Auto racing (Formula 1, Nascar, rally racing, and other forms) is one of the most watched sports in the world. F1 alone had over 1.5 billion cumulative TV viewers across its 2023 season. The sport is known for its speed, risks, adrenaline sparking excitement, technological innovations, and dramatic competition between drivers.
And it is more. Racing can be a metaphor for life's journey, embodying spiritual lessons such as the need for courage, the value of resilience, and the importance of community. The stories of racers often reflect overcoming adversity, persevering, and engaging in personal growth. Like the practice of meditation, racing demands focus, concentration, and the ability to remain in the present moment. As part of a team F1 drivers have to find a balance between competition and camaraderie, finding the unity essential to success on the track and in the world.
F1 – The Movie illustrates all these aspects of auto racing. You could call it the spiritual journey of Sonny (Brad Pitt), a former racing star who almost lost his life and did lose his career due to a crash during one of the Grand Prix races. Since then he has been freelancing for teams that need an extras driver, one known for racing fast and taking risks.
Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem) owns a Formula 1 team and is in danger of potentially losing it unless they get can get at least one Grand Prix win. He offers Sonny a spot on the team and also suggests he mentor their rookie driver Joshua (Damson Idris). The older driver has to make some adjustments to handle the technologically advanced car, but he soon earns the respect of the team’s technical director, Kate (Kerry Condon).
What follows is some of the most exciting footage of racing you will ever see on the movie screen. The camera puts you in the car with Sonny as he makes quick decisions, navigates turns, attempts risky passes, and increases his speed. There’s no need for us to give away what happens; see the film just for the racing footage!
Still, as you watch Sonny interact with the team, you realize that he is growing spiritually. His arrogance gives way to empathy; his determination is not for himself but for the whole team. He becomes a colleague not a competitor.
There is an experience called “flow” that is often described by (or at least sought) by spiritual seekers. It is a state of complete immersion in what you are doing, an activity you enjoy just for its own sake. Being able to achieve flow is associated with happiness. Sonny would agree. Here is how he describes it to Kate:
“One day I realized what I had really lost. It was my love for racing. So I started driving. It didn’t matter the car, the circuit, didn’t need anyone to watch. Just as long as I was behind the wheel, I was good. Sometimes . . . it’s rare, but sometimes, there’s this moment in the car where everything goes quiet, my heartbeat slows, it’s peaceful, and I can see everything, and no one can touch me. And I am chasing that moment every time I get in the car. I don’t know when I’ll find it again, but, man, I want to. ‘Cause in that moment, I’m flying.”