Who is Sonny Hayes based on? Real-life F1 comebacks just as dramatic as the movie

Lauda later recalled that the prayers made him angry and more determined to survive. He underwent multiple surgeries and endured immense pain, but, motivated by the fierce championship battle with James Hunt, was back on track for the Italian Grand Prix just six weeks after the crash.

Lauda arrived at Monza with his wounds still raw, his head bandaged, and with a specially modified helmet to fit over his injuries, then went on to finish fourth, his bandages soaked in blood and needing assistance to get out of the car.

Lauda’s return kept him in the championship fight, which went down to the final race in Japan, where Lauda, citing unsafe conditions due to torrential rain, withdrew from the race. Hunt finished third and won the championship by a single point, but Lauda’s comeback changed the perception of what was possible in motor sport recovery terms.

And that was just his first comeback. Having retired from F1 to focus on his airline business after the 1979 season, Lauda was lured back by McLaren and went on to win his third third title in 1984 before retiring for good the following year.

Robert Kubica: Against all odds

Like Lauda before him, Kubica’s comeback was as sensational as it was inspiring.

The Polish driver was at the peak of his F1 career and was seen as one of Formula 1’s top talents when he was involved in a horrific accident in February 2011.

While participating in a rally in Italy during F1’s off-season, Kubica crashed against a guardrail. The accident nearly severed his right arm, leaving him with multiple fractures and severe injuries to his hand and forearm.

His recovery was long and arduous: Kubica underwent a series of complex surgeries before a gruelling rehabilitation process. Even then he was left with limited mobility in his right hand, making it difficult to even grip a steering wheel.

But Kubica persevered, testing in simulators, and driving in other racing categories to prove his capabilities. It paid off when he was  announced as a full-time driver for Williams for the 2019 F1 season, eight years after his accident.

Just being back on the grid was hailed as one of the greatest comebacks in sporting history, and he managed to score a point at the German Grand Prix, Williams’ only one of the season. Now a Le Mans 24 Hours winner, Kubica called his comeback “the biggest achievement of my life”.

Mika Häkkinen: From near death to two F1 titles

Mika Häkkinen is another driver who made an incredible return to racing after a crash that almost proved fatal.

During qualifying for the 1995 Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide, he suffered a tyre failure that sent his McLaren into the barriers at around 125mph. The impact was so severe that the Finn fractured his skull, and his airway was blocked, leaving him unresponsive. Quick-thinking trackside doctors performed an emergency tracheotomy at the scene, which saved Häkkinen’s life.

He was placed in a coma for several days and spent weeks in the hospital, facing nerve damage that left him unable to control one side of his face and requiring his eye to be taped shut at night to sleep.

Despite suffering from headaches, undergoing multiple operations, and starting a long rehabilitation process, just 87 days after the accident, Häkkinen was back in a McLaren F1 car for a test at Paul Ricard.

Häkkinen’s comeback continued into the 1996 season, where he finished fifth in his first race back, ultimately winning his first grand prix in 1997. He then went on to claim back-to-back titles in 1998 and 1999.

Felipe Massa: Back from the brink

Massa made a remarkable comeback after a life-threatening accident during qualifying for the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, when he was following Rubens Barrichello.

A spring detached from Barrichello’s Brawn GP car and struck Massa’s helmet at over 155mph, knocking the Ferrari driver unconscious instantly, as his car speared straight into the barriers.

Massa was airlifted to a hospital in Budapest, where he was treated for a fractured skull, concussion, and a severe cut above his left eye. He spent nine days in the hospital, including two in a medically induced coma, and underwent two surgeries, one to address the immediate injuries and another for reconstructive surgery on the damaged part of his skull. He missed the remainder of the 2009 season.

Massa began a gradual rehabilitation, including neurological tests and simulator work, and was eventually cleared to drive again, making his return at the start of the 2010 season. His accident contributed to F1’s ongoing push for greater safety, including advances in helmet design and, eventually, the introduction of the halo cockpit protection system.

When F1 greats return

These drivers had already made their mark on F1 before leaving the series. But they couldn’t stay away…

Fernando Alonso

While it’s difficult to imagine a period without Alonso in Formula 1, the Spaniard did spend two years away from the championship as he pursued other challenges.

After leaving F1 at the end of 2018 following a disastrous stint with McLaren-Honda, Alonso won the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice, took the World Endurance Championship title, competed in the Indianapolis 500, and even tackled the Dakar Rally.

Despite his success elsewhere, Alonso always felt a persistent pull back to Formula 1, making a return after a two-year sabbatical.

In 2021, Alonso made his comeback with Alpine, the team with which he had taken his two titles (although under a different name) in 2005 and 2006. He’s since moved to Aston Martin and although the Spanish driver hasn’t won any more races since returning, he has shown he still has his competitive edge and speed.

At the age of 43, Alonso has the record for the most grand prix starts at 413 and counting.

Michael Schumacher

After dominating the sport with Ferrari and amassing a record seven world championships, Schumacher retired at the end of the 2006 season, but he wasn’t done.

The German stayed away from F1 for three years, but made a return in 2010, along with Mercedes, partnering with team principal Ross Brawn, the architect of his greatest successes at Ferrari.

Schumacher signed a three-year deal, but his comeback proved far tougher than expected as F1 had changed significantly during his absence; testing was a lot more limited and there was just one tyre supplier.

During his three seasons with Mercedes, Schumacher scored just one podium, but still played a key role in developing the team’s structure and culture.

The seven-time champion retired for good at the end of 2012. He suffered a severe brain injury after a ski crash the following year.

Kimi Räikkönen

Like Alonso and Schumacher, Räikkönen also took a multi-year break from Formula 1, leaving the series after 2009 when Ferrari decided to replace him with the Spanish driver.

During his spell outside of F1, Räikkönen ventured into the World Rally Championship and even made appearances in NASCAR.

Few, including the Finn himself, expected him to make an F1 comeback, but he did so, signing with Lotus for the 2012 season.

He scored podiums almost immediately and took a memorable victory at the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, famously telling his team on the radio, “Leave me alone, I know what I’m doing.”

Over two seasons with Lotus, he scored 390 points, 13 podiums, and two wins, earning him a return to Ferrari for 2014.

With the Scuderia, with which he had taken his F1 title in 2007, Raikkonen added more podiums and another win to his tally before eventually moving to Alfa Romeo in 2019.

Räikkönen retired for good at the end of 2021 after 349 starts.