F1 Pundit reveals Drive to Survive’s ‘bad*ss’ impact on US fans
Former IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe gave an insight into how Netflix's Drive To Survive transformed the US fans' perspective of F1.
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Drive To Survive and 2023 Las Vegas GP, images via X/F1 and IMAGO
F1’s reach has grown tremendously ever since Liberty Media‘s takeover in 2017. Netflix’s Drive To Survive aided this audience boom while revealing the personalities of the drivers to the fans. Subsequently, F1 pundit and Ex-IndyCar racer James Hinchcliffe asserted that the sports docuseries helped US fans understand how hard-shelled F1 drivers were, an identity that they had lost over the years.
With Liberty Media heading the sport’s commercial decisions, they opened the gates to the entertainment industry and collaborated with Netflix to release Drive To Survive(DTS) in 2019. The series gave immense behind-the-scenes details about drivers’ lives and how teams operated that was earlier dreamed of.
This finally cracked the code for F1 to expand its reach in the United States. Furthermore, James Hinchcliffe elaborated upon how DTS’ arrival gave fans a whole new perspective of racing drivers that they were unaware of.
What Drive to Survive helped the North American audience remember is how bad*ss Formula 1 drivers really are. The challenges on the track, the obstacles off it makes for some fascinating characters and highly entertaining action.
James Hinchcliffe said in his F1column
On the other hand, season seven of Netflix’s DTS is currently underway. The docuseries’ team would be happy with how the season is playing out and with the rivalries developing among teams and drivers to win the elusive title at the end of the year.
Who are the key F1 personalities that left an impression on the US audience?
While F1’s growth has been attributed to the championships’ expanding approach, drivers have also played a key role in the ordeal. Drivers have been given heroic welcomes for race entries on US soil, but a few have earned the charm of the US fans over the years.
Subsequently, the Canadian driver revealed how Daniel Ricciardo‘s contagious smile and Lewis Hamilton‘s presence among US celebrities made them above the rest.
At that point, Formula 1, in my mind, had truly become part of the North American zeitgeist. This was aided by the likes of Daniel Ricciardo appearing on late night shows and popular podcasts, and of course Lewis Hamilton regularly rubbing shoulders with US pop culture royalty. The series’ embracing of social media also played a huge part, uniting fans of given teams and drivers across the country.
James Hinchcliffe said in his F1 column
However, to fan’s dismay, the Aussie was sacked mid-season and was unable to attend the race in Austin that he dearly loves. This has left Ricciardo without a return to the grid in sight.
On the other hand, Lewis Hamilton is on the verge of making his switch to Ferrari with a mere three races left before his Mercedes departure. Thus, he would hope to have good race weekends as his 12-year-long journey with the Silver Arrows is coming to an end soon.
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Geetansh Pasricha
(741 Articles Published)