Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has opted to stay away from the popular Netflix series Drive to Survive in the past, but seems to have reconsidered his stance ahead of the release of the upcoming season.
The latest season of Drive to Survive will be aired ahead of the 2023 season and Verstappen, who had earlier claimed to shun the show since it is “fake”, is now set to feature in the show.
This will be the fifth season of the show and it is fair to say that it has led to a great increase in viewership of the sport.
By signing the deal with Netflix, Liberty Media perhaps played its best hand after taking over the reigns from former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
Last season was perhaps not the greatest success, but interest in the show is still expected to be high, especially since it airs at a time just ahead of the new season and when most F1 fans are just dying to witness any sort of car action.
Although Max has been vocal in the past about not being a fan of the show due to how it misrepresents various moments, producer James Gay-Rees does not agree with this sentiment.
“Nobody could point to any misrepresentations or inaccuracies in the series,” he said last year.
Verstappen has clearly stated that he won’t be part of season 4 and even recorded for a separate documentary capturing his success that was aired by Canal+.
“They faked a few rivalries which don’t really exist,” the Red Bull driver had said.
“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.
“I am not really a dramatic show kind of person, I just want facts and real things to happen. 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 or trying to make you… whatever fits the story of the series.”
The show managed to make the central theme about the battle between Red Bull and Mercedes bosses Christian Horner and Toto Wolff after Verstappen said he wasn’t interested in being part of season 4.
However, if he was missing this year as well, it would be far more noticeable as he completely cruised to his second successive world championship.
He did so breaking the record of most wins in an F1 season (15) and it goes without saying that he is currently the hottest property in the sport, and one that the management would love to market as much as possible.
Verstappen reportedly gave the cameras the go-ahead with regard to shooting him in 2022.
The Dutchman was present at the Men of the Year Series and spoke to GQ, where he accepted that he had been shooting with Netflix ahead of the interview.
“It’s just good to understand what we both want from each other, right?” he said.
“I think the interview we did was good, so… I wanted to keep it real. You know, no fake stuff. No overhyped things, because that’s not how I am.
“I just want it to be to the point and my opinion and how I see things. Of course, we still need to see the end product, but it all sounds good.”