All 10 teams in Formula 1 will showcase their latest cars on Wednesday in Bahrain as testing for the 2024 season commences. Pre-season testing is always an exhilarating time for F1 enthusiasts, but it also signifies the release of another edition of Netflix’s documentary series Formula 1: Drive To Survive, which debuts on Friday, February 23. While Drive To Survive has served as an introduction to many fans in recent years and sparked the creation of similar docu-series for other sports, it has generated controversy. Some, including reigning champion Max Verstappen, who abstained from participating in the series for an entire season, believe that the show exaggerates the drama surrounding F1. This is undoubtedly true, so it is crucial to approach everything you see with skepticism. Nonetheless, the show offers exclusive behind-the-scenes access that cannot be found anywhere else. With all of this in mind, let’s take a look at what to expect in season 6:
One aspect that I find amusing about series like Drive To Survive is that while they occasionally provide surprises, if you followed the season as it unfolded, nothing that occurs on the track will astonish you. However, that does not mean there aren’t storylines that will be enjoyable to watch, particularly when reflecting on them with the knowledge we have now. Here are a few of those storylines.
The most significant news this offseason is Lewis Hamilton’s move from Mercedes to Ferrari in 2025. Now that we are aware of this, observing how Mercedes and Hamilton navigated through a challenging 2023 will likely be the most captivating aspect of the entire season. In the trailer, there is a moment where Lewis says to someone (probably Toto, but remember that editing, especially in a trailer, can be misleading) that although they can be with Mercedes in 20 years, he cannot, at least not as a driver. Therefore, it appears that we will gain insight into some of Hamilton’s frustrations with Mercedes’ last two cars since the 2022 regulations overhaul, the W13 and W14. Hamilton was not shy about expressing his dissatisfaction with the team’s development direction, and Mercedes even made significant changes to their original “zero sidepod” concept midway through the season. I believe this will be the most intriguing part of this season of DTS, and recent events have only made it more enticing.
Daniel Ricciardo’s unexpected return to the Formula 1 grid and his resurgence will be a major storyline in this season of Drive To Survive. Despite Red Bull’s dominance, there was a lot of drama in 2023 surrounding their driver lineups. It seems like every season involves Sergio Perez fighting to retain his seat alongside Verstappen, but in 2023, things escalated due to the events at Red Bull’s second team, AlphaTaruri (now known as Visa Cash App RB). It began with the team bringing in ex-Formula E champion Nyck de Vries alongside Yuki Tsunoda. Unfortunately, De Vries’ tenure was disastrous, to say the least, resulting in his dismissal from the team before the summer break. He was replaced by then-Red Bull reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo. Just a few races into his return, Ricciardo suffered a crash at Zandvoort, breaking his arm and leading to his replacement by Red Bull Junior team member Liam Lawson. Lawson impressed during his stint, and when Ricciardo returned to the car, he performed well too. This raised questions about internal competition for Perez’s seat. There is even a clip in the series where Christian Horner mentions that someone (likely Ricciardo) completed a lap that would put him on the grid alongside Verstappen, something Perez struggled with for most of the season. It all has a vaguely Shakespearean feel to it, and the internal battle for the Red Bull seat (which may ironically end up going to Williams’ Alex Albon) will be captivating.
Aston Martin and McLaren will receive significant attention this season. This is evident from the trailer, and it is great news because these two teams had contrasting seasons on the grid that made for compelling viewing. It all began with testing last year when Aston Martin arrived with a surprisingly fast car. Even in the first race, despite Lance Stroll’s broken wrists, the team undeniably had the second-fastest car on the grid, leading to a series of podium finishes for Fernando Alonso. McLaren, on the other hand, struggled at the back of the field from testing through the initial races. However, things completely turned around during the summer. McLaren suddenly had a car that was consistently challenging for podiums, while Aston Martin occasionally struggled to score points. This resulted in a late-season battle for fourth place in the constructors’ standings, which McLaren ultimately won. This storyline will undoubtedly be thrilling to witness this season.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix would have been a major storyline in this season of DTS, even if the weekend and the race were uneventful, which, of course, they were not. Vegas’ return to the calendar proved to be one of the most chaotic weekends of the year. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz collided with a drain during practice, damaging his car and causing a delay. As a result, Sainz required a new power unit, exceeding his season’s allocation. This led to a highly controversial grid penalty for Sainz and, more significantly, Ferrari, who were locked in a tight battle with Mercedes for second place in the Constructors’ standings. Eight of the nine other teams wanted to overlook the penalty due to extenuating circumstances, but Mercedes, unsurprisingly, opposed the idea. It would be interesting if Netflix’s cameras captured some of the F1 politics surrounding this incident. Aside from the off-track drama, Las Vegas’ new street circuit provided one of the most thrilling races of the season. This should also make for captivating viewing.
According to the Source outkick.com