Predictability often acts like a wrecking ball and utterly destroys moviegoing experiences. But in director Joseph Kosinski’s capable hands a textbook formula makes the engine of “F1 The Movie” purr like a pussycat — most of the time.

Brad Pitt drove his Formula 1 racer outside the Armchair Expert studio this week to yap with his IRL bro Dax Shepard and cohost Monica Padman about what it took to get to the finish line of making F1, his new racing drama. (Did the popular podcast validate his parking? This remains unknown.)