George Russell supports Netflix’s Drive To Survive, highlighting its vital role in Formula 1’s growth despite ongoing debates over its dramatization.
George Russell has come to the defense of Formula 1’s official Netflix series, Drive To Survive, as the release of season 6 continues to polarize opinions.
For years now, despite the series being credited for boosting F1’s growing popularity, sport “purists” have criticized Netflix for its on-screen dramatization.
For instance, a scene from the new season shows Lewis Hamilton in Toto Wolff’s office for a contract renewal signing – but the lead-up to the signing never happened in that manner and was filmed specifically for Netflix.
The producers also consistently add car sound effects, tire screeching, crash noises, and crowd sounds in somewhat inappropriate places, while fabricated “live” commentary is interspersed throughout the action sequences.
For these reasons, world champion Max Verstappen has been hesitant to participate in recent years’ filming. The Dutchman recalls a season where they included statements he had made years earlier.
“They used stuff from 2018. My voice was completely different, younger. It’s supposed to feel like it’s from now, which isn’t true.”
However, George Russell asserts that Drive To Survive is now “so important for all of us in Formula 1” that he accepts these Hollywood tactics.
“We’ve seen how the sport has improved over the years, how fan interaction has increased, how new people have come to follow the sport.”
“People are unhappy that everything is dramatized, but at the end of the day, like any documentary, you want to showcase your sport and its story.”
“As long as it has a positive impact on Formula 1, I don’t think there’s a real issue.”
Mercedes F1 has ‘much to learn’ from a ‘very different’ W15
George Russell is confident that Mercedes F1 is displaying far better potential this year, 2024, than in the previous two seasons, his first with the team. He believes the W15 is a much healthier base, despite a few minor details needing revision.
“This year’s car is completely different,” notes Russell. “To the point where we’ll have to approach things differently from what we learned last year in the way we set up the car.”
“Therefore, there’s a lot to learn about it. And it’s much closer to what a racing car’s feel should be. But the area we need to continue working on is probably the bouncing we’ve noticed.”
“We were surprised by some of the bouncing last week. We pushed the car very aggressively. But as I said, we’re dealing with a completely different beast this year, whereas 2022 and 2023 were both cut from the same cloth.”
Russell Optimistic Despite Aerodynamic Downforce Challenges
“I’m convinced that the development of this car should be more significant than the previous two cars, as we have a better platform. But it’s just about pure performance. The car is pleasant to drive, it’s enjoyable. But we’re lacking in aerodynamic downforce.”
However, Russell believes the bouncing will be less this year, as teams begin to understand the settings: “That’s what testing is for. I like to think that you’ll see much less of this kind of thing this weekend.”
“Three years into the new ground effect era, I think a lot of teams can still come to this circuit and set the car too low and aggressively. But the margin is always very fine, because that’s where the aerodynamic downforce is.”
Russell Defends Drive Survive. Russell Defends Drive Survive
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