F1 star helps Van Gisbergen win NASCAR

Motorsport: New Zealand's Shane van Gisbergen reveals he got some advice from F1's Max Verstappen prior to winning his second NASCAR.

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Man of Many

an hour ago

• Man of Many

‘F1 The Movie' Review: Brad Pitt Racer Delivers on the Need for Speed

By Chad Kennerk - News Published: 22 June 2025 |Last Updated: 21 June 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 6 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. What happens when you toss a major movie star and a world-class director into the full-throttle world of Formula 1 racing? F1 The Movie; a spectacle that takes you behind the wheel and into the heart-pounding rush of motorsports. With grounded realism, jaw-dropping stunts and a great cast, this is racing redefined for the big screen. Buckle up. Directed by Joseph Kosinski (who brought us Top Gun: Maverick), F1 does for motorsport what Maverick did for fighter jets—placing audiences into the driver's seat for a thrilling visual experience. But it's not just speed and spectacle; it's a story about trust, team dynamics and the raw ambition that fuels drivers on the track and in life. A scene from Apple Original Films' 'F1 The Movie' a Warner Bros. Pictures release | Image: 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. A scene from Apple Original Films' 'F1 The Movie' a Warner Bros. Pictures release | Image: 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. A scene from Apple Original Films' 'F1 The Movie' a Warner Bros. Pictures release | Image: 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Fast & Furious Brad Pitt is Sonny Hayes, a former prodigy who's talked into making a comeback to save the struggling F1 team APXGP, owned by his friend and former racing rival Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem). The team is led by hotshot rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), who is eager to leave his mark on the sport and doesn't have time for an old-timer with opposing ideas. With two egos at odds on the track, technical director Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon) and the APXGP team must convince them to work together, or risk the team falling apart. Man of the hour Brad Pitt is as engaging as they come, donning the weathered Sonny like an old driving glove. As with Tom Cruise in MI:8, Brad Pitt isn't just acting; he's actually behind the wheel, bringing a level of authenticity that's impossible to fake. He's got the chops too, having driven real race cars some 6,000 miles while training for F1. The pit crew, anchored by Kerry Condon, brings emotional depth to the narrative, ensuring the stakes are high on and off the track. The real-life F1 drivers, who play themselves in the film, inject a further air of authenticity. Damson Idris as Joshua Pearce in Apple Original Films' 'F1 The Movie' a Warner Bros. Pictures release | Image: 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Shifting into Overdrive As with any great sports movie, the races themselves are the heartbeat of F1 The Movie and there are no CGI cars zipping through digital backdrops here. Kosinski's crew shot the film during actual Grand Prix weekends. The one and only Sir Lewis Hamilton, a producer on the film, calls it 'as authentic as a racing movie has ever been'. With unprecedented access to actual F1 tracks such as Silverstone, Monza, Las Vegas and Sazuka, the trust between the filmmakers and the pinnacle of motorsports pays off in spades. From the deafening roar of engines and the sheer thrill of cornering at 200 mph, this movie takes you to places other films might just fake. Kosinski says the real challenge was shooting during the tight schedule of a live sporting event. Rather than having a few hours to shoot a scene, the filmmakers may have only had three minutes, meaning the actors sometimes had just a couple of takes to get the moment right. Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes in Apple Original Films' 'F1 The Movie' a Warner Bros. Pictures release | Image: 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. The Final Lap Kosinski takes the groundbreaking camerawork from Top Gun: Maverick and pushes it to the next level, giving us immersive shots that pull you into the action. With 180-degree camera flips that put you in the driver's seat, every race feels like a visceral experience. Tight, muscular direction makes the first half of the film a perfect formation lap, with Kosinski pacing with precision and setting the stage for the high-speed showdowns to come. As much as the action hits all the right notes, the inherent downtime of F1 starts to show later on as the momentum drops off in between races. There's not quite enough drama happening off the track to keep the story moving before the next race kicks off. Is F1 The Movie the best sports movie ever made? Maybe not, but it's one of the best in recent memory. With Brad Pitt at the wheel and a director who knows how to stage a spectacle, this is a must-watch, and if you can catch it in premium formats like IMAX or D-BOX, you might just feel the G-force yourself. Whether you're a die-hard Formula 1 fan or just love a good sports drama, F1 The Movie makes a great 'Pitt' stop. ★★★★☆ Director/Producer Joseph Kosinski on the set of Apple Original Films' 'F1 The Movie' a Warner Bros. Pictures release | Image: 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes in Apple Original Films' 'F1 The Movie' a Warner Bros. Pictures release | Image: 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer on the set of Apple Original Films' 'F1 The Movie' a Warner Bros. Pictures release | Image: 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes in Apple Original Films' 'F1 The Movie' a Warner Bros. Pictures release | Image: 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Javier Bardem as Ruben Cervantes in Apple Original Films' 'F1 The Movie' a Warner Bros. Pictures release | Image: 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Damson Idris as Joshua Pearce in Apple Original Films' 'F1 The Movie' a Warner Bros. Pictures release | Image: 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes in Apple Original Films' 'F1 The Movie' a Warner Bros. Pictures release | Image: 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Javier Bardem as Ruben Cervantes and Tobias Menzies as as Peter Banning in Apple Original Films' 'F1 The Movie' a Warner Bros. Pictures release | Image: 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

ABC News

3 hours ago

• ABC News

Crusaders secure another Super Rugby title with 16-12 win over Chiefs

The Crusaders are again the kings of Super Rugby Pacific after consigning the Chiefs to a third-straight loss in the title decider. Playing in Christchurch, the Crusaders claimed a 32nd successive play-off home match victory over three decades of Super Rugby as they downed the Chiefs 16-12 in Saturday's final. It's the Crusaders' 13th title in a combined competition while the Chiefs, who were minor premiers, become just the second team in history to lose three straight Super finals, joining the Lions from South Africa (2016-2018). The victory was all the more remarkable given the Crusaders missed the top eight play-offs in 2024, winning only four matches in their worst-ever season to end their run of seven-straight titles. "Where we were at the end of last year, the start of this year we had a mountain to climb," said Crusaders fullback Will Jordan, who won his seventh Super Rugby title. "Everyone had to dig deep and it hasn't been easy. "This title is right up there for me, I just think even at the top." The victory came in a disappointing week for Australian veteran playmaker James O'Connor, who missed selection for the Wallabies' squad to face Fiji and likely the British and Irish Lions, seemingly drawing the curtain on his Test career. Used off the bench for most of the season, O'Connor, who joined the Crusaders this season from Queensland, only came on the field to replace rising star Rivez Reihana with just over a minute remaining. Hunting their first title since 2013, the Chiefs opened the scoring through prop George Dyer, who crashed over while Crusaders skipper David Havili was sent to the sin bin in the 11th minute for a high tackle on Emoni Narawa. The lead lasted until the 26th minute when All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor scored a brilliant try after peeling off a maul on the 22 and raced down the sideline. Reihana converted and kicked two penalties in six minutes to open up a 13-7 lead before the Chiefs hit back just before half-time. Fullback Shaun Stevenson went over for a try in the corner but Damian McKenzie failed to nail the conversion from wide out and the Crusaders retained a 13-12 lead at the break. Under relentless physical pressure from the Crusaders, McKenzie then missed an opportunity to put his side ahead with a wayward penalty strike in the 55th minute. The arm wrestle continued as the Chiefs held up Christian Lio-Willie over the line to repel the Crusaders after 25 phases. A dominant scrum earned the Crusaders a penalty seven minutes from full-time, and man of the match Reihana sealed the victory, bringing his tally to 11 points. The Crusaders have now won 13 full editions of Super Rugby, including three of the last four on offer, as well as two New Zealand-only versions played in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID pandemic. The defeat was a bitter blow for the Hamilton-based Chiefs. "It was a classic final, two great teams going at it and a small margin," Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson said. "It's just down to us winning the territory battle, being clinical in our half, being efficient, and I think Crusaders did a good job of that tonight. "We were good at times, but we just weren't good all the time, and it cost us." The Crusaders' triumph came in the last match at their "temporary" stadium that has been their home ground since their former headquarters was destroyed in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. They will defend the title from a brand new 30,000-seat stadium in 2026. AAP

The Australian

5 hours ago

• The Australian

Kiwi trotters back in force for 2025 Inter Dominion

Young Kiwi trotting star Bet N Win is leading the charge to wind back the clock. For a long time the Kiwis 'owned' the Inter Dominion trotting series, winning 18 of the 23 finals from Yankee Loch in 1989 to I Can Doosit in 2012. Champions like Lyell Creek (2000), Pride Of Petite (1996 & '97), Take A Moment (2001 & '03) and I Can Doosit (2011 & '11) led the New Zealand dominance. But the ride has turned in recent years with Aussies winning five of the past six finals. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! It's been due to pandemic and a date change causing less Kiwi interest in the great race, but also by the dominance of Australia's champion Just Believe, who won the crown in 2022 and 2023. But the Kiwis are back in force for this revamped and enriched Brisbane series, which starts on Saturday week and culminates with a $500,000 final at Albion Park on July 19. While there are only two Kiwis in the trotting series, they are two of the biggest players in Bet N Win and Oscar Bonavena. And both have already snared wins in Australia in the build-up. Oscar Bonavena won brilliantly at Albion Park last Saturday week, then ran some sparkling closing times to finish a close second at the same track last night. Bet N Win, who only arrived in Australia last Tuesday, opened his campaign when he hardly raised to a sweat to cruise to victory at Menangle last night. They are trying to become the first Kiwi to win the Inter Dominion trotting crown since Winterfell did with the home ground advantage in the 2019 Auckland series. The last Kiwi to win the final in Australia was I Can Doosit at the now defunct Moonee Valley track way back in 2012. Bet N Win and Oscar Bonavena make for a fascinating contrast, but little separates their chances in Brisbane. Bet N Win in the young buck, a five-year-old who has raced just 23 times for 13 wins. Oscar Bonavena is most likely in his last year of racing as a nine-year-old, who boasts 34 wins and almost $1.15 million in earnings. They are the new and the old of NZ trotting. The latest markets have Oscar Bonavena rated slightly higher at $3.50 and Bet N Win at $4.50 to win the final. Both of them will have turn the tables on Australia's new trotting star Arcee Phoenix, who beat the pair on their patch in the $NZ500,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge on April 4. Arcee Phoenix has long looked the next big thing in Aussie trotting and he's delivering on that this year. Chris Svanosio's six-year-old followed a sparkling Melton trial win with an arrogant first-up win at the same track last night. There was a touch of Just Believe about the way he made a midrace move to sit outside the leader and toyed with his rivals last night. His odds were slashed from $3.50 to $2.80 for the trotting finals straight after it. • Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.