Formula 1
Netflix’s Drive to Survive Season 8: McLaren Title Drama, Red Bull Shake-Up & 2025 F1 Chaos Uncovered
The countdown is nearly over. Season 8 of Formula 1: Drive to Survive premieres globally on Netflix on February 27, 2026. As with previous installments, the new season revisits the prior year’s championship, this time diving into the dramatic 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Championship.
Produced by Box to Box Films, the docuseries continues its tradition of offering unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to drivers, team principals, and the sport’s most pivotal moments.
McLaren’s Civil War: Norris vs Piastri
At the heart of Drive to Survive Season 8 lies McLaren’s intra-team championship duel. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri battled wheel-to-wheel for their first Drivers’ Championship, with so-called “papaya rules” scrutinized throughout the season.
The fight went down to the wire in Abu Dhabi. Lando Norris clinched his maiden world title by just two points over Max Verstappen, who won the final race but fell agonizingly short in the standings.
For Netflix, a title decided by such a slim margin is storytelling gold.
Red Bull Turmoil and Leadership Upheaval
Off-track drama promises equal intensity. After two decades at the helm, Christian Horner was replaced mid-season by Laurent Mekies in one of the most significant management shifts in modern Formula 1 history.
Driver instability compounded the chaos. Liam Lawson briefly replaced Sergio Pérez before being dropped, with Yuki Tsunoda stepping in for the remainder of the campaign. Verstappen’s late-season resurgence — clawing back points after early car balance struggles — adds another compelling narrative thread.
Expect the series to explore how Red Bull Racing navigated internal conflict while remaining title contenders.
Ferrari’s Difficult Year and Hamilton’s Challenge
Drive to Survive Season 8 will also spotlight Scuderia Ferrari, particularly Lewis Hamilton’s first year in red. Despite a sprint victory in China, Lewis Hamilton endured a podium-less grand prix campaign — one of the toughest seasons of his storied career.
The Netflix cameras are likely to capture the emotional toll of adapting to a new team amid sky-high expectations.
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Hulkenberg’s Long-Awaited Breakthrough
One of 2025’s feel-good stories came at Silverstone, where Nico Hülkenberg secured his first-ever Formula 1 podium after 239 race starts. Climbing from 19th on a rain-soaked grid, his breakthrough ended one of the sport’s longest-standing droughts — a moment tailor-made for Drive to Survive’s human-centric storytelling.
The Show That Changed Formula 1
Since its 2019 debut, Drive to Survive has transformed Formula 1’s global reach, particularly in the United States. The series has been widely credited with boosting viewership, attracting younger audiences, and expanding the sport’s commercial appeal.
While some drivers have criticized its dramatization of rivalries, the show remains Formula 1’s most powerful marketing engine — bridging hardcore fans and new viewers alike.
What to Expect From Season 8
With a championship decided by two points, leadership shake-ups, rookie breakthroughs, and emotional highs and lows across the grid, Season 8 has no shortage of narrative fuel.
As the 2026 Formula 1 season approaches, Netflix once again positions Drive to Survive as the definitive behind-the-scenes chronicle of motorsport’s most dramatic year.
