The highly anticipated finale of Netflix’s Drive to Survive’s seventh season has left fans feeling deflated. The last two episodes, ‘Under New Management’ and ‘End Game’, fall short of the high standards set by the top-rated episode ‘In the Heat of the Night’. They slip back into the routine narrative style of the series instead of challenging the status quo.
Episode 9 introduces Ayao Komatsu as the new helmsman at Haas, while also marking Flavio Briatore’s re-entry into Alpine, causing tremors in the driver lineup. However, the episode seems to be playing it safe, adhering to the typical Drive to Survive formula without offering anything notably memorable, except perhaps for Esteban Ocon’s charming black cat.
The 10th episode records Max Verstappen’s capture of the Drivers’ title, albeit briefly, before shifting focus to the Constructors’ showdown between McLaren and Ferrari. This chapter, like its predecessor, barely moves the needle, reverting to contrived group conversations, questionable editing, and dramatization.
Despite the fact that the majority of the seventh season of Drive to Survive has been Netflix’s finest work thus far, the concluding episodes end in a disappointing anti-climax. In addition, the show overlooks several key plotlines from the action-packed 2024 season.
The tension between George Russell and Max Verstappen during the F1 winter break is one such overlooked storyline. This high-profile disagreement in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, which would have provided the perfect fodder for Netflix’s drama-loving audience, is inexplicably missing from the series.
Another significant omission is the journey of Franco Colapinto. One of the biggest surprises of the 2024 F1 season was Colapinto’s sudden mid-season entry at Williams during the Monza Grand Prix. His subsequent success on the track and his contagious enthusiasm off it would have made a compelling narrative, yet Netflix chose not to include it.
Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, a significant event of the season, is covered in the series, but Hamilton himself is curiously absent. Even his emotional victory at Silverstone is left out, leading to speculation that Netflix is waiting for the right moment to spotlight Hamilton in his new team colors.
A major development that went unnoticed in the docuseries is Adrian Newey’s departure from Red Bull after two decades. This was a move that shook the F1 world, second only to Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari. Given Red Bull’s challenges in 2024, which are well-documented in the season, Newey’s absence is a glaring oversight.
The series also fails to adequately highlight the departure of several drivers at the end of the 2024 season, including Kevin Magnussen, Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu, and Sergio Perez. Additionally, Netflix missed the opportunity to showcase Oliver Bearman’s impressive debut with Ferrari in Saudi Arabia.
In conclusion, while the seventh season of Drive to Survive shines in many aspects, the final episodes and missed opportunities leave much to be desired. The series needs to push the boundaries and embrace the unexpected to truly do justice to the drama and thrill of Formula 1 racing.
