F1 filmmakers had an alternate ending planned besides the one that ultimately made it to the screen, and perhaps even shot it. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the sports drama feature revolves around the developing relationship between veteran racer Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) and the rising F1 star Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris).
F1 director reveals deleted ending, Joshua Pearce winning final race
The end of F1 features a thrilling race between the APXGP teammates Sonny and Joshua and real-life seven-time Formula One World Drivers’ champion Lewis Hamilton, who also served as a producer on the movie. By this point in the story, Sonny and Joshua have learned to work together on the racing circuit, and the former intends to help the latter win the Formula One season ender at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. However, circumstances take both Joshua and Hamilton out of the race, leading to Sonny’s victory.
While speaking to GQ, Kosinski confirmed that they planned another ending for the movie with Joshua winning the Abu Dhabi race. He said that they filmed that scene, though he later questioned his own earlier statement. “We actually did shoot an ending with Damson winning as well… Where he went up there, and held [the trophy] up,” he said, and then asked. “Did we shoot it with the cameras? I feel like we just staged it to try to throw people off.”
The ending that the movie now has can come off as predictable for the audience, as Sonny is the protagonist. However, according to Kosinski, who also helmed 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, entertainment lies in the story and the journey of the characters, as “anyone can guess the end of a movie.”
After winning the race, Sonny says goodbye to Joshua and returns to his vagabond racer-for-hire life. In the epilogue of the movie, he is seen racing in the Baja 1000.
F1 is currently playing in theaters.
Originally reported by Tamal Kundu on ComingSoon.
