The upcoming sixth installment of the Drive to Survive series will delve into the remarkable championship run of Max Verstappen and Red Bull during the 2023 season.
The narrative will also explore key moments from Aston Martin and McLaren, shedding light on their time in the limelight. Additionally, the series will cover Mercedes’ ongoing efforts to return to winning ways and Daniel Ricciardo’s comeback with AlphaTauri.
Scheduled to launch on February 23, the series coincides with the third and final day of pre-season testing in Bahrain. This timing sets the stage for the commencement of the 2024 season, which is set to kick off one week later at the same venue.
Since its debut in 2019, Drive to Survive has played a crucial role in generating interest in Formula 1, particularly among a younger and more diverse audience, including fans in the United States.
Produced by Box to Box Films, the series is led by James Gay-Rees, the executive producer responsible for the Academy Award-winning documentary Senna. Paul Martin, an Emmy-winning producer known for the 2019 documentary Diego Maradona, also plays a key role in the production.
While the 2023 season may not have been as dramatic as previous years, Gay-Rees believes that the series still has ample opportunities to continue telling the compelling stories of Formula 1.
In a recent interview on F1.com, he acknowledged the challenges faced by large organizations in maintaining their standing amid the plethora of entertainment choices available to consumers. However, he expressed satisfaction in bringing a new and diverse audience to the sport.
Reflecting on the changing demographic and the show’s role in introducing F1 to a broader audience, Gay-Rees emphasized the show’s consistent growth season after season.
He highlighted the genuine honor the team feels in contributing to this expansion and expressed love for the challenging yet rewarding process of creating the series.
Notably, Drive to Survive involves the collaboration of all 10 teams, overcoming initial resistance from Ferrari and Mercedes. The fifth season, covering the 2022 season received critical acclaim for toning down the series’ earlier tendency to present fragments and quotes out of context for dramatic effect.