Driver who inspired F1 film 'looking for closure' 35 years after near-death crash

A crash ended his Formula One racing career.

That accident became the inspiration for the 2025 Brad Pitt blockbuster film, F1.

Now, almost 36 years on from that life-changing moment during qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix, Martin Donnelly is headed back to the track he was meant to race on next, "looking for some closure".

It meant he could never compete in a top-end, single-seater car again and missed out on finishing the season at the Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide.

Although not returning to F1 racing, Donnelly has since raced in other categories and driven F1 cars in demo events.

And, this weekend, it is hoped that he will finally take to the track to Adelaide, completing what he could not in 1990, in a car owned by Northern Ireland house builder James Hagan.

And, speaking ahead of fulfilling that ambition, Donnelly said he's "living the dream".

'Racing drivers are a very rare breed and very determined'

Donnelly described feeling "a certain amount of trepidation" about getting back in the car.

But he said he would be driving "with a certain amount of aggression, I won't be just out there going slowly".

Donnelly said he was told after his crash by a surgeon that he would never drive a Formula One car again.

And now he said he would say: "You're wrong, you don't know the human spirit, you don't know racing drivers per se, we are a very rare breed and very determined."

Donnelly told BBC News NI that he was "looking for some closure".

When asked how he thinks he'll feel in the car, he said: "The emotions inside my head will be, I'm sure, going hyper-sonic."

"I do hope sincerely I find that closure," he added.

Donnelly said before the crash "life didn't get any better" - he had just signed to be his team's number one driver.

"In F1, a two-year contact, life was looking good."

Speaking about the crash, Donnelly said: "Let's just say if, I was in a casino, I didn't roll a seven."

"The rest since then has been a struggle," he continued.

When the Lotus disintegrated against the barriers the Belfast man was ejected onto the track and his injuries were so serious he was given the last rites by a priest.

Donnelly said Ayrton Senna was there when the crash happened.

"He stood there and watched a friend of his be brought back to life."

Donnelly explained that he and Senna were reasonably close. They used to spend time playing with remote control cars and helicopters.

When he was in the hospital, Senna came to offer "any financial help at all".

Although he survived, recovery was slow and permanent damage to his right leg meant an end to his F1 career.

His accident influenced the storyline of the recent F1 film, which sees Brad Pitt's character Sonny Hayes return to the wheel after he was in a crash.

Donnelly described how that came about. He got a call from a withheld number while watching TV and having a glass of wine with his wife.

He assumed it was some kind of scam or sales call. The conversation went something like this.

Donnelly said he then said: "Lewis, I humbly apologise...It's not often my phone takes calls from a seven time world champion."

He said they "got chatting away and he wanted my permission to use footage of my F1 accident".

And he said within a week, he was at Silverstone with Brad Pitt signing a contract.

Donnelly said he explained things like what they would need in a garage and advised Pitt.

He said he told him about superstitious routines he would do like talking to the car or always getting in on the left hand side.

"Me directing Brad Pitt, wee lad from Belfast," Donnelly laughed.

Adelaide Motorsport Festival

Donnelly hopes he will be behind the wheel of an iconic Hesketh 308 as part of a track exhibition at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival.

Owned by Northern Ireland housebuilder James Hagan, that particular car launched the career of 1976 F1 World Champion James Hunt.

But the Hesketh 308 has been delayed while being shipped from the UK to Austrailia.

Hagan said: "When the Adelaide Motorsport Festival approached me about showcasing the car this year, I agreed immediately."

He described the idea of Donnelly driving the car as "symbolic".

"Seeing Martin Donnelly drive it in Adelaide adds a completely different dimension. Given what that city represents in his story, this is far more than a demonstration."

However, more than 35 years on from the crash, Donnelly drove an Arrows A10B at 2026 Repco Adelaide Motorsport Festival.

This was the first time he has driven a Formula One car in Adelaide.

The Hesketh 308 also later featured in the film Rush.

Donnelly will be joined in Adelaide by a host of renowned F1 drivers including Mika Häkkinen, David Coulthard, Valtteri Bottas and Stefan Johansson.

Donnelly continues to work in motorsport as a driver coach, FIA steward and founder of the Donnelly Track Academy.