Max Verstappen has once again voiced his frustration with Netflix’s Drive to Survive, accusing the popular docu-series of bending the truth in its portrayal of his reaction to Lando Norris’ breakthrough victory at the Miami Grand Prix.
The four-time Formula 1 world champion, who clinched the 2024 title amid a gripping battle with Norris, insists the show falsely depicted him as upset after finishing second to his McLaren rival, reigniting his long-standing discontent with the series’ tendency to prioritize drama over accuracy.
The fifth round of the 2024 world championship in Florida marked a standout moment in the season when Norris secured his first-ever F1 win, beating Verstappen by a commanding 7.6 seconds.
While the Red Bull charger had dominated much of the early season – winning four of the first five races, with a sole DNF in Australia derailing a potential clean sweep – Norris’ triumph showcased his emergence as a genuine title contender.
Yet, according to Verstappen and his fans, Drive to Survive twisted this moment into a narrative of bitterness that simply didn’t exist.
Caught Red-Handed: Verstappen Calls Out the Fiction
During a Twitch stream over the weekend, Verstappen didn’t hold back in debunking the show’s version of events.
“Apparently I was very sad after Miami,” he said sarcastically. “I literally had the best time ever Sunday night, so I don’t know what I was upset about.”
Far from sulking, Verstappen revealed that he celebrated Norris’ banner win, even joining his close friend for a night out.
“Probably better not say anything,” he added with a hint of restraint, though his irritation was unmistakable.
Fans echoed his sentiments on social media, pointing out the disconnect between the live events they witnessed and the dramatized depiction on Netflix.
Commenting a short clip from the relevant Miami GP episode posted on social media and allegedly showing a glum Verstappen taking in his defeat in the cool-down room, several eagle-eyed fans spotted a glaring error: the cap Verstappen was wearing in the scene was from Zandvoort, not Miami!
“This is one of the reasons why I can’t watch this,” lamented a fan, while another wrote: “They do know we all watched it live. Max was very happy for Lando.”
The posts clearly reflected a broader frustration with the series’ loose grip on reality.
A Recurring Beef with Netflix’s Drama Machine
This isn’t the first time Verstappen has taken Drive to Survive to task. Known for amplifying rivalries and glossing over facts – like ignoring George Russell’s non-victory at Spa – the series has long been a thorn in the Dutchman’s side.
In 2023, he explained his decision to stop giving interviews for the show.
“Of course, I understand when you create a show, there needs to be drama, it needs to be exciting,” he said.
“But I’m a guy who finds it also very important that you’re portrayed well, and that they do not start to copy comments on the different kinds of footage while it didn’t happen like that.”
He had pushed back, making his stance clear: “I had to explain it to them that that was my view. Otherwise, I didn’t want to be part of it. But yes, they understood.”
Despite a brief softening in his approach – hoping the producers would respect his perspective – Verstappen’s patience appears to be wearing thin again.
“You don’t really see a lot of me in Drive to Survive because I don’t like doing it. So yeah, you probably don’t get the right side of me because it’s just an interview,” he said.
“I’m just sitting down in a dark room, and I hate that!”
His disinterest extends beyond participation to consumption, as he confessed to BBC Sport: “I watched two episodes, but I was not very impressed. It’s just not my thing, faking rivalries.”
