"F1," one of Hollywood's biggest sports dramas of the year, premiered on June 27 and quickly secured a positive reception at the Indian box office, grossing Rs 5.25 crore (nett) on its opening day. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the film stars Brad Pitt as a veteran Formula 1 driver who returns to the track to mentor a promising rookie, set against the backdrop of high-octane race sequences and enthralling twists.

Despite its initial success, "F1" swiftly fell victim to widespread online piracy. Reports indicate the film was leaked across various illegal torrent sites, leading to the rampant circulation of pirated copies. Search terms like ‘watch F1 online’ and ‘F1 free download’ surged, highlighting the pervasive nature of the issue. Piracy poses a significant threat to the entertainment industry, undermining the efforts of filmmakers and impacting box office performance, while also exposing viewers to potential legal issues and malware. Audiences are strongly encouraged to watch the film only in cinemas or await its legal release on streaming platforms.

In North America, the film also saw a promising start, earning an 'A' CinemaScore, a rating comparable to Pitt's "Moneyball" and higher than "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." "F1" garnered an impressive $10 million from Thursday previews and IMAX early screenings, nearly matching "Oppenheimer’s" $10.5 million and significantly surpassing "Bad Boys 4's" $5.9 million. Industry trackers project an opening weekend between $55 million and $65 million, positioning it as one of the biggest opening weekends for a racing film outside the "Cars" and "Fast and Furious" franchises.

The film also attracted considerable attention due to the controversial removal of scenes featuring Simone Ashley, known for her role in "Bridgerton." Despite her brief appearance in "F1" as 'Self'—a celebrity arriving at a grand prix—her scenes were reportedly "brutally cut," sparking a backlash from fans who accused Hollywood of marginalizing actors of color, especially given Ashley's active participation in the film's promotion. Ashley attended the London premiere, where she garnered significant attention, shining in a gold Balmain gown. While some viewed her presence as a display of grace and professionalism in the face of mistreatment, others saw it as a shrewd move to leverage the red carpet for increased visibility, a perception reinforced by her subsequent Instagram post crediting her style team and prominently featuring a luxury watch brand.

Director Joseph Kosinski addressed the controversy, explaining that Ashley's original "very, very small role" as a "mystery girl" for the character Joshua (Damson Idris) was one of "two or three" storylines that did not make the final two-hour and 35-minute cut, a common occurrence in filmmaking. Furthermore, Kosinski has proposed an intriguing idea for a sequel or crossover, envisioning a scenario where Pitt's character, Sonny Hayes, meets Tom Cruise's Cole Trickle from "Days of Thunder." This concept builds on Pitt and Cruise's previous collaboration in the 1994 horror fantasy "Interview with the Vampire," with Kosinski recalling an "epic go-kart battle" between the two actors during that film's production.