As anticipation builds for Brad Pitt's upcoming Formula 1 movie set to hit theaters internationally on June 25 and in the U.S. on June 27, a critical flaw in its plot has emerged. The film appears to inaccurately dramatize the dangers of modern F1 racing, creating a narrative driven by a notion of imminent death and danger that simply doesn't align with the realities of contemporary motorsport.

The film stars Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a former racer recruited by the APXGP team to mentor rookie prodigy Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris. While this premise has the potential for a rich narrative, the film seems to conform to familiar Hollywood tropes that prioritize high-stakes drama, including reckless endangerment.

The trailers released so far seductively tease audiences with snippets of crashes and near misses, igniting fears that echo the sport's more perilous past. However, current F1 racing is underpinned by rigorous safety protocols that have dramatically reduced the risk of fatalities.

In one of the trailers, technical director Kerry Condon poses a dramatic question: 'How am I supposed to make that safe?' to which Hayes responds, 'Who said anything about safe?' Such exchanges fuel the narrative that danger is rampant, which detracts from the considerable advancements made in driver safety.

Scaling back the focus on fatalism, historical context reveals that the specter of death has been largely exorcised from modern Formula 1. Notably, Romain Grosjean's horrific accident during the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, where his car was engulfed in flames, stands as a shocking reminder of past dangers. Yet, despite that harrowing experience, Grosjean survived, prompting the FIA to implement critical safety reforms.

Respected figures in the sport, including Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, have expressed deep concern over the dangers their predecessors faced, along with a commitment to honoring that legacy by maintaining high safety standards. As motorsport evolves, so does the understanding of calculated risk.

While Brad Pitt's cinematic portrayal may be compelling, many believe it oversimplifies the complexities of the sport's current landscape. Race car drivers today navigate their high-speed battles with a profound respect for the dangers of the sport, rather than courting them in pursuit of glory.

The film might aim to capture the adrenaline rush of F1, but its potential misrepresentation of the sport's safety dynamics may leave viewers questioning its authenticity. In this crucial aspect, many critics speculate that the film will fall short of accurately representing the modern face of Formula 1.