Paul Crowder's documentary about the changing face of safety in Formula 1 has star power both in front of the camera — Niki Lauda, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Damon Hill, Mario Andretti — and on the soundtrack — Michael Fassbender, a good fit for the machismo of the sport, does the laconic narration. At times, it feels like an endless litany of crashes and fatalities, and if you've seen Senna or Rush, parts of it will feel very familiar, but some of the archival footage is terrific, some of the reminiscences moving — particularly Professor Sid Watkins on Ayrton Senna's death at Imola — and there are interesting sidelines about the impact of TV and the influence of Bernie Ecclestone.
1: Life On The Limit Review
A history of safety in Formula, highlighting some of the sport's most intense rivalries (Jim Clark vs. Jackie Stewart, Hunt vs. Lauda) and tragic losses.
Release Date:
10 Jan 2014
Running Time:
111 minutes
Certificate:
12A
Original Title:
1: Life On The Limit
If the focus is perhaps too broad and the narrative haphazard, 1: Life On The Limit provides a colourful portrait of the perils and pleasures of Formula 1, especially if you don't know your Monza from your Monaco.
Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us