The main questions about Drive to Survive Season 7 answered

There’s an underlying feeling that grows stronger as you make your approach via the episodes of Netflix’s seventh Components 1 quasi-documentary: they know one another lots higher now. There’s lots much less stating the apparent or over-explaining the fundamentals. Even the primary characters introduce themselves to the digital camera far much less usually – and once they do, there’s normally a very good motive, like Andrea Kimi Antonelli forgetting his crew’s full title. Netflix now not appears amazed by the interior workings of F1. Season 7 continues the regular shift towards tying the storylines extra intently to the motion on the monitor.

However, it additionally appears like everybody within the paddock is now totally conscious that Netflix is all the time there. Judging by how few moments there are when individuals actually let one thing slip in non-public conversations, evidently F1 persons are extra cautious when the microphones are on. Positive, Christian Horner will get caught calling Zak Brown a “prick,” however later he is not precisely shy about saying one thing related in an on-camera interview. Guenther Steiner’s absence is certainly felt on this regard. There’s nonetheless some paddock chatter caught on digital camera, however nothing fairly like Steiner’s cellphone calls with Gene Haas.

Nonetheless, Drive to Survive retains a lot of what made the present so watchable within the first place: off-track tales, strong interviews, and loads of behind-the-scenes entry.

It is nonetheless loud and excessive, proper?

It is nonetheless the Drive to Survive you already know. Netflix would not maintain again on the flashy visuals: there isn’t any scarcity of yachts, whether or not in Monaco’s harbour or elsewhere – and there are just a few scenes that appear to be included simply to make you jealous of Alessandro Alunni Bravi’s life-style. F1’s dolce vita is on full show, with all the posh villas, unique eating places and five-star lodge suites that paddock members name dwelling all through the season.

There’s lots much less emphasis on crashes, although, in comparison with earlier seasons. Make no mistake – the most important shunts from final yr are all right here, however the days of over-doing it appear to be behind us. Even the Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz crash in Baku, which in earlier seasons might need been handled like an apocalyptic occasion and dragged out for a very good 5 minutes, is offered roughly as it’s. And if Williams hoped that crashing lots final yr would get its sponsors extra Netflix display time, nicely, that technique clearly did not repay.

Does it supply extra to the primary tales of the final F1 season?

Not likely. Netflix will get proper to the purpose: there was no scarcity of huge tales in F1 final yr, with Lewis Hamilton‘s transfer to Ferrari and the Horner affair being the 2 greatest. However in each instances, Drive to Survive largely watches from the sidelines moderately than offering any actual background.

Hamilton’s transfer is informed via the same old mixture of press headlines and information snippets, and even a moderately heartfelt interview with Toto Wolff would not reveal something new to those that comply with F1 intently.

Similar with Horner – in case you’re anticipating scenes that basically reveal how difficult this era has been for the Red Bull boss, there aren’t many. They usually actually do not take you behind the scenes. You nearly get the sensation that Netflix is not actually excited by delving into this story – in spite of everything, it is a tough one. After a moderately temporary abstract of occasions within the first episode, the present appears to be attempting to persuade you that there wasn’t a lot drama in Horner’s private life in any respect. Geri Horner seems within the collection with shocking regularity, all the time portrayed as supportive of her husband. And she or he is all the time – actually all the time – smiling.

Is there clearly one thing lacking?

You might argue that the important thing tales of F1 2024 are all coated and retold, however there was no solution to match all the things into 10 30-ish minute episodes.

Oliver Bearman’s debut in Saudi Arabia? Fully ignored. The younger Brit solely seems when he has to substitute for Kevin Magnussen in Brazil, which does not do him justice – his standout performances in Jeddah and Baku are lacking solely, and in Sao Paulo he is seen getting a telling-off from Ayao Komatsu.

There’s additionally a way that Perez’s struggle for his personal survival in F1 will not be totally explored. There aren’t any backstage moments of him having tough conversations with Horner or Helmut Marko. No private confessions. No off-track footage. That is most likely a results of Checo’s personal relationship with Netflix – at occasions he hasn’t been proud of how he is been portrayed in earlier seasons. So, whereas different drivers are nonetheless inviting the Drive to Survive crew into their properties, with Perez we’re left watching from a distance.

Does it present good entry?

There’s nothing that basically makes you go “Wow, that is one thing” – and that is most likely the place Steiner’s absence (he solely seems for a couple of minutes in season 7) is felt as soon as once more. There’s nothing remotely near his winery street journeys with Mattia Binotto.

However there are a few storylines that Netflix is exploring in additional depth. Certainly one of them is Sainz’s transfer to Williams. We get to eavesdrop on James Vowles’ cellphone calls with Sainz’s supervisor – and apparently even witness the signing of the contract. Nevertheless, given Netflix has been caught staging moments like this prior to now, you would not be blamed for considering these scenes had been put collectively for the sake of fine tv.

Drive to Survive Season 7

Photograph by: Netflix

One other recurring storyline is Purple Bull’s non-public testing. Final yr it was Daniel Ricciardo‘s audition. This time it is Liam Lawson attempting to show himself on monitor. We see Max Verstappen arriving at Silverstone simply to set a benchmark, and Lawson doing a ok job to persuade the boss that he is value betting on.

Can we get to see true personalities?

One of many standouts of this season is Lando Norris. He talks to the Netflix cameras nearly greater than Will Buxton and Claire Williams mixed. However it’s justified. Norris is open, relaxed, trustworthy, and emotional in his Drive to Survive interviews – and a few of his admissions give a a lot deeper understanding of the transformation he went via in 2024. He is not afraid to confess or discuss his weaknesses. He is comfy expressing his feelings – and that makes him much more likeable.

Alongside Norris, Lawson is one other compelling character, bringing his uncooked starvation to lastly land an F1 seat. And Ricciardo? He is nearly too outspoken at occasions. His absence subsequent season may very well be as noticeable as Steiner’s now.

Are there faux tales?

It is arduous to catch the creators red-handed and accuse them of outright mendacity. There’s lots much less plot twisting than in earlier seasons. However the tendency to overdramatise? Oh, it is nonetheless very a lot there.

Norris’ first F1 victory in Miami is framed as the results of his personal private development, with the present utterly ignoring the truth that McLaren introduced an enormous improve to its automotive for the primary US race of the season. As a substitute, the narrative begins with “McLaren lastly gave Norris a successful automotive” – however for the primary few races, it is nearly as if he is the one struggling to unlock its potential. And when the Miami win lastly occurs, Netflix turns up the drama dial – even though Norris gained by a snug margin, the present tries to make you consider that Verstappen was respiratory down his neck all the way in which to the end line.

And naturally, there’s loads of awkwardness with the drivers and crew bosses off the monitor – the place they’re grilled by pals or relations with some painfully banal questions. We get Susie Wolff asking her husband who may substitute Hamilton. We get Carmen Montero Mundt asking her boyfriend George Russell if he is “prepared for tomorrow” earlier than the Singapore race – solely to have him go into an entire rationalization about how the humidity reminds him of a sauna. Whereas the 2 of them are sitting in a swimming pool. Yeah, proper.

What are the most effective episodes?

Regardless of the same old exaggerations, the episodes that target the Norris vs. Verstappen rivalry, in addition to the intra-team strife at McLaren, stand out as highlights of the present. Norris alone supplies sufficient drama to maintain issues fascinating, and Verstappen’s contribution – albeit temporary – can also be respectable, which is greater than could be mentioned for a few of his earlier Drive to Survive appearances.

Drive to Survive Season 7

Photograph by: Netflix

It is also fairly fascinating to see how the McLaren crew orders state of affairs is informed, with Norris admitting to a pal that he “at first wasn’t going to let” his team-mate Oscar Piastri via in Hungary.

Netflix can also be experimenting with one thing new – one episode is partially filmed by the drivers themselves. Norris, Russell, Charles Leclerc, Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon are given smartphones to file private video diaries in the course of the weekend of the Singapore Grand Prix, providing a recent solution to look behind the scenes.

What are the worst episodes?

Final season was full of huge storylines, so in contrast to some (if not most) earlier seasons, there are not any utterly pointless episodes with pressured narratives. However there are two that really feel a bit of off.

The episode devoted to Leclerc is arguably probably the most melodramatic within the historical past of Drive to Survive – it may nearly be a film in its personal proper.

Then there’s the episode concerning the Alpine vs. Haas battle for sixth within the constructors’ championship, which bizarrely revolves across the dismissal of Esteban Ocon. The way in which it is framed is odd: the present nearly tries to suggest that Ocon is not motivated anymore, however then – whoops! – he all of the sudden finishes second in Sao Paulo. It is as if the present had already selected its storyline after which needed to awkwardly push apart the inconvenient proven fact that Ocon truly delivered the crew’s finest results of the season.

Is it enjoyable to look at?

It is a very nicely made present, visually pleasing, and most significantly, it isn’t excessive with particular results anymore. You do not have to show the amount down each time there is a crash scene.

Drive to Survive Season 7

Photograph by: Netflix

It additionally does a strong job of displaying F1 individuals outdoors the paddock. You get to see Leclerc purchasing – and even his card being rejected on the checkout for inadequate funds. You get invited to Vowles’ household breakfast. You get to go to the Ricciardo and Ocon households.

There’s loads of banter and jokes to make you’re feeling welcome behind the scenes of F1, together with a good quantity of below-the-belt humour – humorous or questionable, relying in your style – and an infinite stream of swearing. The F-word might be probably the most utilized in your complete collection, and if the FIA ever decides to begin penalising drivers for profanity in Drive to Survive, half the grid might be banned earlier than the Australian GP.

Is it value watching?

There isn’t any approach it will please everybody. Hardcore F1 followers will inevitably roll their eyes at sure scenes and dialogue. There isn’t any point out of flexi-wings or McLaren’s mini-DRS, and a few of the strategic battles are oversimplified.

Oh, and there is Norris within the last laps of Abu Dhabi, respiratory like he is about to cross out.

But when we settle for that Drive to Survive was by no means actually meant for the hardcore viewers, it stays completely watchable and serves as a enjoyable solution to cross the time whereas ready for the brand new F1 season to begin.