Movies

Who is Martin Donnelly, and why is he thanked in the F1 movie credits?

BBG News

F1: The Movie spoilers follow.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve got to say, the flick they call F1: The Movie is jam-packed with appearances from the big names in the racing world. Legends like Lewis Hamilton, seven-time world champion and producer, Will Buxton, former F1 TV host, and Guenther Steiner, ex-Haas team principal and an ardent fan of Drive to Survive, are all there. Now, Steiner doesn’t exactly think APX GP drivers look like rockstars, but you get the picture.

In the final scenes of the film, there’s a notable shout-out to Martin Donnelly that may leave you curious about who he is and how he’s linked to the movie. Let us fill you in on the details.

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Who is Martin Donnelly? Plus, how he inspired Sonny Hayes’ story

Martin Donnelly, during the late 1980s and early 1990s, was on the verge of becoming a major name in Formula 1. However, his promising racing career in motor sports’ elite class was tragically halted by a severe crash that shares striking similarities with the devastating accident that concluded Sonny Hayes’ initial F1 tenure in the movie.

In the film, they depict a younger Sonny cruising in a car with colors reminiscent of yellow and blue Camel, much like Martin’s actual vehicle, during a crash scene set at the Jerez circuit in Spain. However, this fictional event takes place in 1993, several years after the real-life incident occurred.

Martin hails from Belfast, having been born in 1964. In an interaction with The Lotus Forums, he recounted his upbringing as being distinctly working-class. His father held a strong affinity for motor racing and they would enjoy watching competitions together during his formative years.

As a teen, Martin embarked on competitive racing and ascended through the contemporary Formula 1 preparatory circuits. He declined an offer to attend university for mechanical engineering when his racing career took off.

1988 saw him finish third overall in the Formula 3000 International series, an early version of the current Formula 2 championship. Remarkably, he achieved this ranking despite competing in just five races throughout the entire season.

In the initial phase of his professional life, Martin had the opportunity to participate in elite long-distance races such as the Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona. Notably, the latter was where Sonny found himself competing at the beginning of the F1 film.

In 1989, he received his long-awaited call to participate in a Formula 1 race with the team Arrows. Subsequently, he went back to Lotus, where he had previously worked as a test driver, and secured a racing seat for the following season.

At the tender age of 26, Martin’s life underwent a significant transformation. This shift occurred during the Spanish Grand Prix in 1990, when a suspension malfunction led to a crash during qualifying for the event.

In simpler terms, Martin collided with a wall at approximately 176 miles per hour, experiencing a force roughly equivalent to 42 times the Earth’s gravitational pull. This intense impact was so strong that it breached the protective cell meant to shield him and even fractured his helmet. As a result, his vehicle was utterly devastated, with debris scattered across the entire track.

Just as Sonny got ejected from his vehicle in the film, Martin found himself propelled out of his car onto the racetrack, with the safety harness keeping him secured, as other vehicles continued their laps on the track.

As an ardent race enthusiast, I can’t help but remember the chilling moments when word spread about a tragic incident involving one of our beloved drivers. The FIA’s medical chief, Professor Sid Watkins, swiftly made his way to the scene, ready to provide aid. The harrowing footage of the event was broadcast globally, leaving fans everywhere stunned and saddened.

Individuals who’ve viewed the 2010 film “Senna” might recall a scene depicting Martin’s crash, followed by the events that unfolded thereafter. This is because Ayrton Senna, one of the drivers watching, moved to assist his friend in the wake of the incident.

Regarding Ayrton, Martin shared with Motor Sport magazine in 2010 that he had been observing a man he knew who was close to death. He explained to a reporter that witnessing me in that state made Ayrton understand how vulnerable we all are as human beings.

Apart from his visit, Ayrton additionally reached out to Martin by arranging transportation and financial support, as expressed on the podcast “Beyond the Grid”, if the triple world champion required it to return.

Ayrton Senna at the scene of Martin’s crash

Martin sustained severe injuries, encompassing numerous bone breaks in both legs, a head injury known as a concussion, a fractured clavicle, and bruising on his lungs.

Following the incident, medical professionals confirmed that his heart had stopped beating not once, but twice during surgery. At one critical moment, they put him into an artificially-induced coma to safeguard his essential organs and maximize his chances of a full recovery.

In a conversation with Tom Clarkson during the 2022 episode of the “Beyond the Grid” podcast, Martin openly acknowledged that Dr. Sid Watkins had saved his life on multiple occasions. He also elaborated on the critical nature of those situations.

He shared with Tom that he had been on a ventilator for about seven weeks, and underwent daily kidney dialysis treatments lasting three hours each. Additionally, Sid informed his mother that his condition was uncertain, using the phrase, “You know, it’s gonna be touch and go.” Eventually, she requested a hospital chaplain to administer the last rites to him.

Following the accident, Martin was transported to a hospital in Seville for immediate care. Subsequently, he underwent a prolonged period of recovery at the prestigious Royal London Hospital.

He sustained permanent damage to his left leg from nerves, which causes him to walk with a noticeable limp. Due to multiple surgeries aimed at repair, his leg continues to be in a state of poor health.

Martin revealed that he nearly faced total amputation of his leg while he was hospitalized in Seville, as he was extremely near the brink of such an operation.

Once more, he mentioned that it was quite probable that Sid Watkins’ quick action had preserved his leg from amputation. The physician utilized his own pants’ belt as a makeshift tourniquet, addressing the blood loss that was troubling the hospital doctors.

What happened to Martin Donnelly next?

After the crash, Martin was set on returning to Formula 1 racing, yet fate had other plans. A test drive with Jordan in 1993 occurred, but following more operations, his health issues persisted and specialists informed him that competitive racing wasn’t possible for him anymore.

On the podcast “Beyond the Grid,” Martin reminisced about his surgery that partially restored mobility in his leg. However, he acknowledged and accepted the fact that he wouldn’t be able to race in Formula 1 anymore.

After the initial reconstruction surgery, it seemed to him as if someone above was attempting to convey a message: ‘Martin, they are trying to tell you something.’ He remembered this because he had been revived three times. Now, he had a family and a life. His advice was clear: ‘Let it go.’

Martin undergoing physiotherapy in 1991

He mentioned that the demise of his fellow racer and contemporary, Ayrton Senna, during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, likewise left an impact on him. Reflecting, he said: “He lived a remarkable life. He was a three-time world champion. Who am I in comparison to him?

Nevertheless, Martin continued his career in motorsport, keeping ties with Lotus and eventually taking on stewarding roles in Formula 1 and Goodwood events. He also offers driver coaching, often appears at speaking engagements, operates the Donnelly Track Academy, and established a racing team under his own name.

Back in 2011, I stepped behind the wheel of my old Formula 1 ride, the Lotus 102, for the first time since that fateful day at Goodwood. It was a powerful and emotional moment, reviving memories of the track’s magic and the adrenaline rush that comes with racing.

He reminisced on the show “Beyond the Grid” that he could step out now in a Formula One car. Previously, he had driven it at Goodwood some years back during his initial return, and they managed to set the fastest time going uphill that weekend.

I acquired some unique tires, possibly those for hill climbs. Fortunately, the previous accident at Jerez hasn’t left any lingering effects in my memory.

Currently, I participate in races, but you should be cautious about potential mishaps. However, the desire to demonstrate my abilities and strive for victory drives me to take part in these competitions.

After retiring from Formula 1, Martin has continued to race, participating in events like rallycross and touring car competitions. At one stage, even his son Stefan joined him on the track.

Indeed, on the day of my accident, I had four contracts waiting for me following the 13 races, with each one offering payment for me to drive. At that point, I hadn’t needed to bring any money.

It seems like that saying really highlighted my skills… Who can say where our journey might have led us next?

I’m continuing our conversation and I must say, life has been pretty great for me with my wonderful family. Now, I may not have a fortune at my disposal, but it’s interesting to note that wealth doesn’t automatically guarantee happiness.

F1: The Movie is out now in cinemas, and will stream on Apple TV+ at a later date.

Grab the British Comedy Legends from your local newsstands or online platforms, now at a budget-friendly price of only £3.99.

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2025-06-26 13:52

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