The release of Drive to Survive Season 7 is just days away. As the 2025 Formula 1 season approaches, the Netflix docuseries gives fans a chance to relive the drama and excitement of 2024.
Ahead of its March 7 release date, Netflix unveiled the official trailer following the final day of 2025 pre-season testing in Bahrain, offering a glimpse of what’s to come.
Formula 1: Drive to Survive Season 7 – Watch the trailer
Drive to Survive Season 7 – Trailer break down
The trailer opens with McLaren’s Lando Norris sat in front of the camera, followed by an ominous “How are you feeling?” from behind the lens. It then cuts to Carlos Sainz, Zak Brown, and Christian Horner, teasing some of the season’s biggest talking points.
To recap, Norris celebrated his maiden F1 win at the 2024 Miami Grand Prix and fought for his first championship title against Max Verstappen. However, his road to the top was anything but smooth, with heated on-track battles with the Red Bull driver—something we are sure to see in the seventh season of the Netflix show with the added spice of some creative editing.
2024 was Carlos Sainz’s last season with Ferrari after a four-year stint with the team. One of the biggest storylines heading into the 2024 season was Lewis Hamilton’s bombshell announcement that he’d made use of an exit clause in his Mercedes contract to join the Maranello-based squad, leaving the Spaniard without a seat for 2025. There were countless rumours throughout the season about the Spanish driver’s place in F1 before he ultimately signed with Williams.
The trailer also teases heated moments between Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and McLaren CEO Zak Brown. While this could hint at the intense Constructors’ Championship battle between the two rivals, it could also touch on off-track controversies that impacted Milton Keynes throughout the season. Fans will have to wait until Friday to see which storyline unfolds.
Will Netflix Address the Horner Allegations?
Leading up to the release of the trailer, it was unclear whether Netflix would include the allegations surrounding Horner.
However, shots of the Red Bull chief putting on a united front with his wife Geri Horner throughout the trailer hints that this could be touched upon in the new series. The episode guide from Netflix’s Tudum blog also mentions “a shocking allegation.”
To recap: During the 2024 winter break, Horner was accused by a female employee of coercive and inappropriate behaviour. Red Bull GmbH launched an internal investigation, ultimately exonerating the team boss. Despite an appeal from the complainant, a second review upheld the initial verdict.
Drive to Survive Season 7
Photo by: Netflix
“We Are the Kardashians of F1”
Now moving onto a lighter moment of the trailer, it cuts to Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc in the back of a car saying with a smile, “We are the Kardashians of Formula 1.” Hamilton can then be seen signing autographs for fans.
The Monegasque is set to feature in episode 5, “Le Curse of Leclerc.” Spoiler alert: He did in fact crack the curse of his home race after finally securing an emotional victory at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Norris, Piastri, and the ‘Papaya Rules’ Controversy
The trailer then moves to McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, followed by Esteban Ocon’s voice stating, “Our biggest rival is ourselves.”
The shot changes to the infamous clash between Ocon and his then-teammate Pierre Gasly on the first lap of the Monaco Grand Prix. The drivers collided, sending the former into the air, ending his race prematurely. We can’t help but notice the well-timed shot of Norris and Piastri, hinting at the ‘Papaya Rules’ which would later become a huge talking point of McLaren’s 2024 campaign.
Toto Wolff Reacts to Hamilton’s Ferrari Move
The unmistakable voice of Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff echoes over a montage of Hamilton’s time with the team:
“After 12 years together, Lewis tells me I’m going to Ferrari… really?”
Episode 1, “Business as Usual,” is expected to cover Hamilton’s Ferrari bombshell, including the fallout from his decision. A snippet in the trailer features Williams driver Alex Albon’s reaction:
“Good for Lewis. Good for his bank account.”
The Fallout for Red Bull & Ricciardo’s Exit
The trailer moves onto various clips of drivers who faced a more unfortunate 2024 season.
Sergio Perez lost his Red Bull seat after the team slipped from first to third in the Constructors’ Championship. Daniel Ricciardo also lost his seat with VCARB (now Racing Bulls) after the Singapore Grand Prix—a moment many fans hope Netflix will address properly, after its handling of the announcement at the time.
Flavio Briatore’s Return & Jack Doohan’s Breakthrough
While fan-favourites left the sport, we welcome back Flavio Briatore to the paddock. The Italian signed with Alpine as an executive advisor and can be seen in the trailer speaking with Jack Doohan, who later secured a full-time F1 seat alongside Pierre Gasly for 2025.
Doohan beat out multiple contenders, including Mick Schumacher, for the final Alpine seat after Ocon confirmed his exit.
Sainz in the Hospital
After another dramatic montage including an exasperated Wolff , Horner admitting he “never thought I would have a challenge like this in my career” followed by a notification ping, and Brown making a phone call saying, “We’ll see if we can get him to crack,” the scene cuts to Sainz lying in a hospital bed.
The Spanish driver was rushed to hospital after suffering from appendicitis ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Ferrari called upon its reserve driver Oliver Bearman who secured points in his F1 debut and later signed a contract with Haas for 2025. The former Ferrari driver made a staggeringly swift recovery from surgery and won the Australian Grand Prix just two weeks later.
The Perfect Ending: Guenther Steiner’s Exit
Finally, the trailer closes with a classic Guenther Steiner moment. Steiner sits in front of the camera and quips:
“You didn’t asked me ‘how do you feel getting sacked!'”
After being with the team since its entry into F1, the American squad parted ways with Steiner and promoted Ayao Komatsu to the role of team principal.
When the crew repeats the question, he shrugs and jokes:
“I couldn’t give a—”
Leave feedback about this