(Motorsport-Total.com) – Streaming provider Netflix has announced the ninth season of the Formula 1 series “Drive to Survive.” The new episodes cover the current 2026 season – and producers James Gay-Rees and Paul Martin promise “deeper insights than ever before into previously hidden areas” of Formula 1, without being specific.
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Exactly when the new season will be available is not yet known. Recently, new seasons have always been released shortly before the start of the following Formula 1 season. A launch in spring 2027 would therefore be likely for season 9.
With “Drive to Survive,” Netflix has been offering viewers a special insight into the Formula 1 paddock and the lives of the stars off the track since 2019. However, the series is not undisputed: protagonists like Max Verstappen have repeatedly criticized the staging because “Drive to Survive” is primarily aimed at dramatic escalation and does not always portray events realistically.
The influence of the Formula 1 series on the popularity of the championship, however, cannot be denied: “Drive to Survive” is considered an important growth driver for the Formula 1 fan base in the USA and is also associated with a younger and more female audience.
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The producers around Gay-Rees value their “pioneer role” highly, as they emphasized already in 2023. Gay-Rees said: “It is at least from the UK the first major access show that had this profound effect. Bringing such a large new audience to a sport is extremely satisfying for us – given the multitude of choices consumers have today.”
Some fans of “Drive to Survive” are already full of anticipation: “The Aston Martin episode will be great television,” commented a fan on the announcement on the official Netflix UK Instagram account. Another posted: “I’m looking forward to the DTS marathon.” Someone else wrote: “I can’t wait. I actually like the series!”