Christian Horner expects Netflix to "lift the lid" of title "intensity"

Red Bull

Horner expects Netflix to "lift the lid" of title "intensity"

The new series launched during day two of pre-season testing

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Saturday 12 March 2022 09:00

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes the new series of Netflix documentary series Drive to Survive will "lift the lid" on the intensity of an F1 title fight.

The battle between Red Bull and Mercedes drivers Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, as well as Horner and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff's own off-track battle, was one of the most turbulent in the sport's history.

The fly-on-the-wall series paints even more colour into a picture already made clear during live broadcasts throughout last season as tension spilled over between both camps.

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Asked if the series provided a fair reflection of the toxic nature of the battle, Horner replied: "Obviously, last year was a hugely intense series.

"A documentary series like Drive to Survive, at the end of the day, is a television show so is going to end up taking snippets from a season-long battle and turn that into a television programme.

"Of course, the effect of that has been a dramatic uptake in the following of Formula 1.

"But one has to remember, it is designed ultimately to entertain. So of course, elements are taken from it, sometimes that aren't from the race even in question."

Wolff the headset-breaker - Horner

Making a jibe at Wolff's fiery reactions to moments throughout the season, Horner added: "It was an intense battle with Mercedes last year.

"You can see that via the number of headsets Toto went through over the course of the season which was unprecedented."

Horner then added: "There is a fierce rivalry between the teams and that is sport, that is competition.

"This documentary lifts the lid a little bit on the intensity and the pressures of Formula 1.

"I haven't seen it in its entirety but I am sure there will be plenty of drama and action in there and that is what we had throughout last year, from the first race here [Bahrain] to the last race in Abu Dhabi."