Sergio Perez defends 'Drive to Survive' after Max Verstappen snub

Verstappen and Perez posing in front of Turkish GP livery — Photo: © LAT Images

United States Grand Prix

Perez defends 'Drive to Survive' after Verstappen snub

Drive to Survive will air its fourth season next year

Ian Parkes & Sam Hall

Thursday 21 October 2021 23:11 Updated: 23:21

Sergio Perez has leapt to the defence of Netflix docu-series 'Drive to Survive' after Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen's slating and snub of the series.

Ahead of this weekend's United States Grand Prix, Verstappen revealed he had chosen not to take part in the popular programme this year as “they [Netflix] would fake a lot of stuff.”

Speaking to the Associated Press, he explained: “They faked a few rivalries which don’t really exist, so I decided to not be a part of it and did not give any more interviews after that because then there is nothing you can show.

"I am not really a dramatic show kind of person, I just want facts and real things to happen.”

Perez was featured heavily in this year's series three episode 'Man on Fire' which largely focused on Romain Grosjean's crash in Bahrain last year.

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The episode was one that drew criticism for overdramatising the Frenchman's fiery accident, stretching the 28 seconds from impact to extraction to over four minutes.

It also drew ire for the blatant staging of a phone call from team principal Christian Horner to Perez wherein the former said 'Welcome to Red Bull' before turning to the camera and announcing the driver for 2021.

Asked his opinion of the series, Perez explained: “First of all, I really respect Drive to Survive because what it has done for Formula 1 is tremendous. It’s really something I appreciate.

"Honestly, at the beginning I didn’t think it was that big or that important for our sport and then secondly, yeah, they probably create some drama.

“The way they sell the sport is a bit of a drama. It is a show but at the end of the day, it is good for the sport and is good for the fans so I am happy with it.”