The driver who inspired terrifying F1 movie crash on “surreal” Brad Pitt meeting

Martin Donnelly, who suffered serious injuries in a crash at the 1990 Spanish Grand Prix, revealed he met Brad Pitt ahead of the premiere of the F1 movie having been an inspiration for major plot point

The former Arrows and Lotus F1 driver suffered a terrifying incident at Jerez when his car suspension failed during practice and he crashed into a wall at an estimated 160mph, with his Lotus ripped in half.

Pitt’s character Sonny Hayes returns to the F1 grid three decades after narrowly escaping death in a crash similar to Donnelly’s and at the London premiere, the A-lister thanked for the former driver for “putting his energy and guidance” into the movie.

Donnelly told the BBC that it was a “pinch yourself” moment: “I said ‘Is he talking to me, is he referring to me?’ It is one of those memories I will cherish for life. It was just a surreal moment. A highly rated A-list star like Brad Pitt asking me for advice and direction.”

Although the footage has been manipulated, the 1990 accident that Donnelly suffered was used in the film. His car disintegrated against a barrier after the high-speed collision, which caused injuries to his right leg that effectively ended his F1 career.

Martin Donnelly

Photo by: Rainer W. Schlegelmilch / Motorsport Images

Donnelly described the experience of watching the accident on the big screen as “surreal.”

“It was something only I could appreciate. After one of the operations the surgeon said, ‘that is it – you will never drive an F1 car again.’” Donnelly explained. “But he does not know the mind of a racing driver. We are stubborn and determined and selfish.”

A few years later, he got behind the wheel again, though it was only a demonstration run.

“On 23 February 1993 I drove a Jordan car around Silverstone and that was me giving my surgeons the pledge to say you know your books, but you do not know me, and here I am,” he said.