When Niki Lauda first saw 'Rush' he said "Sh*t! That's really me."
In an interview with Austrian Times on the occasion of his 60th birthday, Niki Lauda stated that a journalist asking him how his injured face affected his marriage was the biggest insult he had to suffer in his life.
The James Hunt/Niki Lauda 1976 race depicted in the film, was the last Formula One event staged on Germany's notorious Nürburgring Nordschleife (North Loop), since the lap was deemed far too hazardous.
Daniel Brühl and Niki Lauda became good friends. Lauda even flew the actor to the Sao Paolo Grand Prix in his private jet which he piloted himself.
Daniel Brühl and Chris Hemsworth weren't allowed to drive a real Formula 1 car so they had to use Formula 3 vehicles with fake F1 bodywork instead.