1 (2013)

1 (2013) is a documentary film directed by Paul Crowder and narrated by Michael Fassbender. It opens with the 1996 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, where Martin Brundle escaped a dramatic crash at turn 3. Despite receiving clearance from race doctor Sid Watkins, Brundle quickly switched to a spare car to finish the race. The documentary also briefly examines the origins of Formula One racing in the 1950s, which essentially revived prewar Grand Prix racing. The following year, the FIA announced the Formula One World Constructors’ Championship for winning car manufacturers, coinciding with Juan Manuel Fangio’s retirement as world champion. As a result, British privateer teams dominated the Championship, earning them the nickname ‘Garagistas’ given by Enzo Ferrari. Among these teams was Colin Chapman’s Team Lotus, who made a significant impact on the sport.

In 1966, the FIA made a significant change by increasing the engine size from 1.5 to 3 liters. This resulted in cars racing at much higher speeds on tracks and facilities that had remained unchanged since before World War II. Unfortunately, this also led to several tragic accidents. One of these was the death of Jim Clark, a star driver for Chapman, at the Hockenheimring in a Formula Two race in 1968. This event marked a turning point as other drivers, including Jochen Rindt who replaced Clark on Lotus, and the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), began to voice concerns about safety in the sport. Tragically, Rindt himself was killed in practice at the 1970 Italian Grand Prix and was posthumously awarded the driver’s championship that year. Jackie Stewart, a three-time champion and Chairman of the GPDA, utilized his influence to push for better safety measures and track facilities such as improved barriers and mandatory seat belts.