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Revealed: The real-life F1 crash which was inspiration in Brad Pitt movie
Apple’s F1 movie features a fictional storyline, but it includes a poignant moment inspired by real-life events, such as the life-threatening accident of British driver Martin Donnelly in 1990 during the Spanish Grand Prix practice session.
Following a 160mph crash where Donnelly’s Lotus F1 car split in two, he suffered severe injuries like brain and lung contusions, and a broken right leg, ultimately ending his F1 career prematurely.
This tragic incident serves as the basis for a significant scene in the film, which has already been a box office success, featuring Brad Pitt’s character, Sonny Hayes, experiencing a similar accident.
Unlike Donnelly, Hayes in the movie is able to make a comeback to F1 to mentor a young racer, portrayed by Damson Idris, with director Joseph Kosinski meticulously recreating the Jerez accident.
At the movie premiere, Pitt credited Donnelly for the F1 inspiration, with Donnelly expressing his gratitude for being acknowledged and feeling overwhelmed by the moment shared with the Hollywood star.
Despite his F1 career being cut short, Donnelly raced in other categories and showed resilience by testing a Jordan car in 1993, demonstrating his unwavering determination to defy the odds and return to the track.
