Formula 1: Drive to Survive Score Details “Formula 1: Drive to Survive gets a tune-up for season 5, and the result is a more rewarding, authentic season of racing drama.” Pros Cons Sports documentaries can often be a tough sell to audiences outside of a particular fandom, but every now and then, a series transcends the boundaries of a particular athlete, team, or sport’s longtime, dedicated fan base.
Return of the king One of the biggest changes in the series’ fifth season is something that was conspicuously absent from Drive to Survive in recent years: the presence of reigning world champion Max Verstappen. Less friction, more friendly Perhaps as a result of the agreement that brought Verstappen into the show, season 5 of Drive to Survive also spends significantly less time on feuds between drivers, and instead mines drama from the sport’s bigger-picture elements and team rivalries.
Drive to Survive is at its best when it’s covering the sagas of veteran drivers struggling to stay competitive late in their careers, or young drivers learning to succeed — or fail — amid the intense pressure of Formula 1. The drivers and team principals are the faces of the sport, and Drive to Survive has done a great job of making their stories thrilling regardless of your level of familiarity with the sport.