Aging American racing driver and former Formula One (F1) prodigy Sonny Hayes lives nomadically as a racer-for-hire. Although he raced for Lotus in the 1990s, severe injuries from a crash at the Spanish Grand Prix in 1993 ended his F1 career. He subsequently became a gambling addict and lost three marriages. After winning the 24 Hours of Daytona, his former Lotus teammate Rubén Cervantes, who owns the APXGP F1 Team, offers him a test drive to fill their spare seat. Rubén discloses that his investors will sell the team unless APXGP—last in the World Constructors' Championship—wins one of the nine remaining Grands Prix that year. Sonny reluctantly agrees after Rubén tells him victory will make him "the best in the world".

At the Silverstone test, Sonny meets team principal Kaspar Smolinski, technical director Kate McKenna, and ambitious British rookie Joshua Pearce, who reveal seven drivers turned down the opportunity. Joshua remains arrogant, yet worries the potential sale will result in his replacement, believing he must trounce his teammates to impress the investors. During his test, Sonny struggles with modern F1 machinery but immediately identifies APXGP's weaknesses. He pushes the limit and crashes, but Kaspar recognizes his skill and signs him.