“There are comments here and there that are just out of place”: F1 drivers admit that Netflix’s Drive to Survive exaggerated several rivalries

"So it’s going to be 5 episodes on the rivalry within Haas I guess"– Dates of Drive To Survive Season 4 is out as it recalls the dramatic highlights of the last season

Several current and former F1 drivers have spoken out on how Netflix exaggerated rivalries on their show ‘Drive to Survive’. 

Drive to Survive has been one of Netflix’s biggest shows since it made it’s debut in 2019. It captures behind the scenes footage of several F1 teams and drivers throughout the course of a season.

The show has contributed massively to F1’s global growth, particularly in the United States. However, there are some criticisms thrown towards the series, that plenty agree on.

The show mainly focuses on rivalries between fellow F1 drivers. In the world of racing, drivers will always have fiery moments with their rivals on track. Netflix on the other hand, has been accused of ‘overdoing’ these rivalries.

In the third season, the docu-series highlighted some ‘frosty’ moments between Lando Norris and his then McLaren teammate Carlos Sainz. The two drivers seemed to get on really well off track, so it came as a surprise when Netflix tried to show animosity between them.

Sainz spoke about this, insisting that there was no cold air between himself and Norris.

“The fans who really know Formula 1 noticed that the rivalry between me and Lando was exaggerated,” Sainz said. “But I think Netflix is able to assess these mistakes and try to make it more realistic next time.”

Also read: Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto won’t settle for second place in the opening race in Bahrain

Toto Wolff vs Christian Horner rivalry was blown out of proportion in Drive to Survive S4

The focal point of season 4 of Drive to Survive was the battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. The on-track battle often spilled into off-track politics with both team bosses exchanging spats throughout the year.

Former F1 Champion Damon Hill however, is not happy with how the Horner vs Wolff battle was portrayed in the latest installment of DTS.

“A facade is being built up around the rivalry between Toto Wolff and Christian Horner,” Hill feels. “I find that sad, because that’s why these two camps have emerged among the fans.”

The former Williams driver acknowledges the sports importance in it’s global growth. Nevertheless, the way both team principals acted on S4 of the show was labeled as ‘uneasy’ by the Brit.

“But especially last year, I thought a few of the statements between Toto and Christian were quite unseemly,” he continued. “And I hope it was acting, actually.”

“I don’t think they’re doing anyone any favors by being abusive like that.”

Also read: Sergio Perez is not looking forward to Monaco GP in the new 2022 cars

 

Post Edited By: Somin Bhattacharjee
carlos sainz Christian Horner Damon Hill Drive to Survive Lando Norris netflix Toto Wolff

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Somin Bhattacharjee

Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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