7 Moments from F1 that will lift your morale if you’re on the road to redemption

F1 is the latest sports drama of the year that brought the thrill and popularity of motorsport racing on screen. It narrates the story of Brad Pitt’s Sonny Hayes, whose F1 career ended after an injury. Yet, he still hasn’t given up on F1, as he continues to participate in various competitions.

His friend Ruben brings him back to train his APX team so that they can win at least one race, and he gets to keep the team. Hayes’s comeback is not easy, as he struggles with the technology, the fame—which has increased due to social media—and also with training the young racer, Joshua Pearce. However, it is the story of how he conquers his dreams even after several setbacks.

Here’s a list of 7 such moments from F1 that will morally boost you if you are on the road to redemption.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers and the writer's opinion. Readers’ discretion is advised.

7 Moments from F1 that will morally boost you if you are on the road to redemption

7) Sonny comes back to F1 after more than two decades

Brad Pitt’s Sonny had left his dream of winning in his past and was moving on with his life until his friend came asking for help. Javier Bardem’s Ruben requests Sonny to come back to F1 and train his APX team to win one out of their nine races so that his team is not sold to someone else.

With this opportunity, Ruben also asks him to come back to fulfill his dream. This new chance gives Sonny an opportunity for a do-over with the experience and passion that still exist in him.

6) “New day, new challenge”

Damson Idris and Brad Pitt in F1 | Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

This popular quote from F1 was not just Sonny’s but also might have later become many other people’s driving force. His outlook of seeing each day as a new challenge might have helped him get over so many difficulties in life. This was especially true in his motorsport career, where injuries were a common occurrence.

This mantra can also be helpful for many in real life. Taking every day as a new challenge might give us an opportunity to create favorable conditions without thinking about the failures of the past, just like Sonny.

5) Sonny talking to Joshua to forget about the outside noise

Joshua is the polar opposite of Sonny, as he cares more about his image than the sport. Due to this, their relationship is not a friendly one at the start but gradually changes. In one of the moments in the film, Sonny asks Joshua Pearce to try to forget about the noise that he hears on the outside. He tells him to focus more on what he is doing, to help him in his win.

This instance gives us a glimpse of how focused Sonny is when it comes to his motorsport.

4) Sonny’s tips to improve the APX team’s performance

Fans argued that whatever tricks and tips Sonny used to bring the APX team to the winning side in F1 might not happen in real life. Most of those unique ways used by him bordered on getting banned from the sport. However, in the film’s fictional story, these tricks actually helped in creating a narrative of underdogs trying to achieve an impossible feat. For instance, Sonny helped Pearce score his first point after crashing his car into other drivers, giving Pearce an advantage in the race.

3) The APX team coming together to win

Javier Bardem and Brad Pitt in F1 | Image via Warner Bros.Pictures

The APX team suffered several setbacks in F1, which included Sonny and Pearce getting into crashes, their design modifications being canceled, and the car’s malfunctions. However, after initial panic among the team, they came back together to participate in the final race of the Grand Prix to win it for the team.

This time, Joshua and Sonny, who were at odds with each other from the beginning, have also learned to work together, which helps the team further.

2) Sonny wins the Grand Prix

After 30 years, Sonny came back to the F1 tracks to conquer a long-forgotten dream—winning the Grand Prix. And he did achieve it at last. Even after sustaining injuries, he gave his best and raced against his teammate Joshua. He also faced another opponent, who was none other than F1 legend Lewis Hamilton.

This was one of the most emotional moments for Sonny as he finally won the race, even if it took him a while to come back and achieve it. It is nothing short of a morally boosting moment.

1) Sonny leaves the APX team

Brad Pitt in F1 | Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

The film gives us another surprise when Sonny decides to quit the APX team at the end, after his win. This depicts that for Sonny, only the race and the win matter. He is not after the glory that comes afterward. Years ago, he had to give up on his dream of becoming a Grand Prix winner after his accident, and this win helped him fulfill that unachieved dream. This was the only thing that mattered to him.

His passion and dedication toward his craft brought him to this win. His decision to leave the APX team also depicts his understanding of the situation, as he knows he is not the future of the sport. He knows it belongs to others like Joshua. But still, he gets to keep this win to himself.

Sonny’s journey in F1 reminds us that redemption is possible at any stage of life. His resilience, focus, and passion show that setbacks don’t define us — it’s how we rise from them that truly matters.