F1

Sonny Hayes returns to the grid for APXGP in a desperate bid to keep the team alive. After a chaotic start to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Joshua Pearce briefly leads before a pit‑stop drops him to sixth and Sonny’s own car is damaged in a contact with George Russell – the race is red‑flagged. The stoppage allows the crew to replace Sonny’s rear wing and, because the incident is deemed clean, the cars are sent back out.

When the race resumes, APXGP’s two cars sit in third and fourth behind Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, whose soft‑tyre sets are already a few laps old. With fresh soft tyres, Sonny and Joshua have a clear grip advantage. Sonny deliberately slows his own pace, letting Joshua overtake and take the lead. Joshua then collides with Hamilton, eliminating both and handing the lead to Sonny, who steers clear of trouble and crosses the line first. The victory secures the team’s place on the grid and thwarts the board member’s plot to dismantle APXGP.

Even though the win fulfills his redemption, Sonny chooses to step away from Formula 1. He tears up his final paycheck to prevent the team from firing him, then announces his retirement, planning instead to compete in the Baja 1000 off‑road race – the series that once fascinated him. His departure underscores that he races for the love of speed, not for fame or money.

During the season, a tentative romance blossoms between Sonny and the team’s technical director, Kate McKenna. They share a night together, and in the closing moments they promise to stay in touch, leaving their future open but separate for now. The film ends with the team alive, Ruben Cervantes safe as owner, and Sonny driving toward a new, rugged horizon, his love for racing intact.

Last Updated: September 19, 2025 at 06:54