When it comes to sporting docu-series’, nothing can really compare to the masterpiece that is Netflix’s F1: Drive to Survive. That is probably why the show is about to enter its fifth season, with a sixth already locked in.
Following the drama of the adrenaline-fuelled world of Formula 1 both on and off the track, Drive to Survive has helped to make the likes of Charles LeClerc, Lewis Hamilton and Australia’s own Daniel Ricciardo household names within communities that otherwise had no interest in sport, or at least motorsport.
The fifth season of the critically acclaimed series is about to debut on Netflix ahead of the opening race of the 2023 season, the Bahrain Grand Prix. So let’s take a look at everything we know about it so far.
When is season of Drive to Survive released?
Season 5 of F1: Drive to Survive will be released on February 24, 2023. This means you should have time to binge-watch everything that happened on the circuit last year before this F1 season kicks off in Bahrain on March 3.
As always, the series will be exclusively available on Netflix.
Drive to Survive S5 trailer
You can watch the trailer for the fifth season of F1: Drive to Survive below.
Is Max Verstappen back in Drive to Survive?
After boycotting season 4 over issues with dramatisation and the portrayal of drivers, Verstappen is finally returning to the show. In the teaser trailer for season 5, Max is asked how he feels about being back in the chair, to which he replies “alright.”
The Belgian-Dutch driver is the reigning Drivers’ Championship winner, overcoming a slow start that also saw Charles LeClerc bust out of the blocks.
Speaking to the media at a Red Bull Racing event recently, Verstappen explained that he has participated in this season’s show after voicing his concerns to Netflix.
“I had to explain it to them that that was my view, otherwise I didn’t want to be part of it,” he said. “But yes, they understood. Let’s see once it comes out what they made of it.
“I think I gave them like 30 minutes or one hour of an interview, and I hope of course they’re going to use it well,” he said. “I don’t know when I’m going to watch it, but I hope they’re happy.”
It is yet to be seen how Verstappen will respond to his edit in this season, and whether he will continue to work with the streaming giant again for season six next year.
What will happen in Drive to Survive season 5?
In addition to the obvious title battle, season 5 of Drive to Survive will cover a number of storylines to keep things entertaining throughout the season — which covers the 2022 calendar year.
Obviously, Red Bull’s breach of the 2021 budget cap — and the subsequent fine that came along with this — will play out in season 5, as well as the retirement of four-time champion Sebastian Vettel.
And, of course, the drama between two Australians Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri — who found fighting it out for a seat with McLaren.
Ultimately, Piastri went to McLaren and Ricciardo is currently the third driver at Red Bull.
Will there be a season six of Drive to Survive?
Netflix has already announced that a sixth season of Drive to Survive will be produced and will follow all of the chaos that is sure to ensue throughout the 2023 season. A year that for the first time will include a highly-anticipated Vegas race.
A release date is yet to be confirmed but if previous years are anything to go off, we can likely expect season six to drop in the first quarter of 2024. The sixth season will likely also feature new faces including Australia’s own Oscar Piastri.
In the mean time, you can catch up on all of the other incredible sporting docuseries and documentaries available at the moment.
