Netflix has launched Season 8 of its popular Formula 1 documentary series, Drive to Survive, offering behind-the-scenes insights into the dramatic 2025 season. The eight episodes highlight the intense three-way championship battle among McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri and Red Bull's Max Verstappen, culminating in Norris's victory. Produced by Box to Box Films, the season became available on February 27, ahead of the 2026 Australian Grand Prix.
Season 8 of Drive to Survive arrived on Netflix on February 27, capturing the highs and lows of the 2025 Formula 1 campaign. The series centers on the thrilling title race that went down to the final race in Abu Dhabi, featuring McLaren's drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri challenging Red Bull's Max Verstappen. Executive Producer James Gay-Rees described the season as "a great season," noting the McLaren narrative's prominence and the entertainment value in Red Bull's comeback. He praised Norris as a "special character" who wears his heart on his sleeve, having followed his career since his 2019 promotion to McLaren.
The production involved extensive efforts, including crews attending all 24 Grands Prix in 2025 with team sizes ranging from four to over 16 members. Filming used up to six main cameras per event, supplemented by GoPros, drones, and helicopters, alongside 20 radio mics for audio capture. Over 1,500 hours of footage were gathered across 83 shoots, with more than 35 individuals interviewed, including drivers, team bosses, and F1 personalities. A team of 25 editors, supported by nine edit producers and five assistants, spent over 1,200 days crafting the narratives, drawing from F1's race feeds with 24-plus track cameras and up to 80 onboard cameras.
Subplots explored include Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari, Kimi Antonelli's promotion at Mercedes, Carlos Sainz's switch to Williams, Jack Doohan's mid-season replacement at Alpine, and Christian Horner's exit from Red Bull. The season introduced new elements, such as enhanced access to team principals like McLaren's Zak Brown, Mercedes' Toto Wolff, Ferrari's Fred Vasseur, and Red Bull's Laurent Mekies during the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Co-Executive Producer Tom Rogers emphasized showing multiple sides to stories, like Doohan's emotional interview after losing his seat.
Since its 2019 debut, Drive to Survive has transformed F1 fandom by spotlighting driver personalities and team dynamics, attracting a younger audience—43% under 35—and boosting female viewership to 42%. It has influenced celebrity involvement, with figures like Beyoncé and Jay-Z attending 2025 races, and served as a blueprint for other Netflix sports documentaries. With this season, the series now totals 78 episodes, available in over 190 countries and translated into more than 50 languages. Over 160 people contributed to its creation, underscoring the scale of production for what Gay-Rees called a "very watchable" installment aimed at both new and existing fans.
