Drive to survive Documentary; an exclusive of Hamilton’s dramatic Ferrari move
The latest season of Drive to Survive, the popular docu-series that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the world of Formula 1, was released on Friday. The seventh season of the show tells the story of the 2024 season, with a focus on some of the biggest stories of the year, including Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, the Christian Horner scandal, and Max Verstappen’s title win.
However, despite covering many of the major storylines from the 2024 season, there were some notable omissions from the show. One of the biggest surprises was the lack of coverage of the heated row between George Russell and Max Verstappen at the end of the season.
The confrontation between the two drivers began in the stewards’ room at the penultimate race of the season in Qatar and spilled over into the final race in Abu Dhabi. Russell’s 14-minute media briefing, in which he launched a tirade against Verstappen, was a major talking point at the time, and it’s surprising that it didn’t make the cut for the show.
Another major story that was missing from the show was the news of Adrian Newey’s departure from Red Bull. Newey, the F1 design guru, had been a key figure at Red Bull for 18 years and was instrumental in designing the dominant 2023 car that helped Verstappen win the title.
Newey’s decision to leave Red Bull and join Aston Martin was a major shock at the time, and it’s surprising that it didn’t receive more coverage on the show. Perhaps the producers are saving this story for next season, ahead of Newey’s first car with Aston Martin in 2026.
Ollie Bearman’s F1 debut in Saudi Arabia was another notable omission from the show. Bearman’s appearance in the show focuses on his stand-in race in Brazil, but his debut in Jeddah, where he finished seventh ahead of Hamilton and Norris, receives no mention at all.
Finally, the show’s coverage of George Russell’s win in Belgium was also notable for what it left out. Russell’s win was a major talking point at the time, but the show fails to mention that he was later disqualified for his car being underweight, handing Hamilton the grand prix victory.
Incidentally, Hamilton’s win at Silverstone, which broke a 31-month winless streak, is only briefly mentioned in episode three. Overall, while the latest season of Drive to Survive covers many of the major storylines from the 2024 season, there are some notable omissions that will hopefully be addressed in future seasons.
