Sonny Hayes wins the Abu Dhabi season finale for APXGP, the fictional Formula 1 team at the center of F1 (2025). The victory saves the team from sale and leaves rookie Joshua Pearce as its future while Hayes leaves Formula 1 to keep racing elsewhere.
It opened theatrically June 27, 2025 in North America, according to the Apple Original Films premiere announcement in the Apple Original Films premiere announcement. Joseph Kosinski directed the film, with Brad Pitt as Hayes and Damson Idris as Pearce. Hayes is a 1990s driver whose Formula 1 career ended after a violent crash.
Table of Contents
- Who are Hayes, Pearce and APXGP?
- Why must APXGP win?
- How does Banning try to take the team?
- What happens in Abu Dhabi?
- What does the win change?
Who are Hayes, Pearce and APXGP?
Hayes drove in Formula 1 in the 1990s before a violent crash forced him into other racing series. Former teammate Ruben Cervantes, now APXGP owner, recruits him back to mentor Pearce and score points. The setup pairs experience against youth inside one struggling garage.
Pearce is the young APXGP driver meant to carry the team forward. APXGP is a fictional last-place team with no points for over two seasons. Engineer Kate works with both drivers to make the car competitive.
Why must APXGP win?
APXGP has gone more than two seasons without scoring points. Its board says it will sell or dissolve the team unless results change. A single race win becomes the test for survival.
The threat affects Cervantes, both drivers and team staff. Cervantes risks losing ownership of the team he built. Drivers and crew face losing their seats and jobs if the board sells.
How does Banning try to take the team?
Board member Peter Banning pushes Cervantes to sell and positions himself to benefit from a new team. According to What's After the Movie in the What's After the Movie ending breakdown, Banning forges an illegal-upgrade complaint that gets the APXGP car impounded by the FIA. He then offers Hayes a place on his planned new team.
The move raises the pressure before the final race. APXGP must defend its car, keep its drivers focused and still win on track. Banning's plan makes Abu Dhabi decide both the championship result and team ownership.
What happens in Abu Dhabi?
Hayes plans to tow Pearce toward victory over Lewis Hamilton in the season finale. Contact sends Pearce and Hamilton wide during the fight for position. Hayes takes first place and wins the race, as described by ComingSoon in the ComingSoon ending explainer.
- Hayes gives up his support role and takes the lead
- Pearce loses track position after contact with Hamilton
- Hamilton also runs wide and cannot recover the win
- APXGP takes first place through Hayes
What does the win change?
The victory saves APXGP from sale, preserves Cervantes as owner and defeats Banning's takeover. Pearce rejects a rival Mercedes offer to stay and develop with APXGP.
Hayes retires from Formula 1, parts amicably with Pearce and Kate, then races the Baja 1000 in Mexico for love of driving. Director Joseph Kosinski also shot an alternate ending where Pearce wins and lifts the trophy, according to ComingSoon on a GQ interview in the ComingSoon report on the alternate ending. Hayes winning was therefore a choice, and a sequel could center APXGP and Pearce without Hayes.