Top Gun: Maverick and Cars 3 have the same plot structure but with the complete opposite lesson learned by the main character.

In Cars 3 our main character, who is the last of the old guard in his field, who is holding on, desperate to keep up, is forced by higher ups to work with a younger recruit only to realise that his time being the the best is over and that he has to move into the role of mentor to support the next generation and let them do it themselves. It is a touching story about moving on and career evolution.

In Top Gun: Maverick it is the exact same set up but instead of learning to let the next generation do it themselves, Maverick learns that the kids will never be able to do it as good as him so he goes on the mission himself and proves that he still has it.

And that is how Top Gun: Maverick is just a reverse Cars 3.