TL;DR
Joseph Kosinski's F1 movie is a technical marvel, delivering a stunning audiovisual experience that rivals Top Gun: Maverick with its practical effects and visceral G-force portrayal. The UHD 4K edition is reference-grade, boasting incredible sharpness, dynamic Dolby Vision, and vibrant colors thanks to its high bitrate. The Dolby Atmos sound design is exceptional, creating an immersive 360-degree soundscape with incredible bass impact. While bonus features are disappointing in some regions, the film's visual and auditory prowess makes this a must-have for home theater enthusiasts. Prepare for an unparalleled cinematic thrill ride that streaming can't match. Dive into the full review to discover if this F1 spectacle is for you!
Joseph Kosinski, following his success with Top Gun: Maverick, delivers a technical triumph for Formula 1. The result is an audiovisual spectacle that will resonate through your home theater system and visually impress. We’ve thoroughly tested the UHD 4K edition.
It’s hard not to draw parallels between F1: The Movie and Top Gun: Maverick. Both share the same director, producer, and an unwavering commitment to practical effects, alongside exceptional technical brilliance. But where Maverick took us to the skies, F1 immerses us in the asphalt with G-forces that are viscerally conveyed. I first experienced the film in cinemas this summer and was profoundly impressed, but the question always remains: can the home cinema release match that experience? The answer is a resounding yes – provided you have the appropriate equipment for it.
Plot F1 The Movie
Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) is a former F1 driver who was forced out of the sport after a crash in the 90s and is now competing in lower racing classes. He is brought back into the competitive world by an old friend and team principal (Javier Bardem) to mentor the prodigy Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) in the fictional, and severely underperforming, team APXGP.
This is classic sports film dramaturgy, to be sure, and the “experienced mentor teaches young talent” trope is familiar (not least in Maverick itself). But just like with Kosinski’s previous film, it’s not what is told, but how. It’s a story of ego, redemption, and the relentless pursuit of fractional gains, told with a drive that never loses momentum.
UHD 4K Picture Quality
For those seeking new reference material to showcase their OLED TV’s capabilities, the search ends here. F1 was filmed with specially built IMAX cameras mounted directly on the cars, and the transfer to UHD 4K is native 4K of exceptional quality. Since F1 – The Movie is partly financed by Apple, the film is included in Apple TV+, but note that this version does not contain the IMAX sequences; you can only access them via this physical release.
The sharpness is incredibly precise on our new Panasonic Z95B OLED. You can discern every pore on Brad Pitt’s weathered face, the texture of the asphalt at Silverstone, and the carbon fiber weave of the chassis. Dolby Vision implementation is dynamic and impressive; the contrast between the dark pit garages and the dazzling sun at Monza is at times strikingly rendered. The colors in APXGP’s black-and-gold livery are vibrantly displayed, offering a richness that streaming services’ compressed signals cannot replicate, thanks to the unparalleled bitrate on the physical disc. This is an unparalleled visual experience, completely free from digital artifacts.
Audio on the UHD 4K Edition
Prepare for an exceptional auditory experience. If the picture quality is exemplary, the sound design surpasses it. We are presented with a Dolby Atmos track that establishes a new benchmark for the genre. It’s not just engine roars (though the hybrid engines sound notably more robust here than on TV broadcasts); it’s an immersive 360-degree soundscape.
As the cars speed by, you feel the powerful air displacement in the surround channels. The Atmos channels are extensively utilized to place crowd cheers, helicopters, and pit radio above you, creating a truly encompassing “bubble” of sound. However, the bass is the standout feature. The LFE channel delivers profound, impactful frequencies with every gear shift and crash. With a competent subwoofer, you will experience a palpable physical impact. This is exemplary sound mixing – dynamic, detailed, and powerful.
Bonus Features
Here, unfortunately, we encounter a recurring concern for Nordic consumers. While the American and British editions boast hour-long documentaries on how the cars were built and the actors trained, the Nordic edition is limited to a 15-minute “Making of” featurette and a few trailers. This oversight is unacceptable for a film of this significance. Nordic distributors should provide the same comprehensive content as other regions, especially given the premium price paid for physical media.
Summary
F1 is a high-octane, audiovisual masterpiece that solidifies Joseph Kosinski’s position as a master of contemporary blockbuster action. Brad Pitt delivers a highly charismatic performance, and the racing sequences are the most exhilarating captured on film since Le Mans ’66. The UHD edition is undeniably a technical marvel. Despite the limited bonus features, this is an essential disc for any collection. Streaming simply cannot capture the full impact of this film.
Maximize the volume, dim the lights, and immerse yourself in the G-forces!
SF Studios sent review copies for this test. Material providers have no editorial influence on our tests; we always write independently with our readers and consumers in focus.
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