'Netflix are a real bunch of c****' - Drive to Survive's funniest moments from smashed doors to Yuki

May 18, 2024

Formula 1: Drive To Survive is back for a fifth season this week and it promises to give fans plenty more hilarious moments.

Netflix's hugely popular docuseries has been credited with the rise in popularity of motorsport since it first arrived on the platform in 2019.

Drive to Survive showcases the biggest stories from each campaign in the world of F1 which has led to criticism that drama has been manufactured for the series.

But what can't be faked is the unintentionally hilarious moments that were captured by the cameras behind the scenes.

Warning: Mature language to follow

'Netflix are a real bunch of c****'

The latest season of Drive to Survive could be the last one to feature Daniel Ricciardo who failed to secure a place on the 2023 grid following his exit from McLaren.

The Australian acted as the show’s unspoken lead character, with his charisma and one-liners catapulting him into the mainstream.

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“Without Daniel I think there probably wouldn’t have been a Drive to Survive,” Netflix producer Paul Martin told The Post.

“He was the first driver that we talked to about it, the first driver that invited us to his home in Australia. I felt very emotional with him leaving.”

Ricciardo joked about being a car mechanic in the very first episode but by the time the second season had started filming he'd established himself as the most personable driver.

So much so that the-then Renault driver got away with saying at the start of episode three: "Netflix a real bunch of c***s, aren't they?"

Ricciardo then burst out laughing and added: "I'd love for them to play that", and fortunately for fans, they did!

'He does not f***ing smash my door'

From the funniest driver on the grid to the most hilarious team principal, this list could have easily been just Guenther Steiner moments.

From being featured in the Aldi catalogue to quips like he "would have f***ed the whole paddock" for two points in the 2021 season.

Yet the Haas team boss' most legendary moment came in season two when he was trying to call order to in-fighting between his drivers.

Steiner was furious after then-teammates Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen crashed each other out of the 2019 British GP and set a record for most F-bombs in under a minute.

“I’ve had enough of both of you,” he tells the pair, off-camera but on-mic. “You let the f****** team down, me down, [when] I protected you all the time.

“I’m not f****** going into who is right and who is wrong. I don’t want to get ‘he moved, he should have moved’ and all that f****** w***.

“Gene [Haas] spends 100 f****** million a year of his own f****** money which f****** wants to pull the plug and let everybody down because you are two f****** idiots? I’ve not more to f****** say to you guys and if you don’t like it I don’t need you here. Do not come back, please.”

Magnussen storms out of his office in retaliation and damages Steiner's door, which leads to this iconic response.

“He's not f****** doing that to me,” Steiner continues. “He does not f*** smash my door...He smashed my f****** office door. I don’t know where he is but he can f*** off, I told him. Both of them. F****** hell. We have got two f****** idiots driving for us.

“This is not acceptable and we will make changes. If it would be my decision now I would sack them both.”

Mushy peas

Yuki Tsunoda became an instant fan favourite on his maiden appearance in the show in season four.

The Japanese driver endured a rough start to life in Formula 1, with his rookie campaign hampered by a number of high-profile crashes.

Yet a showcase episode of DTS endeared Tsunoda to fans as it followed him moving to Milton Keynes, where his AlphaTauri team is based.

F1 commentator Will Buxton said: “Just as with all Red Bull juniors, he’s been living in Milton Keynes in the UK. As a kid moving thousands of miles away from home, it must be a culture shock - not even people who live in Milton Keynes want to live in Milton Keynes.”

Tsunoda added “Most boring place in the world, I’d say!”

Netflix then followed the 22-year-old to a pub for his first experience of fish, chips and mushy peas.

Tsunoda attempts a bite of the latter and clearly winces before giving a pained thumbs up to the cameras.

Another scene later in the episode sees Tsunoda delay a massage for what he later describes as a 'nice poo'.

Toto vs Christian

Mercedes and Red Bull's rivalry has been a key component of every series of DTS, with the two leading teams challenging for the title in every year since the series launched.

However, Max Verstappen's public boycott of the Netflix show after its first season gave team principals Toto Wolff and Christian Horner the platform to argue and debate the biggest talking points.

Horner has been caught on camera telling Verstappen, "Don't worry, I'll squeeze Toto's b******* this afternoon."

He's also told Red Bull engineers: "I could have him [Toto] in a fight."

Wolff has responded openly: "Christian is a bit like a Jack Russell terrier who likes to snap at your heels."

Drive to feel Alive

Netflix have said goodbye to a number of engaging personalities during its run but none are missed more than Kimi Raikkonen.

As noted by the name of the show, Netflix are keen for viewers to believe elite motorsport is the most dramatic thing on earth.

And a lot of the drivers help to fuel that narrative with regular references to extreme pressure and the drive to be the best.