While much of the high-octane drama in the new summer blockbuster F1 the Movie is fictional, one of its most gripping moments is rooted in a real-life tragedy. The origin story of Brad Pitt’s character, Sonny Hayes — a gifted Formula One driver haunted by a devastating crash — draws directly from a horrifying incident that nearly claimed the life of British racer Martin Donnelly.
In 1990, Donnelly was one of Formula One’s rising stars, driving for the Lotus team. But during a practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez, a catastrophic suspension failure at nearly 160 mph hurled him into the barriers. The crash remains one of the most brutal ever captured in the sport’s history.
Speaking to CNN Sport, Donnelly recounted how his car disintegrated on impact, ejecting him — still strapped to his seat — nearly 200 feet down the track. The carbon-fibre chassis “shattered like a car bomb,” he said. Unconscious and severely injured, with broken legs and damaged internal organs, he lay motionless on the track as marshals assumed he was dead.
Though he miraculously survived, Donnelly’s career in Formula One ended that day. While he continued racing in other categories, the sport’s top tier never called again.
Three decades later, Donnelly’s ordeal would be immortalized on the silver screen. The film’s producers, including seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton, combed through archival footage for inspiration — ultimately choosing Donnelly’s crash to form the emotional backbone of Pitt’s character. Hamilton personally reached out for permission.
“At first, I thought it was a sales call for double-glazing,” Donnelly joked, admitting he was stunned to hear Hamilton’s voice on the line.
Donnelly later worked closely with the film’s crew during production, even advising Pitt on how to approach a Formula One car. “Touch the car,” he told the actor. “Ask it to be good to you today.”
Watching the recreation of his crash — including repeated filming of a mannequin flying from a replica car — forced Donnelly to relive the darkest day of his life, now as a bystander. “It was a reality check,” he said, adding that he had never seen the original footage until watching the final film in cinemas.
Although honored that his story became part of a major Hollywood release, Donnelly admitted the experience was bittersweet. “This is what I’ve been reenacted for,” he said. “My friends like Damon Hill and David Coulthard became rich and successful. Why not me? Because when we were teammates, I kicked their asses.”
Now 61, Donnelly sees his legacy on screen — a reminder of both how far he came and how far he might have gone.
