Netflix cameras create drama in F1, says Szafnauer

It's clear that an explosive meeting of team bosses in Montreal will be featured in the next season of the official Netflix series on Formula 1. As they warred over the FIA's crackdown on "quiques," Red Bull boss Christian Horner revealed that the Netflix cameras were rolling when Toto Wolff "lost his mind."

"The meeting got a bit emotional," Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack told German magazine Auto Motor und Sport. "There was a camera and I think it was Christian who asked if it could be turned off. But I can't say whether it was still being recorded or whether the microphones were open all the time."

The German newspaper Bild quoted Horner as confirming that there were "elements of theater" at the Montreal meeting. "Lewis' new film is coming," he declared. "Maybe Toto will get a part in it."

Otmar Szafnauer, head of the Renault-owned Alpine team, told Sport1: "The fact that Netflix was there certainly contributed to my reluctance to say nothing."

He said of the presence of the cameras, "Does it create drama that otherwise wouldn't exist? I don't know, but I'm sure people will assume it has an impact. And maybe it does."

Nikita Mazepin, a former Haas driver, said that since Netflix is "trying to make a business" out of its involvement in Formula 1, "some uninteresting moments" need to be spiced up.

"I think the editors' job is very difficult and I certainly don't envy them," he commented to Sport-Express. "Generally, anything that popularizes the sport is a good project, because it is mainly aimed at young people."

"Maybe in 10-20 years, some young person will not go to a pub to drink beer in the evening after studying, but will go karting. So I think we would say it was a successful project," the Russian concluded.