Drive to Survive Season 7 Explores F1 Drama and Team Dynamics

LOS ANGELES, CA – March 7, 2025 – Netflix’s “Drive to Survive” launched its seventh season today, diving into the high stakes and intense narratives that shaped the 2024 Formula One season. The docuseries, which has played a pivotal role in popularizing F1 among a younger audience, continues to unveil the personal and professional drama within the sport.

This latest season follows a year filled with headline-grabbing controversies, including an investigation into Red Bull Racing principal Christian Horner, which is a focal point of the first episode. The episode captures Horner denying allegations made against him by a former employee, stating it was his first opportunity “since the storm has broken” to address the concerns.

“There’s so much that he can’t answer,” Red Bull’s communications chief warns during the interview segment, highlighting the ongoing legal complications surrounding the case. Despite the restrictions, Horner insists he wants to move forward with the interview.

The situation is depicted as a destabilizing factor for Red Bull as they launch into a new season, especially with comments regarding the issue from McLaren CEO Zak Brown raising eyebrows during an FIA press conference. Throughout the episode, Horner expresses his frustration with the circumstances, labeling the leak of internal messages as “premeditated” to distract him from his focus.

“It was obvious that the end goal was for me to leave Red Bull,” Horner adds, avoiding revealing who he believes is behind the leaks, instead steering the conversation back to the upcoming season.

In addition to the scandal involving Horner, Drive to Survive also touches on Lewis Hamilton‘s unexpected move to Ferrari, though the series does not delve deeply into the topic post-initial coverage. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff grapples with the implications of Hamilton’s departure, discussing potential successors and the ongoing challenge of George Russell stepping out of Hamilton’s shadow.

“Zach is a pr—,” Horner confides to his press officer after a tense moment following the FIA press conference, illustrating the fragile relationships and rivalries permeating the paddock.

Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo‘s role diminishes significantly this season, with his storyline primarily captured in a single episode focused on his struggles and the rise of fellow driver Liam Lawson as a potential candidate for a seat in the Red Bull lineup.

In a notable shift from previous seasons, the series introduces a fresh format in episode seven, “In The Heat Of The Night,” featuring drivers filming portions of their weekends with their own phones. This intimate perspective aims to present a more personal side of the sport, showcasing friendships and off-track interactions among competitors that typically go unseen.

Delivery of personal narratives is emphasized as executive producer Tom Hutchings explains the production team’s objective to evolve their storytelling approach while engaging new audiences. “The format has to evolve,” Hutchings stated, in an effort to remain relevant and compelling to both veteran fans and newcomers.

“Drive to Survive” has been both praised and criticized for its dramatic interpretation of real-life events in F1, with some stakeholders addressing concerns about the commercialization of the sport and the series’ tendency to fabricate certain narratives for entertainment value. However, the undeniable impact of the show on F1’s fanbase, especially in the United States, cannot be understated.

Viewership data shows a marked increase in young viewers drawn to F1 due to the engaging narratives presented in the series, stimulating interest from sponsors, manufacturers, and countries eager to be associated with the sport.

With Season 7 finally available for streaming, fans are eager to see how the complex dynamics of the 2024 season unfold through this engaging lens, balancing reality with crafted storytelling.