F1 News
Drive to Survive has to improve: "Personally, I tune out after 15 minutes"
- GPblog.com
Former Formula 1 driver Stefan Johansson is not happy with the way the battle for the world title unfolded in Abu Dhabi. We have previously reported that he feels that race director Michael Masi made a series of bad decisions, but the Swede is also afraid that entertainment will now become more important than the sport itself.
Endless controversy and polarization
According to Johansson, both Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton deserved the world title this season, but he would have liked it to be decided fairly on the track. "Instead we now have this endless controversy and polarization," he is in his blog critical of the course of the race in which Verstappen managed to overtake Hamilton on the last lap because he was on much newer tyres after a late safety car situation.
Johansson doesn't think Liberty Media, the owner of Formula 1, will complain about it any time soon. Formula 1 was more popular than ever this season. "If this is the direction it will continue to take, where entertainment comes before the sport, then I think we are moving into very dangerous territory." As such, he would be reluctant to see Formula 1 become a kind of motorsport version of the WWE, wrestling where it is scripted.
Drive to Survive must find a better balance
Johansson is also critical of the Netflix series Drive to Survive. According to him, the show needs to find a better balance between the reality of the sport and how it is portrayed to fans. "Personally, I drop out after 15 minutes, but I can't deny the impact of the program. It has clearly helped to increase the popularity of Formula 1, especially in America."
Still, the series has to be careful not to go too far. "I understand that social media and marketing are important, but I wouldn't like to see the drivers turn into some sort of comedians and clowns instead of plucky young men doing their thing on Sunday afternoons."