‘Drive to Survive’ Lost Its Hero With Daniel Ricciardo, but Season 8 May Have the Next Best Thing: “Not scared to screw each other over”

There is a lot to unpack in Drive to Survive. Be it the show’s meticulous approach to fabricating storylines for its own benefit or defending said storylines in a righteously indignant manner, the Netflix docu-series offers an unusual way of looking at the same race from very different perspectives. But the one constant that both Netflix and critics could agree on was everyone’s favorite Aussie: Daniel Ricciardo.

However, now that the Honey Badger has retired, there exists a huge chasm in the space that he once used to fill with his brimming confidence and infectious laughter. While it will be difficult for Drive to Survive to find a fitting replacement within the current lineup of F1 drivers, the series can make a full 180° turn and go for the ultimate villain to fill the vacancy left by the ultimate hero.

Drive to Survive may have found a worthy replacement

As ridiculous as Drive to Survive can be with its fake rivalries, misleading videos, and annoying insinuations, the series has served its true purpose by making Formula 1 into one of the most-watched, globally famous sports. A large part of that transformation can be rightfully credited to Daniel Ricciardo whose status as the show’s golden hero made the fans immediately fall in love with the driver, the show, and ultimately, the sport.

In his stead, Netflix may have found the right man who is just as captivating on-screen as he is famous. Flavio Briatore is as flamboyant as a celebrity can get. With a reputation that even the most hardcore partygoer will be intimidated by, Briatore was famous in the ’90s for his sensational lifestyle involving supermodels, scandals, and an on-again, off-again relationship with Naomi Campbell.

Once known as the kingmaker, Briatore was behind the rise of some of the greatest racers in Formula 1 history. He helped the likes of Michael Schumacher win the World Drivers’ Championship titles during his illustrious tenure in the sport.

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However, Briatore’s fall was as great as the height of his popularity. Accused of fixing a race, the former Renault team principal was banned indefinitely from Formula 1 until a court overturned the ruling in 2010. After a lengthy hiatus, he has now returned as the executive advisor to Alpine. Although controversial, he is as flamboyant and outrageously outspoken as ever and makes Ricciardo’s absence hardly felt due to his own scandalous presence.

Drive to Survive Season 8 will be a feast for the eyes

In Drive to Survive Season 7, which documents the races and behind-the-scenes happenings of the 2024 Grand Prix season, Flavio Briatore shoots his mouth off about his authority within Alpine, and his directness, although hurtful, is refreshing to see for once.

For the Netflix series, Briatore is nothing short of a blessing in disguise as he enters at just the right moment and comfortably slips into the role of the new villain just as Daniel Ricciardo and Guenther Steiner make their sad exits.

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Paul Martin, the co-founder of Box To Box Films, the production company behind Formula 1: Drive to Survive, has perfectly encapsulated what Flavio Briatore’s arrival means for the series. Speaking to The New York Times, he said:

Despite already making some headway with the team in 2024, Flavio Briatore’s role will be more inclusive and better documented going into the 2025 season. Daniel Ricciardo may be completely absent in Drive to Survive Season 8 but Briatore may just be the next best thing to happen to the series.

Drive to Survive Season 7 is now streaming on Netflix.

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