F1 documentaries and motorsport films to watch during the off season

During the off season, F1 fans will often go in search of alternative sources for their winter fix of motorsport. Luckily, for those with an appetite for that kind of content, there is a back catalogue of motor racing films and F1 documentary features to explore, ranging from the present-day Drive to Survive and stretching all the way back to the classic Grand Prix film from 1966, there’s something for everyone. We’ve compiled a list of our favourites. 

F1 documentary features  Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story (2023) The newly released Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story is a F1 documentary available on Disney+ and is hosted by Keanu Reaves who delves into the 2009 F1 season in which Ross Brawn took the shell of the outgoing Honda team and turned it into a front-running underdog outfit. As if winning races on a shoestring budget wasn’t enough, the FOTA coup was in full swing, making for a truly astonishing fairytale story that has to be seen to be believed. 

Drive to Survive (2019-present) Now with five hugely successful seasons in the books and a hotly anticipated sixth instalment set to hit screens in early 2024, the global phenomenon Drive to Survive has gone from strength to strength since it first aired in 2019. Widely considered to be the definitive contemporary sports docuseries, a revealing behind-the-scenes model inspired future Netflix projects such as Break Point and Full Swing and remains just as enthralling today as it was five years ago. All series are available to watch on Netflix. 

Grand Prix Driver (2018) Before Drive to Survive, there was an intriguing and often overlooked Miniseries streamed via Amazon Prime Video and narrated by Michael Douglas. Grand Prix Driver offers a unique and exclusive look into the inner workings of the McLaren F1 team during one of their most turbulent seasons in recent memory. Follow Fernando Alonso, Stoffel Vandoorne and Zak Brown among other team members as they navigate their way through a challenging year of racing. 

Schumacher (2021) Before Lewis Hamilton equalled his record of seven drivers titles, Michael Schumacher was out on his own as the most successful F1 driver of all time. A conversation about all-time greats of the sport will almost always feature Schumacher, and audiences see a new side to the legend through this intimate blend of exclusive interviews and archival footage. With a runtime of almost two hours, Schumacher can be streamed on Netflix. 

Senna (2010) With a distinct lack of commentary and interviews, Senna utilises a rare style of filmmaking that sets it apart from other documentaries. A montage of TV appearances, home videos and race footage, Senna leaves the audience to craft their own narrative, starting in go-karts, peaking with his titles at McLaren and coming to a tragic end on that fateful weekend at Imola. Senna can be bought or rented on YouTube and Amazon Prime Video.  

1: Life on the Limit (2013) Narrated my Michael Fassbender, 1: Life on the Limit documents F1’s golden era and the dangers that went with it. Covering the sports early years, right the way through to Senna’s death in 1994, viewers then follow the efforts that were made to improve the safety of F1 cars and circuits. This documentary is currently available to watch free of charge on ITVX.

Weekend of a Champion (1972) Originally premiering at the 1972 Berlin Film Festival, Weekend of a Champion followed Jackie Stewart and his efforts at the 1971 Monaco Grand Prix Weekend but remained unreleased to general audiences for four decades. Original Producer, and good friend to Jackie, Roman Polanski restored the footage to its former glory, adding a short epilogue and the feature was finally released in 2013. Available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video or YouTube. 

McLaren (2017) Few modern-day F1 fans know the man behind the team, but McLaren allows for an intimate introduction to his life. From his earliest days in a motorsport paddock to his untimely death at Goodwood in 1970, this film depicts the story of New Zealand’s Bruce McLaren through archival footage, recreations and interviews with F1 personalities such as Mario Andretti and Emerson Fittipaldi. This film is available for purchase on YouTube and Amazon Prime Video. 

Williams (2017) Like McLaren, the Williams documentary gave a rare glimpse into the private life of Frank Williams and his family. Chronicling Frank’s foray into racing and the team’s inception, through to his life-changing accident and into the team's resurgence during the early seasons of the turbo-hybrid era, this feature highlights the meteoric rise of the team and a story unlike any in the sport. Hear from Frank himself, Claire and many more famous faces from the world of F1. This documentary is also available to buy on Amazon Prime and YouTube. 

Ferrari: Race to Immortality (2017) Completing the trio of historic F1 team documentaries released in 2017, Ferrari: Race to Immortality doesn’t have quite the same level of focus on the team’s figurehead as the others. Instead, this 90-minute feature opts for an unfiltered approach, showing much of the danger and incidents the drivers of the fifties and sixties experienced in graphic detail. Once again, this documentary is available to purchase on Amazon Prime Video and YouTube. 

Films Le Mans ’66 (2019) Otherwise known as Ford v Ferrari, Le Mans ’66 follows legendary automotive designer Carroll Shelby and British racing driver Ken Miles on their quest to topple the all-conquering Ferrari at the behest of Henry Ford II. Culminating with the controversial finish of the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, this film is a must-see for any motorsport fan, and with a cast featuring Christian Bale and Matt Damon among others, this is worthy of its 152-minute run time. Available for Disney+ subscribers. 

Rush (2013) Rush’s narrative centres around James Hunt, Niki Lauda and the revered 1976 F1 season, one of the sport’s first rivalries that captured the attention of worldwide audiences in a way previously unseen in motorsport. The 1976 season couldn’t be recreated without Lauda’s horrifying crash at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, giving modern audiences an idea of F1's brutal past. This film can be watched on Netflix. 

Le Mans (1971) Now onto a bona fide classic. This 1971 film stars the man of the moment Steve McQueen and even features actual footage captured at the 1970 running of the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Although it wasn’t a raging success at its initial release, Le Mans has since become a cult classic. Available on Paramount+ and Amazon Prime Video. 

Grand Prix (1966) Grand Prix is a 1966 John Frankenheimer film that is based on a fictitious Formula One season of the same year. Like Le Mans, Grand Prix utilises real racing footage, but this film also features notable cameos from the era’s most famous drivers; namely Phil Hill, Graham Hill, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Jochen Rindt, Jack Brabham and Bruce McLaren among others. This classic is also available via YouTube, Amazon Prime Video and other streaming services. 

Gran Turismo (2023) Based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough, Gran Turismo is a retelling of his journey from video game enthusiast to professional racing driver by way of the GT Academy. If you are unfamiliar with Mardenborough’s story, it’s well worth learning more about him and this movie is the perfect way to do it. Starring David Harbour, Orlando Bloom and Geri Halliwell Horner, Gran Turismo is now available to be purchased on YouTube, Amazon Prime Video and other streaming platforms. 

Ferrari (2023) The newest of all the films in this list, Ferrari is set to be released in late December of 2023. Based on the 1991 Brock Yates biography, Ferrari focuses on a particularly turbulent summer in 1957, one in which Enzo Ferrari is emotionally battered following the death of his son Dino and his faltering marriage, but also faces mounting pressures professionally with looming bankruptcy and the upcoming Mille Miglia. Adam Driver stars as Enzo with Penélope Cruz as wife Laura.