After refusing to be on the final season of Drive to Survive, accusing the producers of "faking rivalries between the drivers," Max Verstappen said he has "come to a good understanding" about working with Netflix and will rejoin the series
It's no secret that the Netflix-produced Drive to Survive series has caught the fancy of an audience that wasn't as familiar with car racing and helped boost the popularity of Formula 1, especially among young people. But from the side of the 'artists' of the show - the drivers, in this case - not everything shown in the entertainment was pleasing, so much so that Max Verstappen refused to participate in the fourth season of the series. Now, everything indicates that the reigning F1 champion has settled with the producers, as he has guaranteed that the audience "will see more of him" in the episodes to come.
The big question surrounding Drive to Survive, and one that has been criticized not only by Verstappen, but also by others on the grid, such as Lando Norris, is the scripting of the events. The Red Bull Dutchman even accused the creators of "faking rivalries." "I then decided not to be part of it and didn't give any more interviews, because then there would be nothing to be shown," the driver said.
Currently in its fourth season, the production already has two more confirmed, but the drivers' discontent was something that was bothering not only Netflix, but also Formula 1. The president of the category, Stefano Domenicali, even said that he was going to talk to the drivers who avoided participating in Drive to Survive to reconsider their decision.
Verstappen stated that he "talked to the people in charge of the attraction" and "reached a good understanding for the future." The #1 further explained that last year he was not involved in the project. "There were things I wasn't really happy with. Especially about faking rivalries between drivers."
"That's a hard thing for me. Of course I know that the series is successful in America, but I also think that sometimes they portray some pilots differently from how they really are. Then of course people will look and say, 'Wow, this guy is kind of a jerk,' or whatever, and it's not like that in real life," Max added.
In the fourth season, available on the streaming platform, Verstappen appears only in footage provided by FOM (Formula One Management). To make up for the lack of statements from the one who was one of the protagonists of the 2021 title race - a championship in which he became champion, by the way - Netflix focused on the duel between Mercedes and Red Bull bosses, Toto Wolff and Christian Horner, respectively.
"For the future, we have come to a good understanding of how we can work together. So I am sure that next year you will see a bit more of me," Verstappen concluded.