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The final moments of Joseph Kosinski's F1 show Brad Pitt's Sonny Hayes crossing the checkered flag to hold the trophy of his maiden victory. It's an overall satisfying ending to this crowd-pleasing blockbuster that cleverly utilizes the known mechanics of the genre. It shows a man proving that he is not a has-been or a never-was after three decades of staying off the radar, unable to come to terms with the fatal blow to his career that ended before it could even begin to take flight.
Of course, it's predictable. We have seen countless stories on screen of a protagonist having the final shot at claiming their throne. Sylvester Stallone's Rocky popularly did that with his 1976 film, and the subsequent underdog narratives have followed this tradition. That's essentially why we resonate with Sonny. His victory isn't just his. It feels personal.
Yet, there is another version of the F1 movie ending, where Damson Idris's Joshua Pearce wins instead of Sonny. During a conversation with the GQ magazine on 28 June, 2025, Kosinski spoke about it.
“We actually did shoot an ending with Damson winning as well… Where he went up there, and held [the trophy] up.”
According to the interview, this alternative ending was shot for practical reasons more than creative reasons. Let's explore why.
The F1 alternate ending was shot reportedly to avoid the original ending getting spoiled.
The alternate ending was reportedly planned for a technical reason rather than a creative one: to avoid a spoiler risk. As we now know, the final race takes place in Abu Dhabi's well-known arena. It was shot in a stadium filled with Formula One fans, who might have captured Sonny's win on their smartphones.
To avoid that specific ending getting leaked, the makers deliberately misdirected the audience. Damson got on stage as Joshua, holding the trophy, but the shot might not have been filmed either! While speaking with GQ, the F1 director wondered,
“Did we shoot it with the cameras? I feel like we just staged it to try to throw people off.”
Regardless, Kosinski also understood that people are excited not only about where Sonny ends up but also about how he gets there.
“That's where the entertainment is. I mean, anyone can guess the end of a movie,” the director said.
What exactly happened at the end of F1, the movie?
The final race in Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit shows Sonny and Joshua working together to help the APXGP team win. It is so satisfying to see these two men getting over their petty grievances and egos to find synergy for the greater good. That's precisely how they ensure that the team wins no matter which one holds the winning trophy.
For a while, it seemed like Joshua would be that man. He sustains his momentum as Sonny helps him take the lead. Sonny also helps him drive past Lewis Hamilton by momentarily sacrificing his position. Yet, at a fateful moment, Lewis and Joshua's cars crash into each other, leading Sonny to take the lead.
The chaos leads to a far more exciting finale of Sonny's win, which seems long-coming. Still, as mentioned before, the F1 alternative ending showed Joshua holding the final trophy. It's unlike the theatrical cut's final moments, which show Sonny holding the trophy and sharing his win with Javier Bardem's Ruben, who brought him out of retirement.
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