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TV | Drive to Survive - Season 6 Episode 1 mini-review

TV | Drive to Survive - Season 6 Episode 1 mini-review

Both Bruno and I love Formula 1 and we both share that passion from watching it with our fathers on Sundays, to the dismay of our mothers who'd rather use the TV for something else. Or have their husbands do more around the house other than just enjoying themselves at leisure.

We revived our Formula 1 common love whilst attending the Portimão Grand Prix in October 2020. Yes, it was in the middle of the pandemic. It was fine!

Ever since, we have watched every race and Drive to Survive, Netflix's show about the teams and pilots of Formula 1. It has been such a success that it is responsible for the revived popularity of the sport, that stalled after Senna's crash in 1994 and the repetitive wins of Michael Schumacher, Sebastien Vettel and more recently, Sir Lewis Hamilton.

It had some seasons that were better than the other. 2021 was brilliant.

I personally don't mind all the sound montages and mixed footage. I watch way too much reality tv to bug about that. But when the F1 season isn't all that... what can Drive to Survive be really about?

We disliked the 2022 F1 season and the 2023 was heading the same way but picked up by the second half of the year. Yet the drivers market stalled - the grid will be basically the same that finished 2023 - so what is there to really dwell on? Unless DTS's producing team used shady tactics, and what happened during the festive winter break to create some news, I wonder what there is to really talk about.

Episode ONE:

I mean, this is the opening shot... looks good. Looks like... Selling Sunset (a Netflix real estate reality show) opening when they are back from vacation and telling who they hooked up with or divorced from during the break.
So nice to see Max accepted being filmed during the season. He didn't appear in several ones because of the bad cut he received as the Red Bull villain. He was right about that.
Zac Brown not wanting to see or think about people he works with during the off season. I am right there with you, mate.
The type of music, the stress before the boss arrival, the chiaroscuro type of filming... did the DTS team watch too much Succession?
...and as a boss. Say it Lawrence, just say it.
Why not when you already have a Bull and a Lion?
George Russell playing with Valtteri Bottas' mullet - but just for the cameras, Bottas cannot historically stand him (who can?)
Spoiler alert: no you won't see them on track all year long, Max. And they won't see you either.
Oh no... not Danica fucking Patrick. In case you couldn't tell, I don't love her TV commentary.
These two always have the best banter in french (check the conference calls they attend together). But are they okay now? Toto are you okay are you okay Toto?
To whom it may concern #micdrop
Lance Stroll putting a watch on a freshly healed broken wrist. That was badass for the cameras even if painful.
Little did we know said doctor would be called again during the season. Hope Daniel Ricciardo "I am having what he's having" got a discount for repeated services.
Will this be the only time this season we will see Nyck de Vries on the screen?
I am crying already, I cannot wait to hear these words again on February 29, 2024 when the Formula 1 Season is back.
Claire Williams, as I live and breathe. Didn't miss her. Please call Mamma Wolff to comment, I don't want to see these women DTS picked up for commentary.
Aston Martin's recruitment main requirement: have red hair. Goes better with the uniform.
Alpine keeping it real showcasing their dismay before the cameras.
DC (David Coulthard) being the usual cunthard he truly is. Yes I just made up that word.
Will Buxton is so sunburnt Avène or La Roche-Posay should think about sponsoring him from now on. Help a guy out.
Fred Vasseur, speaking in French. I mean... Y-a que les TP de Ferrari qui peuvent parler dans leur langue maternelle ? Les autres doivent se tordre à parler anglais ? C'est quoi ce binz ?
Bahrain GP 2023: in hindsight, we now know the Fernando Alonso-Lewis Hamilton battle was one of the best of the season.
One can bet you needed several postmortem during the season, Toto. Quite a few, as a matter of fact.
Oh Stroll. You got something in my eye there. P6 weeks after his accident was nothing short of a miracle (and hard work)(and drugs, the poor thing!).
You can see the pride of the father and the relief of the son. What a moment. Much deserved.
So cute seeing Lance with his mum, replying to her in french. She is Belgian. Just like most mothers on the grid.

All in all, this was a good first episode. I was not a believer - I still am not - but it was good to focus on Aston Martin and on the Stroll family dynamic. It was incredible that they were the ones being filmed: maybe they were expecting a fluke that could be justified by Lance's accident? But it was all the contrary. It was emotional and different. But aside from the Nyck de Vries-Liam Lawson-Daniel Ricciardo trilogy and Carlos being the sole non-Red Bull race winner, that the heck are the next 9 episodes going to be about?

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