Episodes 7 and 8 of the latest season of Netflix’s Drive to Survive show the format documenting Formula 1 at its highest level.
For those tired of Netflix running the same-old formula series-by-series, Episode 7 of the latest iteration of Drive to Survive is a welcome breath of fresh air.
‘In the Heat of the Night’ hands mobile cameras to Alex Albon, Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Lando Norris and Pierre Gasly as they head to Marina Bay, Singapore. The quintet are then given the duty of directing filming and documenting their weekends in one of the most gruelling of all races.
Not only is this a refreshing change of pace for Netflix, but it’s the show at its most genuine as the drivers take control of their own narratives. Moreover, it offers a unique cross-examination of the friendships this generation of drivers share, as all five rose through the racing ranks together.
This is a format that must return for Season 8 of Drive to Survive and it’s amazing it’s taken seven seasons for Netflix to strike gold in such a fashion after years of repetition. The only potential downside to this instalment is the documentation of George Russell’s post-race scare in Singapore. Suffering from heat exhaustion and dehydration, Russell is worse for wear than usual and the Netflix mics pick up the young Briton hyperventilating as he fights to regain composure. It’s fascinating insight into the perils of F1, but perhaps this is peeking too far behind the curtain into a very private matter.
But learning that Russell brings his own pillow and duvet to hotels is precisely the sort of bizarre information we want more of.
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Red Bull’s driver saga
‘Elbows Out’ dives into the Red Bull driver saga and Christian Horner debating on who to drop and who to sign as Sergio Perez’s catastrophic form takes hold.
Unsurprisingly, Yuki Tsunoda features little in this episode given he was an option Red Bull never truly considered to take on the seat next to Max Verstappen. Instead, the focus of this episode is predominantly on Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson whose fortunes crossover in opposite directions.
There are moments captured where Ricciardo thinks his Red Bull redemption is on, but as it becomes increasingly clear that he is not the driver he once was, Helmut Marko tells Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer that “The Netflix story is not working.”
An underwhelming performance in mixed conditions at Silverstone prompts some candid reflection from Ricciardo in the Netflix chair.
“I don’t know if I want to say it because it’s too vulnerable,” the Australian says as he contemplates whether he’s capable of taking similar risks as his younger self. The episode serves as another goodbye for Ricciardo as his F1 chapter has come to a close and introduces Lawson as a feisty, determined character.
As ever, Christian Horner deals with Netflix with aplomb throughout the saga and while this episode isn’t as fresh as Episode 7, it still delivers enough to make this pair one of the most compelling of Season 7.
READ MORE – F1 Drive to Survive Season 7 Review: Emotions rise in Episodes 5 & 6
