Drive to Survive renewed by Netflix as Formula 1 docuseries gets ninth season
Netflix has confirmed that Drive to Survive, the hit Formula 1 docuseries that spawned countless imitations across sport, will return for a ninth season next year.
Filming behind the scenes of the current season has already begun, with post-production set to begin at the end of the year ahead of an expected February 2027 release.
“We’re so excited to be making Season 9 of this iconic show,” said James Gay-Rees and Paul Martin, executive producers at Drive to Survive maker Box to Box. “This year we’re going to go deeper than ever before into the hidden spaces of this fantastic sport.”
The next series will follow the attempts of Lando Norris and McLaren to defend their titles following sweeping changes to regulations and the entry of the new Cadillac team.
Drive to Survive has been credited with reviving the appeal of F1 and opening it up to new audiences, particularly in North America.
Since its launch in 2019, US viewership of races has more than doubled, the gender split among F1 fans has grown far more equal.
F1’s total revenues have leapt from $1.8bn to more than $3.5bn which, allied with stricter cost controls, has led to a surge in team valuations.
How other sports have copied Drive to Survive
Other sports have attempted to replicate its success with similar series, such as golf’s Full Swing, Break Point in tennis, cycling’s Tour de France: Unchained, Sprint in athletics, and rugby union’s Six Nations: Full Contact.
Drive to Survive’s total viewership has decreased in recent years partly due to the series being shortened to eight episodes, although per episode consumption has remained steady.
Its makers have also been accused by some drivers, such as four-time world champion Max Verstappen, of confecting dramatic storylines for entertainment purposes.
The show has helped pave the way for Netflix and other streaming giants to increase their sports output, both through documentaries and live events in tennis and boxing.