Formula 1: Drive to Survive is coming back. Netflix and Box to Box Films confirmed in August 2026 that a ninth season is on the way, covering the 2026 championship and due in 2027.
Few documentaries have changed a sport the way this one has. Here is the story of the series that turned team principals into TV stars. Find more tribute designs in our TV Series collection.
Drive to Survive Fact File
| Title | Formula 1: Drive to Survive |
|---|---|
| Premiere | 8 March 2019 on Netflix |
| Production | Box to Box Films with Formula One Management |
| Executive producers | James Gay-Rees, Paul Martin |
| Seasons and episodes | 8 seasons, 78 episodes |
| Format | Sports documentary series |
| Episode length | 27-51 minutes |
| Setting | The FIA Formula One World Championship |
| Current status | Season 9 confirmed for 2027 |
| Signature item | Behind-the-scenes paddock access |
Seasons
| Season | Released | Episodes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 March 2019 | 10 |
| 2 | 28 February 2020 | 10 |
| 3 | 19 March 2021 | 10 |
| 4 | 11 March 2022 | 10 |
| 5 | 24 February 2023 | 10 |
| 6 | 23 February 2024 | 10 |
| 7 | 7 March 2025 | 10 |
| 8 | 27 February 2026 | 8 |
Each season covers the previous year's championship. Season 9 is due in 2027.
The Idea
Made by Box to Box Films, co-founded by Senna and Amy producer James Gay-Rees, Drive to Survive was given unprecedented access to the paddock. Season 1 followed the 2018 championship and arrived on Netflix on 8 March 2019.
Ferrari and Mercedes declined to take part in that first season, but both joined from season 2 as the show's popularity exploded.
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Breakout Stars
The series made household names of people who rarely spoke to cameras before. Haas team principal Guenther Steiner became a cult favourite, and Red Bull's Christian Horner was a regular presence.
Max Verstappen stepped back from interviews for season 4, unhappy with how rivalries were portrayed, before returning for season 5.
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Changing the Sport
The show is widely credited with bringing a wave of new fans to Formula 1, especially in the United States. By 2021, ESPN's US race broadcasts were averaging around one million viewers, nearly double the 2018 figure.
Newcomers often followed the drivers and team bosses as personalities first, with the show's mix of on-board footage, team radio and candid interviews giving a feel for life inside the paddock that live race coverage rarely could.
Season 8 and Beyond
Season 8, covering the 2025 championship, was released on 27 February 2026 with eight episodes, two fewer than usual, and drew 5.7 million views in its first two weeks. Season 9 has been confirmed for 2027 and will follow the 2026 championship, with the exact release date still to be announced.
Awards
Wins
- Sports Emmy, Outstanding Documentary Series - Serialized (2022)
- BAFTA TV Craft Award, Sound: Factual (2021)
- ACE Eddie, Best Edited Non-Scripted Series (2022)
Nominations
- Multiple Sports Emmy nominations, 2021-2024
- Producers Guild of America nominations
Behind the Scenes
Showrunner Sophie Todd leads the series for Box to Box Films. In the US, season 8 was also made available on Apple TV under a licence from Netflix.
FAQs
How many seasons of Drive to Survive are there?
There are eight seasons with 78 episodes as of October 2026, and a ninth has been confirmed.
When does Drive to Survive season 9 come out?
Season 9 is due in 2027. Netflix has not yet announced an exact date.
Who makes Drive to Survive?
It is produced by Box to Box Films with Formula One Management, with James Gay-Rees and Paul Martin as executive producers.
When did Drive to Survive first come out?
Season 1 premiered on Netflix on 8 March 2019.
Why was Max Verstappen not in Drive to Survive?
He sat out interviews for season 4 because he felt rivalries were exaggerated, then returned for season 5.
Has Drive to Survive won awards?
Yes, including a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Documentary Series in 2022 and a BAFTA TV Craft Award in 2021.
Shop the Drive to Survive Collection
Our Drive to Survive designs are fan-made tribute pieces, printed to order in the UK.
Explore more in our TV Series collection. Want something personal? Try our Custom Name Men's Hoodie.
Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Friday Night Lights: Seasons and Cast and The Traitors: Series and Winners.
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