Ricciardo against F1 voyeurism for crashes and fake clashes

You may have noticed this if you subscribe to the Formula 1 on social networks. The sport has changed its strategy since its acquisition by Liberty Media in 2017. Since then, it has been about giving a facelift to a discipline often considered elitist and known only by experts. In other words, F1 is opening up to a new audience.

This involves new means of distribution, including the popular series “F1, Pilots of their destiny” (Drive to survive in English) on the Netflix platform since spring 2019, or an increased presence on YouTube. This strategy does not only have good aspects according to one of the actors of this new wind, Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren).

The Australian pilot, established as the protagonist of the series from the first episode focused on the start of the 2018 season, noted a change in the strategy of this series. « I think the first season of Drive To Survive was awesome, he explains at Square Mile magazine. I spent some time in the United States, and that was the first time I started to get recognized and people referenced that TV series. It did a lot of good for us and the sport. »

Things got worse in season 2, a year later. “There were episodes or parts where I have the impression that they pushed the line a little. They tried to create a little rivalry between me and Carlos Sainz Jr when that wasn’t really the case. For example, he is no more a rival to me than anyone else.

There were no personal hard feelings with him, but I think [Netflix] wanted something, so a lot of the questions were focused on Carlos. Maybe no one noticed, but for me Carlos was no problem. I probably have other guys that I don't like, you know, as opposed to Carlos... I mean, he dresses like a 60 year old, but otherwise it's all good. »

Another strategy that irritates the new McLaren recruit is F1's penchant for bragging about accidents. In the fall of 2020, former representative Red Bull et Renault had sharply criticized the attitude of the TV production of the Bahrain Grand Prix, who had favored the multiple slow motions of the accident Romain Grosjean.

“I think last year F1 put out on their social media, 'top 10 moments of the year' or something, and eight out of ten footage showed crashes. I thought, “You guys are fucking idiots.” Maybe 12 year olds want to see this kind of content, and it's cool because they don't know anything else about F1, but we're not kids anymore. Do better, guys. Do better than that. »