For Helmut Marko, Drive to Survive has nothing to do with reality

Helmut Marko, responsible for the young driver program at Red Bull, questioned if the Netflix documentary series on F1 is still necessary in the pinnacle category of motorsport.

This series was launched on Netflix on March 8, 2019. It allowed Formula 1 to rejuvenate itself by attracting a new audience. From its release, it was a huge hit and Drive to Survive has experienced enormous success. Viewers started watching the races and attending the circuits.

But Drive to Survive was not a huge success right away in the paddock: Mercedes and Ferrari initially refused to participate, before eventually joining in the following season. In the latest season, Max Verstappen made his comeback after snubbing the filming due to his involvement in the first season.

Advantages, but criticisms

Speaking to the press, Marko explained: “The audience for Formula 1 is increasing dramatically. We are talking about a 20% increase in viewership.” However, he expressed some reservations. “Some may be familiar with the Netflix series, but that has nothing to do with reality.”

The Austrian nevertheless highlights the contribution brought by this series on the other side of the Atlantic, where fans showed up in large numbers at the circuits.

If the Netflix series is highly successful among fans, Helmut Marko joins the long list of people in the F1 industry to criticize it.