Villeneuve Pironi documentary review: bitter F1 rivalry that has no end

I don’t want it to be hurtful to anyone,” says Joann Villeneuve in the opening moments of the new feature-length documentary on her husband Gilles and his friend, team-mate and eventual nemesis, Didier Pironi. “But this story is about a very deep betrayal. It is hurtful to a lot of people.” She has never pulled her punches when it comes to Pironi and Imola 1982.

But hers is just one side of a famously bitter tale surrounding smudged Ferrari team orders and their tragic consequences. One of the many plus points of this regularly jaw-dropping film is its even-handed treatment of this most combustible of Formula 1 driver rivalries. It’s as much Pironi’s story as it is Villeneuve’s, so the Frenchman isn’t painted as some pantomime villain. In fact, if any conclusions are to be drawn from this twin portrait, it’s that both were as good – and bad – as each other when it came to a single-minded approach to life. To the detriment of their families.

The film is directed by Torquil Jones, who co-writes too with Gabriel Clarke – better known as a football reporter on ITV. Neither are motor racing specialists, and given this is made for a Sky mass audience that’s probably as it should be. Still, there’s plenty to enthral the die-hards.

The odd corner is cut, probably for the running time. No mention is made, for example, of Villeneuve making his memorable F1 debut for McLaren at Silverstone in 1977. But the narrative is focused on the rivalry, not every biographical turn, and we’ll forgive such oversight for the endless stream of rare archive gems curated by the prolific Richard Wiseman.

There’s some great stuff in here. Villeneuve on his snowmobile and racing in Formula Atlantic are early treats, while both drivers have a strong in-person presence too thanks to the generous use of period interviews. Most have been broadcast only once before, when they were shot for French or Canadian TV. Not for the first time, it’s disconcerting to hear the voices of long-departed heroes usually preserved only in action footage or stills photography. Hearing Didier’s soft, lush tone chimes with talking head Nigel Roebuck’s point that he almost appeared “timid”.

The list of familiar faces is impressive: Alain Prost, Jody Scheckter, Jackie Stewart, John Watson, Bernie Ecclestone, Enzo Ferrari’s PA Brenda Vernor and team manager Marco Piccinini. Pironi’s best man at his wedding in 1982, Piccinini represents the French camp (Villeneuve noses were put out of joint when they weren’t invited to the nuptials). There are famous names behind the camera, too. Among the list of executive producers is Mark Webber.

But while it’s great to hear Prost speak about his friendship with Villeneuve and blameless part in the accident that ended Pironi’s F1 career, it’s the family interviews that carry the most weight. For Villeneuve, Joann is joined by daughter Melanie and son Jacques. The 1997 champion has never attempted to hide the resentment that sits within him on the subject of his father. “He was a very selfish man,” is among the soundbites he offers here.

For Pironi, Catherine Bleynie-Larsen speaks about their volatile and short-lived marriage, while long-time partner Catherine Goux is interviewed at length. Her account of the aftermath of Didier’s death racing a speedboat off the Isle of Wight in 1987 is deeply moving. He died recklessly knowing she was pregnant with twins, boys born the following January who their mother named Didier and Gilles. The latter ended up working in F1 for Mercedes-AMG. Both are in the film.

It has taken years for the company behind this documentary, Noah Media Group, to get it made, not least to convince Joann to collaborate with something that included Pironi’s side. It was worth it.

Villeneuve Pironi On Sky from March 19 Directed by Torquil Jones