The eighth season of Formula 1: Drive to Survive, released on Friday, has been met with a muted response from critics and fans alike. The Netflix docuseries, which previously revolutionised the sport's popularity in Britain, has been reduced from ten episodes to eight, with the streaming site claiming 'the narrative creatively lent itself to eight episodes'. However, a review of the full collection suggests the latest instalment lacks the cutting edge of its predecessors.
While there are still intriguing moments—such as the brutal axing of Jack Doohan at Alpine, the focus on rookie Kimi Antonelli, and an amusing exchange between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen about childbirth—the season as a whole falls flat. The show's key double-billing of genuine fly-on-the-wall access and enthralling personal interviews is notably absent.
Max Verstappen has seemingly started a second boycott of the show, opting not to be interviewed after previously criticising the manipulation of scenes. Lewis Hamilton, enduring his worst-ever F1 campaign on his Ferrari debut, also avoids the interviewee chair. The sport's two biggest stars opting out is hardly a glowing endorsement, limiting behind-the-scenes nuggets to zoomed-in camera lenses and boom mics.
The depiction of Christian Horner's downfall at Red Bull is also lacking in genuine insight. While we see Horner discussing his reaction with wife Geri Halliwell and revealing a text from Toto Wolff, there is no earth-shattering footage from his final races. The show has lost its best characters in Horner, Guenther Steiner, and Daniel Ricciardo, leaving a void that new team bosses, resembling engineering boffins rather than mafia men, struggle to fill.
Drive to Survive is now a victim of its own success. Having engaged new fans who are already well-aware of the stories before they hit the screen, the show faces a paradox: how to keep fresh and invigorating. Nico Rosberg's brief addition as a pundit is a solid call, but the continued prominence of Will Buxton feels somewhat odd given the changing landscape.
