F1: The Movie

Box box box. Push push push.

These two phrases have been stuck in my head since I watched F1 the movie on Apple TV. I wasn’t unfamiliar with F1. Growing up, my dad would sometimes watch F1 on Sundays. Back then, I couldn’t understand the appeal. Yes, it’s cars, and they’re racing against each other. That was enough to draw me to the TV as a kid, but not enough to keep me hooked, let alone make me obsessed with the sport. Heck, back then I didn’t even know it was considered a sport. What do you mean driving a car could be as physically demanding as football or basketball?

In recent years, I’ve at least figured out why F1 drivers are considered athletes. They have to withstand 5 to 6 G of cornering and braking forces, so they have to put serious efforts to strengthen their neck and core. But still, I hadn’t really discovered the depth of it. Until I watched F1 the movie. My reactions came one after another:

They have to strategize when to pit?

Your teammate might lose their own race so you can win, by blocking rivals or—at least in the movie—by causing chaos on the track?

There’s a whole team of race engineers, data engineers, strategists, and pit crew behind one driver?

I’ll admit I was naive to think it was all about a driver going as fast as they can. It actually takes a dozens team of specialists to win a race.

I came in thinking F1 was about one person driving fast. I left understanding that driving fast is just one of many things that win a race. If you’ve ever wondered why F1 has such a massive fanbase, this movie will change how you see this sport, just like it did to me.