F1 to hold Netflix talks after drivers’ faking complaints
A view of a TV camera recording a driver press conference. Bahrain March 2022.
Stefano Domenicali acknowledged that Netflix has had a positive impact on Formula 1, but it cannot “move away from reality”.
Criticism has been levelled at Drive to Survive for supposedly faking rivalries in the sport, which prompted Max Verstappen to opt out of taking part in being interviewed for the series – on his journey to becoming World Champion.
Lando Norris added his critique of the latest series released in March, as team radio messages were played out of order from different races to what was being shown, in what he felt led to an inaccurate portrayal of his early relationship with McLaren team-mate Daniel Ricciardo – although he did speak of the positives around the series as well.
Domenicali echoed this view of the show playing its part in growing the global audience of Formula 1, but he revealed the teams and drivers will be involved in conversations around the future of the show, and how the drivers fit into it.
“There is no question that the Netflix project has had a very successful effect,” Domenicali told reporters, including the Italian edition of Motorsport.com.
“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.”
Domenicali added recently that the show needs to keep adding value to Formula 1 if they are to continue making it, otherwise the sport will look at “doing something different” in the future.
