The 2013 biographical film about James Hunt and Niki Lauda starring Chris Hemsworth is Rush. Chris Hemsworth plays British driver James Hunt, while Daniel Brühl portrays Austrian driver Niki Lauda.
Directed by Ron Howard and written by Peter Morgan, Rush focuses on the two drivers’ intense 1976 Formula One championship battle. Hunt raced for McLaren and Lauda for Ferrari, giving the story a natural rivalry between contrasting personalities: Hunt’s flamboyance and Lauda’s disciplined, analytical approach.
The film dramatizes real events, including Lauda’s serious crash at the Nürburgring and his remarkable return to racing only weeks later. However, some scenes heighten their rivalry for cinematic effect. Hunt and Lauda were genuine competitors, but they also became friends and were less constantly hostile than the film suggests.
A common mix-up is confusing Rush with Senna, which centers on Ayrton Senna, or Ford v Ferrari, which follows Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles. Rush is specifically the Hunt–Lauda story.