5 Best F1 Movies to watch for a die hard fan

Formula 1 is an absolute thrill-ride in reality, so it's no surprise that there's been some excellent films based around the pinnacle of motorsport over the decades. From documentary films, to biopics, to the odd drama, there's been a huge variety of the types of films on offer. Which one is the best really depends on your taste, but there's definitely some that impress more than others, and with the rise of inline streaming services, more seem to be being made than ever before. So, with that being said, here's the five best F1 films of all time.

#5 - Weekend of a Champion

Roman Polanski (left) And Sir Jackie Stewart teamed up to make a fascinating film in 1972.

As can probably be assumed from the title, Weekend of a Champion focusses on then two-time F1 world champion, Jackie Stewart. The weekend in question is the 1971 Monaco Grand Prix, the event which is always a highlight of the motor-sporting calendar. Roman Polanski helped direct the film, as he was a good friend of Sir Jackie's (something the Scot probably doesn't shout from the rooftops about these days). The film gave access to a real motor racing driver on the top of his game like we'd never seen before, and have rarely witnessed since.

While the 60's and 70's were very dangerous times to be a racing driver, (we'll get more onto that later) the glamour around the sport is completely unmatched today. With Price Rainier and Princess Grace at the helm of Monaco, it's an extremely nostalgic watch. There's also a peek back at other racing series at the time too, with an F3 race being showcased, which included a field with the likes of Roger Williamson and Patrick Depailler in it too.

#4 - Rush

Lauda and Hunt's rivalry played out on the silver screen in 2013's Rush.

There's been a rise of films in recent years which focus on sporting rivalries, with Ron Howard's Rush perhaps being the best of the lot. The film primarily focusses on the battles for the driver's championship in 1976, arguably the greatest season of Formula 1 ever. The two protagonists are polar opposites, Hunt was a womanizing playboy who was in racing for a good time, while Lauda was a methodical straight-shooter, who was after one thing and one thing only, to be world champion.

Despite the differences in approach, both achieved outstanding success in the sport. A mention has to go to both Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl as well, as the pair produced fine acting performances, if you shut your eyes and listen, you could swear it was actually the drivers they were playing who were talking.

Yes, dramatic licence is taken in the plot of the film, which may detract from the experience for a hardcore fan, but all movies that aren't documentaries do this. What makes the film so gripping and entertaining is the way in which it's edited and the story of Lauda's recovery, which is probably the greatest sporting comeback of all-time. Tiger Woods' recent Masters win doesn't hold a candle to it.

#3 - 1: Life on the Limit

The 1996 Australian GP serves as the opening to this 2013 documentary film.

The history of Formula 1 is something that's very difficult to summarize in a two hour film, but 2013's 1 does a good job of this. The film combines archive footage from the 1950's to the present day and interviews with drivers from their respective eras. There are many quotes which are poignant throughout, but Sir Jackie Stewart's "the 60's where when the sex was safe and the racing was dangerous" is a particular highlight for me. The reason behind that has completely switched in modern times, as motorsport was incredibly dangerous during this period, as highlighted by incidents such as Niki Lauda's which played out in Rush.

The film also showed rivalries which younger fans probably won't know about, such as the debate between increased safety in the 70's between drivers like Stewart, and those who opposed it, such as Jacky Ickx. If there was ever a film to give an introduction to the background behind the pinnacle of motorsport, it's this one.

#2 - Senna

Ayrton Senna's most memorable moments in F1 are played out in this biopic.

Whether you believe Ayrton Senna to be the best driver in the history of Formula 1 is a matter of opinion, but what isn't up for debate is the Brazilian legend's impact on the sport. This 2010 documentary film tells the life story of the three-time world champion, from his arrival in European karting leagues in the early 1980's through to his untimely death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Rather than being a dramatized depiction of events like Rush, Senna compiles archive footage from over a decade of television and amateur coverage.

Some movie critics believe that it's among the best documentary films of all-time, and that's largely down to the fascinating tale it tells alongside its excellent editing. Asif Kapadia's masterpiece won best documentary film at the Adelaide, Sundance, LA and Melbourne film festivals and the BAFTA's too. It's a must-see for cinefiles in general, not just F1 fans.

Even the most dedicated Senna fans wouldn't have been able to see the videos of the Senna family before this was released, and it grants access that simply wasn't possible when the legend was alive. And personally, for me, it's one of the few films in which I consistently cry at, the ending is a huge tear-jerker.

#1 - Grand Prix

Grand Prix was the film of the 1966 Formula 1 season, using footage filmed during real races.

The undisputed king of Formula 1 films is appropriately named Grand Prix, it's also one of, if not the best sports films of them all. Using ground-breaking filming techniques, (including onboard shots that we take for granted now) John Frankenheimer brings the glitz and the glamour of 1960's motorsport to life in this masterpiece of cinema.

The film follows the stories of four fictional F1 drivers in their pursuit of that year's driver's championship and features cameo appearances from a number of the real drivers of the day, including Graham Hill, Jochen Rindt, Jack Brabham and Phil Hill. The drama in the drivers' personal lives adds another dimension to the story, but the main attraction is the racing action.

As this film was produced during the 1960's, there is no CGI throughout its run-time, meaning that practical effects is what was used to craft every shot. Honestly, because of this, the film has aged like a fine wine, being more engrossing now than perhaps ever before. The V6-turbo hybrid engines of today's Formula 1 are hugely impressive, but they lack the raw sound that was present in F1 in previous decades. No matter how many times you watch it, seeing these 1960's machines roar through Monaco will always make your hair stand on end.

The editing and sound still stand up today as well, it's thrilling from start to finish. In fact, it won the Academy Awards for best sound, editing and sound effects. The film even deals with what was then an ever-present issue in the sport, the danger. At 3 hours long, it's a film that may put off the casual F1 viewer, but it's something that is a must-see in every sense of the word!

But what do you think is the best Formula 1 film ever? Is it Grand Prix or does another stand out to you more? Let us know in the comments below!