The long road to safety in F1

Last year, F1 was reminded with the dramatic accident of Jules Bianchi that danger is always present and that drivers risk their lives to pursue their passion.

The documentary, Lauda: The Untold Story, directed by Hannes Schalle, is a very good way to remember that a few decades ago, death struck the race circuits several times a year. The film begins with the impressive footage of the accident involving Niki Lauda during the 1976 Nürburgring race, including amateur footage that had never been seen until now.

The director also recalls that the one who was considered the best driver of his generation had called for a boycott of this event because he believed that the safety conditions around this 23-kilometer circuit were far from optimal. Unfortunately, the race’s scenario proved him right as he owed his life only to the courage of other drivers who dived into the flames to rescue him.

The report thus distinguishes itself from the recent *Rush*, centered around the Lauda-Hunt rivalry, to focus on the consequences this accident had on F1. The long interview conducted with Jackie Stewart shows how the Briton initiated awareness among his peers at a time when safety was far from a concern in the design of single-seaters. An interview conducted at the time recalls that Niki Lauda’s Ferrari was made up of three fuel tanks with a total capacity of 210 liters. Yet they were located all around the driver! This explains why the car caught fire after the first impact against the safety rail.

A large portion of the report is then dedicated to current safety elements, showcased through Mercedes drivers Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. However, it’s worth noting that the production team chose to delve deeply into these elements, including how crash tests are conducted or how the brakes function. This might be regrettable, as it strays significantly from the main topic, but it will have the merit of satisfying the most tech-addicted F1 fans.

On the occasion of the Grand Prix in Silverstone, a screening took place in 181 British cinemas, gathering 27,000 viewers. Similarly, the DVD went on sale on Amazon, where it has already registered nearly 40,000 pre-orders. The release will be global as the next distribution steps are Germany, Austria, and Italy, while the film is already available in Japan and Poland.

From our special correspondent in Silverstone.

With the participation of www.Racingbusiness.fr