Has Formula 1 Management succeeded in presenting the sport to a new generation of fans with its Netflix series ‘Drive to Survive’?

The initial feedback from viewers on social media has been overwhelmingly positive. Fans praised the unfettered behind-the-scenes access, the candid footage of drivers and team bosses at work, and the new insights it offered into several of the sport’s personalities.

Daniel Ricciardo, Esteban Ocon and Kevin Magnussen are among the drivers who feature prominently in the series.

However several fans did remark on how little coverage the series gave to the championship fight between Mercedes and Ferrari. Both teams refused to allow Netflix’s crew the same access they enjoyed to the other eight teams.

Read RaceFans’ reviews of all 10 episodes – with spoilers hidden by default – here:

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

F1 fans feedback on Drive to Survive

Series highlights

Mercedes and Ferrari missed out

But not everyone is impressed

F1 Drive to survive on Netflix is such a disappointment, looks like they want to show drama and use some very creative editing to achieve that. Then Will Buxton acts like a total Fanboy who clearly is not a fan of some drivers. What a shitshow💩 — Pascal Ammerdorfer (@Pas_Ammerdorfer) March 11, 2019 This F1 doc on Netflix is much worse than the filler on Sky F1 between race weekends — Charles COYS (@charlesrich82) March 11, 2019 Finished the @netflix #f1 drive to survive documentary thingy. It’s okay. But please get rid of that fake commentary voice over. Feels like commentary from the F1 game. — Chaitanya (@ChaiAsInTea) March 12, 2019 Watched 3 episodes and I am so disappointed from the @F1 show in @netflix so far… I cannot believe they don’t mention ANYTHING about the timings and points and results about the races! They are trying to make a reality show by taking out the essence of racing!? — Yousif Al Askari (@3askeri) March 11, 2019 My only issue with the @BoxtoBoxFilms F1 series on Netflix is that they create a narrative that is very disingenuous for new fans. Perez didn't cost Ocon a seat, and Verstappen didn't push Ricciardo out, Helmut Marko & Dieter Mateschitz did that all by themselves. — Alistair McIntyre (@_alistairnz) March 11, 2019

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

2019 F1 season