Max Verstappen slates Netflix for making Lando Norris “look a bit of a dick”

Verstappen, Norris and Perez in Bahrain — Photo: © LAT Images

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Verstappen slates Netflix for making Norris “look a bit of a dick”

Verstappen refused to take part in the most recent series of Drive to Survive

Sam Hall & Ian Parkes

Friday 25 March 2022 13:45

Max Verstappen has taken another shot at Netflix after claiming the latest series of 'Drive to Survive' has erroneously made Lando Norris appear as "a bit of a dick".

Numerous drivers have spoken out in recent weeks about the false rivalries shown in the series, with reigning F1 champion Verstappen leading the criticism.

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has promised to speak to the drivers and Netflix in the coming weeks to address these concerns.

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After refusing to take part in filming last year, Verstappen explained the recently released fourth season had only added to his dislike, notably with its portrayal of Lando Norris.

"For me, personally, what I didn't like - it's not even about me - it's about Lando and Daniel [Ricciardo] who are two great guys, they are really nice, but they made it look like Lando was a bit of a dick which he isn't at all," explained Verstappen.

"I know Lando and I think many people know Lando as a great guy, a funny guy.

"He has a great character and actually when you look at that episode you think 'Who is this guy? What the hell is going on?'.

"When you are new to the sport and you have never seen a Formula 1 car or a racing car in general, they don't like him and why should that be?

"He is a great guy and you just immediately get the wrong picture of a person and that is exactly what I think happened to me in the beginning.

"I am someone when you ruin it from the start, you don't fix it. That is it. You've ruined it."

Adding that he is "always happy to talk" with Domenicali on how to move forward with Netflix, Verstappen revealed his surprise at hearing his voice in the current season.

"I watched a few episodes of the last one and I was surprised I suddenly found myself talking in it," he added.

"It was probably stuff from 2018 or something that they had picked up and used again about fighting and what I like to do.

"That already, of course, is not correct. I could hear my voice was a bit different."

'Drive to Survive' morphing into Kardashian drama

Although appreciative of the original intent of 'Drive to Survive' to increase F1's popularity, there are now concerns the product produced by streaming service does not reflect the reality of the sport.

"I'm sure we will talk about it with Stefano but at the moment I'm not really interested to take part in it," insisted Verstappen. "It's also just taking more time. We are already doing so many things.

"I saw the benefit initially, to get more popularity, but for me now I think we have reached a stage where it is a bit more like 'Keeping up with the Formula 1 world' if you get my reference [there is a series called 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians'].

"It is better just to make a season review by F1 itself, that is far nicer to look at."