Martin Donnelly, who endured serious injuries in a crash at the 1990 Spanish Grand Prix, recently shared that he met with Brad Pitt before the premiere of an F1 movie, where he revealed he was an inspiration for a key plot twist. The former Arrows and Lotus F1 driver had a harrowing experience at Jerez, where his car’s suspension failed during practice, resulting in a crash at around 160 mph, splitting his Lotus in two. In the film, Pitt’s character, Sonny Hayes, returns to the F1 scene three decades after surviving a crash resembling Donnelly’s, and Pitt expressed gratitude towards the ex-driver at the London premiere, acknowledging his input in the movie.
Donnelly, speaking to the BBC, expressed disbelief at the encounter, describing it as a moment he will forever treasure, as an A-lister like Brad Pitt sought his advice and guidance. Despite the altered footage, the film included the 1990 accident Donnelly endured, depicting the catastrophic collision that led to severe leg injuries, effectively ending his F1 career. Witnessing the recreated crash on screen left Donnelly with a surreal feeling, especially considering doctors once believed he would never race again.
Years later, in 1993, Donnelly took a Jordan car for a spin around Silverstone on February 23, affirming his resilience and determination to prove doubters wrong. He viewed this as a testament to his unwavering commitment to racing, regardless of the challenges he had to overcome.
