Formula 1: Drive to Survive

I stopped watching formula racing ten years ago, because I found it about as exciting as watching darts. But that doesn't mean I'm not touched by a documentary about Frank Williams or James May composing a homage to Jim Clark. This fantastically edited and staged documentary lit a fire under my ass. I also enjoy the trainings, because if Drive to Survive teaches us anything, it's that the race is just the tip of the iceberg. The context and behind the scenes are fascinating. Well done! (01/05/2019)

The most impressive thing about this series is not the unprecedented realistic (as far as possible) behind-the-scenes access, strong emotions, troubles, joys, backtalk, the difference between press releases and what is really “on their mind", the portrayal of adrenaline-fueled races (Fast and Furious is no match for this action), the absolutely masterful editing (even routine scenes with not much action are breathtaking, not to mention those packed with action), intrigues full of backstabbing between stables and (together with) (co-)riders in the style of “Game of Thrones", the non-linear structure, peeling of tinfoil from polished F1 facade, to “Clarkson-Hammond-Mayovsky" (they will definitely cut that out) snapshots or the running joke in the form of “ignoring" Räikkönen. No, by far the most impressive thing about this whole masterpiece is that it gives the polished and prescribed motor-circus the human face, individuality, emotions and charm that F1 had for many of us in the 1990s, sometime around the age of Senna or the later rivalry between Schumacher and Häkkinen. I'm not at all surprised that the first season about 2018 brought an increase in interest and viewership of the season about 2019 as a result. And what about the second one, when the crew, in addition to the rest of the field, also got really close to the unstoppable Mercedes/Ferrari duo (if only for just a few races and not the whole season). This real, high-quality sports documentary series provides an insight into how it looks when the TV cameras are turned off and the press conferences are over. Generally speaking, that is something Amazon is good at, but with this series (and also Sunderland), Netflix has has an ace up its sleeve. There is currently no better-filmed, emotion-packed and information-rich insight into top sports (and there are a few damn good ones). | S1: 5/5 | S2: 5/5 | (02/03/2020)

While I used to watch every single race of the season as a huge F1 fan, in the last 10 years I usually make myself watch 3 races a year maximum, mostly bored by them. My passion for this sport has simply disappeared. But now I might have to reconsider, and I don't think I'm the only one. Drive to Survive is absolute perfection. A drama of epic dimensions, not necessarily about the technical side of things, but rather about hard work, ambition, rivalry, pressure, intrigue, and dirty tricks. This really is no fairytale about some nameless underdog making it all the way to the top; this is a harsh world where nobody messes around and even the greatest talent can be bought, a world where everyone wants to be first. However, in order for someone to win, the others logically have to lose, which is an absolutely unacceptable option for each one of the 20 drivers who are either selfish, arrogant, ambitious, aggressive, or all of the above, so drama is never in short supply. Honest and unadorned, perfectly edited and the storytelling ... every race, every team, manager, driver, each have their stories, some of which have a happy ending, while others often end up bitter as hell. S01: 10/10. In the second season, the joyride continues. The PR managers of even the largest teams realized that this series could help them a lot with the fanbase and tried to maintain a good name, but no punches were pulled even in this season, showing that this sport is not for the faint of heart. S02: 10/10. (23/07/2020)