Lewis Hamilton Wished to Avoid Netflix Eyes During German Grand Prix

When Mercedes and Ferrari decided to grant access to Netflix for the second season of Formula One: Drive to Survive, everyone was overjoyed. They had missed out on in the first season citing issues with management. Naturally, how wildly popular the series was, getting the two top teams on board is bound to attract even more followers. However, just because they have access to the top two teams, it does not guarantee complete freedom.While Mercedes did allow Netflix to film them, there were restrictions, like access being granted for one race this season. Needless to say, Netflix could not have chosen a more perfect race to shoot.

The Netflix crew was visibly present at the Mercedes’ garage at the 2019 German Grand Prix – a race which was miserable for the German team. Valtteri Bottas crashed out and Lewis Hamilton struggled miserably to finish 9th place. 9th place was also given to him after the both Alfa Romeos were disqualified. This naturally made everyone curious and excited as to what the series will offer. Toto Wolff’s anger, Lewis Hamilton’s disappointment and much more. Even Max Verstappen went on to say that he was waiting most eagerly for the German Grand Prix in Season 2 in order to see the reaction of the Mercedes team.

If you are among the many who were excited to see Lewis Hamilton and co. on Netflix for the German Grand Prix, you are up for some disappointment. Lewis Hamilton had then only clarified that he will not allow Netflix to show him during the weekend of Hockenheim. His argument is that he was quite sick and any footage of him at Hockenheim would be ‘unflattering’.

Netflix chose a happy and eventful race from their end. This was because, Mercedes were celebrating 125 years in motorsport and 200 grands prix that weekend. To commemorate the event, they ran a one-off livery and special costumes over the weekend. Sadly, that was the only thing they could celebrate with one car out of commission and the other one scrounging two precious points.

The 2019 German Grand Prix was among the best races of the season. Lewis Hamilton himself spun off the circuit twice, even calling out in the radio to quit the race. He dove into the pits, catch the crew with their pants down as they were utterly unprepared to receive him. Meanwhile, his team-mate Valtteri Bottas suffered even miserable fate and crashed out completely which chasing a podium.

Team boss Toto Wolff lamented: “We have given the Netflix guys more content than on any other weekend.”

“I won’t be in the Netflix show much, because I was sick the whole time,” Hamilton said. “I won’t allow them to release that.”