It’s no secret that Netflix’s Drive To Survive is responsible for the resurgence of Formula 1 over the last few years. The show managed to give fans a behind-the-scenes look into how Formula 1 works. We also got a closer look at the interesting personalities on the grid. Drive to Survive season five promises more insight.

While the 2022 Formula 1 season was concluded quite early, there’s still loads of drama to see. This includes Haas’ rebound, Mercedes bouncing from dominance to third, Ferrari’s resurgence. Oh, and the infamous cost cap saga that polarised Formula 1 fans around the world.

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect in Drive To Survive season five.

  1. Haas Bouncing Back

The Haas F1 Team gained massive popularity after the launch of the Netflix show. Gunther Steiner, team principal and all-around rockstar, managed to capture audiences with his passion and character. Not to forget his potty mouth, which has launched countless memes.

The 2021 season was strategic for Haas as they sacrificed development entirely to focus on the new regulations in 2022. This paid off in the first race as Magnussen finished 5th and Mick Schumacher finished just outside the points in 11th place. While the season didn’t go exactly to plan, the early excitement is bound to make for a great episode. 

  1. Porpoising Mercedes

Mercedes-AMG managed to break all kinds of records by winning eight championships in a row. The 2021 Drivers’ Championship may have ended under a cloud, but the 2022 season came as an even bigger shock. 

The new W13 introduced a zero-sidepod design that dropped jaws all around the paddock. However, the entire grid suffered from porpoising due to the latest aerodynamic regulations. Mercedes was one of the worst affected, bouncing Mercedes down to third place in the championship. This fall from grace was particularly hard to accept for the team and fans alike. 

  1. Ferrari’s U-turn

Ferrari is, arguably, the biggest brand in Formula 1. The 2022 season started off with a bang as Ferrari benefited from more wind tunnel time than both Red Bull and Mercedes. This was put to good use as Ferrari managed to snatch pole position at the first race. While it was clear that Ferrari and Red Bull were very close in performance, the reliability issues at Red Bull saw Ferrari take a commanding lead. 

This lead seemed too much for any team to make a significant challenge to Ferrari. However, poor strategy decisions and engine reliability saw Ferrari’s lead evaporate before the summer break. Ferrari team principal, Mattia Binotto, even lost his job at the end of 2022. He has since been replaced by Frederic Vasseur.

  1. The Cost Cap Saga

The 2021 Formula 1 season is still a hot topic today. While it’s clear that Michael Masi and the FIA made a ‘human error’ in the season finale in Abu Dhabi, the entire season came back into the public eye when Red Bull was accused of breaking the cost cap. This was a major deal as Mercedes had to stop developing their car early as to not break the cost cap. 

The story broke in dramatic fashion with multiple team principals taking swings at both Aston Martin and Red Bull in the media. While Red Bull did plead guilty to a minor breach, the entire saga is bound to make for some dramatic television.  

  1. Daniel Ricciardo’s Departure

Daniel Ricciardo is one of the most popular Formula 1 drivers. The first episode of Drive To Survive follows Daniel’s career as he was conflicted about leaving Red Bull. The show also tracked his move to McLaren and dedicated an entire episode to his mega win at Monza in 2021. 

Daniel started the new season far off the pace of his teammate. It’s no secret that Daniel struggled to get the hang of the new McLaren. His outstanding teammate Norris didn’t make it any easier for him. This resulted in Daniel’s contract being cut short. It was rumoured, that Daniel was offered a seat at Williams and Haas. Instead, he opted to take the year off. He has returned to Red Bull to help with media and the development of the 2023 car. 

  1. Max and Lewis Clash in Brazil… Again

Mercedes may have been seconds off the pace at the start of the year, but they managed to bring some impressive upgrades throughout the year. In the second half of the year, Mercedes was challenging for both pole positions and race wins. They even scored more points in the second half of the year than Ferrari. 

Brazil was a great sprint race for Mercedes as George Russel managed to overtake both Verstappen and Magnusson to start on pole. Sir Lewis Hamilton started in 3rd place but was challenged early on by Max Verstappen. They eventually made contact at a safety car restart. This led to many entertaining radio messages that we can’t wait to hear uncensored. 

Not to mention George’s first-ever victory and Mercedes’ first and only win of the season.

  1. Alonso Out, Piastri… To McLaren

Fernando Alonso is probably only second to Max when it comes to controversial Formula 1 drivers. However, Fernando claimed the top spot last year when he surprised Alpine and the world by making a shock move to Aston Martin. Alpine quickly announced that reserve driver Oscar Piastri would replace Alonso. But, the rookie refuted the claim. 

Piastri took to social media to publicly decline the Alpine offer. He also said that Alpine didn’t even ask him before making the announcement. Alpine ended up taking legal action to enforce Piastri’s contract, but the Australian was ultimately allowed to move over to McLaren. 

The Latest Season of Drive To Survive

While the 2022 Formula 1 Season may have been wrapped up early, there’s still tons of drama that we’re all waiting to relive. Drive To Survive season five starts streaming on the 24th of February. 

You can binge the entire season on Netflix, or visit Double Apex for the latest news as soon as the new season is released.