How many of you, especially women, have given up on watching or following a sport because you could not stand the scrutiny of inquiries from ‘seasoned fans’? I confess I gave up cricket and tennis years ago when a colleague in a newsroom came to the conclusion that I watched matches for “good looking men” and not for the sport. Analytical skills and my lack of memory for ancient data aided his conclusion.
Sometime last year, I crashed drive to surviveNetflix’s All-Access enters the fascinating, fast and flawless world of Formula 1. Cleverly crafted to foster interest in the rich and distinctive sport, it follows an adrenaline-based narrative of race montages and team radio, behind-the-scenes action. and highly personal interviews in which the driver and team principal drop the helpful one-liners that keep the confrontation going. on its foundation, drive to survive Is keeping up with… Formula 1 version. But here’s the thing – it all works.
It’s an initiation for new Formula 1 fans, telling us what we need to know about last season, the proper nouns you need to familiarize yourself with and what to look for in the next one. What it doesn’t tell you is the ones filled in by Twitter handles, which include F1’s own and YouTube channels that churn out content faster than you might say “lights out.”
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I watched all three seasons available on Netflix within three days and was ready to dive into the live action of 2021 sometime in September. And what a year to start watching this crazy game!
The first race I followed was the Italian Grand Prix, where McLaren led with 1-2 while still leading. Lewis Hamilton And Max Verstappen parted ways after a dangerous accident. The rest of the season kept me on the edge of my seat and the Abu Dhabi GP left me with feelings I never thought I’d feel for a game again.
I was in, deep. I had a favorite team, favorite circuit, favorite drivers. During the recent Uttar Pradesh elections, I expected the ruined Buddhist International Circuit to be discussed as well. I had off-season pain. And for the first time ever, I didn’t care to ‘justify’ any of it.
I worked in season 4 of drive to survive This time as one of my own. And what is lacking; Failed to match until the hectic turn of 2021.
Ironically, for a show on F1 it progresses painfully slowly. The more deployment of slow motion and the use of race commentary as narration to set up shots give it a dramatic feel.
The foreshadowing in the opening episode of Hamilton-Toto Wolff versus Verstappen-Christian Horner is exciting, but feeds into criticism of the out-of-context editing in excess. Each segment tries very hard to get the rivalry down the audience’s throat, and there’s a sense that title fights dominate the season.
McLarenLando Norris, in fact, has become the latest driver to express disappointment on that front, speculating that the show manipulates the footage to create drama. In particular, he has pointed to footage from the Bahrain GP that reportedly shows him angry with new teammate Daniel Ricciardo. Episode 2 tells of her difficult start with the more experienced Ricciardo, showing the 22-year-old still hanging on to former teammate Carlos Sainz Jr.
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Norris has said, “Me and Daniels are running side-by-side when we’re not even close and I claim he pushes me, who is from a completely different race.” But the 22-year-old admitted that “overall, I think it’s exciting and good for everyone”.
current world champion Max VerstappenThe actress, too, has accused the makers of “fake rivalry” and has decided not to be a part of the show this time. The Associated Press Last year he was quoted as saying: “They faked some rivalry that doesn’t really exist”.
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Races in Azerbaijan and Brazil don’t get much screen time, while the episode focused on the Russian GP ignores Hamilton’s 100th race and Norris’ heartbreak. It is based primarily on Nikita Mazepin, a good call given Haas’ decision to sack the son of Russian oligarch Dmitry Mazepin over the invasion of Ukraine. The new season, really, isn’t very big on chronology.
Accidents at Monza and Silverstone have been shown several times and the show has been accused of incorrectly using the weather map of the Belgian GP when discussing Sochi. Like last season, it dives into the finances of low-ranked teams like Williams.
But the biggest damage is done with experienced drivers, to whom there is no mention. Fans of former world champion Kimi Raikkonen are outraged by the dime-series dismissing the Finn’s retirement outright. The Iceman’s viral and outright camaraderie with teammate Antonio Giovinazzi has also been left unexplored, an opportunity missed as the latter is off the grid for 2022.
Fernando Alonso’s return, and Sebastian Vettel switching teams get the same cold treatment.
Season 4 fixes a few things though. Alfa Tauri’s rookie driver Yuki Tsunoda’s episode is heartwarming and honest, while McLaren’s iconic win at Monza makes for an inspiring episode.
Susie Wolff, former race driver and CEO of Venturi Racing in Formula E DTS Debut and F1 journalist Jenny Go is in high numbers, representative of a growing female fan base. I hope this extends to a dedicated episode on women in Formula 1, if there is a season 5.
Love it or hate it, drive to surviveContribution to F1 cannot be overstated. The Abu Dhabi finale saw 108.7 million viewers worldwide, a 29% increase over the previous race of 2020. Cumulative TV viewership for 2021 was 1.55 billion, up 4% from 2020. The Netherlands (81%), USA (58%), France (48%), Italy (40%) and UK (39%) registered the biggest year-on-year growth.
But does the show that pulled me and millions of others into Formula 1 threaten to eclipse the sport? Will the hunger for more drama enter the top echelons of the game to blur the line between sport and gala? Race director Michael Massi’s highly questionable call to the Abu Dhabi decider has fueled this fear.
In a divisive finale, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won his first world championship by dramatically overtaking Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton on the last lap. Hamilton comfortably led the race until the safety car with five laps to go in a crash by Nicolas Latifi was brought out. Verstappen stopped under a yellow light for a new set of tires when Massi surprised everyone by allowing only drivers to pass the safety car separating Verstappen and Hamilton. On new tyres, Verstappen resumed just behind Hamilton, zooming into the lead at the fifth turn.
Mercedes lost both appeals and Hamilton missed out on a record eighth title, leaving Britain behind F1 legend Michael Schumacher. Although Massi has been replaced as race director, he was under a lot of pressure at the time as both Mercedes and Red Bull were thundering in his ear.
Viewers questioned whether Formula 1 was becoming entertainment. Following an immediate change in the rules, direct radio communication during a race will now follow a predetermined protocol to maintain the race director’s independence from interference.
But it’s not the only accusation drive to survive, Search for it on social media and longtime fans lament that their niche game has been made common by the upcoming ‘noobs’ on the show. But that’s really the point. Capturing millions of people’s interest in a sport you can’t expect to ‘play’, one that takes place in countries you may never go to, and one where patriotism has little say (the drivers choose their flags) which has nothing to do with their team’s home base) Not an easy task.
While viewership and engagement metrics can help measure the positive impact of the series, any collateral damage it causes will not be measurable in the short term. For now, the pros outweigh the cons for all stakeholders.
and though it may not be his intention, said or undeclared, drive to survive Formula 1 has made the fan base a little more diverse and inclusive, and I hope to see some of it in the paddock in the years to come.
It is the responsibility of the FIA administration to ensure that glamor does not tarnish the sport and that F1 remains a sport with all its heart and soul.
For experienced F1 followers, I say, positively connect with newcomers because if the tribe keeps its numbers or grows only at glacial pace, Formula 1 will plateau in popularity as you can only see. Just Ask Golf, Which Is Now Planning Something Similar DTS,
2021 was one hell of a season and as 2022 rolls with Bahrain tonight, I join Pierre Gasly reluctantly asking – What are we going to talk about this year?
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