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James Hunt
James Hunt
Played by: Chris Hemsworth
- Actually Pretty Funny: Played straight towards the end when James quips that the accident actually made Niki look better. Niki is visibly grinning with amusement even as he flips James off.
- All Work vs. All Play: He's the All Play half compared to Niki's All Work.
- Always Someone Better: James Hunt and, to a certain extent, Niki Lauda, felt this about each other.
- Artistic License – History:
- Hunt and Lauda were at worst friendly enemies and in their Formula 3 days actually shared an apartment together. Likewise, Lauda's comments at the end of the film that he last saw Hunt "at the side of the road with a flat tire on his bicycle" neglect to mention that at the time Hunt was trying his hand at professional cycling, which he did fairly well at for a few years. And something excised completely was that Niki was quite the womanizer himself, though nowhere near James's reputation.
- James never punched any reporters but he did punch a fellow driver in F3 after a crash, and a track marshal in 1977 (after the events of the film) after his team-mate had crashed him off. And both those punches were more out of nerves and reflex than anger, as he was quick to apologize and see if the punchees were okay.
- James did injure his hand on a broken gear lever but the incident took place in the 1974 BRDC International Trophy race at Silverstone, not in the Japanese Grand Prix.
- Badass Driver: The film basically charts the two biggest drivers of the 1976, characterizing them as titans of their field.
- Balls of Steel: James Hunt was once asked what he had that made him so quick. His answer: "Big balls". Truth in Television as he really did give that answer much to the reporter's surprise.
- Blatant Lies: At the Italian Grand Prix, James is visibly shocked by Niki's burn scars, but tries to say it's not that bad when Niki notices this. Niki replies that seeing James's reaction is proof that he'll spend the rest of his life with a face that frightens people.
- Blue Oni, Red Oni: The fundamental difference between Lauda and Hunt. Lauda is the Blue Oni: cold, calculating, methodical, only interested in winning and results, with no patience for pleasure or sentiment. Hunt is the Red Oni: passionate, charismatic, flighty, irresponsible and irreverent, relying more on natural talent than hard work. Their racing overalls were even properly colored in the first part of the movie, until Niki moved to Ferrari.
- Brilliant, but Lazy: James Hunt, who, after winning the 1976 Championship, decided that was good enough for him, retiring from the sport only three years later.
- Break the Badass: Minor example with Hunt after Lauda's crash.
- The Casanova: As was true in real life, James Really Gets Around, having allegedly slept with over 5000 women in his lifetime.
- Chick Magnet: He allegedly slept with over 5000 women in his lifetime.
- Character Tics: James flicks the lid of his zippo lighter and jiggles his foot whenever he's nervy. He's seen doing so on the plane when his wife leaves him; next doing this under the table while he's presenting a cool face in the press conference before Fuji.
- Cool Car: Played with in James's choice of car off the track: a Mini Cooper. They might look humble, as befitting a driver with nothing to prove, but anyone whose ever driven one knows how fast and fun to drive they are.
- Country Matters: "The name is 'Hunt'! It rhymes with 'cunt'! A word that happens to describe you perfectly!"
- Crazy Jealous Guy:
- The film begins with James entering a hospital after being hit in the ribs with a crowbar by a jealous husband.
- There's a definite undercurrent of jealously from James himself when his wife leaves him for Richard Burton. He tries to be calm and remain civil but he can't help but get a jab or two in regarding Burton's own reputation.
- Darkest Hour: For James, it sure seemed like it when Hesketh folded, leaving him without a drive, and his marriage was beginning to crumble. Then Emerson Fittipaldi leaves McLaren to start his own team and James talks his way into getting the empty seat over Jacky Ickx.
- Determinator: Plagued by persistent mechanical problems that caused him to not finish several races, he kept on plugging away until he was near the top of the standings by the final race of the season.
- Deliberate Values Dissonance: With regulations and protocols today, James certainly wouldn't have gotten away with drinking champagne or smoking a joint before the race, not even in lesser formulae.
- Does This Remind You of Anything?: The sex scene between Hunt and the air stewardess cuts right to a piston pumping in an engine.
- Down to the Last Play: With Lauda withdrawing from the race, James Hunt needs to finish fourth or betternote in the last F1 race of the season to be world champion. After having a tire problem late in the race and taking a pit stop which dropped him to fifth, he finishes third on the last lap of the race to beat Lauda by a single point and becomes world champion.
- Drives Like Crazy: Hunt The Shunt. He's a Badass Driver but he also seems to be somewhat lacking in the self-preservation department. By his own admission he was willing to die to beat Lauda.
- Drowning My Sorrows: One of Hunt's favorite habits.
- Embarrassing Nickname: James Hunt used to be called Hunt the Shunt.
- Establishing Character Moment: In James Hunt's first appearance, he's been fighting with a jealous husband.
- Fourth-Date Marriage: Between James and Suzy. Doesn't work out though.
- Friendly Enemy: Hunt and Lauda hate each other, but their competition spurs them to be the best at their field and they eventually come to respect each other as rivals. This is exaggerated from the truth for dramatic effect, as Hunt and Lauda in real life were always on friendly terms and even lived as roommates at one point.
- Genius Ditz: James Hunt indulged in Obfuscating Stupidity when, in truth, he was A LOT smarter than most people gave him credit for.
- Good-Times Montage: Wine, women, quiz shows, making cheesy adverts, all the glitz and glamour after James Hunt wins the 1976 championship.
- Happily Married: Subverted with James Hunt and Suzy Miller.
- Heroes Gone Fishing: James is seen early on to keep budgerigars.
- Referenced by James at the end when he says to Niki, "Some of life has to be for pleasure. What's the point of having a million cups and medals and planes if you don't have any fun? How is that winning?"
- Historical Domain Character: James Hunt
- Instant Seduction: James with Nurse Gemma and later an air stewardess.
- Insult Backfire: Lauda takes it as a compliment when Hunt calls him a rat.
- It's All My Fault: James admits to Niki that it's his fault that the Nürburgring incident happened due to him swaying the room. Niki, of course, agrees.
- Ironic Echo: At the Nürburgring, when Niki calls for the race to be cancelled on account of the treacherous rain, James sways everyone to race anyway by suggesting Niki's only doing it to preserve his chances of retaining the title. Cue Fuji, and worse rain, and James is the one calling for the race to be cancelled, even though doing so automatically gives the title to Niki. Not that it mattered, both races went on. (In real life James actually did try to withdraw. Alastair literally threatened to break James's neck if he got out of the car.)
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: James Hunt came across as an asshole, but beneath that hedonistic façade there was a genuinely decent guy. Shown especially after Niki Lauda's post-accident press conference.
- Jumped at the Call: James, quite literally, when he gets a call from his brother telling him that there's something going on at McLaren.
- Kick The Son Of A Bitch: Hunt beating the shit out of the reporter who asks Niki if his marriage will survive after his facial disfigurement.
- Ladykiller in Love: Averted with James, who marries Suzy after knowing her for a matter of weeks but seemingly couldn't care less when she leaves him. In real life he even befriended the man she left him for.
- Mile-High Club: For James (with a Sexy Stewardess), though it's less for fanservice and more for showing his growing restlessness and frustration.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Hunt feels responsible for Lauda's accident. Lauda tells him bluntly that he blames him too, but that he also credits his fast recovery to Hunt.
- The Name Is Bond, James Bond: Hunt always introduces himself as "Hunt, James Hunt".
- No Holds Barred Beat Down: James administers one to a reporter who is ill-advised enough to rudely ask Niki if Marlene could possibly go on loving him after his face was disfigured in the Nürburgring crash.Hunt (to the badly-beaten reporter): "Now go home to your wife and ask her how you look. Prick."
- The Rival: James Hunt and Niki Lauda saw each other as that.
- Second Place Is for Winners: For placing 3rd at Fuji, which is good enough to win the racing championship.
- Shower of Love: James and the nurse.
- Stress Vomit / Vomit Indiscretion Shot: James throws up before every race. We are treated to several of these.
- Technician Versus Performer: Niki (Technician) vs. James (Performer). Interestingly, the film does not favour the one over the other - both men are presented as very talented, each in his own way.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: James's and Niki's relationship has evolved into something like this by the end of the film.
- Worthy Opponent: Niki pretty much declares James as his in his final voiceover.
Niki Lauda
Niki Lauda
Played by: Daniel Brühl
- Actually Pretty Funny: Subverted during the press conference scene. Niki initially chuckles when a reporter suggests that his wife might leave him because of his disfigurement, but when the reporter persists, Niki stops laughing very quickly.
- All Work vs. All Play: The All Work compared to James' All Play.
- Always Someone Better: James Hunt and, to a certain extent, Niki Lauda, felt that about each other.
- Animal Motifs: Hunt frequently compares Lauda to a rat. Lauda takes it as a compliment because rats are smart, enduring creatures.
- Artistic License – History:
- Hunt and Lauda were at worst friendly enemies and in their Formula 3 days actually shared an apartment together. Likewise, Lauda's comments at the end of the film that he last saw Hunt "at the side of the road with a flat tire on his bicycle" neglect to mention that at the time Hunt was trying his hand at professional cycling, which he did fairly well at for a few years. And something excised completely was that Niki was quite the womanizer himself, though nowhere near James's reputation.
- A rather minor change in the grand scheme of things: the real life Niki has blue eyes. Presumably they were changed to brown to further the contrast between him and the also blue eyed James, or to make it easier on the naturally brown-eyed Daniel Brühl, who already had to wear prosthetics to emulate Niki's ratlike face and later his burns; contacts would have likely just been too much.
- Niki Lauda is wearing coveralls with the STP logo in a scene set in 1973, but he drove for the Marlboro-sponsored BRM team that year. Lauda drove for the March team, sponsored by STP, the previous year.
- Awesome by Analysis: While riding in Marlene's car, Niki reels off an impressive laundry list of mechanical problems that he claims he sensed using his ass. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, Niki Lauda performed a Sherlock Scan with his butt.
- Badass Driver: The film basically charts the two biggest drivers of the 1976, characterizing them as titans of their field.
- Big Fancy House: The Laudas' family home in Vienna, Austria.
- Blatant Lies: Lauda claims that he gets no thrill out of racing and would quit the sport the moment a more profitable opportunity presented itself. However, we've already seen him spurn his father's offer to include him in the family's profitable business to pursue racing instead. Lauda just doesn't want to admit that he has an emotional attachment to something.
- Blue Oni, Red Oni: The fundamental difference between Lauda and Hunt. Lauda is the Blue Oni: cold, calculating, methodical, only interested in winning and results, with no patience for pleasure or sentiment. Hunt is the Red Oni: passionate, charismatic, flighty, irresponsible and irreverent, relying more on natural talent than hard work. Their racing overalls were even properly colored in the first part of the movie, until Niki moved to Ferrari.
- Blunt "Yes": When James tells Niki that he feels responsible for the accident that left the latter's face disfigured, Niki doesn't hesitate to agree.
- Brutal Honesty: Niki will speak his mind, no matter what and no matter who is present. This was Truth in Television too: a favorite story of Daniel Brühl's is when he and Niki decided to meet, Niki told him to just bring hand luggage so 'if they didn't like each other he could piss off right away'. (In case you're wondering, Daniel spent so long in Vienna he ended up buying more clothes.)
- Cassandra Truth: Niki is fully aware of how dangerous Nürburgring is and tries to convince the rest of the drivers to cancel the race due to bad conditions, but is ignored mostly through his own personality and James's swaying of the room.
- Character Development: Niki Lauda had the most notable one, going from being an emotionless driver who thought happiness was a weakness to re-evaluating his life after his nearly fatal crash at Nürburgring, becoming a little mellower and friendlier, especially towards James.
- Darkest Hour: His Nürburgring crash.
- Defeat Means Friendship / Defeat Means Respect: Post 1976 Niki to James.
- Defrosting Ice Queen: A genderflipped version. Niki warms up to Marlene and impresses her during their first meeting despite telling James that he doesn't bother with getting people to like him.
- Determinator: After having the Last Rites administered and with extensive burns to his face and scalp, not to mention severe lung damage, did everything in his power to get back in his car in time for the Italian GP, finishing it in 4th place, all of that in only 42 days.
- Embarrassing Nickname: Niki Lauda was called The Rat. Niki doesn't really mind being called a rat; sure they're ugly, but they're also intelligent. In real life, Lauda actually had a rat emblem on his helmet because of this. (And later a cartoon rat was the mascot for his airline.)
- Emotionally Tongue-Tied: Niki is fully aware of his own love-related skills (or lack thereof), which he readily admits to Marlene.Marlene: Mein Gott, ein poet
- Establishing Character Moment: In James Hunt's first appearance, he's been fighting with a jealous husband,, while with Niki, he seems to have been meticulously inspecting the track since five o'clock in the morning.
- Eye Cam: A POV shot from Lauda as he looks up from his hospital bed after the accident.
- Facial Horror: Niki was horribly burned in his crash and they were not afraid to show it. Just compare Brühl's makeup job to Lauda's real burns.◊
- Friendly Enemy: Hunt and Lauda hate each other, but their competition spurs them to be the best at their field and they eventually come to respect each other as rivals. This is exaggerated from the truth for dramatic effect, as Hunt and Lauda in real life were always on friendly terms and even lived as roommates at one point.
- Handicapped Badass: Niki Lauda, after the infamous Nürburgring accident, returned to race in the Italian GP with his wounds still bleeding.
- Happily Married: Played straight with Niki Lauda and Marlene. Just don't read Niki's Wikipedia page regarding that.
- Heroic Second Wind: In the Italian Grand Prix, Niki starts poorly with his vision impaired as the commentators wonder if he's a danger on the track. Then there's a crash between the #34 March of Hans-Joachim Stuck & the #5 Lotus of Mario Andretti note in front of him, he somehow evades the wreckage, his vision suddenly clears and he's back to his old skill.
- Historical Domain Character: Niki Lauda
- If My Calculations Are Correct: Niki talks about the "percentage of risk" quite a bit. According to him, there's a 20% chance of death in a race under normal conditions, which is acceptable. At Nürburgring it's over that, which is unacceptable. There's also no point in increasing the percentage by speeding on regular roads if he's not getting paid (or unless Marlene asks him to).
- Impairment Shot: The camera blurs when Niki is in the hospital, looking at Marlene while a priest gives him last rites, just before he blacks out. It's repeated at the Italian Grand Prix, but as a prelude to his Heroic Second Wind.
- Insufferable Genius: Niki Lauda is madly talented, knows it and will not hesitate to let everyone else know.
- I Regret Nothing: Niki says he has no regrets after withdrawing from the Japanese Grand Prix because it wasn't safe.
- Jammed Seatbelts: Niki is seen struggling with the release on his five-point harness as his car is in flames around him. Undoubtedly his difficulty with it is due the to fact that his face is on fire and he's trying not to breathe superheated toxic fumes. The drivers who rescue him manage to pop the release once they are able to get through the flames.
- Meet Cute: Niki and Marlene's first meeting (Starts with Niki picking up all the faults in her car with his butt, and ends in an epic joyride in an Alfa)
- Nobody Calls Me "Chicken"!: The situation arises when one racer accuses Niki of wanting to cancel the Nürburgring race out of fear. Niki's pride kicks in and he agrees to compete.
- Not So Above It All: Niki insists that every risk he takes is carefully calculated and he would never ever do anything where the pay-off doesn't outweigh the risk, and yet he allows himself to be goaded into taking risks that he himself considered to be unacceptable twice during the course of the movie. The first is when he's driving with Marlene through the Italian countryside, and the second is at the Nürburgring when he wants to have the race abandoned due to the conditions (see Nobody Calls Me "Chicken"!, above).
- Precision F-Strike: Delivered by Lauda to an obnoxious reporter who questions his wife's love for him after his disfigurement.Lauda: "Fuck you. Press conference over!" (leaves the room)
- Rich Bastard: Hunt makes his initial contempt for Lauda clear, seeing him as a rich kid who has to buy his way into racing. Lauda promptly shows him that rich does not equal untalented.
- The Rival: James Hunt and Niki Lauda saw each other as that.
- Rules Lawyer: Niki plays this card with his one of his early Formula 1 races with James by accusing the British racer's car of being of illegal width. The judges examine it and agree, which disqualifies James's win and handicaps him for a number of races with mechanical failures as his crew struggles to modify the car to fit it within regulations even though the ruling was later overturned.
- Running Gag: Niki's progress has a way of ruining special occasions for James.
- His winning F3 Driver of the Year is spoiled when he finds out Lauda has just bought his way into Formula 1.
- His wedding celebrations are soured with the news that Lauda has managed to land a drive at Ferrarinote .
- His good mood at the 1975 season wrap party is squashed when Niki himself turns up to gloat that he became the world champion.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Niki pulls two of these after his accident. After the rude British journalist offends Niki at the press conference by asking how his marriage can survive as a result of his injuries, Niki insults the journalist and angrily walks out.
- At the final race in Fuji, Niki pulls another one after only one lap, not wanting to risk his life again because it's not safe in the pouring rain.
- Second Place Is for Winners: For placing an impressive 4th in a race so soon after being so seriously injured and disfigured after a major car crash.
- Sherlock Scan: As seen under the Awesome by Analysis example, Niki pulls off one with his backside and is able to rattle off a series of mechnical problems with Marlene's car as he's driving it, such as a loose fan belt, worn rear brakes, and a front right tyre that's too soft, explaining why the car is weaving about. Shortly after, it's broken down.
- Signature Headgear: At the final scene we see Niki's iconic red hat that he started wearing to hide his scars (before he started renting out the front for advertising space, anyway).
- The Stoic: Niki Lauda rarely smiles. In fact, he only seems to show emotions when he is around James Hunt and, perhaps, his wife Marlene.
- Technician Versus Performer: Niki (Technician) vs. James (Performer). Interestingly, the film does not favour the one over the other - both men are presented as very talented, each in his own way.
- That One Level (In-Universe): The Nürburgring (to be specific the Nordschleife circuit where the race was held). Between it being a Marathon Level (the lap record is 7 minutes and technically Niki has gone under that in a test session, hence him saying he has the record) and long stretches where it's difficult to impossible to have marshals nearby or medical cars to get there easily, it was little wonder Niki tried to boycott the race. After Niki's accident the Nürburgring didn't hold a Formula One race for eight years, and when it did it was on the shorter and safer Strecke circuit.
- Took a Level in Badass: Niki Lauda after his accident. And it happened in real life, too!
- Underwater Kiss: Niki and Marlene get one during their honeymoon.
- Victorious Loser: Niki may have lost the title to James, but he's alive to try again, and after the Nürburgring, that was more important to him. Besides, he'd go on to win two more titles, so if anything it's a setback, not a loss.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: James's and Niki's relationship has evolved into something like this by the end of the film.
Suzy Miller
Suzy Miller
Played by: Olivia Wilde
- All Girls Want Bad Boys: Along with the rest of groupies who surrounded James Hunt.
- Fourth-Date Marriage: Between James and Suzy. Doesn't work out though.
- Happily Married: Subverted with James Hunt and Suzy Miller.
- Historical Domain Character: Suzy Miller
Marlene Lauda
Marlene Lauda
Played by: Alexandra Maria Lara
- The Alleged Car: Marlene's car, which she claims to have been given an expensive repair job only for it to stall in the middle of the road.
- Gilligan Cut: Marlene, after Niki gives a Long List of things wrong with her car, indignantly says that the car was just serviced and is in "perfect condition". Cut to the inevitable smoking car by the side of the road.
- Happily Married: Played straight with Niki Lauda and Marlene. Just don't read Niki's Wikipedia page regarding that.
- Hitchhiker's Leg: Marlene invokes this in order to get a ride after her car breaks down - "This is Italy, after all." Subverted because the two guys who stop turn out to be huge Team Ferrari/Niki Lauda fanboys and ignore her completely!
- Meet Cute: Niki and Marlene's first meeting (Starts with Niki picking up all the faults in her car with his butt, and ends in an epic joyride in an Alfa)
- Underwater Kiss: Niki and Marlene get one during their honeymoon.
Clay Regazzoni
Clay Regazzoni
Played by: Pierfrancesco Favino
- Historical Domain Character: Clay Regazzoni
- Nice Guy: Went as far as recommending Niki Lauda, who was his team mate in BRM, to Enzo Ferrari himself, getting him a drive in the Scuderia. Not to mention cautioning Lauda against humiliating himself by taking James Hunt's sloppy seconds.
Louis Stanley
Nurse Gemma
Nurse Gemma
Played by: Natalie Dormer
- Casting Gag: This is the second time Natalie Dormer (Nurse Gemma) has had a small but memorable role where she got make out with an Avengers cast member (the first being with Chris Evans in Captain America: The First Avenger).
- Hospital Hottie: As you'd expect of a nurse played by Natalie Dormer.
- Shower of Love: James and the nurse.
Alastair Caldwell
Alastair Caldwell
Played by: Stephen Mangan
- The Cameo: The real Alastair Caldwell, former Team Manager of McLaren, shows up during the final Press Conference at the Japanese GP. He's the moustached man sitting behind the drivers.
- Cluster F-Bomb: Alastair Caldwell was a bit irritated when Emerson Fittipaldi leaves the team.
- Historical Domain Character: Alastair Caldwell
Lord Hesketh
Lord Hesketh
Played by: Christian McKay
- Age Lift: Lord Hesketh is portrayed as a middle-aged man in the film, but he would actually be 20 years old at the beginning of the film, three years younger than his sponsored driver James Hunt.
- Big Fancy House: Easton Neston, Lord Hesketh's country house.
- Historical Domain Character: Alexander Hesketh
- Riches to Rags: There's nothing quite like setting up an F1 team without any help from sponsors for wiping out a family fortune, as Lord Hesketh finds out to his dismay.
- Start My Own: How Hesketh gets Hunt into Formula 1. He figured that rather than build up to it via Formula 2 he'd frogleap that step and set up as a Formula 1 team because the economics of the two sports aren't so different. It turns out he's dead wrong about the economics of F1 compared to F2 and ends up going bankrupt.
- The Team Benefactor: Lord Alexander Hesketh financed James Hunt's first and costly endeavours in Formula One, because it amused him.
Stirling Moss
Teddy Mayer
Anthony Horsley
Anthony 'Bubbles' Horsley
Played by: Julian Rhind-Tutt
