Can I get your five-word movie review? 

Ben Hunt: Good for non-F1 fans.

Mark Mann-Bryans: Not good for anyone watching.

What were your thoughts on the racing scenes?

BH: A lot has been made of the technology. The director used similar techniques to what they used in Top Gun, but they’ve gone even further with this. We’ve heard about camera mounting points and techniques that could be used in future F1 broadcasts. The racing scenes were high quality – well shot. One criticism might be that there was too much racing, but overall, it looked good.

Emily Selleck: And we saw it in IMAX, which I think is the best way to enjoy it.

MMB: There’s no way to enjoy it.

What about the storylines surrounding the racing? 

MMB: Ben’s right – the racing looks amazing. The tech was impressive. Apple embedded iPhone-style cameras into the cars, which was only possible because of the incredible access that F1 gave them. Everyone worked collaboratively to make the film.

But I had issues. While the racing looked great, the story was unrealistic. Brad Pitt’s character, Sonny Hayes, returns after 30 years away and instantly becomes the hero. He crashes into cars on purpose, holds others up – if he were Max Verstappen, he’d already have 12 penalty points.

F1 Movie scene

I get that it’s Hollywood, but it doesn’t reflect real F1. And if this is how people are introduced to the sport, they’ll think it’s all cheating and fireballs.

ES: We asked producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Joe Kosinski about that this morning. They said the film is for a general audience who don’t know anything about the sport. But if this is their introduction to F1, they’ll assume it’s a sport where cheating is the norm.

MMB: Overtaking from back to front in one lap, constant drama – it’s just not realistic.

What did you make of the storyline beyond the track? 

MMB: It’s quite weak. There’s a love story that doesn’t go anywhere. It’s all quite predictable. Someone who hadn’t even seen the trailers could correctly guess the storyline.

Honestly, this would’ve worked better as a 10-part Apple TV series. But because it had to be a summer blockbuster, they packed it into two and a half hours. There’s not much to love.

BH: I think it’s for a different audience. We’re being critical because we’re cynical Brits – and an Aussie. But like Netflix, maybe it’s just about dramatising reality for entertainment.

F1 Movie scene

MMB: But even then, the story just wasn’t strong. It’ll make money, it’ll be successful, but that doesn’t mean it’s good. Most people I spoke to last night felt the same. Brad Pitt was a bit wooden – maybe that’s down to the dialogue – but something was missing.

ES: One criticism that I don’t think stems from our cynicism as reporters is the way women are portrayed. You can tell Lewis Hamilton wanted to highlight diversity and we saw women in technical roles, but then they undercut that by making the technical director the love interest.

She designed a backmarker car, and suddenly it improves only after Brad Pitt’s feedback. A female pit crew member makes basic errors, and while it’s a good story arc, why do all the female characters have to show weakness?

MMB: That character didn’t even have a name. She was just “wheel gun girl”. It was reductive.

BH: There were lots of underdeveloped storylines. They focused on authenticity in the racing, which they nailed – thanks to Hamilton being an executive producer and offering genuine racing feedback.

But other story elements fell flat. The two drivers both lost their fathers at 13 – a potential emotional hook – but it wasn’t developed. Pitt’s character carries a playing card, but we never learn why.

MMB: So many story strands went nowhere. I wrote a review for Autosport and said that creating a whole fake team – APX GP – with a team principal, technical director, mechanic, two drivers…that’s a lot to develop in two hours.

ES: So what you’re saying is: we want “F2?”

F1 Movie scene

Let’s end on a positive note. Any final takeaways?

BH: It’ll appeal to a wider audience. They’ve made it for the American fan, and test marketing suggests it’ll be a hit in the US. It’s good for the sport. Even negative reviews generate conversation. You’re seeing the F1 logo in cities, and the film is called F1: The Movie. That kind of visibility is valuable.

MMB: I agree. Whether it’s good or not, it’ll be big. It’s got Brad Pitt, a massive budget, and a summer release date. It doesn’t need to be great to be successful.

ES: It’s going to make money, no doubt. I’m curious to see what entertainment critics – who aren’t embedded in the world of F1 like we are – think of it.

Read Also:

What you will love about ‘F1: The Movie’

What you will hate about ‘F1: The Movie’

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

FloSports and NASCAR will contribute $50,000 to the purse for the Late Model Virginia Triple Crown, raising the overall champion purse to $20,000. FloRacing will now also be the presenting partner of the Virginia Triple Crown.

“We’re thrilled to partner with NASCAR to elevate the Virginia Triple Crown to a whole new level,” said Michael Rigsby, GM of FloRacing. “Late Model racing has long been a core focus for FloRacing, and this partnership lets us invest directly in the drivers, teams, and fans who make it so special. We can’t wait to showcase this incredible three-race showdown to a national audience.”

“The Virginia Triple Crown is a celebration of short track culture–where many of NASCAR’s top stars got their start,” said Joey Dennewitz, managing director, NASCAR Regional. “With the support of FloRacing, we’re amplifying the reach and prestige of each event, creating more excitement for fans and more opportunity for drivers. It’s exactly the kind of grassroots investment that strengthens the future of our sport.”

The new payout structure extends to the top 10 finishers in the Virginia Triple Crown standings, up from just three in previous years:

• 1st – $20,000
• 2nd – $10,000
• 3rd – $7,500
• 4th – $5,000
• 5th – $2,500
• 6th–10th – $1,000 each

All payouts will be distributed following the final leg of the crown – the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway on Sept. 27.

The Virginia Triple Crown presented by FloRacing is determined by average finish across three of the region’s crown jewel events:

• June 28 – Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 at South Boston Speedway
• July 19 – Hampton Heat at Larry King Law’s Langley Speedway
• September 27 – ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway

To be eligible for the championship and prize money, drivers must compete in all three events.

For more information, visit nascar.com or floracing.com.

Robert Kubica claiming his maiden Le Mans 24 Hours victory proved popular amongst the Formula 1 paddock, with various members paying tribute to him on Sunday.

Kubica, who had three separate stints in F1, won the classic French enduro over the weekend whilst sharing the #83 Ferrari Hypercar with Phil Hanson and Yifei Ye.

It is the highlight in a career of ‘what ifs’ for Kubica, who was one of F1’s star drivers in the late 2000s before a near-fatal rallying accident in 2011 ended his four-year stay in the series.

Kubica has since floated across various categories, before finally finding his home in the World Endurance Championship in the 2020s with his Le Mans debut coming in 2021.

That was the year he very nearly claimed victory in the LMP2 class, only for himself, Ye and Louis Deletraz to retire from the lead on the final lap due to a throttle sensor issue.

But on his fifth trip to Le Mans, Kubica took overall victory during the same weekend when F1 hosted its Canadian race – the site of the Pole’s sole grand prix win, which came in 2008 and briefly took him to the top of the drivers’ standings.

“I’m very happy for him,” said Fernando Alonso, who won the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2018 and 2019.

“We talked a few times about how special that race is and he deserves to experience that.

“He’s a legend of our sport, and now he’s even more after winning Le Mans in his career.

Fernando Alonso, Alpine, and Robert Kubica, Alfa Romeo test driver, in 2021

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

“You know some of the pain that he went through with the accident and things like that, I think today is a very happy day for motorsport. He probably should have won it a couple of years ago when he had the failure in LMP2.

“I’m so happy for him, I will call him tomorrow. I didn’t want to disturb today! He will be celebrating, but extremely happy. I’m proud of him.”

Kubica, now aged 40, also contested the 2019 F1 season with Williams before returning for two grands prix in 2021 to replace Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen who had COVID-19.

Although Kubica failed to score any points for Alfa Romeo, then team boss Frederic Vasseur, who is now at Ferrari, was still impressed by him and even more amazed by his Le Mans win.

“Yes, you know that I have a close relationship with Robert,” said Vasseur. “He stayed with me a couple of years at Alfa Romeo and before in F3 Formula Renault. And for me, he’s an extraterrestrial.

“What he’s doing is mega. To win in Le Mans in this situation, to be the leader of the car, to push the team, it’s something that I can’t imagine.

“Honestly, each time that I’m discussing with Robert, you know when he jumped into the car for Alfa when Kimi got the Covid, it was in Zandvoort.

“He had to jump into the car on Saturday morning. In Zandvoort, the pitlane is very small and he was not able to turn the wheel and to take the clutch. And he didn’t drive the car all year.

“And this race, he was fighting with Seb [Vettel] until the last corner. And this is just mega. I’m very, very pleased for Robert.

Robert Kubica, Test and Reserve Driver, Alfa Romeo Racing

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

“He had a chaotic career in motorsports, and when you see the level of effort that he put into his career, I’m very, very pleased for him to have this kind of present today.”

Kubica’s other career achievements include winning the 2013 WRC2 title, the European Le Mans Series LMP2 crown in 2021 and 2024, as well as WEC LMP2 honours in 2023.

Photos from 24 Hours of Le Mans – Race

The drivers who finished second and third at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez moved up in these power rankings.

The winner? Well, that was Shane van Gisbergen but he will need to put a few solid finishes together before he cracks this list.

Winner Shane van Gisbergen ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series race in Mexico City

Christopher Bell (second) and Chase Elliott (third) should feel good about their performances heading into this weekend at Pocono.

Here are the power rankings following the Cup debut in Mexico City:

van Gisbergen takes the center of the podium in Mexico after his big win

Dropped out: Tyler Reddick (Last Week: 9)

On the verge: Alex Bowman, Kyle Busch, Ty Gibbs, Joey Logano, Ryan Preece, Tyler Reddick

10. Chase Briscoe (LW: Not Ranked)

Briscoe didn’t win a fourth consecutive pole. But he’ll take the finish from Sunday, as he placed seventh in Mexico City. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver was involved in an early incident and rallying for that result was a good sign that his team remains resilient.

9. Ross Chastain (LW: 6)

Chastain took the stage points in the first stage by finishing third. However, he ended up with a 16th-place finish on a day when his Trackhouse Racing teammate van Gisbergen won. 

8. Bubba Wallace (LW: 8)

Wallace has consistently improved on road courses. The 23XI Racing driver didn’t qualify well (25th) but he brought home a respectable 12th-place finish.

7. Chris Buescher (LW: 7)

Buescher is one of the more underrated road-course drivers in the series. He finished seventh in the second stage and after losing the track position to pit, drove his RFK Racing car to 12th at the finish.

6. Chase Elliott (LW: 10) 

Quite a solid day for the Hendrick Motorsports driver, as he finished third in Mexico City. He started 12th, got the car better during the weekend and survived some of the beating and banging on the restarts.

5. Denny Hamlin (LW: 2)

Hamlin didn’t race at Mexico City after the birth of his son earlier in the week. He is expected to return at Pocono.

4. Ryan Blaney (LW: 4)

Blaney didn’t have a winning car so he took the stage points. He finished second in the opening stage and fourth in the second stage. That — combined with a 14th-place finish — gave the Penske driver the fifth-highest point total on the day.

3. Kyle Larson (LW: 3)

Larson was an innocent bystander in getting collected in a wreck on Lap 7. He ended up 36th, making the trip to Mexico a frustrating one for the championship contender.

2. Christopher Bell (LW: 5)

Bell finished second in the second stage behind van Gisbergen, and that’s also where they ended up at the finish of the race. The JGR driver will carry momentum into Pocono.

1. William Byron (LW: 1)                                     

Byron’s ninth-place finish wasn’t great, but it was better than many of the other top drivers on this list. The Hendrick driver should be a threat for the win at Pocono.                

Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass. 

Bubba Wallace Uses 2 Words To Describe NASCAR’s Mexico City Race originally appeared on The Spun.

Bubba Wallace made his opinion on the NASCAR Cup Series in Mexico City extremely clear.

The veteran NASCAR Cup Series driver had a good showing in Mexico City. Wallace finished in 12th place. It was an eventful weekend in the NASCAR world, with Daniel Suarez taking the checkered flag in the Xfinity Series, and Shane van Gisbergen taking home the checkered flag in the Cup Series.

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While Wallace didn’t finish inside of the top 10, he made his thoughts on the weekend in Mexico City extremely clear, taking to social media following the Cup Series race.

Wallace took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to make his opinion on the NASCAR Cup Series race in Mexico City extremely clear.

He used two words to describe the race: “(Expletive) awesome.”

“It was f***ing awesome racing in Mexico and feeling all that love. Thanks to all the new fans!” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

NASCAR has yet to commit to racing in Mexico City in 2025, but it sounds like that’s the plan. Longtime NASCAR senior executive Ben Kennedy made that clear.

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“I would say for us, this is more of a strategic move as a sport to expand our footprint globally and internationally and to a new mass fan base,” Kennedy said. “Just being in a country with 90 million people and over 20 million people in the larger Mexico City metro alone, not in and of itself, this is a success.”

It’ll be fun to see what NASCAR does in Mexico City in 2026.

Bubba Wallace Uses 2 Words To Describe NASCAR’s Mexico City Race first appeared on The Spun on Jun 17, 2025

This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.