Producer Drive to Survive proud of 'transforming F1' thanks to series

It is well enough known that Formula 1 has surged in popularity in recent years. This is partly thanks to the Netflix series Drive to Survive, which has now had five seasons. It's not going to stop there, according to Formula 1's website.

Executive Producer James Gay-Rees is one of the driving forces behind the programme, which has introduced a lot of people to Formula 1. He reveals that for the sixth season, which is currently being recorded, all 20 drivers have agreed to participate. So also once again Max Verstappen, who only made his comeback in season five. Earlier, he had indicated that, in his opinion, the makers had lost sight of reality too often.

Alonso the counter-film villain

According to Gay-Rees, everyone is now participating because they see the benefits: "But even Fernando Alonso is sort of coming into his own as this kind of cartoon villain in some ways. The fact that he’s like, ‘You need heroes and you need anti-heroes, and I guess I’m the bad guy.’ We all love that about him and he’s kicking arse," the producer said.

Gay-Rees then patted himself on the back for what he and his team have managed to achieve with the series. “I’m not sure everybody wants a camera in their face 24 hours a day, I totally appreciate that. But I think it’s pretty hard to not be able to recognise the impact of the show on the sport. Let’s be honest, it’s been pretty transformative. I’m not saying it’s entirely down to the show, but it’s definitely had a large part to do with finding that new audience. That was the point of the exercise in the first place, to open up the sport to a wider audience, and it’s been very successful in doing that."

The Netflix producer says he wants to make several more seasons of the series. Exactly how many more years Drive to Survive can be seen, he cannot or will not say.