Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen has once again voiced his displeasure at the way Netflix’s docuseries, Drive to Survive, has chosen to portray him. The bone of contention this time revolves around the representation of his reaction to fellow driver Lando Norris’ maiden victory at the Miami Grand Prix.
Verstappen, who clinched the World title last season in what was a captivating duel with Norris, was depicted by the series as being disgruntled post the Miami race. Despite Verstappen’s impressive start to the season, winning four out of the first five Grands Prix, his chances of a clean sweep were dashed by a DNF at the Australian Grand Prix. In Miami, Verstappen was outdone by Norris, who beat him by 7.6 seconds to take top honors.
The seventh season of Drive to Survive presented an apparently downcast Verstappen, with scenes displaying Norris jubilantly celebrating his win with his family and McLaren team, juxtaposed with a seemingly disheartened Verstappen. As former F1 driver Jenson Button noted, “Max is a winner, he comes to win, everything else is a failure,” which further underscored the somber portrayal.
Verstappen, however, has taken exception to this narrative. During a recent Twitch stream, he refuted the series’ representation, stating, “Apparently I was very sad after Miami. I literally had the best time ever Sunday night, so I don’t know what I was upset about.”
This is not the first time the Dutch driver has been critical of the Netflix show. Verstappen has previously expressed his dissatisfaction with the series for what he perceives as its occasional distortion of reality. He has even declined to participate in interviews for the show, voicing concerns over the need for accurate portrayal and the insertion of comments into unrelated footage. He emphasized, “I’m a guy who finds it also very important that you’re portrayed well.”
Verstappen isn’t the only one to express disapproval of the series’ depiction. Various fans have also called out the series for its portrayal of Verstappen’s reaction to Norris’ win. A fan pointed out, “Max was very happy for Lando,” while another highlighted that the cap Verstappen is seen wearing in the Netflix clip is in fact from Zandvoort, not Miami.
Despite his concerns, Verstappen acknowledged the significance of the show for Formula 1’s popularity. However, he maintains a cautious approach, having recently stated to The Project that he plans to limit his exposure on the show. He also admitted to BBC Sport that he has no interest in watching the series, saying, “I watched two episodes, but I was not very impressed. It’s just not my thing, faking rivalries.” His comments highlight his commitment to authenticity, both on and off the track.
