The main questions about Drive to Survive Season 7 answered

There’s an underlying feeling that grows stronger as you make your way through the episodes of Netflix’s seventh Formula 1 quasi-documentary: they know each other a lot better now. There’s a lot less stating the obvious or over-explaining the basics. Even the main characters introduce themselves to the camera far less often – and when they do, there’s usually a good reason, like Andrea Kimi Antonelli forgetting his team’s full name. Netflix no longer seems amazed by the inner workings of F1. Season 7 continues the steady shift toward tying the storylines more closely to the action on the track.

On the other hand, it also feels like everyone in the paddock is now fully aware that Netflix is always there. Judging by how few moments there are when people really let something slip in private conversations, it seems that F1 people are more cautious when the microphones are on. Sure, Christian Horner gets caught calling Zak Brown a “prick,” but later he’s not exactly shy about saying something similar in an on-camera interview. Guenther Steiner’s absence is definitely felt in this regard. There’s still some paddock chatter caught on camera, but nothing quite like Steiner’s phone calls with Gene Haas.

Still, Drive to Survive retains much of what made the show so watchable in the first place: off-track stories, solid interviews, and plenty of behind-the-scenes access.

It’s still loud and over the top, right?

It’s still the Drive to Survive you know. Netflix doesn’t hold back on the flashy visuals: there’s no shortage of yachts, whether in Monaco’s harbour or elsewhere – and there are a few scenes that seem to be included just to make you jealous of Alessandro Alunni Bravi’s lifestyle. F1’s dolce vita is on full display, with all the luxury villas, exclusive restaurants and five-star hotel suites that paddock members call home throughout the season.

There’s a lot less emphasis on crashes, though, compared to previous seasons. Make no mistake – the biggest shunts from last year are all here, but the days of over-doing it seem to be behind us. Even the Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz crash in Baku, which in earlier seasons might have been treated like an apocalyptic event and dragged out for a good five minutes, is presented more or less as it is. And if Williams was hoping that crashing a lot last year would get its sponsors more Netflix screen time, well, that strategy clearly didn’t pay off.

Does it offer more to the main stories of the last F1 season?

Not really. Netflix gets right to the point: there was no shortage of big stories in F1 last year, with Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari and the Horner affair being the two biggest. But in both cases, Drive to Survive mostly watches from the sidelines rather than providing any real background.

Hamilton’s move is told through the usual mix of press headlines and news snippets, and even a rather heartfelt interview with Toto Wolff doesn’t reveal anything new to those who follow F1 closely.

Same with Horner – if you’re expecting scenes that really reveal how challenging this period has been for the Red Bull boss, there aren’t many. And they certainly don’t take you behind the scenes. You almost get the feeling that Netflix isn’t really interested in delving into this story – after all, it’s a tricky one. After a rather brief summary of events in the first episode, the show seems to be trying to convince you that there wasn’t much drama in Horner’s personal life at all. Geri Horner appears in the series with surprising regularity, always portrayed as supportive of her husband. And she is always – literally always – smiling.

Is there clearly something missing?

You could argue that the key stories of F1 2024 are all covered and retold, but there was no way to fit everything into 10 30-ish minute episodes.

Oliver Bearman’s debut in Saudi Arabia? Completely ignored. The young Brit only appears when he has to substitute for Kevin Magnussen in Brazil, which doesn’t do him justice – his standout performances in Jeddah and Baku are missing entirely, and in Sao Paulo he’s seen getting a telling-off from Ayao Komatsu.

There’s also a sense that Perez’s fight for his own survival in F1 is not fully explored. There are no backstage moments of him having difficult conversations with Horner or Helmut Marko. No personal confessions. No off-track footage. This is probably a result of Checo’s own relationship with Netflix – at times he hasn’t been happy with how he’s been portrayed in previous seasons. So, while other drivers are still inviting the Drive to Survive crew into their homes, with Perez we’re left watching from a distance.

Does it provide good access?

There’s nothing that really makes you go “Wow, this is something” – and that’s probably where Steiner’s absence (he only appears for a few minutes in season 7) is felt once again. There’s nothing remotely close to his vineyard road trips with Mattia Binotto.

But there are a couple of storylines that Netflix is exploring in more depth. One of them is Sainz’s move to Williams. We get to listen in on James Vowles’ phone calls with Sainz’s manager – and apparently even witness the signing of the contract. However, given Netflix has been caught staging moments like this in the past, you wouldn’t be blamed for thinking these scenes were put together for the sake of good television.

Drive to Survive Season 7

Photo by: Netflix

Another recurring storyline is Red Bull’s private testing. Last year it was Daniel Ricciardo’s audition. This time it’s Liam Lawson trying to prove himself on track. We see Max Verstappen arriving at Silverstone just to set a benchmark, and Lawson doing a good enough job to convince the boss that he’s worth betting on.

Do we get to see true personalities?

One of the standouts of this season is Lando Norris. He talks to the Netflix cameras almost more than Will Buxton and Claire Williams combined. But it’s justified. Norris is open, relaxed, honest, and emotional in his Drive to Survive interviews – and some of his admissions give a much deeper understanding of the transformation he went through in 2024. He’s not afraid to admit or talk about his weaknesses. He’s comfortable expressing his emotions – and that makes him even more likeable.

Alongside Norris, Lawson is another compelling character, bringing his raw hunger to finally land an F1 seat. And Ricciardo? He’s almost too outspoken at times. His absence next season could be as noticeable as Steiner’s now.

Are there fake stories?

It’s hard to catch the creators red-handed and accuse them of outright lying. There’s a lot less plot twisting than in previous seasons. But the tendency to overdramatise? Oh, it’s still very much there.

Norris’ first F1 victory in Miami is framed as the result of his own personal growth, with the show completely ignoring the fact that McLaren brought a massive upgrade to its car for the first US race of the season. Instead, the narrative begins with “McLaren finally gave Norris a winning car” – but for the first few races, it’s almost as if he’s the one struggling to unlock its potential. And when the Miami win finally happens, Netflix turns up the drama dial – despite the fact that Norris won by a comfortable margin, the show tries to make you believe that Verstappen was breathing down his neck all the way to the finish line.

And of course, there’s plenty of awkwardness with the drivers and team bosses off the track – where they’re grilled by friends or family members with some painfully banal questions. We get Susie Wolff asking her husband who might replace Hamilton. We get Carmen Montero Mundt asking her boyfriend George Russell if he’s “ready for tomorrow” before the Singapore race – only to have him go into a whole explanation about how the humidity reminds him of a sauna. While the two of them are sitting in a swimming pool. Yeah, right.

What are the best episodes?

Despite the usual exaggerations, the episodes that focus on the Norris vs. Verstappen rivalry, as well as the intra-team strife at McLaren, stand out as highlights of the show. Norris alone provides enough drama to keep things interesting, and Verstappen’s contribution – albeit brief – is also decent, which is more than can be said for some of his previous Drive to Survive appearances.

Drive to Survive Season 7

Photo by: Netflix

It’s also quite interesting to see how the McLaren team orders situation is told, with Norris admitting to a friend that he “at first wasn’t going to let” his team-mate Oscar Piastri through in Hungary.

Netflix is also experimenting with something new – one episode is partially filmed by the drivers themselves. Norris, Russell, Charles Leclerc, Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon are given smartphones to record personal video diaries during the weekend of the Singapore Grand Prix, offering a fresh way to look behind the scenes.

What are the worst episodes?

Last season was packed with big storylines, so unlike some (if not most) previous seasons, there aren’t any completely pointless episodes with forced narratives. But there are two that feel a little off.

The episode dedicated to Leclerc is arguably the most melodramatic in the history of Drive to Survive – it could almost be a movie in its own right.

Then there’s the episode about the Alpine vs. Haas battle for sixth in the constructors’ championship, which bizarrely revolves around the dismissal of Esteban Ocon. The way it’s framed is odd: the show almost tries to imply that Ocon isn’t motivated anymore, but then – whoops! – he suddenly finishes second in Sao Paulo. It’s as if the show had already decided on its storyline and then had to awkwardly push aside the inconvenient fact that Ocon actually delivered the team’s best result of the season.

Is it fun to watch?

It’s a very well made show, visually pleasing, and most importantly, it’s not over the top with special effects anymore. You don’t have to turn the volume down every time there’s a crash scene.

Drive to Survive Season 7

Photo by: Netflix

It also does a solid job of showing F1 people outside the paddock. You get to see Leclerc shopping – and even his card being rejected at the checkout for insufficient funds. You get invited to Vowles’ family breakfast. You get to visit the Ricciardo and Ocon households.

There’s plenty of banter and jokes to make you feel welcome behind the scenes of F1, including a fair amount of below-the-belt humour – funny or questionable, depending on your taste – and an endless stream of swearing. The F-word is probably the most used in the entire series, and if the FIA ever decides to start penalising drivers for profanity in Drive to Survive, half the grid will be banned before the Australian GP.

Is it worth watching?

There’s no way it’s going to please everyone. Hardcore F1 fans will inevitably roll their eyes at certain scenes and dialogue. There’s no mention of flexi-wings or McLaren’s mini-DRS, and some of the strategic battles are oversimplified.

Oh, and there’s Norris in the final laps of Abu Dhabi, breathing like he’s about to pass out.

But if we accept that Drive to Survive was never really meant for the hardcore audience, it remains perfectly watchable and serves as a fun way to pass the time while waiting for the new F1 season to start.