As someone who loves Formula 1, I really enjoyed the new F1 movie (even if it takes a few creative liberties). But it’s far from the only motorsport story worth watching; there’s a whole grid of great films and shows out there.
5
Rush
Rush should be the first film you watch next if you just got into Formula 1. It’s a great starting point, especially if you’re still figuring out what makes the sport so exciting beyond just fast cars. The film is based on the real-life rivalry between James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl) during the 1976 season. Even if you don’t know anything about F1 history, it’s easy to follow and genuinely entertaining.
What makes Rush so great is how well it shows the difference between Hunt and Lauda. Hunt is impulsive, wild, and all about instinct. Lauda is calculated, technical, and obsessed with getting the details right. Seeing how their opposing styles push each other throughout the season is what makes the story work.
One aspect I didn’t love is how the movie leans into the classic Hollywood trope of turning a rivalry into a personal grudge. It plays up the drama more than it needs to, which takes away a bit from the relationship they had in real life.
Also, if you loved the soundtrack of the new F1 movie, you’re going to enjoy it here too. Hans Zimmer composed both, and his music in Rush adds a ton of energy to the race scenes.
4
Ford v Ferrari
Ford v Ferrari is a solid next pick. It’s based on the true story of how Ford set out to beat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966, after a failed deal between the two companies turned into a full-blown rivalry on the track.
Instead of focusing on just the drivers, the film splits its time between Ken Miles (Christian Bale), a no-nonsense racer, and Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon), the man tasked with leading Ford’s racing effort. What makes it interesting is how much of the story takes place off the track, such as convincing Ford executives to let them do their jobs, or dealing with all the technical limitations of building a car from scratch.
A big part of what makes the movie work is the relationship between Miles and Shelby. The two of them don’t always agree, but there’s a mutual respect that comes through without being overly sentimental. It’s the kind of dynamic that makes the non-racing scenes just as watchable as the big race itself.
Even if you’re not that into endurance racing or the whole Ford and Ferrari history, it’s still a great underdog story with strong performances and a pace that avoids lulls. It’s definitely worth a watch if you want something in the same ballpark as the F1 movie, but with a different kind of rivalry.
3
Gran Turismo
Gran Turismo takes a slightly different approach compared to most racing movies. It’s not about seasoned drivers or legendary rivalries, but about a gamer-turned-racer trying to prove he belongs in the real motorsport world. The story is loosely based on the true events of Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), a teenager who becomes a professional race driver through a competition run by Nissan and PlayStation.
You get to see how much technical knowledge from games like GT translates to real cars, and where it falls short. The movie doesn’t shy away from showing how unprepared Jann is in some situations, and the stakes feel surprisingly real as he goes from racing virtually to handling dangerous tracks at full speed.
The racing scenes are decent, and you can tell the filmmakers wanted to pay homage to the Gran Turismo games. There are even moments where the camera mimics the in-game racing view, which might feel gimmicky to some but works pretty well if you’ve spent time playing the games. It doesn’t reach the same level of polish as something like Rush or Ford v Ferrari, but it’s still a fun watch.
2
Drive to Survive
Drive to Survive is one of the most accessible ways to get into Formula 1, especially if you prefer something that’s structured more like a drama than a sports documentary. The Netflix docuseries follows the F1 calendar season by season, giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the teams, drivers, and all the politics that go into the sport both on and off the track every year.
Each episode usually zooms in on a specific rivalry, team, or incident, which makes it easy to follow even if you don’t know every driver on the grid. You get to see team principals argue over contracts, drivers dealing with career pressure, and the real consequences of race-day decisions. It’s entertaining, and for a lot of people, it’s what made them fans of the sport in the first place.
I’d recommend keeping a second screen handy while watching the show. Since each season follows the most recent Formula 1 championship, it helps to quickly look up stats or learn more about the drivers—many of whom are still active on the grid since season 1.
That said, it’s important to treat Drive to Survive as more of a casual introduction than a fully accurate reflection of F1. The show is known for leaning heavily into manufactured drama. It’s all edited with a clear goal: to create a thrilling watch, even if that means bending reality a bit.
As long as you don’t take everything at face value, this is a great way to get your bearings. You can then move on to watching actual races if you want the full picture.
1
Senna
The 2024 Senna series takes a dramatized approach to telling the story of one of Formula 1’s greatest legends. It follows Ayrton Senna’s (Gabriel Leone) journey from his early racing days in Brazil, all the way to his time at the top of the sport, with a strong focus on the personal side of his life.
The series does a good job of showing how driven and complex Senna was, especially when it comes to his intense rivalry with Alain Prost and his constant clashes with F1’s political landscape. It leans more into character development than pure racing action, which works well for a story like this.
The biggest downside is the CGI. Some of the race sequences don’t look great, and the effects here might pull you out of the moment. But despite that, it’s still a solid watch.
Once you’re done with these, don’t think you’ve run out of options. There are plenty of other movies and shows about motorsports, and there are several websites that can help you find your next pick. You can also use a movie review aggregator to refine your searches even more.
