Formula 1 Drive to Survive, Rush, and More: Our Favourite Motorsport Movies and Shows

Get into motorsport mode ahead of the start of the 2023 Formula 1 championship with these movies and shows.

Written by Ali Pardiwala, Edited by Siddharth Suvarna | Updated: 23 February 2023 14:55 IST

Formula 1 Drive to Survive, Rush, and More: Our Favourite Motorsport Movies and Shows

Photo Credit: Netflix

Formula 1: Drive to Survive season 5 releases on February 24 on Netflix

Highlights

Rush covers the rivalry between F1 drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda
Drive to Survive season 5 recaps the 2022 F1 championship
Senna is a documentary about legendary racer Ayrton Senna

With the 2023 Formula 1 championship kicking off with pre-season testing in Bahrain on February 23 and the first grand prix weekend of the season scheduled for March 3, motorsport fans have a lot to look forward to. If you're looking to catch up on what went down in the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship, Netflix is also dropping the fifth season of Drive to Survive on February 24. Credited with bringing widespread interest back to Formula 1, and particularly increasing viewership for the motorsport championship in the United States, Drive to Survive features interviews, behind-the-scenes snippets, and insider access to the workings of Formula 1.

Apart from Drive to Survive, there are some excellent movies and TV shows that cover motorsport and racing. We've compiled a list of the best motorsport movies and TV shows that you can watch right now, read on to find out.

Formula 1: Drive to Survive

With four seasons out already and the fifth season dropping on February 24, Formula 1: Drive to Survive has been a popular show among both old-school F1 fans and newer fans alike. While the first season had limited access and scoops, later seasons expanded access and provided many more details, interviews, and insider stories, with each season focusing on a particular world championship year. Season 5 will focus on the 2022 F1 season, but you can also catch up on earlier seasons, particularly the super-competitive 2021 season covered in season 4.

Rush

Featuring the fierce rivalry between F1 drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda, Rush is a fast-paced retelling on the dramatic and super-competitive season, which was eventually won in the last race of the season by James Hunt. Although criticised for some historical inaccuracies and exaggerating the rivalry between the two drivers, Rush remains one of the best motorsports movies of contemporary times, and is a must-watch for motorsports fans.

Ford v Ferrari

Based on a similarly competitive and legendary rivalry (but at the corporate level), Ford v Ferrari is a biographical motorsport film covering the fight between Ford and Ferrari for dominance in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. Ford, under the leadership of Henry Ford II, enlists automotive designer and entrepreneur Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles to develop a racing program good enough to defeat Ferrari, the then-dominant force in endurance racing. The film was a critical and commercial success, and is definitely worth a rewatch even if you've already watched it.

Hyperdrive on Netflix is a reality competition show focused heavily on drift racing

Hyperdrive

A reality motorsports and racing competition focused heavily on highly-specialised drift racing, Hyperdrive features 28 competitors from around the world - all skilled drivers with their own specialised vehicles - fight for the title of Hyperdrive champion. The competition takes place on a custom-built track with various obstacles that drivers must cross in their cars. The rapid pace of the competition, as well as the stories behind the competitors, makes this among the most interesting auto sport reality shows you can watch right now.

Senna

Senna is a documentary film featuring the career and life of the legendary Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna, who won three Formula 1 world championships before his untimely death in a racing accident in 1994. The film has received critical acclaim and won numerous awards, remaining an all-time favourite among motorsport fans.

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Formula 1: Drive to Survive Season 5

Release Date 24 February 2023
Genre Documentary
Producer
James Gay-Rees, Paul Martin, Sophie Todd

Rush

Release Date 20 September 2013
Language English, Austrian, German
Genre Biography, Sport
Cast
Daniel Brühl, Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Brühl, Olivia Wilde, Alexandra Maria Lara, Pierfrancesco Favino, David Calder, Natalie Dormer, Stephen Mangan, Christian McKay, Alistair Petrie, Colin Stinton, Julian Rhind-Tutt
Director
Ron Howard
Producer
Andrew Eaton, Eric Fellner, Brian Oliver, Peter Morgan, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard

Ford v Ferrari

Release Date 15 November 2019
Language English
Genre Action, Biography, Drama, Sport
Cast
Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Caitriona Balfe, Jon Bernthal, Tracy Letts, Josh Lucas, Noah Jupe, Remo Girone, Ray McKinnon
Director
James Mangold
Producer
Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping

Hyperdrive

Release Date 21 August 2019
Producer
Aaron Catling, Charlize Theron

Senna

Release Date 12 March 2011
Language English, Portuguese, French, Japanese
Genre Documentary, Sport
Director
Asif Kapadia
Producer
Chris Berend, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, James Gay-Rees

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Further reading: Motorsport, F1, Formula 1, Formula 1 Drive to Survive, Ford v Ferrari, 2023, Rush, Hyperdrive, Senna, Motorsport movies, motorsport tv shows