Why Max Verstappen Is Boycotting Netflixโ€™s โ€˜Drive To Surviveโ€™ Season 4
โ€” Updated on 29 January 2023

Why Max Verstappen Is Boycotting Netflixโ€™s โ€˜Drive To Surviveโ€™ Season 4

โ€” Updated on 29 January 2023
Garry Lu
WORDS BY
Garry Lu

Itโ€™s been one helluva season for Red Bull Racingโ€™s Max Verstappen with a maiden Formula 1 world championship title (albeit under controversial circumstances) โ€“ but in a disappointing turn, we wonโ€™t be treated to his personal perspective on it all during Netflixโ€™s Drive To Survive season 4.

The 24-year-old motorsports talent has officially denounced the insanely popular fly-on-the-wall documentary series which debuted back in 2018, openly branding it as โ€œfakeโ€ due in large parts to the manufactured drama and portrayal of non-existent rivalries between drivers.

โ€œI understand that it needs to be done to boost the popularity in America,โ€ Max Verstappen told the Associated Press ahead of the recent United States Grand Prix; wherein he managed to overtake reigning champion, Mercerdesโ€™ Sir Lewis Hamilton, for the race win and leaderboard dominance.

RELATED: How Fast Is Deadly? A Short Physics Lesson From Max Verstappenโ€™s 51G Crash At Silverstone

โ€œBut from my side as a driver, I donโ€™t like being part of it. They faked a few rivalries which donโ€™t really exist. So I decided to not be a part of it and did not give any more interviews after that because then there is nothing you can show.โ€

โ€œI am not really a dramatic show kind of person, I just want facts and real things to happen.โ€

โ€œProbably in the Netflix show we will be [rivals],โ€ adds the Dutch native, referencing the tensions between him and Lewis Hamilton โ€“ both on and off the track โ€“ in the midst of their 2021 title fight.

โ€œWe one time bumped into each other walking, so probably that will be in thereโ€ฆ The problem is they will always position you in a way they want, so whatever you say, they will try to make you look reckless โ€“ whatever fits the story of the series.โ€

โ€œIโ€™m just a normal guy and I grew up in a small town. All these things, the drama, itโ€™s just not for me. Itโ€™s not my world.โ€

max verstappen netflix drive to survive season 4

RELATED: โ€˜Drive To Surviveโ€™ Season 5 Release Date Confirmed By Annoyingly Short Teaser Trailer

In previous seasons, artistic liberties taken to enhance the overarching story have been relatively negligible; trading complete accuracy for some screen-worthy emotions. Drive To Survive season 3, however, represented a step too far for many โ€“ and the most egregious indiscretions didnโ€™t even have anything to do with Max Verstappen:

  • There was the clearly staged and incredibly hokey moment involving Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner, who called Sergio Perez to say: โ€œWelcome to Red Bullโ€ โ€“ the latter of whom was then without a seat after Racing Point / Aston Martin locked in Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll for 2021.
  • There were the instances of copy-pasting old radio recordings over collisions because it made for a more compelling narrative.
  • And the most appaling example โ€“ framing the dynamic between then-McLaren teammates Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris as one of hostile rivalryโ€ฆ despite Sainz and Lando having perhaps the worldโ€™s healthiest pseudo father-son relationship.

RELATED: Max Verstappenโ€™s $15 Million Private Jet Is Proof You Can Have It All At 24

While everyone from Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, McLaren drivers Lando Norris, Daniel Ricciardo, and CEO Zak Brown, to Lewis Hamilton himself has defended Drive To Survive shortly after the public criticism of Max Verstappen โ€“ citing the overwhelming benefit of Netflix tapping into a wider audience for the sport โ€“ Haas F1 Team Principal Gรผnther Steiner has voiced his support of Verstappenโ€™s decision.

โ€œIf Max doesnโ€™t want to be there, itโ€™s his decision. I wouldnโ€™t criticise that,โ€ says Gรผnther Steiner.

โ€œIt is free to participate or not and he has chosen not to. So we shouldnโ€™t get bossy. If he feels that he is not being represented correctly, it is his every right not to participate.โ€

โ€œObviously the fans are missing to see Max Verstappen. I think heโ€™s a good driver first and foremost and heโ€™s a character, heโ€™s a personality. But if he doesnโ€™t want to take part, thatโ€™s part of his life.โ€

Either way, letโ€™s not pretend we wonโ€™t be tuning in come 2022 anyways.

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Garry Lu
WORDS by
After stretching his legs with companies such as The Motley Fool and the odd marketing agency, Garry joined Boss Hunting in 2019 as a fully-fledged Content Specialist. In 2021, he was promoted to News Editor. Garry proudly retains a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, black bruises from Muay Thai, as well as a black belt in all things pop culture. Drop him a line at [email protected]

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