In a recent interview with Red Bull (who, incidentally, are major players in the modern Formula 1 scene), former F1 champion Niki Lauda discussed Ron Howard’s latest movie, Rush, in which is chronicled his rivalry with James Hunt in the 1970s, particularly their competition for the 1976 F1 Championship.
WARNING: Spoilers for some of the film’s plot will follow.
Those who are familiar with the historical details will know that Lauda’s crash at the German Grand Prix was a central event that season, and it was something the Red Bull interviewer quickly keyed on. Lauda spoke about not being able to understand peoples’ shocked reactions both at his rapid return from the sport and to his disfigurement from burns suffered in the accident until he saw Daniel Bruhl’s portrayal of himself. “Now I understand the other point of view,” said Lauda. “I was too busy getting going again and I never saw myself as other people did.”
F1 driver Niki Lauda at a press conference in 1976 following his crash and subsequent burns at the German Grand Prix
Lauda also spoke about working with Peter Morgan and Ron Howard to develop the script, as well the differences in safety between the cars when he raced and the modern F1 competition. The full interview can be found here.
Red Bull also caught up with director Ron Howard. Howard spoke candidly about the difficulties and safety risks of filming such an ambitious film, particularly in delivering a very visceral sense of speed on film. Also very important (as Howard points out), Rush is very much a character film made to be as compelling to the F1 initiate as to the hardcore fan. Video of the entire interview is below:
Rush stars Chris Hemsworth as James Hunt and Daniel Bruhl as Niki Lauda, and hits U.S. theaters September 20.
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