Netflix Drive to Survive S7 Review: Exciting Drama, But Not the Whole Story

The 2024 F1 season had everything—unexpected winners, fierce rivalries, and a title fight no one saw coming. It was the perfect script for Drive to Survive Season 7. What started as another year of Red Bull domination in Bahrain quickly turned into an all-out battle. McLaren, Ferrari, and even Mercedes stepped up, shaking up the grid. Seven different drivers took victory, making every race unpredictable. But nothing shocked the paddock more than Lewis Hamilton’s bombshell move to Ferrari for 2025—announced just as the season began. The Brit’s decision only added more drama to the 2024 season.

With high-stakes racing and behind-the-scenes tension, Drive to Survive Season 7 had the ingredients to be the most thrilling yet. But did it manage to serve?

Drive to Survive Season 7: Intense Story Line

From the moment I pressed play on Drive to Survive Season 7, I was hooked. Netflix wasted no time plunging me into the chaos of the 2024 Formula 1 season. Lewis Hamilton’s shocking move to Ferrari set the stage for a year of transformation, while Christian Horner’s off-track controversy added fuel to the drama. The intensity was immediate—no slow build-up, just raw emotion and high-stakes storytelling that had me glued to the screen.

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This season balanced its signature off-track drama with strong emotional moments. Carlos Sainz’s fight to prove himself after losing his Ferrari seat to Hamilton was both inspiring and heartbreaking. Meanwhile, the growing rivalry between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris injected fresh energy into the show, with Norris struggling to prove he could challenge the reigning champion. And then there was Charles Leclerc’s agonising attempt to win his home race in Monaco—no exaggeration, just raw pressure and emotion from a driver desperate to deliver for the Tifosi.

As expected, Netflix’s creative storytelling blurred the lines between reality and entertainment. The Miami Grand Prix, for instance, was presented as a tense Norris-Verstappen showdown, even though Norris had a comfortable win. Key moments, like George Russell’s Silverstone retirement and Esteban Ocon’s Las Vegas incident, were conveniently left out. Long-time fans might roll their eyes at the selective storytelling, but casual viewers will be too engrossed in the spectacle to notice.

Despite these familiar issues, season 7 delivered exactly what I wanted—intense rivalries, behind-the-scenes insights, and stunning cinematography. Whether you love it or criticise it, Drive to Survive remains a key part of the sport now. As the credits rolled, one moment lingered in my mind—Leclerc’s story, a perfect reminder that Formula 1 is about more than just speed.

Also, what I liked was the final message from Toto Wolff to Lewis Hamilton—it was heartfelt, honest, and full of respect. That moment summed up the end of an era—one of the most successful partnerships in F1 history. Wolff didn’t hide the shock of losing Hamilton to Ferrari but made it clear that their bond went beyond racing. The message was used to underscore the departure of many other drivers from the sport or from their current teams, giving the end a nice emotional weight.

Drive to Survive Season 7: The Misses

Watching Drive to Survive Season 7, I couldn’t shake the feeling that key moments were missing. Take Russell’s fiery clashes with Red Bull—the Qatar incident, the Abu Dhabi fallout, that tense press conference. The cameras were rolling, yet somehow, all of it vanished. Similarly, the tussle between Verstappen and the FIA over swearing was completely missed.

Adrian Newey is the man behind the development of the rocketships that Red Bull has raced in recent times. His departure from the team and move to Aston Martin was also not mentioned at all. Then there’s Ollie Bearman’s amazing debut with Ferrari in Singapore that was not shown. He had stepped in for Sainz at the last minute and finished seventh, battling Hamilton and Norris—a story worth telling. But instead, all we saw was his crash in Brazil. Another major storyline missed by the DTS crew was Franco Colapinto replacing Logan Sargeant in the Williams. The Argentine was brought in to replace the American driver during the middle of the season. Colapinto managed to put in some stellar performances and creating a hype so big that there were rumours of Red Bull wanting him for the 2025 season.

And what about Russell’s Belgium win over Hamilton? They included that but conveniently left out his disqualification in the same race. In fact, Hamilton’s win in Silverstone, his first in almost three years, also should have been an episode in itself. Drive to Survive used to thrive on chaos, yet this season felt like it glossed over the biggest moments. It’s as if they never happened—and that’s a real shame.

Drive to Survive Season 7: Should You Watch?

As a Formula 1 fan, I had high hopes for Season 7 of Drive to Survive, but the experience was a mixed bag. Some episodes deliver the intense drama and behind-the-scenes action I love, while others feel incomplete, skipping key moments or focusing on less engaging stories.

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If you’re a hardcore F1 follower looking for a full breakdown of the 2024 season, you might be disappointed. But if you enjoy the broader narratives and off-track rivalries, this season still offers entertainment—just don’t expect a deep dive into every major event.