‘Formula 1: Drive To Survive’ Season 3 review [Netflix]

One of the best sports documentary series – in fact, documentary series full stop, to have hit screens over the past couple of years is the superb Formula 1: Drive To Survive, the third season of which lands on Netflix this weekend. The third run, which covers the entire 2020 season of motorsport’s premier league, could just be the best yet; a riveting, highly-paced, emotionally-charged, ten episodes of 100% pure adrenaline.

Formula 1 Drive To Survive season 3 review – Episodes viewed: All 10.

If we take ourselves back a year, we find ourselves at the initial outbreak of the coronavirus, the pandemic that has affected the world, including elite sport. The topic is, of course, covered here, but if you are thinking that you’re in for a dull third run of ‘Drive To Survive’ with an F1 season that played to empty grandstands, then think again; this is outstanding stuff.

Arguably the best aspects of this heavily detailed docuseries are the mid-table battles, and there’s tons of that evident here. Season three of DTS spends a lot of time with Racing Point, one of the big movers of the season, and also HAAS, another interesting team going through a transition, as a whole and specifically with its two drivers who have almost been there since its conception. Further detail is covered with the Red Bull team and its two drivers and most notably, time is spent concentrating on its number two position. Mercedes is also featured this time, Valteri Bottas the main aim of coverage and his battle at the team, and the perception of him constantly driving in the shadow of now seven-time F1 champion, Lewis Hamilton. The reigning champion gets more attention this time around, with detailed interviews and focus towards the end of the ten episodes.

There are too many stand-out episodes to mention, but specifically, episode nine will poke at every emotion. A lot of focus is put on the jaw-dropping near-fatal accident suffered by HAAS driver Romain Grosjean in Bahrain, but this is balanced with the overwhelming work of Racing Point driver Sergio Perez at the same track a week later. This is one of the best hours of television I’ve seen for some while; an emotional rollercoaster of an episode that will long linger in the memory.

Devoted fans will know the outcome of the season, and even most of the minor intricacies from the extensive live TV coverage that we can see every weekend, but that takes nothing away from this groundbreaking series which takes you right into the heart of the sport. It offers a unique, very well-produced, deeply personal insight into one of the world’s most exciting events, and ‘Drive To Survive’ is fast becoming almost as anticipated as the start of the season every March. Season three is absolutely the best yet with more twists and turns than the Nurburgring and will have you well-oiled and properly geared up for Bahrain when the 2021 season kicks off at the end of the month.