Why You Should Experience the New F1 Film On IMAX

Slated for theatrical release on June 25, 2025, F1: The Movie is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated cinematic events of the year. Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) and written by Ehren Kruger, the high-octane sports drama brings the Formula One World Championship to the big screen like never before. Created in close collaboration with Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, this film blends real-world racing authenticity with dramatic storytelling and groundbreaking film technology, designed to give viewers the full-throttle feel of the sport’s white-knuckle intensity. At the heart of the film is the story of Sonny Hayes, a former F1 driver from the 1990s who suffers a devastating crash that ends his career. Years later, he's drawn back into the world of elite motorsport when old friend and team owner Ruben convinces him to mentor young prodigy Joshua "Noah" Pearce at the fictional Apex Grand Prix team (APXGP). What unfolds is not only a tale of redemption and legacy, but a visceral journey through the speed, politics, and psychology of modern Formula 1.

When it comes to cinema experiences, few are as immersive, explosive, and adrenaline-pumping as watching a Formula 1 race, except maybe watching one unfold on the biggest screen possible. The new F1 film is a cinematic spectacle that demands to be seen in IMAX. Here’s why this high-octane blockbuster is a must-see and must-feel.

To truly put viewers in the driver’s seat, the production team used IMAX-certified digital cameras and filmed during real Grand Prix weekends, F1: The Movie on IMAX places you directly inside the action. The camera rigs were mounted on a modified F2 car driven by lead actor Brad Pitt, making you feel every vibration, every corner, and every near miss. The IMAX cameras offer unparalleled image clarity, dynamic range, and resolution. Because of this, F1 feels like a documentary shot from inside the chaos. Only in IMAX can you fully appreciate that level of detail, as the expanded aspect ratio fills the screen and your peripheral vision.

On an IMAX screen, those visceral moments are magnified, bringing the brutal speed and deafening intensity of F1 to life like never before. Kosinski’s commitment to authenticity meant working closely with F1 teams and filming alongside real drivers during actual races. What you're seeing is a real engine screaming down the straights of Silverstone, Monza, or Spa. The format captures this scale and detail with unmatched clarity and power, showing the fine grit kicked up from a tyre and the sweat on a driver’s brow in sharp, thrilling focus. Brad Pitt leads as a veteran driver pulled out of retirement to mentor a rising star, played by Snowfall’s Damson Idris. Their chemistry, combined with appearances from real F1 legends and teams, creates a rare blend of Hollywood storytelling and sporting reality. Seeing these performances blown up on a towering IMAX screen adds gravitas and immediacy that standard cinema can’t replicate.

F1 is as much about sound as it is about speed. The IMAX sound mix, designed to replicate the deafening thunder of an F1 car flying past at 200mph, is a full-body experience. The roar of the engine, the screech of the tyres, the rush of wind, everything is tuned to engulf you. In IMAX, the audio doesn’t just play. it hits. Just as Top Gun: Maverick reignited love for practical effects and in-cockpit tension, F1 is poised to do the same for motorsport. It’s a celebration of human skill, machine precision, and sheer cinematic ambition. Like all great spectacles, it deserves the best possible stage. Each IMAX theatre is equipped with laser-aligned speakers and meticulously calibrated sound paths, designed to deliver audio with pinpoint precision. The film’s sound mix has been engineered specifically to take advantage of this, allowing the roar of a car engine to travel across the room with startling accuracy.

What truly sets the sound design apart is its powerful dynamic range and commitment to authenticity. The mix moves effortlessly between the tense silence of pre-race moments and the deafening crescendo of full-throttle acceleration. Every element was crafted using real F1 audio, from the turbocharged whine of V6 engines to brake squeals, gear downshifts, and even team radio chatter. In an IMAX theatre, the bass rumbles deep enough to be felt in your chest, while the high-frequency engine notes slice through the air.

One of the most striking advantages of watching the F1 film in IMAX is the expanded aspect ratio, which reveals up to 26% more of the image compared to standard widescreen formats. This added visual real estate is about seeing and feeling more. It allows for a wider, more complete view of the racetrack, the cockpit’s tight confines, and the grandstand-packed atmospheres of real Grand Prix circuits. A sweeping aerial shot of Monaco or a driver’s-eye view barreling into a corner at 190mph on IMAX gives every frame more room to breathe while keeping it's intensity.

Beyond sheer scale, the IMAX format enhances the film’s visual and emotional impact through its superior image depth and resolution. IMAX cameras are designed with exceptional light sensitivity and dynamic range, capturing every nuance, from the shimmer of heat haze on asphalt to the fine grit kicked up by tyres or the gleam of carbon fibre reflecting the sun. These subtle details would be lost in a conventional cinema but are sharply rendered in IMAX. Combined with the screen’s towering size and edge-to-edge display, the format creates a visceral sense of claustrophobia and speed, mirroring the disorienting immersion of actually being in an F1 cockpit.

F1: The Movie will open in IMAX across Europe on June 25, 2025, with key screenings in major cities like London, Paris, and Berlin offering fans the chance to experience the film’s scale and intensity as intended. In the U.S., IMAX showings begin June 27, with major theatres in New York and Los Angeles, including iconic venues like Sony IMAX and TCL Chinese Theatre, participating in the rollout. For those eager to get a head start, exclusive Fan First IMAX screenings will take place globally on June 23 at 7pm, offering the earliest look at the film in over 400 IMAX theatres worldwide.