If 'F1: The Movie' Gets a Sequel, It Needs To Answer These 5 Questions (or Else)

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Dyah (pronounced Dee-yah) is a Senior Author at Collider, responsible for both writing and transcription duties. She joined the website in 2022 as a Resource Writer before stepping into her current role in April 2023. As a Senior Author, she writes Features and Lists covering TV, music, and movies, making her a true Jill of all trades. In addition to her writing, Dyah also serves as an interview transcriber, primarily for events such as San Diego Comic-Con, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Sundance Film Festival.

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"Lights out and away we go!" The 2026 Formula One season revs up in the first week of March with 24 races on the calendar. F1's popularity has only grown over the years, especially thanks to Netflix's docuseries Formula 1: Drive to Survive. But on June 25, 2025, a whole new F1 phenomenon hit theaters worldwide with the global release of F1: The Movie.

Starring Brad Pitt as seasoned driver Sonny Hayes, F1: The Movie follows Hayes' journey as he returns to Formula One after 30 years, despite his initial reluctance. He joins the struggling APXGP team and quickly clashes with teammate Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), who isn't excited about Hayes' arrival. F1: The Movie might have a happy ending, but it's just the beginning of APXGP's comeback. With the movie receiving a positive response, fans are already looking forward to a potential sequel. Without further ado, if F1: The Movie gets a sequel, it needs to address these things.

1 Will Sonny Hayes Return to Formula One?

Hayes doesn't like to stick to labels. Some would say he's a freelance driver, never committing to one driving discipline. Before getting the offer to join APXGP, the retired Formula One driver was racing in the 24 Hours of Daytona, a well-known 24-hour endurance race held every year at Daytona International Speedway in Florida. After a nine-race run with APXGP, Hayes decides to leave the team and follow his own path once again. By the end of the movie, viewers see him joining the Baja 1000, a famous off-road race held annually on Mexico's Baja California Peninsula and considered one of the most prestigious events in off-road motorsports.

If an F1: The Movie sequel happens, it's likely that Hayes would still be driving simply because he loves it, no matter the discipline. He could be racing in American staples like NASCAR or IndyCar, or pushing himself in more extreme events such as the Dakar Rally or the Isle of Man TT. He's clearly not someone who needs prestige to justify his passion, even from a top-tier series like Formula One. That said, the only reason Hayes might return to F1 would be if a friend asked him to step in during an emergency. Since his own friend, Rubén Cervantes (Javier Bardem), owns APXGP, he'd probably come back to that specific team as a favor. His return to Formula One would mirror real-life drivers like Fernando Alonso, who took a hiatus from Formula One in 2018, raced events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Indianapolis 500, and returned to F1 in 2021.

2 Will Joshua Pearce Move to Another F1 Team?

Pearce is introduced in F1: The Movie as APXGP's rookie driver, and more surprisingly, as the team's first driver. In Formula One, the first driver is usually the team's priority, often receiving upgrades and strategy support aimed at winning the championship, while the second driver plays a more supportive role. Even though Hayes has far more racing experience overall, he joins APXGP as the second driver because he has been away from the sport for nearly 30 years. Being labeled a rookie doesn't reflect skill, but experience at the F1 level. In Pearce's case, it simply means it is his first season in Formula One.

At the end of the first movie, even though he had the chance to take first place, Pearce willingly gave it up so Hayes could win the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP championship. While he didn't get his shining moment, Pearce still caught the attention of real-life Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff, who offered him a seat at Mercedes — a huge honor for any rookie. Mercedes, home to racing legend Lewis Hamilton, eight Constructors' Championships and nine Drivers' Championships, is one of the most sought-after teams in F1. Pearce politely declined, choosing to stay with APXGP, but that could change. F1 drivers are tied to contracts, usually ranging from one to several years. By the time a sequel comes around, Pearce might consider a move to Mercedes or another top team, especially since he wouldn't be a rookie anymore.

3 Will APXGP's Cars Be Redesigned for the 2026 Regulations?

Formula One is constantly evolving, and one of its most drastic changes is the cars used. Every year, these cars are always updated for the following season, be it major or minor changes. As per the 2026 season, the Formula 1 cars undergo a complete overhaul. The 2026 Formula 1 cars are designed to be faster, smarter, and easier. They are smaller and lighter, while the engines use half electric power and half traditional fuel. As for its aerodynamics, instead of relying on fixed wings and a DRS flap to overtake, the new cars have energy-boost systems. The tires are slightly narrower, and overall there's less downforce and drag, which means the cars can follow each other more closely without losing speed.

For Hayes and Pearce, this means starting from scratch again in the F1: The Movie sequel. The true test of a great Formula One driver isn't just about how fast they go — it's also about how quickly they adapt to a car's latest technologies. Hayes, who raced alongside legends like Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna in the mid-1990s, managed to handle the jump from older F1 cars to the advanced machines of the mid-2020s (of course, critics note that in real life, this would be nearly impossible, especially given Hayes' 30-year hiatus and the fact that he jumped in mid-season). Pearce, on the other hand, hasn't yet proven he can adapt to these newer cars, so any updates could be a real test.

4 Are Sonny Hayes and Kate McKenna Still Together?

No Pitt movie would be complete without a romantic interest. Hayes never intended to fall for Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon), but he found himself spending a lot more time with her off the track. With his knowledge of F1 cars, Hayes would often take the initiative to suggest ideas to make their cars faster through corners, sharing them with the initially reluctant McKenna. She only considered his suggestions if he could first score points in a race with his current car. Eventually, Hayes put down his tough guy persona and let McKenna into his vulnerabilities. For the first time, McKenna could see his genuine passion for cars, and became fully supportive of him.

Before saying goodbye to Formula One, whether temporarily or permanently, Hayes shared a romantic farewell with McKenna. It's unclear if their relationship will continue, given their contrasting motorsport ambitions, but Hayes promised he'd see her again. Being a man always on the move, love might not be his top priority. After all, driving is his first love. However, a sequel could see him taking things more seriously with McKenna if they reunite.

5 Does Rubén Cervantes Still Own APXGP?

Javier Bardem sits at a desk looking skeptical in F1.

When Hayes' former teammate Cervantes first approached him with the offer to join APXGP, the team was hundreds of millions of dollars in debt. Formula One is an expensive sport — the entry fee alone is around $200 million, and each car can cost over $10 million. On top of that, owners have to cover annual operational expenses for staff, meaning a startup F1 team could easily cost $500 million or more. When Cervantes begged Hayes for help to at least win one Grand Prix out of the nine remaining races of the season, it was clear he was desperate.

Although APXGP is saved from a buyout thanks to Hayes' Abu Dhabi championship in F1: The Movie, Formula One politics never stop. F1 is notorious for behind-the-scenes drama, especially among team owners. New sponsors might step in, investors might want to own a stock in APXGP, or Cervantes could end up co-owning the team with someone whose intentions aren't exactly noble. To fans, Formula One is all about racing. However, to greedy businesspeople, it's just a high-stakes expenditure to exploit. With APXGP gaining attention after their win, a vulture investor could come after a piece of the team, putting Cervantes' position at risk.