Latest news with #Formula1:DrivetoSurvive
Business Insider
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- Business Insider
F1 CEO says drivers are its 'protagonists' and drama is good for business
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is on a mission to expand the company's global footprint and grow its US audience — and that means spotlighting the "protagonists" of the sport. "They are our jewel, our stars," Domenicali said about F1 drivers at a press roundtable on Monday. Unlike in sports like football or baseball, he says it can be a challenge to make F1 drivers "the face" of the sport when they're not as physically visible during races. With drivers shielded by cars and fully suited in helmets and gloves, it can be tough for fans to get to know the drivers behind the wheel, the CEO said. High-profile films like "F1: The Movie," starring Brad Pitt, or the Netflix docuseries "Formula 1: Drive to Survive," help generate buzz. The CEO also said that tension between drivers and clashes on and off the track can be good for business — and there's been no shortage of such. Races have resulted in many iconic moments, like the on-track collision in 2021 between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, which triggered an outburst from Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. Domenicali joked that there's some truth behind the idea that "all press is good press." He said it's generally good when people have something to talk about. The CEO added that viewers are "attracted" to the "sporting drama" and casual fans may be especially interested in the lifestyle aspect of the races. As the company expands its global footprint and reaches more Americans, Domenicali said F1 needs to "cover a very wide portfolio" of viewers and understand the specific needs of each segment. That means using different narratives and languages to tell the story of the sport, Domenicali said. F1 has already proved successful in diversifying its fan base to some degree. The company's audience has grown to 41% female, compared to 37% in 2018, a spokesperson told BI. While "there are limits" to drama involved in the sport, the tension has added to its competitive nature, especially as F1 increasingly evolves into an entertainment brand. Domenicali said the company wants drivers to have different personalities rather than being "20 clones" of the same person. At the end of the day, F1 embodies much more than driving, he said. "If you want to drive, Uber driving can offer you a great opportunity to do a lot of driving," he said.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
More grit than glitz in female motorsport's answer to Drive to Survive
Netflix's fly-on-the-wall documentary Formula 1: Drive to Survive has been such a success that sports have fallen over themselves to try to cash in on the back of it. The latest to allow cameras on the grid is F1: The Academy. The stage is almost the same, even if the story is not. The F1 Academy, under managing director Susie Wolff, has been established to nurture young female talent, and the series is produced by Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine. Unlike F1, it is not a career in itself. Drivers must be aged between 16 and 25 and are only allowed to race for two seasons, with just the winner awarded a fully-funded seat in GB3 – the next rung in the ladder before the heights of F2, or even F1. The differences between F1 Academy and Formula One are stark. There are no Monaco penthouses and only one clip of drivers cruising to a track in a luxury vehicle. It might be the pinnacle of female motorsport, but there is a long way to go for the drivers to have more than just a taste of the riches on offer. Instead, drivers live with their managers and only a few have the luxury of an entourage. The documentary will leave even those few who believe the sport is open to all convinced of the barriers. Abbi Pulling, the British driver, cannot afford to have her father fly out and watch while merchandise shoots are a necessity – as she bluntly explains, it helps her pay rent. Wolff says she wants F1 Academy to be a 'movement not a moment', but for those in their final season of the competition there is the constant uncertainty of what the future holds. Pulling's story is one of sacrifice, from her father working seven days a week to fund her karting career to an honest reflection that if she does not win in her final F1 Academy year – and therefore misses out on the GB3 place – that might be the end of her racing journey. Pulling, who does go on to win and is now competing in GB3, says: 'I'm a woman in a man's world trying to prove herself. That's why Mulan is my favourite movie.' It is a harsh reality that contrasts sharply with the glitz and glamour that comes with racing in F1 teams' liveries, on the same weekends and at the same track as the flagship races. As Wolff states plainly: 'If you can't cut it in F1 Academy, there's not going to be much of a career in motorsport left for you.' In F1, even drivers who do not make the cut after a year or two are still compensated heavily, but reaching F1 Academy does not pay the bills. Bianca Bustamante, a driver from the Philippines, boasts more than three million followers on social media, and more on Instagram than F1 driver Liam Lawson. She is mobbed at races, with endless requests for selfies, especially when in Singapore, and her McLaren aide worries how her social media posts and marketing affect her racing – her season is one of pitfalls. In a later episode Mercedes's Toto Wolff, in one of a handful of brief appearances by F1 team principals, says: 'This is not an influencer racing series. Only the best ones must survive.' In the seven-part series, only five stories are really explored – Bustamante, Pulling, Mercedes driver Doriane Pin, sisters Hamda and Amna Al Qubaisi from Dubai, and American rally driver turned track racer Lia Block. Those tuning in expecting another version of the abrasive rivalries between drivers and team principles that are the cornerstone of Drive to Survive will find themselves disappointed. The first episode, titled Not here to make friends, is little more than words as the drivers throw each other birthday parties and take group excursions into the desert. On track there is some frustration, but usually by drivers at their own mistakes, and of course there are a few tears as well. Susie Wolff closes off the season by saying: 'I've driven a Formula One car, and fast. I know it's possible and I want to see a young woman on that grid.' Yet the question remains: is it possible?
Bloomberg
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Bloomberg
Not Every Team Deserves a Netflix Sports Documentary
Last season the Boston Red Sox were the picture of mediocrity, finishing 81-81, dead middle of the American League East Division, and failing to make the playoffs. The Red Sox were expected to be meh, and they were. So my expectations for The Clubhouse: A Year With the Red Sox, an eight-episode docuseries released by Netflix Inc. in April, were low. The idea of spending eight hours rehashing their humdrum season sounded like a chore, even for this Sox fan. At first glance, The Clubhouse seemed like another unnecessary sports doc. Since the breakout success of Formula 1: Drive to Survive and The Last Dance, both of which helped fill the void when most live sports were canceled during the early days of the pandemic, programmers have been clamoring for unscripted sports series. At the start of 2019, according to data from Ampere Analysis, sports accounted for 3% of all newly commissioned documentaries, both upcoming and released. So far in the second quarter of this year, that share is 12%.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Formula E Driver trailer: Drive to Survive electrification is complete as new documentary set to release on Amazon Prime
Formula E has entered its eleventh season, showcasing the advanced Gen3 Evo cars speeding around the track. Now, a Formula E documentary titled Formula E: Driver is set to release on Amazon Prime Video , aiming to elevate the sport's global presence and rival the popularity of Formula 1. The trailer for Driver looks promising, offering everything needed to match the success of Netflix's Formula 1: Drive to Survive , by diving deep into the high-octane world of electric racing . All about Formula E: Driver trailer The official trailer for Formula E: Driver was unveiled on Friday on Formula E's official website while the Driver poster was shared on its social media platforms. The trailer opens with Antonio Félix da Costa, a prominent figure in the series, who recently secured third place at the Miami E-Prix. It then transitions into a montage of intense on-track action and candid off-track moments, providing a comprehensive look into the lives of the drivers and the dynamics of the championship. Watch the trailer here. On Instagram, Formula E shared the trailer with the caption: "Racing like you've never seen it before. Formula E: Driver, coming soon exclusively to @primevideo. #PrimeVideo #FormulaE #Motorsport #Racing." Antonio Félix da Costa, representing the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, responded to the post with enthusiasm, commenting, "Here we go." Andretti Formula E's Instagram account also dropped a comment, "We'd recognise that piercing blue eye anywhere…" Fans expressed their anticipation, with comments like, "The last thing missing is an official Formula E video game," and "Now we have a movie for almost all motorsports now." Another fan remarked, "Can't wait to see this and find out more about Formula E, should be an interesting watch!" Many viewers drew parallels between Formula E: Driver and Formula 1: Drive to Survive, with one fan dubbing it "Drive to Survive electrification," and another exclaiming, "The Drive to Survive Formula E edition is here!!!" While the exact release date for Formula E: Driver has not been announced, it is confirmed that the documentary will be available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. Also Read: Oliver Rowland and Taylor Barnard: Meet the cute mentor-student pair dominating Formula E at the same time Meanwhile, the next Formula E race is scheduled to take place in the hub of motorsports, Monaco. The Round 6 and 7 double header will be held on May 3 and 4.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Netflix to premiere 'F1: The Academy' docuseries on up-and-coming female racing stars
F1 Academy (via Getty Images) Netflix will premiere its new motorsport docuseries, F1: The Academy , on May 28, 2025, and take audiences on an unprecedented behind-the-scenes ride through the F1 Academy's all-female grid. The Hello Sunshine-backed series chronicles the drama, determination, and personal story of these talented young female drivers during the 2024 season. With Formula 1 Academy CEO Susie Wolff also on board in an executive production role, the global launch is a landmark moment for sportswomen and will set the stage for a whole new generation of talent. Netflix and F1 Academy join forces to amplify women's racing With the backing of all 10 Formula 1 teams, the program got underway after the program was announced in 2023 to worldwide recognition and support within the motorsport industry. Susie Wolff, former Formula 1 development driver and now managing director of F1 Academy, reiterated the cultural importance of the show: 'To have the F1 Academy docuseries launch globally with Netflix is not just a huge step forward in visibility for our mission but also a resounding statement about the momentum and demand for women's sport.' The show will also elevate the profile of the championship by bringing its stars to the giant audience of Netflix through a formula which worked so well for Formula 1: Drive to Survive . As there is growing recognition for women in motorsport , this documentary series will also be able to enhance F1 Academy's increasing profile further. Paddock insiders and real-life stories from the paddock Fans have already been teased with behind-the-scenes content on social media, with drivers such as Bianca Bustamante and Maya Weug offering glimpses into filming. Maya Weug, who made history as Ferrari's first female academy member, brought the Netflix crew to the famed Maranello facility, adding rich context to her journey. F1 Academy has also picked up the pace away from the track, expanding its grid to 18 from 15 cars for 2025 and agreeing sponsorship partnerships with blue-chip companies such as TAG Heuer and Charlotte Tilbury. The actions reinforce the seriousness of the series' determination to establish itself as a standard on the motorsport calendar and a platform for women drivers to launch their careers. A decisive move towards future equality in the world of motorsport With its narrative cinema and real-world consequences, F1: The Academy can be a cultural touchstone, as its precursor, Drive to Survive, was. This Netflix series is not only a series about motorsport—it's about representation, determination, and rewriting the script for women in motor racing. Also read: 19-year-old Canadian driver Nicole Havrda set for F1 Academy debut in season 2025 With the world waiting for the launch of the series, everyone will be looking at the skilful women drivers behind the wheel—and the incredible stories they will soon be telling. Get the latest IPL 2025 updates on Times of India , including match schedules , team squads , points table and IPL live score for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Don't miss the list of players in the race for IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple cap .
