The final two episodes of the most recent season of Netflix’s Drive to Survive are an underwhelming ending to the Formula 1 docuseries.
Episode 9, ‘Under New Management’ and Episode 10 ‘End Game’ fall back into the standard Drive to Survive model rather than push the boundaries in the series’ best episode ‘In the Heat of the Night.’
Episode 9 follows Ayao Komatsu as he takes the reins at Haas, plus Flavio Briatore’s return to Alpine and the ripples that set through the driver line-up.
It’s a by the numbers episode by Drive to Survive standards and won’t live long in the memory, except for Esteban Ocon’s beautiful black cat.
Again, Episode 10, which documents Max Verstappen wrapping up the Drivers’ title, but all too briefly, before turning attention to the Constructors’ battle between McLaren and Ferrari.
Like its preceding episode, there’s little that pushes the needle in this instalment and it falls back on manufactured group chats, curious editing and manufacturing drama.
When the majority of Drive to Survive Season 7 is the best Netflix has produced yet, the final chapters are an anti-climax as well as pointing out several storylines that the streamer missed out on from a jam-packed 2024 season.
Storylines missing from Drive to Survive Season 7
After 24 F1 races in an incredible 2024 season, it’s not a surprise to see Drive to Survive miss some moments out in its 10-episode run.
Here are some of the storylines we wished Netflix televised in Drive to Survive Season 7.
Franco Colapinto: One of the biggest surprises of the 2024 F1 season was Colapinto being dropped in at Williams mid-season in Monza, only for the Argentine to flourish.
Netflix didn’t find time to present his fairytale journey, which is a shame given his passion on the race track and youthful exuberance off of it.
Russell vs Verstappen: The now infamous spat between George Russell and Verstappen in Qatar and Abu Dhabi was surely the drama Netflix craves.
Alarmingly, the squabble is completely missing and we instead get to see manufactured edits suggesting Verstappen was upset during Lando Norris’ maiden win in Miami.
Lewis Hamilton: Despite Hamilton’s move to Ferrari being a major storyline in Season 7, the man himself is majorly absent from the latest Drive to Survive.
Even the seven-time champion’s emotional win at Silverstone is missing so perhaps Netflix is biding its time to cover Hamilton in red this year.
Adrian Newey leaves Red Bull: When one of the biggest names in F1 leaves Red Bull after two decades, it’s a big story.
The impact of Newey’s decision to depart Red Bull and later sign with Aston Martin was second only to Hamilton moving to Ferrari.
In the context of Red Bull’s troubles in 2024, which are documented well in Season 7, Newey is a glaring omission.
Other misses: Several drivers leaving the series at the end of 2024 (Kevin Magnussen, Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu and Sergio Perez) only get a brief mention and Netflix also misses out on Oliver Bearman’s sparkling Ferrari debut in Saudi Arabia.
READ MORE – F1 Drive to Survive Season 7 Review: Episodes 7 & 8 hit new heights for Netflix
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