Formula 1: Drive to Survive - Season 5 release date announced for hit Netflix show

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Formula 1 Drive to Survive
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Formula 1's popularity has surged in recent years with the Netflix documentary series 'Drive to Survive' playing a large part in the sport's rise. 

The show provides behind-the-scenes coverage throughout an F1 season with interviews involving the drivers and team bosses along with actual footage of races.

First released in March 2019, Drive to Survive aired its fourth season in 2022. 

Now, a release date for the latest installment - Season 5 - has been announced.

When does Season 5 of Drive to Survive come out?

It is confirmed that the fifth season of Formula 1: Drive to Survive will be released on Netflix on February 24, 2023.

Watch the Season 5 trailer below:

The season will delve into the on and off-track drama involved in F1 during 2022, as teams and drivers navigate a significant change to the car regulations.

Will Drive to Survive have another season?

Both Netflix and Formula 1 confirmed last year that Drive to Survive had been renewed for a fifth and sixth season. 

Filming for season six is set to begin when the 2023 F1 season begins in March.

Every season of Drive to Survive to date has included 10 episodes ranging in length from 27 to 51 minutes. 

Why do some F1 racers not like Drive to Survive?

While Drive to Survive has been enormously popular, with season four rising to number one on Netflix in over 30 countries, some of those at the centre of the show aren't big fans of the production. 

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen has opted to take a step back from the show in recent seasons and slammed its overdramatisation of F1. 

However, he will be featured in the fifth season.

Speaking to the BBC about season four in March 2022, Verstappen said: “I watched two episodes, but I was not very impressed. It’s just not my thing, faking rivalries.

"At one point [it helps to bring in audience] but that effect also runs out. I think we're beyond that stage now and it's more like a reality show in my opinion.

"Plus it takes way too much time anyway. I need to focus on the racing and have private time and not spend another half an hour at the race weekend when they need to talk to you."

Could Drive to Survive adopt a new style?

F1 boss Stefano Domenicali has admitted Netflix needs to review how it portrays the sport moving forward. 

"In order to ignite the interest of a new audience, a tone was used that in some ways focused on dramatising the story,” Domenicali said earlier this year. 

"It’s an opportunity, but I think it needs to be understood. We talked about it...at a meeting with the teams as well.

"A driver who refuses to participate because he feels he is not being represented in the right way is not being constructive; so a dialogue is needed to understand how he can be included in a format that he feels is correct.

"We will also talk to Netflix, because it is necessary that the story does not move away from reality, otherwise it no longer fits.”

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Joshua Thomas Photo

Josh is a content producer for The Sporting News Australia.