With Season Five of Formula 1-based hit Netflix docuseries ‘Drive to Survive’ having finally been released, plenty of quotes and fascinating comments that weren’t originally heard of during the 2022 season have been revealed to the world.
For those that have already binged the entire new season, then you are at no risk of spoilers, but if you haven’t yet watched the entire series, then warning, spoilers below!
It should come as no surprise that an entire episode of the newest season is based purely around Mercedes and their dramatic fall from the top, as a result of the porpoising phenomena.
Episode two is coincidently titled ‘Bounce back’, in reference to the Germans’ bouncing troubles.
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The episode overlooks the first half of the 2022 season for Mercedes, where they wrestled with the ‘diva’ that was the W13.
Episode two kickstarts with pre-season testing, where the Silver Arrows’ bouncing problems were first displayed to the world.
Mercedes’ issues at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix were particularly documented, with that having been the venue where the team’s porpoising was at its worst.
A fiery exchange between Toto Wolff and Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner is also shown from a team principal meeting ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, where Wolff hits out at the team principals for allowing porpoising to continue.
Horner responds with venom by telling Wolff to “fix your f***ing car”, to which F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali intervened.
Horner clearly loved seeing Mercedes in trouble, with it having allowed Red Bull to cruise to their first Constructors’ Championship since 2013.
The Red Bull boss and Wolff have, of course, developed somewhat of a feud over recent years as well, further adding to the Brit’s satisfaction to see Mercedes slump to their worst campaign since 2012.
“Mercedes look in a bit of a mess. It’s a very different landscape for Toto,” said Horner.
“Something that he’s not been used to since he’s come into Formula One where suddenly he’s on the back foot. Let’s not forget Mercedes have annihilated the opposition for seven years. Seven years they have destroyed everybody and finally you start to see problems.”
Before continuing, Horner can be seen chuckling to himself, before apologising and saying: “I’m sorry. Everyone is quite enjoying it.”
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The episode also includes Wolff admitting himself that the W13 wasn’t “good enough”, with the Austrian having astonishingly ruled Mercedes effectively out of the title fight.
“In the past, we have created a machine that performs seamlessly,” Wolff said.
“But this year our car isn’t good enough and we need the best car in order to win and if that is missing you’re not going to win the world championship.”