A year after giving F1 fans unprecedented access to their favourite drivers and teams, Netflix is back with season two of Formula 1: Drive to Survive.
Last year’s series followed the trials and tribulations of eight of the sport’s 10 teams during 2018 – Mercedes and Ferrari refused to let Netflix’s cameras follow them.
In that series fans learned more about Daniel Ricciardo’s decision to switch from Red Bull to Renault, the tension between the team bosses, and heard some of the whispered conversations not normally picked up by race coverage.
Now the documentary is back for a second run of 10 episodes, dropping on Friday (February 28).
Here’s what you can expect from series two.
What time is Formula 1: Drive to Survive released?
Netflix and Formula 1 announced in July last year that a second series was in production, following the success of season one.
Series two of Drive to Survive will drop at 8am GMT on Friday (February 28) and focuses on the 2019 season.
Like last time there are 10 episodes, all released simultaneously. The episode titles are:
- Lights Out
- Boiling Point
- Dogfight
- Dark Days
- Great Expectations
- Raging Bulls
- Seeing Red
- Musical Chairs
- Blood, Sweat & Tears
- Checkered Flag
Mercedes and Ferrari finally appear
(Image: Charles Coates)
Both Mercedes and Ferrari ducked out of taking part in the first series which was filmed during the 2018 season, claiming they wanted to focus on the championship battle.
This time the cameras are allowed behind the scenes of these two giants, and drivers and team bosses also sit down for interviews.
Look out for Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff trying to remember what the Mercedes team’s full name is…
The spotlight is still on other teams
One of the benefits of Mercedes and Ferrari’s absence from season one was that it allowed other teams and drivers to shine.
With Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull the only teams in with a chance of winning races, much of the regular TV coverage is on those three.
Netflix’s F1 documentary, however, spends a lot of time with the other teams, and that carries over into season two. While not all teams and drivers make an appearance, the vast majority of the series is spent away from Mercedes and Ferrari.
Guenther Steiner returns
(Image: Charles Coates)
One of the unexpected stars of the first series of Drive to Survive was Haas team principal Guenther Steiner thanks to his colourful way with words.
Those who fell in love with the often-swearing Italian will be delighted to know that he’s back, and ready to deliver a full-on tirade when required.
The profanity dial is turned up to 11…
You’re left on edge – even if you know the result
For those who followed the 2019 season the results don’t come as a surprise, however Netflix has still managed to get you excited.
It may be obvious to the more experienced fan that some of commentary is not ‘live’ from the races – even though it’s presented as such. While that may irritate those who follow the sport more closely, it provides more information to newer fans who may not know what happened in each race.
Some of the episodes are also shorter than last year, but the storylines are tighter than in season one without too much use of dramatic licence.
Williams’ problems laid bare
(Image: Dan Istitene)
All F1 fans know the history of Williams, one of the most successful teams of the 1980s and 1990s. The team’s struggles in recent years have been well documented, with a new low reached when they failed to make the first two days of last year’s winter testing.
And once the car is on track, the brutal messages from the drivers reveal the severity of problems they had.
For a team that was once the dominant force, it’s a sad sight for all fans of the sport.
The rollercoaster that is F1
The incredible highs and lows of Formula 1 can be summed up in a few seconds of the last episode when the focus is on Pierre Gasly.
The 2019 season was one of two halves for the young Frenchman’s results, and in the middle of all that came the Formula 2 crash that claimed the life of his friend Anthoine Hubert.
Kimi Raikkonen
The Iceman is barely seen in this season, which may come as a shame to fans. However with Raikkonen it’s not the quantity of contribution but rather the quality.
And in true Kimi form he delivers, with an opinion that is completely at odds with his fellow racers.
F1 fans will certainly miss him when he’s no longer driving.
