Amid the final day of Formula 1 pre-season testing last Friday in Bahrain, Netflix launched the latest instalment of its docuseries phenomenon: ‘Drive to Survive.’ Season Six landed with all 10 episodes on February 23 and the author of this review binge-watched them in their entirety.
So, was it another case of overhyped drama, or did Netflix go with a more subtle approach? The answer lies somewhere in the middle ground.
DTS critics lambast the show for its use of dramatised narratives in search of a hook for the audience or the simplistic nature of some of popular F1 reporter Will Buxton’s narration – but it’s worth looking at both in the true context before viewing. As ever, the show is designed to engage and interact with new fans – a tried and trusted method that has achieved success and, in turn, helped F1 break into the acclaimed United States market and grow into the mainstream worldwide. That isn’t to say that older, more established fans can’t enjoy the series, to be honest, there’s a lot from Season Six for all to enjoy.
To be frank, I can recall little from Season Five of DTS which probably says much about how Netflix handled documenting a lop-sided title fight. Season Four I felt failed to capitalise on the real drama of the 2021 season, so two years on and after the most one-sided title fight in F1 history, I was, quite frankly, worried heading into Season Six viewing.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
However, Netflix and Box to Box Films appear to have handled the 2023 dominance of Red Bull rather well, albeit by pretty much ignoring that it ever took place. Max Verstappen has long held the view that pandering to Netflix is a distraction and unsurprisingly he features little during the 10 episodes, save to give context to the beating his rivals painfully endured throughout 2023. Instead, the focus is on the chasing pack and in turn the main off-track headlines. Results and those chasing them remain important, but it feels more than ever that Netflix was concerned with driver and team reaction away from the circuit, rather than messily handling the on-track action.
Before I continue, there was one moment right at the end of the series that I found to be rather odd and that was the handling of Guenther Steiner’s much-talked-about exit from Haas. From the outset, Steiner has been a bombastic, characterful goldmine for Netflix and he gets final billing in the famed interview DTS interview room. Behind the camera, a producer says “Thank you, Guenther. You’re such a pleasure to chat with in this chair. I mean that genuinely. Thank you.”
“No problem,” Steiner replies. “You’re welcome. And you know, if I wouldn’t like it, I wouldn’t speak.”
CUT TO BLACK, SILENCE, WHITE TEXT READS: GUENTHER’S CONTRACT WAS NOT RENEWED FOR 2024
ROLL CREDITS
This moment struck me as if the production was paying tribute to Steiner’s passing, he’s not dead, just displaced from his team. Perhaps Steiner’s departure from Haas is a death of sorts for DTS seasons to come? But based on viewing of Season Six, the show can carry on well in his absence, helped by the refreshing awkwardness and charm of Williams Team Principal James Vowles and the insights of one of his predecessors in Claire Williams as a new talking head.
Moving on there are some moments of pure drama and emotion in Season Six of DTS, especially towards the back end of the series. In Episode 9, ‘Three’s a Crowd,’ viewers witness Liam Lawson struggling with the news that he won’t have an F1 race seat in 2024, shortly after beating Yuki Tsunoda in front of the Japanese driver’s home fans. The New Zealander wears the rejection heavy across his face in the behind-the-scenes shots that come after the decision is made and is emotive in his direct-to-camera interviews. “It’s tough knowing that I don’t get the seat even though I’ve beaten the guy that’s getting a seat,” Lawson says in the interview room, before adding “I don’t know how to ****ing answer that, honestly. Because it’s meant to be me, so…” It’s raw, almost unfiltered emotion that shocked me upon viewing one of the series’ highpoint episodes charting the conundrum the formerly known AlphaTauri squad faced when determining its 2024 driver lineup.
Similarly, in the final episode, ‘Red or Black,’ the uncomfortable press conference scenes following Carlos Sainz’s drain incident in Las Vegas are played out in full glory as Tom Clarkson desperately tries to get an agitated Fred Vasseur to engage in questions. Sidenote: Vasseur’s blend of chaotic humour and confidence is a joy to watch whenever he is on screen.
Due to the absence of a title fight, some narratives are played out across multiple episodes, which could be seen as a downside but the narratives themselves are just about rich enough to warrant extended coverage. Netflix darling Daniel Ricciardo’s emergence in the background amid the struggles of Nyck de Vries is charted in episode two, ‘Fall From Grace.’ De Vries is absent from proceedings moving forward to ensure Ricciardo’s absence isn’t felt too keenly by Netflix viewers and the Australian remains an ever-present figure in front of the cameras, taking a prominent role in episode nine alongside Lawson whilst recovering from a broken hand.
The Alpine roller coaster season also plays out across multiple episodes, with former Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer struggling to maintain harmony with his two drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly in episode five, ‘Civil Way,’ and then getting displaced by Bruno Famin in episode seven, ‘C’est la Vie.’ The latter is particularly worthy of viewing as the mechanisms unfold to see Szafnauer removed from his post during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend.
Furthermore, episodes viewed in the context of what’s transpired in the offseason make for interesting viewing. Episode six, ‘Leap of Faith,’ concerns Mercedes’ continued struggles amid Lewis Hamilton deciding whether to extend his contract with the team – all the while Ferrari rumours swirled in the background. An eavesdropping look at talks between Toto Wolff and Hamilton viewed with the knowledge the seven-tome champion has decided to move onto Ferrari in 2025 will no doubt have people speculating if the seeds of his exit were sewn last summer.
“You can be here for, like, 20 more years, 30 more years. I can’t,” jokes Hamilton. Wolff replies, “Well, who says that?” Given Hamilton wanted to remain at Mercedes beyond his racing days as an ambassador and was reportedly turned down on the latter, Wolff’s response is poignant. Hamilton continues, “This is precious years for me, I don’t know.”
“Lewis, you’re much more than a racing driver,” replies Wolff. “Much more than the seven-time World Champion. You are one of the… the people that lead this team forward.” Cue silence between the pair.
It is these moments where the new season of DTS excels, the moments where fans can look in on conversations that in years gone by they wouldn’t have been privy to. The radio errors, improper use of race footage and falsified moments will undoubtedly be there for eagle-eyed viewers to pick out and post on social media but look beyond that and this is a refinement of a winning formula catered to new and old fans alike.
Where else can you bathe in the dramatic irony of Wolff’s statement toward the denouement of episode six? “The thought of Lewis at Ferrari in a red overall, it wouldn’t suit him.”
Season Seven of DTS is already writing itself…
