Max Verstappen doesn’t think much of ‘Drive to Survive’ and simply blocks out content, while George Russell takes a pragmatic view of the Formula 1 Netflix documentary
The Netflix documentary series Drive to Survive has brought Formula One to a wider audience in recent years – but not everyone in the pinnacle of motorsport is a fan of the series. Max Verstappen, in particular, has once again been critical of the narrative freedoms taken by the creators.
“I’m not surprised,” says the four-time world champion when asked about the creative editing of certain scenes. For example, in an episode about the race in Miami, a picture of him from Zandvoort was inserted that made him appear pensive or even dejected – a dramatic exaggeration that did not correspond to reality.
Verstappen himself has not seen the series, but he has seen the relevant clips on social media. “Unfortunately, you can see it on X, but I try to ignore it quickly so that it doesn’t come up again,” he explains.
Russell on Netflix: “I’m here for the sport”
George Russell also comments on his portrayal in the series, but is less concerned: “I haven’t seen the episode in its entirety, but I’ve been told that there are two extremes – the first and second halves.”
Ultimately, however, he doesn’t care how he is portrayed: “I care about how I perform in the car and work with my team.” He is aware that the series is primarily aimed at entertainment and uses dramatic means to tell stories.
Russell was reluctant to give a clear answer to the question of whether Drive to Survive is good for Formula 1 as a whole: “I can’t say whether it’s an advantage for Formula 1 or not. Personally, I don’t watch the series because I’m here for the sport, not for the entertainment.”
Russell excited about Formula 1 movie
Russell is particularly excited about the upcoming Formula One movie: “I’ve seen a few snippets and it looks incredible. I asked Stefano (Domenicali) what’s coming next after Netflix has been so successful. They are already thinking about the next steps – and that’s the right way to do it.”
The increasing presence of cameras in the paddock and behind the scenes remains an issue for the drivers. This was particularly evident for Russell after the Singapore Grand Prix. In one scene of the series, he was shown in a very emotional moment – with his girlfriend at his side, visibly exhausted after an extremely demanding race.
“I honestly didn’t even notice the cameras were there. You get so used to them being everywhere,” he says. The heat in Singapore was extraordinary – with a body temperature of almost 42 degrees, which can be considered dangerous from a medical point of view.
