F1 News: Drive To Survive Blasted By Sebastian Vettel – “Unrealistic”

Former Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel has criticized Netflix‘s F1 docuseries as “unrealistic” and “weird”. He made the straightforward conclusion after having watched just one episode of the series when it first launched. 

Key Takeaways:

• Sebastian Vettel criticized Netflix’s F1 docuseries, Drive to Survive, as “unrealistic” and “weird” after watching one episode, joining other F1 figures in their critique.
• Despite criticism, the series has effectively broadened Formula 1’s audience base since its 2019 debut, coinciding with Vettel’s penultimate season at Ferrari.
• Vettel acknowledged the series’ role in attracting new viewers to motorsport but expressed a preference for traditional methods of learning about Formula 1.

Despite the docuseries releasing a new season every year, it has never escaped the wrath of several F1 drivers and other Formula 1 personality, who claim it to be ‘fake’ and ‘unreal’. 

Conversely, the series remains instrumental in broadening the reach of Formula 1 to audiences previously disengaged from the sport. Launched in 2019, it coincided with Vettel’s penultimate season at Ferrari.

Having achieved the title of the sport’s youngest four-time world champion during a highly successful tenure at Red Bull, Vettel concluded his illustrious career with Aston Martin at the conclusion of the 2022 season. He was replaced by two-time world champion Fernando Alonso.

When Swiss- German publication Neue Zürcher Zeitung asked Vettel if he allows his children to watch Drive to Survive, he said:

“They haven’t asked yet, but I’ve only watched one episode myself, back when the series came out.

“I thought it was a bit weird because it was so unrealistic.

“But of course I understand that it brought a lot of attention and a new audience to motorsport. You can’t do that with hours of explanations on how to adjust a damper.

“With Netflix, viewers feel like they learn more, also because there is more drama.

“But when I feel the need to find out more about the current Formula 1, I don’t reach for the remote control, I reach for my phone.”