“Drive to Survive” is the best thing to happen to Formula 1 in years

The highly rated Formula One Netflix series ‘Drive to survive’ hit our screens with great controversy for their third season in March 2021.

The series was directed towards the behind-the-scenes and personal lives of the unprecedented covid-hit 2020 season, forcing teams to voice their concerns of ethical boundaries being crossed during filming of the show.

Despite the criticism, since the series launched in 2018, every season has successfully trended, while even trending number one in 25 countries across the world, reaching audiences the sport is usually unable to attract on a daily basis.

Australian Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo claimed that Drive to Survive is putting F1 on the map in the Unites States following a successful two seasons in 2019, and it is hard not to agree with him based on the show's recent popularity.

Fans use social media platforms like Twitter during the race to admit they are curious to how this moment will play out in the next Netflix series.

As a Formula 1 fan, the series will give you an insight to the teams and drivers perspective of the races we witnessed months ago as a viewer on our televisions, and as soon as a season is done and dusted, fans around the world look forward to tracking back on what they may have missed behind the scenes in crucial moments of the season.

As someone who may not enjoy racing as much as others, the series provides drama, emotion and exciting rivalries among teams and drivers that delivers must-watch TV, attracting various audience groups they have never had the chance to before.

This also gives the sport an alternate angle heading into a new season that people around the world, and in particular the United States can really get involved in without just thinking they are watching cars drive around a track for 2 hours straight.

Although multiple officials inside the F1 community have expressed their concerns of the film crew throughout a race weekend, the filming needs to continue in order to expose various angles of race weekends within the sport for it to grow and be competitive with other sporting codes around the world.

It has also been claimed by multiple sources that the series is 'forcing' rivalries between drivers that may not already exist, although it may seem unethical, its not like its the first time a tv show or reality show has bended the truth, it's a common theme in modern day television.

Sporting codes around the world draw in large audiences due to the connection a fan can make with an athlete or team, as Formula one has been lacking in this department for many years now the Netflix series is turning racing into a more passionate, reality-driven sport than ever before.

Exposing the uncensored, personal side of drivers among the paddock is also allowing audiences to create a connection between certain drivers. For example, as Alpha-Touri driver Pierre Gasly is featured in multiple episodes throughout the three seasons, fans are forming an emotional connection with the driver after witnessing everything he has gone through.

What else has the sport done in the last five years to maximise the growth of the sport? With at least some sort of success anyway.

Cancelling the series now would be detrimental to the growth of the sport as a whole, like dropping them into a deep hole without a rope to escape.