For Netflix, there has been no recent project that has been as successful as Drive to Survive. The Formula 1 documentary gives the audience a perfect combination of facts and drama, making it a highly intense viewing experience for the audience. Amid it all, 20 drivers play with life and death under grueling conditions to rise to the very top of the sport.
Such intense competition is not born out of mere competitiveness and rivalry. The honor of their names being recorded in history matters more than simply winning a Grand Prix. As such, each racer gives their 100% once they get on the tracks until getting blindsided by life as did Daniel Ricciardo with Red Bull.
Daniel Ricciardo missed his shot at Red Bull again
![Red Bull driver Sergio Pérez in Drive to Survive Season 5 Episode "Hot Seat" [Credit Netflix]](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/12112519/Red-Bull-driver-Sergio-Perez-in-Drive-to-Survive-Season-5-Episode-22Hot-Seat22-Credit-Netflix-2-1024x576.jpg "“We know what he’s capable of”: ‘Drive to Survive’ Season 8 Could’ve Featured Daniel Ricciardo but Netflix Revealed What Went Wrong 2")
In 2023, Red Bull stunned the world by making every other car engine pale in comparison. Max Verstappen took more wins and earned more points in a single season than any other racing driver in F1 history. There was simply no stopping him, and every driver and team principal on the grid knew it, too.
As a former teammate of Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo was quite familiar with the Red Bull driver’s cutthroat mentality and high degree of performance. However, the same was not the case with Verstappen’s then teammate, Sergio Pérez. The Mexican driver delivered an all-time low performance by winning only 2 races compared to Verstappen’s 19.
As such, there was a high probability for Daniel Ricciardo to replace Pérez at Red Bull moving forward. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner had his eyes pinned on Ricciardo to deliver some results while driving for their sister team, VCARB. The British Grand Prix was set to be the deciding factor for the Aussie’s promotion. But, this is where it all went wrong.
The drama at the Silverstone circuit in the British GP
With Sergio Pérez’s performance constantly spiraling downward, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner began to consider other options for the post-summer break season. He was set on swapping out Checo’s seat as he was heard saying in one episode of Drive to Survive: “If we carry on like this, we’re f***ed” (via Crash).
With the World Constructors’ Championship title at stake, Horner was not ready to take any chances. It was then that he decided to begin looking for other drivers, including Verstappen’s former Red Bull teammate, Daniel Ricciardo.
What are we gonna do with our Mexican? I’m starting to think it’s diminishing returns. This weekend, we have to look very carefully at the other drivers.
I’m a big fan of Daniel. He’s not been competitive, but we know what he’s capable of. I think he can sniff that there’s a bit of a chance.
Meanwhile, at a briefing with Red Bull’s head of communications, Paul Smith, Ricciardo was instructed on what he needed to do to earn back his Red Bull seat. Smith iterated, “So for you, I think Christian’s taking the time to see what happens here [at the British GP and beyond], he needs success.”
As such, the Aussie was keen on delivering the results expected of him at Silverstone, but a race hardly ever goes as planned, and he ended only 2 places higher than where he started at 13th. Ricciardo not only flunked his Red Bull test but also that of VCARB. With only 6 races to go, he was dropped by Red Bull for good as Liam Lawson moved to take his seat.
Drive to Survive Season 7 is now streaming on Netflix.
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