The makers of Formula One's new Netflix series have accused Mercedes and Ferrari of letting down the sport by not taking part in the programme.

Drive to Survive, a 10-part behind-the-scenes documentary filmed last season, will be released on March 8.

Eight of F1's 10 teams agreed to provide Netflix with fly-on-the wall access, leading to a number of revealing scenes. But the programme glosses over Lewis Hamilton's championship battle with rival Sebastian Vettel after both Mercedes and Ferrari decided not to participate.

The absence of Hamilton, F1's biggest star, and the sport's top two teams, is a major blow to F1's owners Liberty Media who dreamt up the documentary series in order to crack the United States. Indeed, the sport's commercial chief Sean Bratches is listed as an executive producer.

"Mercedes and Ferrari wanted to operate under different terms to the rest of the teams, and us, as producers, and Netflix as the broadcasting platform, didn't feel comfortable with that," executive producer Paul Martin said.

"It was going to be all-or-nothing and if those terms were good enough for the eight other teams, it should have been good enough for Mercedes and Ferrari, too.

"My view is that they did a slight disservice to the fans and the sport by not taking part.