The story follows the fate of four Formula One drivers through a fictionalised version of the 1966 Formula One season:




Yves Montand as Jean-Pierre Sarti



Jean-Pierre Sarti (Ferrari) â a Frenchman, twice world champion, nearing the end of his racing career.
Pete Aron (formerly with Ferrari and BRM) â an American attempting to repeat past success and overcome a negative reputation, signs with newcomer Yamura.
Scott Stoddard (BRM) â a Brit, recuperating from a bad crash during a race.
Nino Barlini (Ferrari) â an Italian, Ferrari's No. 2 driver, a promising rookie and former world motorcycle champion.
Sub-plots in the film revolve around the women who try to live with or love the racers with dangerous lifestyles. The married Sarti begins an affair with a magazine writer, Louise Frederickson, while Aron has a brief romance with Stoddard's unhappy wife Pat.
The story concludes with one last race, its winner becoming world champion. Sarti's wife, Monique, shows up just before it begins, coming face-to-face with Louise and telling Sarti she will never grant him a divorce. Sarti's car has technical difficulties at the race's start. He then is killed in a spectacular crash. His racing partner, Barlini, is flagged off the course by Ferrari's team leader, Manetta, resulting in a tight race between Aron and Stoddard to the finish line, Aron getting the checkered flag. Sarti's death takes its toll on the winner's celebration.
Who does Pete Aron sign with?
with newcomer Yamura