It’s hard to talk about Formula 1 and not mention the impact of Drive to Survive on the sport. Yes, it has brought in millions of fans making F1 more popular than ever, but it has also dramatised the show. With cameras and mics all over the teams and tracks, every moment is captured and sometimes things get too real. However, sometimes things are also turned around on camera, and that is what Carlos Sainz believes.

When Carlos Sainz was in McLaren, he formed a strong bond with Lando Norris. However, when Netflix documented it, their friendship turned into a rivalry, as Sainz has just stated. In a recent interview with the Nude Podcast, the Spaniard shared his views on Netflix’s involvement in the sport. During the interview, he breaks down his thoughts on how the Hollywood effect has impacted Formula 1 in recent years.

Carlos Sainz’s take on Drive to Survive

Sainz explained that Netflix has added drama to Formula 1 to make it more entertaining to watch. This is done by creating rivalries and building up tensions among the teams. He explained how there is harmony in other sports like Moto GP and Football, and added, “But thanks to Netflix, battles or characters have been created that don’t really exist in some cases.”

Further stating that “Netflix has been in charge of dramatizing this and giving it a Hollywood touch. It’s true that the duels exist, but they’ve been exaggerated. It’s Hollywood,“ Sainz pointed out that the docuseries portrays each driver as a TV show character and to keep things interesting, they stir the pot. Then, Carlos Sainz explained his relationship with the current McLaren, saying, “Lando Norris and I are colleagues. Rivals and colleagues. They did an episode in Season 4 where we looked like archenemies. We were teammates and we seemed to get on terribly.” However, that was far from the truth.

The Spaniard emphasized, “In Australia, at the start of the new F1 season we met and I said to him: ‘Have you watched Netflix?’ He said yes and we were laughing about it for a while. Even a fan who has been following F1 for a long time and knows the details laughs at that episode.” In the end, Carlos Sainz explained his belief of how the show creates rifts between drivers saying, “They take one line there, one line there, to try and create that rivalry.” Although these are some setbacks according to some drivers, the show has helped make the sport more accessible.

Positive effects of Drive to Survive on Formula 1

Recently there has been an F1 boom in America and many other countries around the world. Netflix’s docuseries has brought in tonnes of fans as they explained the recent history of F1. It became an easy way for anyone to understand the complicated sport due to them explaining technical terms and giving insight into the events of the sport.

The show helps fans understand the dangers that come with racing at 250 mph and what goes on through the driver’s mind while they do that. Overall, the ESPN average viewership for F1 went up 70% over the last three years following season 4. Moreover, bringing Netflix in on F1 has led to America hosting not one but three Grand Prix events this season.

There is also a boom in younger fans who are getting into the pinnacle of motorsport with a 77% growth in 16-35 year old fans in 2020. Along with this, fans get to understand each driver’s story as things get personal in some of the interviews. Also, the biggest benefit is the paddock access with behind-the-scenes coverage that fans can enjoy from the comfort of their own couch.

As there are pros and cons with everything, the same can be said for Drive to Survive. It is with the introduction of the docuseries, that drivers like Carlos Sainz, Daniel Ricciardo, and Lando Norris have gotten their prime-time exposure. With this, fans feel closer to the athletes behind the helmets. Do you enjoy watching the season round-up through the eyes of Netflix? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.