10 days for 10 episodes of drama, passion, and questionable editing! Yup, it’s Formula 1: Drive to Survive. Watching Season 7, albeit slowly, felt like a fever dream, primarily because I was heavily invested in the live race year. This is particularly noticeable when you’ve watched pre and post race content live, only to have Drive to Survive air a quote or a clip that simply doesn’t add up.
Of course, the season’s central theme—the rise and fall of champions—heightens the drama of questionable editing. Red Bull’s loss of the Constructors’ Championship, McLaren’s best position in years, and the Drivers’ Championship provided no shortage of drama. As someone who can’t stand Red Bull, it was satisfying to see them take the L.
While some of the race analysis and editing may raise some eyebrows, the one aspect of Drive to Survive I will always appreciate is the drivers’ interviews. Gaining a front-row seat into their state of mind, and sometimes even hearing how they feel about the show itself, offers a level of hilarity and depth that most coverage sorely lacks.
It’s fair to say the season recapped most of the key moments from 2024, so let’s dive into the drama-filled Drive to Survive Season 7.
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Red Bull Goes Down
The most notable coverage throughout the show focuses on Red Bull’s decline and McLaren’s rise. It highlights all the drama, from McLaren’s indecisive strategy of not backing a number one driver to the turmoil at Red Bull, from Sergio Perez to top management. However, there was one narrative the show constantly tried to push that wasn’t landing: the idea of Max Vertsappen and Lando Norris being enemies.
Both drivers have frequently stated that they consider each other among the best on the grid and share mutual respect. Verstappen quickly congratulated Norris on his first win, and continued to support him, particularly as Norris’ momentum carried into the current season. So what’s with the aggressive rivalry trope?
X user @Semmieeef1 even mentioned the horrible editing to the below clip, “Using a clip where Max is wearing the Zandvoort cap, some world class editing 💀”
Beyond this agenda, it seemed the show was attempting to provide Christian Horner with a platform. But for what purpose? If it was to make him look better, the show failed miserably. Instead, Drive to Survive showed his degrading commentary, rude remarks, and outright absurd behaviour to anyone unfamiliar with the situation, let alone a follower of the sport.
I noticed how Drive to Survive showcased Perez losing his seat. This sport is ‘every man for himself,’ but that doesn’t mean Liam Lawson should show Perez the finger, driving aggressively and being outright disrespectful on track. Instead of penalizing him, Red Bull elevated him to the 2025 number two driver—while Horner, despite his public claims, seemed to give him no flak behind closed doors. It appears Horner enjoys hiring hotheaded usurpers as drivers.
Despite all the drama at Red Bull, McLaren continued to irritate them (thank goodness) and ultimately secured the Constructor’s Championship thanks to Norris’ win in Abu Dhabi. It wasn’t all smooth sailing—they avoided prioritizing a driver until they had no choice, when the boys opted for racing over protecting the 1-2. Their retrospection was painful to hear, revealing that they lacked a solid plan beyond building a race-winning car and possessing talent.
With such an aggressive season between the two teams, and the two championships divided, it’s bound to be a good 2025. With both McLaren’s continuing with last year’s momentum in testing, it should be a good season.
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ArriveDerci
It was genuinely unfair that we never got a proper send-off for Danny Ric. He deserved all the happiness and donuts; I will never stop talking about it. One thing I did enjoy was hearing his side of the story in Drive to Survive Season 7.
It was evident that he knew what was coming. Ricciardo gave it his best effort – he truly put in everything and went out knowing that. He also seems genuinely happy, and I mean really happy. He spends time with his family, enjoys sleeping in, and eats GOOD. When he mentioned that most of his savings went to take-out, I felt called out; it’s nice to see he faces challenges similar to those of us mere mortals.
Overall, while the fans had a bittersweet farewell with him at the end of the season, Drive to Survive gave us a goodbye we didn’t know we needed. Hearing a driver say goodbye after experiencing life outside the sport is rare. So, while we didn’t get the immediate celebrations from his last race, we got something better – we know he is okay. He’s good.
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Breaking News
Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari, Carlos Sainz to Williams, and multiple new rookies. It’s fair to say the changes were numerous through the 2024 season. Many X users noted the sheer amount of “Breaking News” posts the official F1 account seemed to be popping out.
Despite all the changes, it’s nice to see the other drivers enjoying and respecting the choices the competition on track makes. Hamilton’s change was applauded and approved by most of the drivers on the grid – Alex Albon complimenting his bank account. While Hamilton’s change was the most shocking of the season, Sainz’s was the most anticipated.
Watching James Vowles take on the negotiations and dance of signing a driver was interesting. I did feel bad for him when Sainz seemed ready, and then Flavio Briatore showed up. Honestly, I believe that wasn’t Sainz changing his mind. I think that if Briatore contacts you and sets up a meeting, you go. There is no choice there.
To be honest, Briatore is that scary. What he said to Jack Doohan when he signed with Alpine about controlling him “every millimetre” was just strange. Speaking of Doohan, I would like to appreciate the rookies. Upon reading their ages, I first felt old, but then I felt joy that drivers, unburdened by the pressure of the sport, get to fulfill their dreams.
From lack of regular driver’s licenses to enjoying a Macklemore song over 10 years old, it is hilarious to see fresh blood. It was a treat to watch five new rookies enter this sport and immediately get thrown into Drive to Survive. I’m trying to see how fast they will start avoiding Netflix like every other driver on track. My bet: end of this season.
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Singapore
Giving Norris, Albon, George Russell, Pierre Gasly, and Charles Leclerc camcorders was the best decision this show has ever made. Ever.
To sum up all their reactions, Norris was not the biggest fan, and the rest were pretty impartial. From paddle to sleeping in (and jet lag), these five lifelong friends really added to the human aspect of the sport. Formula 1: Drive to Survive Season 7, Episode 7, “In the Heat of the Night,” brought us up close and personal with the Singapore heat.
Russell went through a painful post-race experience while Norris celebrated the high of another win. It really shows you the difference in stress management and reaction that each driver goes through. It also shows you that despite being athletes and assuming the risk – some risks are just too much.
However, even with the challenges and pain, these 5 were the Kardashians of F1 and were no less entertaining to watch.
Formula 1: Drive to Survive Season 7 is a comprehensive, hilarious, and accurate overview of the 2024 season. Of course, there are some dramatic moments that are really overdone, but that’s showbiz. We don’t expect anything less from Formula 1, but brilliantly recapping our week to watch the drivers and races in such dramatic fashion.
An honourable mention: Guenther Steiner and his hilarious commentary – welcome back sassy king.
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Formula 1: Drive to Survive Season 7 is streaming now on Netflix.
