In 2019, Netflix launched the docuseries Drive to Survive , which began to show the personalities and behind-the-scenes stories that take place in the Formula 1 paddock.
The series has proven incredibly popular, particularly in the United States, where it has played a major role in the recent boom in interest in F1. It is one of the factors why, starting next year, there will be three races a year in the United States.
The fourth season of Drive to Survive premiered on Netflix in March, before the 2022 F1 season began. It features 10 episodes covering the tense championship fight between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen from the 2021 season.
Plans for a fifth season of Drive to Survive are yet to be confirmed, but Greg Maffei , CEO of Liberty Media, revealed that the fourth season is already on track to surpass the figures for the third.
“We are pleased to report, and I think our friends at Netflix would love too, that it has been the number one series in 33 countries around the world,” Maffei said during the launch of the new Las Vegas Grand Prix earlier this week.
“Season 4’s viewership is already larger than season 3’s. So it’s a huge success.”
“I think there are a lot of other factors that have helped drive our popularity, but [Drive to Survive] is certainly one that we don’t rule out.”
The third season premiered in 2021 and reached a new peak of popularity, reaching number one worldwide on Netflix and registering an audience around 20% higher than that of the first. The fourth season has also reached number one worldwide on Netflix.
Although drivers and other team staff have spoken enthusiastically of the new fans Drive to Survive has brought to F1, some have raised concerns about how they have been represented in the series.
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen revealed in 2021 that he was no longer giving interviews for the series, due to concerns about how he was being portrayed, and confirmed a few weeks ago that he had no plans to change his mind.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said talks were planned to ensure that the use of creative license was not taken too far, so that drivers would continue to participate in Drive to Survive.
