Drive to Survive may have enough drama to keep Netflix subscribers coming back to the Formula One docu-series. Whether truth or fiction, the show delivers content that is far more entertaining than a fact-based documentary. However, relying on that aspect alone also makes the series lose out on some incredible storylines that would have made fans lose their collective minds.
One of those storylines involves Drive to Survive‘s golden boy, Daniel Ricciardo. Rising to prominence under the glaring spotlight cast by the Netflix show, Ricciardo became a global fan-favorite by the time Season 1 came to a close. The Aussie’s infectious personality and bright-eyed optimism had rubbed off on the fans, making him an inimitable addition to the F1 series.
The Ricciardo win that couldn’t make Drive to Survive
There are moments in Formula 1 that are too thrilling and breathtaking to put into words. As cars moving faster than the speed of sound twist their way through a track to secure a glorious Grand Prix title, some races become entrenched in F1 history for their spectacular fight to the finish.
Daniel Ricciardo‘s 2018 win at the Shanghai Grand Prix was one such race, but sadly, for Netflix’s Drive to Survive, content alignment mattered more than the most glorious win of Ricciardo’s career.
Paul Martin, co-founder of the film enterprise behind Drive to Survive, who witnessed Ricciardo’s stunning win in Shanghai first-hand, revealed in a conversation with The Athletic later:
We started to edit that [footage, but] we just could never make it work. We tried to squeeze it in: ‘Oh, maybe we’ll try in that episode or maybe we could squeeze it in that episode.’ And in the end, it just didn’t have a place in the show. So every year we’re making choices like that, of what really elevates this show in the way that it needs to.
It is hard to believe that Ricciardo’s stunning Shanghai win couldn’t find a place throughout the 10-episode debut season of Drive to Survive. Although the series made up for that cut in spades by making him F1’s most popular driver, Ricciardo’s brilliant win would have elevated him even more in the eyes of the new generation of Formula 1 fans.
Daniel Ricciardo’s spectacular Shanghai victory
For Formula 1 racers, winning a Grand Prix title is the single most important event of their careers. Even more satisfying is a win that is hard-earned after a gripping neck-and-neck battle on the tracks. Daniel Ricciardo’s iconic win at the Shanghai Grand Prix in 2018 was not only one of his career’s most prized podium finishes but also an incredible moment in F1 history.
After Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel collided, Daniel Ricciardo pitted behind the Safety Car for a set of fresh tires. When he exited the pit lane, Ricciardo had moved to sixth place. In the race’s final few chaotic laps, the Aussie made a series of brilliant overtakes that deserve a chapter in the history books.
In just 8 laps, Ricciardo overtook 5 cars. As he approached lap 45, the Red Bull driver pulled off an amazing hat trick move where he overtook Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, and Valtteri Bottas in consecutive moves, finishing off with a dive bomb and slicing his way through the field as he reached for the chequered flag.
The sensational victory at the Shanghai Grand Prix was one of the most spectacular and thrilling battles seen in modern-day racing on Formula 1 tracks. The Honey Badger truly lived up to his nickname that day, and as expected of him, Ricciardo topped off his podium win with an iconic Shoey.
Drive to Survive Season 7, which premieres on 7 March, will bid adieu to its golden boy, Daniel Ricciardo, who took his leave from F1 in September 2024.
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