Okay Formula 1 fans let's talk Drive to Survive. We all know and maybe even secretly love the Netflix show that took F1's popularity into overdrive. But lately some big voices in the F1 world are speaking out and they aren't holding back. Are the dramatic storylines and rivalries we see on screen actually real? Or is Netflix taking a little too much creative license? Buckle up because things are getting spicy in the paddock... and off-track too!
Lando Norris Lays Down the Law: "I'm Not a Fan of Fake Stuff" and Calls Out Drive to Survive for "Lying"
Lando Norris usually known for his chill vibes just dropped a truth bomb about Drive to Survive and it's a big one. He's accusing the show of straight-up making stuff up! In a recent interview Norris didn't mince words saying the producers are "fabricating nonsense" and "lying" to create drama. Whoa tell us how you really feel Lando!
Norris is featured a lot in the latest season which covers his battle with Max Verstappen. And that's exactly where he sees the problem. He feels the show wrongly portrays him and Verstappen as major rivals when in reality they are good mates. He said "They need to show the truth about people more. I’m not a fan of fake stuff. I want facts. I don't want made-up scripts and fabricated nonsense which there is."
He's especially annoyed about how the show presented his Miami Grand Prix win. Drive to Survive made it seem like a super close fight with Verstappen looking all grumpy afterwards. Turns out that "grumpy" footage of Verstappen wasn't even from Miami it was filmed way later at the Dutch Grand Prix! Norris won Miami pretty comfortably and Verstappen was actually happy for him even celebrating with him that night. Norris is worried that viewers are getting a totally twisted view of reality and forming opinions based on "incorrect" portrayals. He feels it's "almost lying in some ways" and just plain "not fair."
Verstappen's Been Saying It All Along: "Faking Rivalries" is "Not My Thing"
Lando isn't the first to call out Drive to Survive's dramatic editing. Max Verstappen has been a long-time critic and hasn't been shy about it. He has limited his involvement with the show for ages. Verstappen himself has said "It’s just not my thing faking rivalries." He watched a couple of episodes early on and wasn't impressed with what he saw as manufactured drama.
Verstappen even joked about the Miami GP portrayal saying "Apparently I was very sad after Miami. I literally had the best time ever Sunday night so I don't know what I was upset about." It seems like the drivers themselves are noticing the gap between the reality of their relationships and how Drive to Survive presents them.
Russell and Leclerc Weigh In: "Agenda for the Best Storyline" or "Pretty Normal" Filming?
George Russell also chimed in on the Drive to Survive debate after an episode showed him seemingly having a panic attack after the tough Singapore Grand Prix. Russell admitted he hasn't even watched the episode fully and "doesn't really care" how he's shown. He seems to take it with a grain of salt chalking it up to entertainment. He said "there's always an agenda for the best storyline possible and that's just the way the world is with these Entertainment programmes." Russell is focused on his actual performance on track not his Netflix portrayal.
Piastri Unsure About "Age of Lando Norris" Comment: Wants to be Judged on Track Not Netflix Hype
Even Oscar Piastri got drawn into the Drive to Survive conversation. Apparently McLaren CEO Zak Brown is shown in Season 7 cameras saying it's the "start of the age of Lando Norris." Piastri hasn't watched the season yet but knows how editing can be. He's keeping it real saying "obviously there’s a lot of things in Drive to Survive that you know we never quite know how it’s been cut up."
Piastri's focused on what happens on the track in the 2025 season saying he and Norris are starting from zero and "whoever’s going to be faster on track is going to be the one who wins." He wants to be judged on his driving not some Netflix narrative.
Netflix Defends "Truth" But Admits "Mistakes Happen" F1 Still Sees the Upside
So how are the Drive to Survive folks responding to all this driver feedback? Box to Box Films the production company insists "The stories we tell across a series of Drive to Survive are not fabricated the narratives clearly follow real events." They say they aim to make F1 appealing to a wider audience by telling stories in an "entertaining and compelling way." They admit "mistakes do happen" due to "incredible schedule pressure" and when errors are pointed out like the Verstappen Miami GP footage they "move to correct these unintentional errors."
Formula 1 themselves are still backing the show. An F1 spokesperson emphasized "Drive to Survive has been a very important part of growing the sport and reaching new audiences" and that we "should focus on the positive impact of the series." Basically F1 is acknowledging the show isn't pure documentary but they see the massive benefit it brings to the sport's popularity.
Drive to Survive: Fact vs. Fiction - What to Keep in Mind
So what's the takeaway? Drive to Survive is entertainment first documentary second. Here's a quick guide:
- Drama is Dialed Up: Expect storylines and rivalries to be amplified for TV. Real-life relationships might be more nuanced.
- Editing is Selective: Footage can be rearranged or context removed to fit a narrative. What you see isn't always exactly how it happened in chronological order.
- Driver Perspectives Vary: Some drivers are critical of the portrayal others are less bothered or even see the entertainment value.
- Positive Impact on F1's Popularity is Undeniable: Drive to Survive has brought tons of new fans to Formula 1. That's a fact even the critics acknowledge.
- It's Entertainment Not a News Report: Remember it's a TV show designed to be exciting and binge-worthy not a completely objective account of an F1 season.
The Verdict: Enjoy the Ride But Take it With a Grain of Salt (and Maybe Some Tire Smoke)
Drive to Survive is undeniably exciting and has done wonders for F1. It's your backstage pass to a world of speed drama and larger-than-life personalities. Just remember to watch it with a critical eye. Enjoy the entertainment the drama and the incredible racing action but know that what you are seeing is a TV show version of reality. For the real truth about F1 you will still need to follow the races the news and maybe even driver interviews beyond the Netflix cut. Now if you will excuse us we are off to re-watch some classic DTS moments... with a healthy dose of skepticism of course!