‘Drive to Survive’ has been a hit series for Netflix surrounding Formula 1, with camera crews being given exclusive behind the scenes access to the sport ever since the 2018 season.
The show has led to an increase of viewers of F1 all around the world, as motorsport fans now have access to a level of understanding and coverage of a sport which they previously did not understand.
The USA has benefitted from this massively, with F1 now holding three races in the country as of this season and even breaking the attendance record last year at the Circuit of the Americas.
Despite the series’ roaring success, Max Verstappen refused to partake in the 2021 edition of ‘Drive to Survive’, claiming that he was upset with the way Netflix take clips out of context or misplace audio to deliberately dramatise events.
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Last season’s coverage saw Netflix focus on the relationship between McLaren’s Lando Norris and his new teammate Daniel Ricciardo, who was struggling to find form at his new team.
The way that Netflix told the story made it out as if the pair shared a hostile relationship, with Norris unwilling to feel any sympathy for his teammate, which was simply not the case.
The two drivers did take some time to form a strong bond, but Norris has by no means been unsupportive or rude towards Ricciardo during their time together, even apologising to the Australian after lapping him in Monaco.
Verstappen has now jumped to the defence of Norris and Ricciardo, claiming that his issues with Season 4 of ‘Drive to Survive’ related to Netflix’s coverage of the McLaren pair’s relationship, rather than anything to do with himself.
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“They try to pick moments throughout the season and fabricate it in a way. For me personally, what I didn’t like, and it isn’t even about me, it’s about Lando and Daniel,” he told reporters.
“They are two great guys and are really nice, first of all and it make it look like Lando was a bit of a di*km which he isn’t at all.
“Again, I know Lando and I think many people know Lando. He’s a funny guy, a great guy, he has a great character and when you look at that episode you think ‘who is this guy? What is going on?’”
Despite refusing to take part in the previous season of the series, the teaser trailer released earlier this week by Netflix suggests that Verstappen will feature in Season 5, after he revealed that he has spoken with Netflix and voiced his concerns about their editing.