AlphaTauri star Pierre Gasly has become the latest Formula 1 figure to criticise Netflix ’s hit docu-series Drive to Survive, declaring some scenes are ‘kind of made up’.
The show became a global phenomenon as viewers were taken behind the curtain of F1 and undoubtedly catapulted the sport’s popularity into the stratosphere. However, fans and critics of the show - which first launched in March 2019 - have become increasingly frustrated by the dramatised storylines and fabricated conflicts.
While the Netflix show has become a huge hit to help F1 reach a new market of fans, showrunners have felt a backlash from the drivers themselves. Established names like world champion Max Verstappen and McLaren star Lando Norris have spoken out against the soap opera nature of the series.
Gasly has given his opinion on the matter, which has gripped the F1 world since the show came out last month. While he was pleased none of his storylines have been overdramatised, the Frenchman does not like to see stories twisted on Netflix.
“I haven't seen the whole series, so I haven't seen like [more than] pretty much the first two episodes,” Gasly told GPFans. “You can clearly see that some scenes are kind of made up for the show.
“It's difficult to speak for the drivers, I'm not in their position. I don't know how they [Netflix] get on with other guys.
“I think on our side with Yuki [Tsunoda], which is what I can compare, it was kind of normal. But obviously as a driver, you don't want to be portrayed differently than the person you are in reality.
“I think that's the main thing that we ask for.”
Across the four seasons of Drive to Survive, Gasly has experienced the stratospheric highs and brutal lows of F1, including being dumped by Red Bull halfway through the season and his monumental race win at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix.
The 26-year-old understands the show is dramatic and has a purpose to hook viewers on storylines, but he has no personal issues with Drive to Survive. Gasly added: “On my side, I never had any issue.
“I never felt like they were kind of changing or adding more drama than we had. I think we had enough drama over the last three years. It didn't need more.”
Reigning world champion Verstappen has been particularly vocal in his criticism of the series, joining Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff in voicing his frustration at the fabricated storylines and rivalries between drivers.
Verstappen even compared the show to ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’. Many veteran fans of the sport have also criticised the show’s direction, with European fans being particularly irked as it caters to an American audience.
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It appears now that producers have failed to find a balance between real-time drama and scripted entertainment. The new season seems to have gone a step too far, with the rivalry between Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo receiving notable criticism as both drivers have pointed out the flaws in the way it was depicted.
F1 boss Stefano Domenicali revealed recently he will hold talks with Netflix to try to address the drivers’ issues with the show. Amid Verstappen’s decision to not hold interviews with producers, Domenicali told motorsport.com : “There is no question that the Netflix project has had a very successful effect.
“In order to ignite the interest of a new audience, a tone was used that in some ways focused on dramatising the story. It's an opportunity, but I think it needs to be understood.
“We talked about it this weekend [in Bahrain] at a meeting with the teams as well. A driver who refuses to participate because he feels he is not being represented in the right way is not being constructive; so a dialogue is needed to understand how he can be included in a format that he feels is correct.
“We will also talk to Netflix, because it is necessary that the story does not move away from reality, otherwise it no longer fits. It is a topic that we will address together with the drivers.
“We have to make sure that a project that has generated such exceptional traction has a language that continues to appeal, but without distorting the image and the meaning of the sport that we live with every day.”
