A soap opera of sport
The Netflix show “Drive to Survive” has significantly contributed to the rising popularity of Formula One, attracting millions of viewers since its launch in 2019. The series, which documents the behind-the-scenes of the Formula One season, has been credited with lowering the average age of Formula One TV viewers from 44 to 32. This shift is highly valued by commercial brands and broadcasters concerned about attracting a Gen Z audience. The success of “Drive to Survive” has inspired other sports to create similar behind-the-scenes series on Netflix, including golf, tennis, and rugby union. The show has benefited from the support of Liberty Media, which took over Formula One in 2017 and saw the series as an opportunity to reach beyond the traditional motorsports audience. “Drive to Survive” has made the sport more attractive by highlighting the human stories, rivalries, and personal narratives of drivers and teams.
