F1 expert claims 2023 season was 'devastating' for Formula 1

Verstappen en FIA-president met wereldbeker — Photo: © IMAGO

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F1 expert claims 2023 season was 'devastating' for Formula 1

The expert believes the sport may need to turn a new page

Tyler Rowlinson

Thursday 1 February 2024 09:12

F1 business expert Mark Gallagher has labelled the 2023 season as ‘devastating’ for the sport, as he believes Netflix gives a misleading view of Max Verstappen and Red Bull’s dominance.

Drive to Survive has been an incredible success for F1 since it first aired in 2019, offering fans an all-new perspective into key personnel off the track and bringing a new audience to the sport.

In recent years, Verstappen has completely dominated F1 with three consecutive world titles since 2021 and winning 19 out of a possible 22 races last season – with Red Bull winning all but one grand prix.

Drive to Survive has been a monumental success for F1

Max Verstappen has dominated the sport in recent years

Gallagher: Drive to Survive 'democratises' F1

Appearing on the Flat Chat podcast, the former Jordan, Jaguar, Red Bull and Cosworth man Gallagher says that the Netflix series ‘democratises’ the sport by covering all 10 teams and 20 drivers equally across different episodes.

This, in his view, frustrates potential new fans when they tune in to watch the races and see one driver and team dominating, describing the 2023 season as ‘devastating’ for F1’s new supporters.

“I think [2023 was] quite devastating for Formula 1,” he said.

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“Brilliant for Red Bull, but devastating for Formula 1 because here we are [reflecting] on Max’s 19th grand prix [win] of the season.

F1 expert Mark Gallagher believes Netflix gives a misleading view on the sport

“And all of a sudden, those records that we used to talk about from McLaren, winning 15 out of 16 races in 1988, has just all completely been blown away.

“Fans around the periphery, fans who have been initially switched on to Formula 1, for those fans to then be converted into diehard, that’s the next step and it’s challenging.

“There have been a few commentators – even in America – talking about the fact that Formula 1 has built this crescendo, but there’s now a threat hanging over it because the dyed-in-the-wool fans, the fanbase who really understand Formula 1 and have followed it for years and years and years will stick with it through thick and thin.

“Whereas the more transitory fans who have come into perhaps in the last two years may just suddenly now start to find that it isn’t compelling enough to make them want to watch all the races and indeed, in this case, turn up to Miami, Austin, Las Vegas and actually buy some tickets.”

Red Bull Max Verstappen Drive to Survive Eddie Jordan