Best F1 Documentaries

[Benzooki]

Apologies if this has been covered, I did have a look but didn't see a documentary specific thread
I was a HUGE F1 fan as a child and up to 956 (when I was 20). I started watching again in 2024 and I'm enjoying it immensely.

My knowledge pre 95 is good. I'm specifically looking for documentaries late 90's early 2000's.

[JagYouAre]

I seem to remember the Schumacher one (Netflix?) was decent and covers a lot of that era. Albeit a fair amount of sugar coating going on.

[UKsandman]

Hill is pretty good and worth a watch. I wish Mansell would do a documentary, his story is worth telling (having read his book).

[richhead]

UKsandman said:

Hill is pretty good and worth a watch. I wish Mansell would do a documentary, his story is worth telling (having read his book).

Try Red 5

[StevieBee]

UKsandman said:

Hill is pretty good and worth a watch. I wish Mansell would do a documentary, his story is worth telling (having read his book).

There's one called Williams and Mansell: Red 5, which is good.

Other's I'd recommend:

Williams
Crash and Burn
Senna
Brawn; the Impossible Story
Grand Prix: The Killer Years (not an easy watch but interesting)
The Bernie Ecclestone one on Paramount and the Max Mosely one on Netflix (I think)

All those are really good and guarantee you'll learn something you didn't know.

[fizzwheel]

in the 80's on Channel 4 was a documentary series called "Equinox" they did a two part documentary on Fords development of their first F1 Turbo engine.

Its on you tube, if you search for "F1 Turbo Era" you'll find it. For bonus feature spot the very young Ross Brawn in it.

[StevieBee]

fizzwheel said:

in the 80's on Channel 4 was a documentary series called "Equinox" they did a two part documentary on Fords development of their first F1 Turbo engine.

Its on you tube, if you search for "F1 Turbo Era" you'll find it. For bonus feature spot the very young Ross Brawn in it.

I remember watching that.

A few months before it aired, I spotted Alan Jones and a couple of others walking through Chelmsford High Street. I was (and still am) a bit of a Jonesy fan so it was a double take moment seeing the man himself in my 'manor'. Made sense when the programme aired as they did a lot of the initial test running at nearby Boreham which they show in the film.

Here's the link if anyone's interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frU7cVt_qKc

[SoulGlo]

fizzwheel said:

in the 80's on Channel 4 was a documentary series called "Equinox" they did a two part documentary on Fords development of their first F1 Turbo engine.

Its on you tube, if you search for "F1 Turbo Era" you'll find it. For bonus feature spot the very young Ross Brawn in it.

That's a good one.

Another very old doc from that era is one called "Gentleman, lift up your skirts." All about the F1 going back to normal flat floors and the banning of the ground effect skirts in 1981. The focus is on the Williams team and Alan Jones.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8nd5a6

[coppice]

Weekend of a Champion - Roman Polanski's film of Jackie Stewart's 1971 Monaco Grand Prix. Superb .

[Sandpit Steve]

SoulGlo said:

That's a good one.

Another very old doc from that era is one called "Gentleman, lift up your skirts." All about the F1 going back to normal flat floors and the banning of the ground effect skirts in 1981. The focus is on the Williams team and Alan Jones.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8nd5a6

Okay, was persuaded to click on that link by the title, but what a wonderful little documentary from a time when I was still in short trousers. Not just discussions of skirts, but also of engines and featuring some well-known faces from a long time ago!

Absolutely worth 45 minutes of anyone’s time.

[Mags]

fizzwheel said:

in the 80's on Channel 4 was a documentary series called "Equinox" they did a two part documentary on Fords development of their first F1 Turbo engine.

Its on you tube, if you search for "F1 Turbo Era" you'll find it. For bonus feature spot the very young Ross Brawn in it.

Thanks, I really enjoyed that. Ross's typing is about as good as mine!

[GCH]

UKsandman said:

Hill is pretty good and worth a watch. I wish Mansell would do a documentary, his story is worth telling (having read his book).

There were two, I had them on VHS back at that time! Thankfully they are now on youtube.
'The Nigel Mansell Story' - here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prlJ-EYxOck&t=...
and
'Mansell & Ferrari' - here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKXb0q1KapE

Both have some top moustache action, and makes you miss the sound of proper F1 engines...

Edited by GCH on Thursday 22 May 16:03

[Wingo]

The Team A season with McLaren. A 7 parter about the 1993 season.

Excellent, featuring Senna, Andretti, Hakkinen, Ronzo etc.