So, everyone is buzzing about the new Brad Pitt racing flick, but honestly, if you want the definitive f1 movie chris hemsworth basically owned that space over a decade ago. It’s funny. People see the trailers for the new F1 movie coming out in 2025 and they immediately start looking for the "Thor" guy.
He isn't in it.
Well, not in a starring role anyway. There’s been a ton of chatter on Reddit and Twitter about a split-second cameo of Chris and Liam Hemsworth in the stands of the new Pitt movie, but that’s just a nod to the fact that they’re actual fans of the sport. If you’re looking for the real deal—the movie where Hemsworth actually gets behind the wheel and smells like 1970s engine grease—you’re thinking of Rush.
Why Chris Hemsworth as James Hunt Was Perfect Casting
Back in 2013, Ron Howard directed Rush. It wasn't just a "car movie." It was a visceral, loud, and sweaty dive into the 1976 Formula 1 season. Chris Hemsworth played James Hunt. Hunt was the ultimate F1 rockstar. He had "Sex: Breakfast of Champions" sewn onto his racing suit and lived a life that would make most modern influencers look like librarians.
Hemsworth nailed it.
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He captured that specific brand of British arrogance and charm. But it wasn't just about the partying. The movie centers on his rivalry with Niki Lauda, played by Daniel Brühl. Lauda was the opposite—calculating, cold, and a technical genius. While Hunt was out drinking, Lauda was measuring tire pressure.
The contrast made for incredible cinema.
Some people actually prefer Rush to the modern racing documentaries like Drive to Survive. Why? Because it’s raw. You feel the vibration of the cars. You see the fear in the drivers' eyes. In the 70s, F1 was basically a "bomb on wheels" as Hunt says in the film. Every time they buckled in, there was a real chance they weren't coming back.
The Real Story Behind the Rivalry
The movie stayed surprisingly close to the truth.
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- The Nürburgring Crash: Lauda’s horrific accident is the emotional core of the film. He was trapped in a burning car for nearly a minute.
- The Recovery: Just six weeks later, Lauda was back in the cockpit. His wounds were still bleeding. His lungs were scorched.
- The Finale: The 1976 season came down to a rain-soaked race at Mount Fuji.
Hemsworth’s Hunt is the perfect foil to this intensity. He’s the guy who wins but doesn't know how to handle the win. He’s the guy who treats life like a sprint while Lauda treats it like a marathon.
Kinda makes you realize why people still search for this movie today.
Hemsworth vs. Pitt: The Battle of F1 Movies
The new 2025 movie, simply titled F1, is a different beast entirely. It’s produced by Lewis Hamilton and uses actual footage from Grand Prix weekends. Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a veteran coming out of retirement. It looks sleek. It looks expensive.
But it’s a fictional story.
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Rush has the weight of history. When you watch Hemsworth as Hunt, you’re watching a recreation of a man who actually lived that way. There’s a scene where Hunt confronts a journalist who was rude to Lauda. It’s a moment that shows the deep, begrudging respect between the two rivals. That stuff actually happened.
Actionable Insights for Racing Fans
If you're diving into the world of racing cinema because of the current F1 hype, here is how you should approach it.
Watch Rush First
Don't wait for the new Brad Pitt movie to drop. Go back and watch Rush. It gives you the historical context of why the sport is so dangerous and why the personalities matter more than the cars.
Check Out the Documentaries
After seeing Hemsworth’s performance, watch the documentary Senna. It’s often cited alongside Rush as the best racing content ever made. It’ll give you a different perspective on the 80s and 90s era of the sport.
Look for the Details
In Rush, pay attention to the gear shifts and the engine sounds. Ron Howard went to extreme lengths to make sure the audio was authentic to the 1970s Ford and Ferrari engines. It’s a sensory experience that modern CGI-heavy movies often miss.
Hemsworth might be moving on to heist thrillers like Crime 101 or more Extraction sequels, but for a certain group of petrolheads, he will always be the guy who brought the golden age of Formula 1 back to life. It’s a performance that holds up, regardless of how many new racing movies Hollywood tries to churn out.