Will Buxton is back for Drive to Survive season 6 and Danica Patrick joins for the first time bringing a racing driver’s point of view
Loved and hated at the same time by F1 fans Drive to Survive is back for another season. After some harsh critics of “made-up” drama on previous seasons the show has got their feet on the ground and started to talk about actual conflict that happened in the season without as much exaggeration. Season 6 also takes the main focus from Haas and brings all drivers and teams to the spotlight.
The show returns with the usual format of 10 chapters, each one talking about a specific event of the season. Unluckily for the showrunners F1 drama surrounding Lewis Hamilton going to Ferrari or Guenther Steiner getting fired happened to late to be included.
Danica Patrick, Nascar racing driver joins Will Buxton and gives us a drivers perspective of the conflict from the season. Fans all over the world are already comparing their iconic but kind of evident phrases.
Titles and summaries of all chapters of season 6:
- 1 Money Talks: “Lawrence Stroll will do whatever it takes for Aston Martin to become world champion. But his dreams could be over before the new season even starts.” The season opener immerses us in the high-stakes environment of Aston Martin, led by owner Lawrence Stroll‘s aspirations for championship success. With two-time world champion Fernando Alonso and his son Lance Stroll as drivers, the team entered the Bahrain opener with ambitious aims. Despite Stroll‘s pre-season cycling accident that resulted in injured hands, he persevered to achieve an impressive sixth-place finish, while Alonso surprised the F1 world with a podium finish in third.
- 2 Fall from Grace: “Hopes are high for Nyck de Vries as he takes his first shot at Formula 1. With the pressure mounting, he struggles to keep up the pace.” In his debut F1 season with AlphaTauri (now Visa Cash App RB), rookie driver Nyck de Vries encounters significant pressure to demonstrate his abilities. Despite his hopeful aspirations, de Vries‘ F1 journey encountered a setback, leading to his mid-season replacement by a more seasoned driver.
- 3 Under Presure: “McLaren has a lot to prove after last season. As star driver Lando Norris’ car lets him down yet again, he starts considering his options.” Throughout 2022, McLaren faced challenges, securing a P5 finish in the constructors’ championship, with Lando Norris in P7 and Daniel Ricciardo in P11. However, the commencement of the 2023 season has also been turbulent, as persistent car problems have tested the patience and allegiance of the British driver.
- 4 The Last Chapter: “It’s a battle at the back between Haas and Williams. While one team sticks with tradition, the other’s ready to make bold new moves.” In a bold attempt to break free from years of being at the bottom of the F1 grid, the renowned Williams team made waves by recruiting strategy director James Vowles from Mercedes. Vowles undoubtedly brings a wealth of successful experience to a team eager to reclaim its former glory. The question remains, however, whether his strategies can outmaneuver those of rival Gunther Steiner and his Haas team.
- 5 Civil War: “Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly have been competing since childhood. Can they overcome their rivalry now that they’re on the same team?” Upon the initial announcement of Pierre Gasly replacing Fernando Alonso at Alpine, concerns arose over his rivalry with Esteban Ocon from their childhood karting days. While a close friendship appears improbable, attention is focused on how these Frenchmen will manage their on-track partnership at Alpine.
- 6 Leap of Faith: “Lewis Hamilton’s been loyal to Mercedes for 13 years. But winning comes first — and with his contract up for renewal, he has to make a tough decision.” The iconic Lewis Hamilton-Mercedes partnership, forged in championship glory with six championships for the Brit and eight consecutive titles for the team, has hit a wall. Since the 2021 Saudi Arabian GP, Hamilton hasn’t tasted victory, finishing a career-low sixth in the 2022 season – his first winless season for the first time in his career. As 2023 unfolds with similar struggles, a crucial question arises: will Hamilton stay loyal to his team or seek championship glory elsewhere?
- 7 C’est la Vie: “An investment from Hollywood stars piles pressure on Alpine’s management. Between frustrated drivers and disappointing results, something has to give.” In June of last year, Otro Capital, along with celebrity-backed firms such as Maximum Effort (led by Ryan Reynolds) and RedBird, injected 200 million euros for a 24% stake in Alpine Racing. This notable transaction, amplified by the involvement of sports icons like Rory McIlroy, Anthony Joshua, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Juan Mata, Patrick Mahomes, and Travis Kelce in October, has thrust Alpine into the limelight. The Hollywood investment has now intensified pressure on the team, compounded by the unexpected departure of team principal Otmar Szafnauer and sporting director Alan Per.
- 8 Forza Ferrari: “In Italy, Ferrari is a religion. So when the team arrives in Monza, all eyes are on new principal Fred Vasseur to make fans’ prayers come true.” With new leadership at the helm in the form of Fred Vasseur, Ferrari will be chasing a win at their home race in Monza in front of the passionate Tifosi. The iconic circuit has been a happy hunting ground for the Scuderia historically, boasting a record 19 wins. However, their last victory at Monza came in 2019 with Charles Leclerc behind the wheel.
- 9 Three’s a Crowd: “Daniel Ricciardo is finally back on the circuit. But when an accident sends him to the sidelines yet again, a rookie reserve steps in to take his seat.” Following McLaren‘s unexpected decision to release him with a year remaining on his contract, Daniel Ricciardo‘s F1 journey took an unforeseen turn. Accepting a reserve role at Red Bull for 2023 with hopes of securing a race seat in 2024, fate intervened when AlphaTauri’s Nyck de Vries‘ underperformance provided Ricciardo an earlier opportunity to return to the grid. However, just as he acclimated to his new position, a practice crash in the Netherlands resulted in a fractured hand, compelling him to miss races and temporarily cede the wheel to reserve driver Liam Lawson. This unanticipated setback adds another layer of complexity to Ricciardo‘s already tumultuous F1 comeback.
- 10 Red or Black: “With the season nearing its end and the winner already assured, rivals Mercedes and Ferrari are locked in a fierce battle for second place.” Red Bull claimed the championship, setting the stage for Mercedes and Ferrari to fight for second place. Both teams will compete until the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Drive to survive is here to stay
The production of ‘Drive to Survive’ Season 7 has started, with the filming crew spotted at the Bahrain circuit during the concluding day of pre-season testing. Netflix, however is looking more into the motorsports world. Nascar: Full Speed has launched on Netflix and could bring drive to survive fans to the all-american motorsport. According to Sports Illustrated Alex Jacques and Ted Kravitz, revered voices within the sport, have disclosed that the ‘Drive to Survive’ film crew has commenced work on the seventh instalment of the series.
Tradition of preseason testing and Drive to Survive will most likely continue next year as the Bahrain GP is coming this week.
Guillermo Lorenzo Manzano
