Are you tired of your same-old reality show? Are you looking for CARloads of drama? Drive to Survive might be for you. In the fandom of Formula One racing, Drive to Survive is a controversial topic. Some fans call it invasive and unnecessary. Other fans enjoy seeing the races from the perspective of the drivers and team principles, that’s not the mainstream sports media.
Surprisingly enough grown men who drive cars, have a lot of drama in their lives. The world thinks women are dramatic, well clearly they haven’t watched this show. This season was not lacking in secrets, scandal, gossip, and drama in between the drives. These grown men are always talking to each other about, who met with who, who signed with who, who was seen with who, who hates who, who loves who. Throughout these ten episodes, you’ll see all of the behind-the-scenes of the past Formula One season, whether you’re new to F1, or a lifelong fan, if you want to be entertained, this is the show for you.
Episode 1. Business As Usual
Think of the moment when Zayn announced he was leaving One Direction. Now imagine he had announced he was not only leaving the band but also joining Big Time Rush. That’s how some fans felt when Lewis Hamilton, a long-time Mercedes driver, announced not only this would be his final season with Mercedes, but he would be joining Ferrari. This leaves Ferrari with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. This is like if Beyonce and Harry Styles announced they were dropping an album together. The dominant global super who’s dominated their field for so long, with the newer young prodigy, the “golden boy”, up and coming in his field.
Episode 2. Frenemies
Imagine you and your friend have been working at the same job together for years now, and each week at work you see her get promoted again and again. Get all the praise from the public, bosses, other companies, and co-workers. You want that to be you because you have so much potential, but no one recognizes your work equally. Until one day they do. If you can’t imagine what that’s like ask Lando Norris. In this episode, he talks about how he’s never won a race, and how knows he can, but questions his ability to win against Max Verstappen a long-time friend. Think of Max as Cillian Murphey, an Academy Award winner, doesn’t seem like he tries too hard, but is always three steps ahead of everyone else, some may consider him the best of his generation. Lando is like Tom Holland, lovable, funny, and charismatic. Who’s most likely to win the Oscar? Who deserves it? Who worked harder for it?
Episode 3. Looking Out for Number 1
Zayn left One Direction, as Lewis left Mercedes, and now they need a replacement. Do one of the current members of the band step up to leave, or do they bring in someone young and new? Or do they bring in a currently successful musician to be a part of the band? As Lewis Hamilton left it left an open spot, it was questioned whether George Russell could step up, and become that number one driver, out of the shadows, the leader. Who fills the spot of Lewis Hamilton? Does a new young talent come in, or is it more convenient for an already well-established talent to fill that spot? In something as iconic as One Direction would you replace Zayn with Nick Jonas or someone unheard of straight off the stage from the X-Factor?
Episode 4. Carlos Signs.
Imagine the heartthrob of your school, he just got dumped by his super cool girlfriend. He needs a date for his formal, so now you and every girl are like “ omg let me take this guy to formal”. And he’s like “Omgggg so many stunning perfect smart ladies want me, how to choose who I date now”. That was Carlos Sainz in this episode. He got dumped by Ferrari, who does he date now? Williams wants to become the team they once were, but Kick Sauber did for a while also. But then imagine a girl this heartthrob used to have a crush on returns to your school. That is Flavio Briatore returning to Alpine. So imagine this boy is about to go to formal with you, but now this new girl is in the picture, the day you guys are going to pick out your outfit for formal, he stands you up, just because she called him to talk. Wait is this article about a sport or a high school romcom??
Episode 5. Le Curse of Leclerc
Do you believe in superstitions? Charles Leclerc may, or may not. Think of the Met Gala, this is the Monaco Prix, now think of someone who attends the Met every year, but they fall on the carpet, and no one paparazzi them. That has been Charles at the past few Monaco Races, the past few years. Charles lied to his ill dad saying he’d gotten to Formula 1, and now racing in his home Grand Prix his pressure to maybe squeeze out a win for his father is bigger than ever. This person at the Met Gala, they have people they know will look good, and step right over them if they fall. Some people will show up in an amazing outfit better than anyone thought they would, so how does the person who falls every year make it to the top of the steps without falling on their face?
Episode 6. Wheels of Fortune
The two championships in F1 are the Drivers Championship and the Constructors Championship. Picture whoever wins the driver one as an actor winning best actor; it’s all about your individual performance and delivery. As for the constructors championship, this is like a movie winning Best Picture, no one’s individual work, but rather the entire project and everyone behind it are the winners. In this episode we see McLaren, the previous underdog, now having a chance at winning, having the fastest car. The two McLaren drivers face the tension between each other, setting an awkward tension between them.
Episode 7. In the Heat of the Night
The boys take on the cameras. Formula One drivers turned YouTubers. And just like real influencers who don’t love to win the media, gain the numbers. Come out on top. Charles, Alex, Lando, Pierre, and George vlog the Singapore Grand Prix and look back on their karting days. They grew up together, and now are racing together. How does their friendship change throughout their racing career? Their mini vlogs allow us as the viewers to see the pressure and nerves behind the Grand Prix. It’s interesting to see their different perspectives on the different outcomes of the race.
Episode 8. Elbows Out
Replacements, replacements, replacements. Abby Lee Miller once said “Everyone is replaceable. It’s halfway through the season and everyone wants to stay with their team. Like everyone with talent, every race for these drivers is an audition. Someone underperforms, no problem, there’s a ton of people waiting to scoop up that spot. What company wants to hire an underqualified candidate? Daniel Ricciardo is the essentially the Maddie Zeigler of Redbull and Christian Horner is Abby Lee Miller. Is he the one who gets the promotion when Checo Perez can’t keep up? Does Christian Horner just keep Daniel, solely because he has a soft spot for him? Is it time for the older talent to step down to make room for a fresh driver?
Episode 9. Under New Management
When you hate your manager, it seems impossible to get up and go to work. Ayao Komatsu taking over Haas has shown a lot of promise. The midfield teams want to stay there, and try and score the points. What’s better than being last, being in the middle? The underdogs still want to show they’re not just there to drive as background actors. The middle children still want to show that they deserve the attention of their parents. And this is a fight for recognition. Throughout leadership changes, we see how the result of the drivers changes. Yes, the middle children are going to act out for attention but who can you even blame? Is it the children, or the parents? In My Big Fat Greek Wedding, a quote goes “The man is the head of the head of the family, but the woman is the neck, and she turns the head in the direction she wants”. Here we see that although the drivers are behind the wheel are they really the ones even driving?
Episode 10. End Game
Max proves it again. From 17th to being number one in Brazil, and takes his fourth world championship in Vegas. But while the world watched Lando and Max battle it out, Charles and Carlos have sneakily managed to score points for Ferrari, giving them the potential to win the Constructors Championship. How does a movie prove they get to win best picture? Is it the team with the legacy of Ferrari or the underdog comeback team of McLaren? With this being the last race of the season, everyone has to give it every they can. For those leaving their current teams, they must drive with a performance to add to the legacy of their team. In this episode we see why this sport is more than just a sport, but why there’s a legacy behind each team. It shows the significance of why generations leave, and why new ones join.
With the new season fast approaching, we know there will be a carload, of drama and information to unpack, race after race. With new teammates, new drivers, and much more, there’s no doubt that a new season of Drive to Survive will drop with much more lore, about these grown men who like to gossip like middle school girls.