The top 6 films to have seen about auto racing or Formula 1

Recently, Formula 1 has been receiving a lot of attention worldwide, especially regarding the upcoming film where Brad Pitt will soon be racing as a Formula 1 driver at Silverstone.

The American actor will driver a Formula 2 developed by Mercedes with the looks of a Formula 1. The driving sessions will take place during the Grand Prix of the 2023 season starting from Silverstone in the real context of a Formula 1 Grand Prix, but outside of official testing, qualifications, or races.

Before the film is officially released, the editorial team at Motors Inside had fun listing the best films about motorsports across all categories.

RUSH – 2013

This film directed by Ron Howard tells the story of the famous rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda. With a star-studded cast, this movie starts at the time when both drivers are in Formula 3. In this story, everything separates the two protagonists. James Hunt comes from the upper bourgeoisie, he is extravagant and charismatic, while Niki Lauda is more reserved.

The rivalry between Hunt and Lauda is one of the most famous in the history of Formula 1. For 3 years, the two men shared the most coveted title in F1. In 1975, the championship was overwhelmingly dominated by Niki Lauda, who became Formula 1 world champion for the first time with nearly twice as many points as James Hunt. The following year, during the first part of the season, history seemed to repeat itself as Lauda had 61 points compared to just 26 for James Hunt. But that was before the tragic accident of the Austrian at the Nürburgring circuit. For 6 weeks, he was sidelined from the tracks, and it was on September 12, 1976, at Monza, that he made an express comeback. However, in the meantime, his main rival closed the gap to 14 points. In the last 4 races, James Hunt took advantage of a still recovering Lauda to take the lead and win the championship by just one point.

A must-see film, even for people who are not fans of motor racing. The emotions are real and the action scenes are transcendent. The film has a rating of 4.3/5 on Allocine, which is as good as Avatar or Inglorious Bastards, for example. It’s up to you to judge.

Le Mans 66 – 2019

You will have understood it well, this film directed by James Mangold tells the story of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in the year 1966. This endurance test is a must-see in motorsport and every driver dreams of winning on this circuit one day.

Le Mans 66 tells the story of the war between Ford and Ferrari at that time. During that period, the American manufacturer aims to compete with Enzo Ferrari and, above all, to beat him at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in order to prove that Ford is not just a city car manufacturer.

To bring his plans to fruition, Henry Ford II recruits a former winner, Carroll Shelby, played by Matt Damon. He has the heavy task of building a car capable of beating Ferrari. To drive it, he calls on Ken Miles, a family man but also a driver in local races. For several years, the Miles-Shelby duo will rack their brains to design the car that will humiliate the red cars.

In 1966, it’s finally the moment, the race begins and the rest belongs to history. To know the ending, you have to watch the film because the directing is very good, the racing scenes were not entirely made using 3D.

Driven – 2001

This film directed by Renny Harlin is the first in our top 6 to tell a fiction story. At the dawn of the 2000 Championship Auto Racing Teams season, a category where open-wheel cars compete, a fierce battle rages between two protagonists. It involves the reigning champion Beau Brandenburg played by Til Schweiger and the rookie Jimmy Bly played by Kip Pardue. The two drivers trade blows and their rivalry starts to affect them outside of the race track. After Jimmy makes some mistakes in a few races, allowing the German to firmly establish himself at the top of the championship. To turn the tide, the team calls on their former champion, Joe Tanto, who is none other than Sylvester Stallone. His arrival as Jimmy’s teammate aims to help the rookie regain the upper hand over his rival in order to clinch the championship title.

The drama unfolds when internal rivalries, personal conflicts, and tragedies occur in the world of CART. The characters are faced with difficult choices and must overcome their fears and doubts to achieve their goals. The climax of the film takes place during the ultimate race where the characters’ destinies are at stake. High-speed chases, spectacular accidents, and moments of dramatic tension are on the agenda.

Overall, “Driven” is an thrilling action film that explores the competitive world of car racing, highlighting the relationships between the drivers, the rivalries, and the sacrifices necessary to succeed in this industry.

Note that in this film, revolutionary cameras are used for car sequences, including cameras filming at 300 frames per second, an innovation for the time.

If you have a keen eye, you may even recognize Juan-Pablo Montoya during a scene. At the age of 25, he was a CART driver for Chip Ganassi Racing just before joining Williams in Formula 1 the following year.

Bobby Deerfield – 1977

“Bobby Deerfield” is an American drama film directed by Sydney Pollack and released in 1977. The film follows the adventures of Bobby Deerfield, a famous race car driver, who faces an existential crisis after the death of his best friend on the track.

During his stay in Europe to participate in an important race, Bobby meets a young woman named Lillian Morelli who is suffering from an incurable disease, and he falls in love with her. Despite their differences, the two develop an intense and passionate relationship. However, Lillian’s illness worsens rapidly, and Bobby has to face the harsh reality of his beloved’s impending death.

The film stars Al Pacino as Bobby Deerfield and Marthe Keller as Lillian Morelli. The screenplay is based on the novel “Heaven Has No Favorites” by German writer Erich Maria Remarque. “Bobby Deerfield” received mixed reviews upon its release but remains an interesting film for Al Pacino fans and lovers of romantic drama.

Le Mans – 1971

“Le Mans” is an action and automobile racing film released in 1971, directed by Lee H. Katzin and starring Steve McQueen. The story takes place during the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race, one of the most prestigious automotive events in the world.

The movie follows race car driver Michael Delaney (Steve McQueen) who teams up with British driver Erich Stahler (Siegfried Rauch) to represent the Porsche team. Delaney’s goal is to defeat the Italian Ferrari team, which is considered the favorite.

As the race begins, Delaney finds himself involved in a tragic accident that takes the life of another driver. While continuing the race, he is also confronted with intense rivalries on the track, notably with French driver Lugo Abratte (Luc Merenda).

The film is known for its realism and immersive staging of car racing. Spectators are plunged into the heart of the action through breathtaking race scenes and high-speed sequences. Beyond the races, “Le Mans” also explores the personal lives of the drivers and the sacrifices they must make to achieve excellence in their sport. The film highlights the solitary and dangerous side of motor racing, as well as the passion and adrenaline that drive the drivers.

“Le Mans” is a film appreciated by fans of motor racing for its realistic depiction of races and its captivating atmosphere. It offers an immersion into the world of automobile competition and gives insight into the challenges that drivers face on and off the track.

Grand Prix – 1966

“Grand Prix” is a dramatic and action film released in 1966, directed by John Frankenheimer. The film takes place in the world of Formula 1 and follows the lives of several race drivers during a championship season.

The story features four main characters: Jean-Pierre Sarti (played by Yves Montand), an experienced French pilot; Pete Aron (James Garner), a talented but controversial American pilot; Scott Stoddard (Brian Bedford), an ambitious British pilot; and Nino Barlini (Antonio Sabàto), a passionate Italian pilot.

The film explores the rivalries, friendships, and personal dramas that unfold among these drivers and their teams. As they embark on races around the world, they face technical challenges, the pressure of competition, and the risks of serious injuries or death.

“Grand Prix” is known for its incredibly immersive and spectacular race scenes. Director John Frankenheimer used innovative cinematic techniques to capture the races with striking realism, placing cameras on the cars, using helicopters and other means to provide an immersive cinematic experience. The film also offers a behind-the-scenes look at the world of motorsport, highlighting the tensions between teams, sponsors, and drivers, as well as the personal sacrifices they must make to succeed.

“Grand Prix” won three Oscars for its sound effects, editing and audio mixing, and is considered a classic of its genre. It offers an exciting blend of drama, action, and thrilling races, capturing the essence of top-level auto racing.

Bonus: Michel Vaillant – 2003

“Michel Vaillant” is a French film released in 2003, directed by Louis-Pascal Couvelaire. The film is based on the popular comic book of the same name, created by Jean Graton.

The story revolves around Michel Vaillant (portrayed by Sagamore Stévenin), a talented racing driver and member of a legendary family in motorsport. The Vaillante team, led by Michel’s father, Bob Vaillant (Jean-Pierre Cassel), is renowned and respected in the racing world. When the reigning world champion, Italian driver Lombard (Peter Youngblood Hills), challenges the Vaillante team by challenging Michel, he accepts the challenge to prove his worth. The competition takes place during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of the most prestigious and challenging races in the world.

The film follows Michel’s training and preparations for the race, while rivalries develop between teams and drivers. The stakes are high, not only for Michel and his team, but also for the reputation of the Vaillant family. In addition to the competitive aspects, the film also explores family relationships within the Vaillant family, notably the complex relationship between Michel and his older brother, Jean-Pierre Vaillant (Diane Kruger), who is also a race car driver.

The climax of the movie takes place during the Le Mans race, where the drivers compete in an exhilarating battle for victory. The racing scenes are intense and spectacular, highlighting the speed, skill, and suspense of the event.

“Michel Vaillant” is a film that celebrates the passion and excitement of car racing, with interesting action scenes but with a limited storyline.