KUALA LUMPUR − Netflix’s Drive To Survive has breathe new life into the dying Formula One sport.
The docuseries did something that Formula One could not do beyond showcasing seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton winning races with Mercedes-AMG Petronas.
The thing is, Lewis is a good driver with an equally great car, but fans aren’t willing to witness the Silver Arrows taking podium wins nearly every weekend.
When Netflix first began filming the series, the two giants of Formula One − Mercedes and Ferrari − sat out.
Subsequently, Netflix did something Formula One was not able to do − add drama to the sport while adding character to the drivers.
In the first season, viewers were introduced to the highly charismatic Daniel Ricciardo, who was then racing for RedBull − one of the then top three teams in Formula One.
However, as a result of being overshadowed by the hungry Max Verstappen, Daniel switched to team Renault in a bid to chase his dream of winning a world championship.
Of course, his move to the French manufacturer did not offer Daniel more great races on the track, which prompted him to cause more drama by switching to McLaren.
Fans were able to see Renault team principal Cyril Abiteboul giving Daniel the cold shoulder before mellowing down − he even participated in a bet where he would be willing to tattoo himself in the event Daniel obtained a podium finish.
Daniel did indeed get a podium finish − prompting Cyril to keep his end of the deal.
It is drama like this on Drive to Survive that has led many viewers to start following Formula One races.
And it should be known that Formula One is not an easy sport to follow as it is full of technicalities with rules being changed constantly.
Nevertheless, Formula One’s decision to allow Netflix’s cameras into the grid this year proved fruitful when the United States Grand Prix saw nearly 100% attendance.
Mind you, Formula One had been trying to penetrate the American market in the past but could only make inroads into Asia and Europe.
So, for new fans, they might not know the significance of Kimi Räikkönen’s retirement.
In fact, fans barely caught glimpses of Räikkönen in all three seasons of Drive to Survive − probably due to his disdain for interviews and cameras.
By the time Drive to Survive viewers started watching Formula One, he had moved from Ferrari to Alfa Romeo.
A slower and less manoeuvrable car for what many would call one of the best drivers of all time.
Nicknamed “The Iceman”, Räikkönen has been racing for Formula One since 2001 − winning the world championship in a Ferrari in 2007.
While some of the best racers in Formula One are known for a focused yet aggressive driving style, Räikkönen is calm and collected, hence his nickname.
It was fun for long-time fans to see this calmer driving style dominating the sport although he did break away from his cool demeanour on many occasions.
For fans, it would not be uncommon to hear him shouting at his engineers to “shut up” or leave him alone during races.
During interviews, Räikkönen made it difficult for journalists to do their jobs by providing short apathetic answers.
He was not just a great driver but a man with a peculiar personality for Formula One, which fans ended up loving.
For long time Formula One fans, Räikkönen’s departure this season marks an end of an era.
Meanwhile, for new fans, who just got into the sport through Netflix, it was an honour to have the opportunity to see Räikkönen drive although only for a few seasons. − The Vibes, December 14, 2021
