Rush gets nod of approval from Ferrari

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The forthcoming F1 film Rush has received the endorsement of Ferrari, one of the teams which plays a central role in the story.

Rush, directed by Ron Howard, is based on the events of the 1976 Formula One season, when Ferrari’s Niki Lauda lost the world championship to Mclaren’s James Hunt.

Lauda suffered near fatal injuries in a crash in the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring Nordscleife, yet returned to the cockpit after missing just two races. Hunt had made inroads into his championship lead, and as they went into the final race Lauda was narrowly ahead on points.

But he withdrew from the Japanese Grand Prix which was held in horrendous wet conditions. “In the intervening decades, much has been said and written about that day and what happened before, during and after the race,” said Ferrari in a statement.

“Now enthusiasts can relive the rivalry between two men who took a very individual approach to their job that was a world away from the Formula One of today.

“Anyone that has seen the film was impressed by the way in which Howard has drawn the drivers’ personalities and his masterful portrayal of the world of Formula One as it was at the time.

“Despite the passing of almost 30 [sic] years and the enormous progress made in safety, the Rush trailer declares that one fact hasn’t changed: ‘There’s a lie that all drivers tell themselves: death is something that happens to other people’. Anyone that works in the paddocks knows all about that and never forgets it.”

The first trailer for Rush appeared earlier this week.

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    Keith Collantine
    Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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    17 comments on “Rush gets nod of approval from Ferrari”

    1. i think he means almost 40yrs.

      I hope they dont let him work out the fuel in fernando’s car

      1. maybe that was why they let Alonso continue in Malaysia, because they realised he would never make it to the finish anyway for lack of fuel q85 :-)

    2. 30 years?! Ugh, Ferrari can’t count…

      Great prospects tho, can’t wait for the movie.

      What should be most fascinating for me to see will be, F1 indeed being a totally different world today, the unchanged will and dedication of the drivers, especially the top 2-3 to win – at (almost) all costs. I think drivers kind of uprising against being ordered robots on and/or off track (see Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton, and most lately Sebastian Vettel, or Nico “I’ll remember this one” Rosberg to an extent) is a sign that a) they still want to win at almost all costs, and b) deep down, they still want to do it their way, like James Hunt did.

    3. I watched the trailer and although I was prepared that it’s gonna be a drama flick and no documentary – I was very disappointed. It seems they have added so much over the top dramatization that it feels like a parody of the real story. Tough I hope I’m mistaken.

      1. I’m on your side, @tmf42. It’s more typical Hollywood blockbuster than documentary. Visual telling same thing. Many many obvious CGI touch and Instagram-like post processing. It might be looks dramatic but not so real…

        1. JimmyTheIllustratedBlindSolidSilverBeachStackapopolis III
          12th April 2013, 2:48

          I’m pretty sure there is no original footage used in the film so if you thought it was edited archive they obviously did a good job.

      2. It’s a trailer.

        They distill the drama into the trailer because they want to capture the audiences attention. It doesn’t reflect how the movie will turn out.

    4. Well 1976 was drama. No other F1 season offered so much in the scope of racing, accidents, legal shenanigans and both Hunt and Lauda were bigger than life characters. F1 was fun to watch and follow then and drivers were faced with dangers and pressure that are long gone. Can’t wait to see the movie but I am afraid it will fall short in term of “drama” for those who lived 1976 for real.

      1. @jihelle I agree with this more than those saying that this movie is “too dramatic”, I wonder if people don’t think that life especially in the world of F1 and more so back then was that dramatic or more so. Do people think the world is that static? I think the movie will be to task of recreating that moment of time, not to the fullest extent and may fall short on the drama, but I think it will help bring forth the real emotion.

    5. Can I just say that the picture gives me goosebumps…
      Also thinking I’ve driven the exact same road several times now. Hats off to everyone driving back then.

    6. I’m really looking forward to this film. I wonder if, in 30-40 years, people will make films about this current generation of F1 drivers?

    7. In 30 [sic] years time, I wonder which season in contemporary F1 history will be best suitable for a feature film…though Schumacher and Vettel dominating don’t make for gripping drama

      1. I reckon 2007 would be a great year, with the McLaren meltdown, and all the other drama through the season. 2010 would be a good year too. I suppose 2009 with the Brawn story would make compelling viewing too.

        I do genuinely believe that we are enjoying an absolute golden age of competition in F1 at the moment.

        1. 1986. You dont get better than that. Except WRC in 2001

          1. +1. As a matter of fact +2 for the 1986 F1 season and the 2001 WRC season.

            1. JimmyTheIllustratedBlindSolidSilverBeachStackapopolis III
              12th April 2013, 2:56

              1986 would be good but as ayrton would surely be one of the main points of the film i’d say no we already have a senna movie. 2000 2007 or 2009 out of those seasons i’d say 09 would be the most likely choice by hollywood and the one i’d want to see it had everything a movie requires.

      2. Any season with Prost and Senna along with other big names from the late eighties or early 90s would be great. Hill/Villeneuves or Schumacher with them or seperate. Mika and Schumacher, as well as Alonso and Shumi

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