Formula 1: 3 things we love and 2 we hate about Drive to Survive
By Joe Capraro
Things we love: No. 1 – Drive to Survive is a very well-crafted program.
Netflix has come a long way from a DVD mailing service to one of the world’s leading producers of video programming, bringing us such wildly popular shows as Bridgerton, Stranger Things, and Squid Game.
Along the way, the network has assembled a wondrous assortment of production knowledge and wizardry, and it shows in the creative camera placement and spectacular scenic and aerial shots that make Drive to Survive a visceral joy to watch.
But it’s not just visual candy; the insights the show provides add a texture to Formula 1 that you can’t absorb just by watching the races. We get peeks at the drivers’ lives away from the track, and some behind-the-scenes looks at how they interact with their teams.
We get to see firsthand what is at their core: Daniel Ricciardo’s goofiness, George Russell’s even keel, the joy Lando Norris takes in simply being alive – and even Kimi Raikkonen’s complete lack of personality.
Very few Formula 1 fans will ever get to wander the paddock or hang out drinking coffee with Andreas Seidl and Christian Horner. Drive to Survive gives us a little bit of that each episode.
It’s a treat to see these competitors with their guard down, and a good chunk of what we see on regular race broadcasts is so carefully packaged by the teams, the FIA, Sky Sports and ESPN.
These candid glimpses really do add a personal dimension to the weekend competition we wouldn’t otherwise get, so Netflix does deserve kudos for putting these stories together so skillfully.