Drive to Survive

Former world champion SLAMS Drive to Survive for completely changing F1 fanbase

Joe Ellis Thursday 10 August 2023 23:57

Former world champion SLAMS Drive to Survive for completely changing F1 fanbase

Two-time Formula 1 world champion Mika Hakkinen believes that Netflix's documentary series Drive to Survive has 'lost the previous generation' of fans.

The mightily popular Netflix show has provided the platform for F1 as a sport to boom to popularity for a whole new audience.

Without the Netflix production, those fans may not have stumbled across F1 and provided a huge injection shot into the arm of many in the paddock.

Hakkinen, though, thinks that same group of fans and the engagement they have shown is driving away the more traditional motorsport fan.

Hakkinen: A sport reborn

Netflix's fifth season of Drive to Survive was released in February earlier this year

"The sport has literally been reborn," Hakkinen told Iltalehti. "The new owners have brought a new generation to the sport. I feel like we lost the previous generation.

"People are interested in people. If they aren't brought to the attention of new fans, they won't get excited. We have now learned from this.

"Quite a show has been made of it, not everything is as it is presented.

"I want to meet people face to face and talk to them. I want to see what they are like in reality, not when they perform."

Latest News

F1 Today

F1 News Today: Hamilton FRUSTRATION revealed as seven-time champion makes LAST RACE announcement

56 minutes ago

Las Vegas Grand Prix

F1 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix weather forecast - latest today as conditions set to cause havoc

1 hour ago

Las Vegas Grand Prix

The Sphere: All you need to know about the dome dominating F1’s Las Vegas GP

1 hour ago

Latest F1 News

Norris DISMISSES major championship rival ahead of Las Vegas GP

2 hours ago

Lewis Hamilton

Wolff reveals HUGE Hamilton change ahead of Ferrari switch

3 hours ago

Las Vegas Grand Prix

Controversial Las Vegas Grand Prix set for HUGE changes

Today 12:15

More news

F1 Race Calendar 2024

GP AUSTRIA 28 - 30 Jun

George Russell

GP GREAT BRITAIN 5 - 7 Jul

Lewis Hamilton

GP HUNGARY 19 - 21 Jul

Oscar Piastri

GP BELGIUM 26 - 28 Jul

Lewis Hamilton

GP NETHERLANDS 23 - 25 Aug

Lando Norris

GP ITALY 30 Aug - 1 Sep

Charles Leclerc

GP AZERBAIJAN 13 - 15 Sep

Oscar Piastri

GP SINGAPORE 20 - 22 Sep

Lando Norris

GP USA 18 - 20 Oct

Charles Leclerc

GP MEXICO 25 - 27 Oct

GP QATAR 29 Nov - 1 Dec

GP ABU DHABI 6 - 8 Dec

Complete kalender 2024

F1 News 24/7

Races

About GPFans

GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.

We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.

With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.

Follow us on your favorite social media channel

Corporate & Media

Innovatieweg 20C
7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY