Now, that is not to say it didn't have any positive impact. Because at its core the show still delivered an entertaining gateway into Formula One, a sport that was once more niche than many other global competitions. So while the embellishments were noticeable (as someone who has been following F1 for quite some time, believe me, they were very noticeable) they could still be brushed away as harmless.
However, with season 8, defending the show seems to get even more difficult. Has DTS gone from dramatised storytelling to something that risks becoming a stain on F1's reputation?
Truth be told, the 2025 season was not the best one I have ever seen, but it still had amazing and even historical moments. From Isack Hadjar securing a rookie maiden podium, to the controversial “papaya rules” team order swap in Italy and Hungary. There was Max Verstappen’s incredible pit-lane to podium drive in Brazil.
Yet we saw almost nothing.
Sir Lewis Hamilton’s astronomical move to Scuderia Ferrari and his struggles were barely mentioned. Charles Leclerc appears for a few lines here and there, but apparently there is nothing worth deeper notice.
Instead, what we got was a PR-heavy managerial focus. Zak Brown occupied such large portions of multiple episodes that it sometimes felt like he was narrating the season rather than simply being one component of it, and he is not even the team principle of McLaren. The actual team principal barely makes any appearance.
The manageria focus takes away from the heart of the sport
Even more weird was the handling of Christian Horner’s controversial departure from Red Bull Racing following devastating allegations. The show frames it more like a quiet managerial shift rather than the major PR and ethical storm it actually was.
This manageria focus takes away from the heart of the sport - the actual drivers. Those who risk their lives weekend after weekend racing at unimaginable speed. Instead, the show leans into exaggerated and manufactured drama; which is especially strange when the real sport already provides more than enough storylines. In fact, most F1 seasons have enough real drama to fill a couple seasons of Drive to Survive without any need for embellishment.
And even when the show does cover real events, it often strips them of their importance and context, leaving them feeling hollow. For example, Nico Hülkenberg’s long-awaited maiden podium is mentioned, yes, but the story itself was so significant that it should have been the focus of an entire episode. Instead, the show prioritizes a strange and unnecessary storyline between Alpine F1 Team and Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber.
For years, fans have tolerated the show’s creative liberties because the payoff was entertainment and growth for the sport, but, if Season 8 is any indication, Drive to Survive may need to go back to what made it work in the first place. This season was not worth the wait, and the season it was meant to capture deserved far better.