How Netflix has become a part of the F1 furniture
For many years grand prix racing didn't bother to market itself beyond its established fanbase. Then it allowed in a fly-on-the-wall documentary crew. Netflix's Drive to Survive has taken F1 to a new audience by turning it into a hybrid of action and soap opera - but that's also involved changes that haven't been universally welcomed, writes LUKE SMITH
Not long after a winter without racing the coronavirus outbreak has meant that, for the time being, Formula 1 fans have been left without any action to watch. The only bright light for those anxious to get their fix is that the hugely popular Netflix series, Drive to Survive, returned for series two at the end of February.
As part of the shift towards greater digital output from F1 commercial rights holder Liberty Media, Netflix's cameras were allowed into the paddock for the first time in 2018, shining a spotlight on its rich tapestry of characters, rivalries and stories.
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