

The best racing sequences ever put on film 

A nail-biting racing sequence is a must for an F1 movie because only this can truly embody the thrilling essence of the sport. F1 (2025) is set to impress this summer with its authentic racetrack footage, but how will it compare with its predecessors? 

Grand Prix (1966) captures the intensity and risk of the race particularly well, and the lack of ultra-polished videography and editing makes these sequences all the more visceral and evocative. Meanwhile, Rush (2013) boasts intense, raw, and unfiltered track sequences, often placing the viewer in the cockpit to impactfully convey the speed of a Grand Prix.   

How real are F1 movies: Fact vs Fiction 

F1 movie directors want you to forget you’re watching a work of fiction, and the best way to do this is to steep their storylines and cinematography in realism. For example, during the filming of F1, the movie’s stars drove modified F2 cars around bona fide F1 circuits. After months of training, Brad Pitt is reported to have driven at speeds of 180 mph, adding gravitas to the film’s epic action sequences. 

Is there CGI in modern F1 films? Sometimes. Though not an F1 film, Gran Turismo (2023) blended live-action and CGI particularly well, leaving even eagle-eyed car racing buffs wondering. Regardless, there's little sign that directors will shift gears away from genuine racing footage and prevailing F1 themes; the fans know what they like!

VOX Cinema F1 screenings 

From F1 movies to live screenings of Grand Prix race days, VOX Cinemas takes your viewing experience to the next level with immersive premium formats. Make race day larger than life at a MAX mega-screen experience and feel part of the action with the curved screens and outstanding audio at our IMAX screenings. There's not a cramped cockpit in sight with our luxury seating and extra legroom, so sit back with your popcorn and let the race commence.

F1 will be released June 26 with Arabic subtitles, and global F1 Grand Prix events are screened live across the season, offering the closest thing to trackside seats a racing fan could hope for. 

While you wait for June 26 to pull up, refuel your passion for Formula One with our must-watch F1 movies and documentaries, each offering a unique, inspirational, and always invigorating insight into the characters and cars that make this motorsport so compelling. 

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