Rush
Rush is based on the real life rivalry of Niki Lauda and James Hunt, two legendary F1 drivers who competed in the 1970s. Despite their rivalry and opposing personalities, the two respected each other and pushed the other to perform at their very best, culminating in an incredible battle for the 1976 F1 championship. But that battle almost never happened as Lauda experienced a horrific accident that nearly killed him. His remarkable recovery only fed into the drama that would unfold the rest of the championship year.
Concepts
- Imagery: James Hunt uses imagery to help him prepare for upcoming races. The movie depicts him using imagery, intersplicing Hunt practicing with his steering wheel at home while speaking what he would do at each stage of the race with visuals of what he would be imagining. Hunt credits this as an important form of preparation.
- Injury & Illness: While racing under poor conditions, Niki Lauda is injured in a crash, resulting in life-threatening burns. Despite their severity, Lauda only misses two races and returns to try and defend his World Championship title.
- Motivation (Extrinsic): During his stay in the hospital, Lauda watches Hunt win two races on television, which pushes him to recover as fast as possible. He even credits Hunt's victories with keeping him going during the painful procedures that he needed to undertake to survive. Hunt is also largely motivated by the perks of winning: fame, fortune, partying, etc.