‘They faked a few rivalries which they don’t really exist,” said an infuriated Max Verstappen, describing Netflix’s Drive to Survive. He added, “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.” However, the blockbuster series’ producers were able to turn around the disastrous situation and the Dutchman became the star of season 5 of the series. Fast forward one year and we seem to be back at square one.

The poster and the trailer of the multi-million dollar franchise don’t have the current torchbearer and the 3-time world champion of F1 on it. The thumping question that pinches us is why. This sudden change seems even more shocking because the first print look of the show had a victorious Dutch Lion on it.

The trailer of Drive To Survive which was released on 13th February omits Max Verstappen

The season 6 trailer starts with Lewis Hamilton saying, “To be a Formula 1 driver you need to be able to switch yourself around everything that is happening around you…”. While this line perfectly describes Verstappen, he has not even been designated a microsecond in the trailer. An odd occurrence for sure as the man shattered all records, broke the glass ceiling, and dominated every bit of 2023. Moreover, he had even claimed to have resolved all differences with the OTT giants.

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F1 Twitter is already agitated because the apt summary of the season needed to house the man whose name will be etched in the history of sport because of the havoc he unleashed with that beastly creation of Adrian Newey. While I got goosebumps writing this, there seems to be a looming disappointment in wondering why this happened. Could this be because the straightforward driver refused to film again? Or is it because Netflix always has an ace up its sleeves?

Max Verstappen and others have accused Drive to Survive of being ‘fake’

More often than not, the OTT Giants have been accused of faking rivalries and overdramatizing equations. For example, from their time together in McLaren, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz were at times shown at the throats of each other based on certain radio exchanges, but shockingly, it was a case of presenting audio far away from the actual context. The reality is that the two are more like brothers than friends. The 26-year-old had even thought that the series made Lando Norris look a bit like a “****” whereas he is a nice guy.

In 2022, amidst the brewing tensions and untrue representations, the F1 had planned talks with Netflix over the exaggeration and manufacturing of drama. In my opinion, it was only fair because that was taking away the beauty of the sport. While it has been the most successful boost to the apex of motorsports, the overrepresentation is not fair to the fans who come in expecting something like Kardashians on wheels. The DTS revolution brought close to a billion fans to the screens and circuits, and we have the responsibility to sustain and respect them. This was a big reason why it has rubbed off well on many purists and stakeholders of the sport.

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What does Max Verstappen’s absence mean for Drive to Survive?

This is the most daunting question that the fans have in mind. While purists and old fans have discarded the series from the get-go as they feel it defeats the purpose of ardent fandom, the new herd which has only seen Verstappen win may see his absence as a deciding factor. Will that mean the show has lost its authenticity?

Verstappen’s no-nonsense attitude sure is an indicator of the diminishing authority of the show. However, one cannot be too sure as this can also be a ploy to keep the series exciting. Because, let’s be honest, had there been an actual representation of the season and victories, Max would be winning races with scores of seconds, while others struggled to make it to the chequered flag. Hence, instead of focusing on the obvious, they have gone beneath and beyond to bring to our screens what the naked eye couldn’t see when the season was on. Netflix had 1 job and they are probably nailing it.

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Editorial Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of EssentiallySports.