Halfway through a climactic race in “F1 The Movie,” something goes horribly wrong for our heroes. And yet, through a fluke of Formula 1’s complex and inscrutable rules, the underdog Apex Grand Prix team comes out on top. (Don’t worry, this isn’t a spoiler. It’s a recurring theme throughout the two-and-a-half-hour-long film.)

Why use hard and soft tires? How do F1 teams work? Can cars be redesigned between races? Everything you need to know before watching the new Brad Pitt movie.