Formula 1: Drive to Survive is a British television documentary series produced by Netflix in collaboration with Formula One. The series provided a behind-the-scenes look at the drivers, teams, and races along with the intense rivalries that drive the Formula One Championship. Since premiering in 2019, the show has released a total of eight seasons with the latest season being aired on 27 February 2026. The popularity of the show led to crossover events such as The Netflix Cup with Full Swing which was broadcast on Netflix in November 2023.
Contents
Production and concept
The series was first announced on 24 March 2018, when Formula 1 had officially confirmed that they would be collaborating with Netflix for a ten-episode series. The main goal was to give fans exclusive access into the 2018 World Championship. However, before the series became the worldwide hit that is today it looked quite different. James Gay-Rees the executive producer revealed on the Fast Lane Podcast that the series was meant to focus only on Red Bull Racing, however it eventually covered the entire grid. By 24 July 2019, a second season was officially confirmed for 2020.
During the 2020 season the filming was suspended from March up until July due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As time passes the show continues to release new episodes every year that focus on the past racing seasons. Netflix and Apple announced a collaboration on February 26, 2026. Because Apple will be the U.S broadcaster for Formula 1 in 2026, the two companies decided to swap content to help reach even more viewers. Drive to Survive was made available on Apple TV, and in return Netflix was able to officially stream a live race, the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix for U.S subscribers.
In August 2026, Netflix confirmed that the show would be returning for a ninth season in February 2027.
Episodes
Reception
Since its release Drive to Survive has received massive recognition for increasing visibly to its fans. It's widely credited for attracting a new variety of audiences particularly American fans who previously had little exposure to the sport. What used to be seen as a secretive exclusive sport has now become mainstream. Researchers Caroline Soble and Mark Lowes suggest that this transformation happened once show directors stopped focusing on the technical aspect of the sport and instead focused on the storytelling. By focusing on the "natural drama" of the paddock rather than technical data, the series managed to hook a whole new audience for the sport.
However, not everything is received with praise. While the show is seen as a hit it has also received some backlash for being misleading not only to loyal viewers but to the drivers. The main issue being that the production team usually prioritizes drama instead of the actual truth. At times the series would fake commentary, misplace team radios, stage scenes, and overdramatize certain crashes and relationships within the paddock. Red Bull Driver Max Verstappen has sat out of interviews numerous times because throughout the season he felt as if the show was creating fake rivalries for pure entertainment and sensationalism. He expressed how the show wrongly portrays certain drivers as villains to create a rivalry storytelling. Though after a few conversations and meetings Verstappen participated once again in season 5 when he made a personal agreement with producers to "keep it real".
Spin-offs
After the massive success Drive to Survive had the sport decided to bring that similar behind the scenes look to its junior categories. In 2020 F1 TV had similarly released a series known as F2: Chasing the Dream that focuses on the 2019 Formula 2 Championship. This gave fans a view of the younger drivers who were competing for a chance to finally move up to the Formula 1 grid. Since its release the show has covered almost every season beginning from 2019 up until today 2026. The sport has also become very accessible to fans all over the world since the recent seasons were released on YouTube to be streamed freely.