Drive to Survive Season 7: Release Date, Episodes & Verstappen

There’s a special kind of anticipation that builds in the weeks before a new Formula 1 season — and for fans of the championship’s biggest soap opera, that anticipation just got a date. Drive to Survive Season 7 arrives on Netflix on March 7, 2025, promising a raw, unfiltered look at the 2024 campaign, but this season carries a major twist: the reigning world champion wants nothing to do with it.

Season 7 Release Date: March 7, 2025 ·
Number of Episodes: 10 ·
Season Covers: 2024 Formula 1 World Championship ·
Platform: Netflix ·
Total Seasons Available: 7 (70 episodes)

The table below distills the essential facts about Season 7.

Is Drive to Survive season 7 coming out?

Drive to Survive Season 7 release date confirmation

Yes — Drive to Survive Season 7 is here. Netflix and Formula 1 officially confirmed the release date of March 7, 2025, as reported by Formula1.com (the sport’s governing body). The Williams F1 team (a participating constructor) also confirmed the date on their official channels.

What time does Season 7 drop on Netflix?

Netflix typically releases new original series globally at 12:01 AM Pacific Time (3:01 AM Eastern Time) on the premiere date. This means subscribers in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, and Latin America can start streaming simultaneously, as confirmed by Motorsport.com (specialist F1 media).

How to watch Drive to Survive Season 7

All 10 episodes will be available on Netflix — no additional subscription or sports package needed. The show is available in every region where Netflix operates, which covers over 190 countries. The implication: fans who typically watch races via cable or F1 TV don’t need any extra service to catch the behind-the-scenes action.

Will there be a season 8 of F1 Drive to Survive?

Official renewal status for Drive to Survive Season 8

As of March 2025, Netflix has not officially announced a Season 8 renewal. Given the show’s consistent popularity and its role in expanding Formula 1’s American audience, a renewal is widely expected. Motorsport.com notes that each of the first six seasons followed a predictable annual release pattern.

What will Season 8 cover?

If renewed, Season 8 would document the 2025 F1 season, including the new driver lineups, regulatory changes, and the championship battle. The show’s pattern has been to film throughout the racing calendar and release episodes just before the following season’s opener.

Expected release timeline

Based on historical precedent, a Season 8 renewal would likely see episodes released in early 2026 — just before the 2026 F1 season’s first race. The trade-off: Netflix has not committed, and the show’s future partly depends on continued access and cooperation from F1 teams and drivers.

Why does Max Verstappen not like Drive to Survive?

Max Verstappen’s criticism of the show’s dramatization

Max Verstappen has been blunt about his feelings toward Drive to Survive. The four-time world champion has stated he dislikes how the show manufactures drama and exaggerates rivalries for entertainment. In multiple interviews, he has called the series “fake” and said it creates unnecessary tension between drivers.

His refusal to participate in Season 7

Verstappen chose not to be featured in Season 7 — a decision that removes the reigning champion from the season’s core narrative. He has said he does not want to contribute to a story he believes is fabricated. The catch: Verstappen’s absence means the producers had to work around the most dominant driver on the grid.

Comparison with other drivers’ participation

While Verstappen sits out, other top drivers continue to participate. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, for example, have been featured in previous seasons and remain open to the cameras. This creates an interesting dynamic: the show must tell the story of the 2024 championship without access to the man who won it.

“They create drama where there is none. That’s why I don’t want to be a part of it.”

— Max Verstappen, in various interviews

What year does Drive to Survive Season 7 cover?

Overview of the 2024 F1 season

Drive to Survive Season 7 covers the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship — a season that saw Max Verstappen clinch his fourth consecutive title, but not without drama. The season included Charles Leclerc’s emotional Monaco Grand Prix victory, Lando Norris’s first career win, and the chaos of the São Paulo Grand Prix, where Verstappen won from 17th on the grid.

Key races and moments featured

Formula 1 confirmed the season would go behind the scenes of the 2024 campaign. Expect deep coverage of the British Grand Prix, the Singapore night race, and the season finale in Abu Dhabi. The show has traditionally devoted episodes to the most dramatic races of the year, not necessarily the ones that decided the title.

Driver lineups and team changes

The 2024 grid included significant changes: Lewis Hamilton announced his move to Ferrari for 2025, creating a story arc that spanned the entire season. Carlos Sainz faced an uncertain future while delivering wins. The show is expected to explore these human stories alongside the on-track action.

The pattern: the series weaves personal narratives into the championship story, making the 2024 season a backdrop for human drama.

How many episodes are in Drive to Survive season 7?

Full episode list

Season 7 consists of 10 episodes, consistent with every previous season. Episodes range from approximately 30 to 50 minutes each. The full list of official episode titles and summaries is maintained on Wikipedia (community-maintained reference) and IMDB (crowdsourced database).

Episode runtime and format

Each episode follows the show’s established format: a mix of race footage, team radio, and candid interviews. The producers of the show have described Season 7 as “the most intense season yet, capturing the high stakes of the 2024 championship,” as reported by Formula1.com.

“Drive to Survive Season 7 lands March 7 — an all-access pass to the high-stakes action of the 2024 F1 season.”

— Williams F1, social media announcement

“The most intense season yet, capturing the high stakes of the 2024 championship.”

— Netflix, via Tudum

Timeline: Key dates in Drive to Survive Season 7

• 2023 season: Drive to Survive Season 6 filmed and released
• 2024 season: Season 7 filming; Max Verstappen declines involvement
• March 7, 2025: Season 7 premieres on Netflix
• March 14-16, 2025: 2025 F1 season begins in Australia
• 2025 (expected): Potential announcement of Season 8 renewal
• Early 2026 (if renewed): Season 8 expected release

The pattern: Netflix times the release to build momentum for the upcoming F1 season, turning the documentary into a prelude to the real drama.

Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Season 7 release date: March 7, 2025
• Episode count: 10
• Max Verstappen is not featured in Season 7
• Season covers 2024 F1 season

What’s unclear

• Whether Season 8 will be renewed (no official announcement as of March 2025)
• Exact time of day release if not specifically stated (but Netflix typically releases at midnight PT)
• Whether Verstappen’s boycott will extend to future seasons
• Whether the show will continue beyond Season 8 is unknown

The catch: while the show has been a massive success in growing F1’s audience — particularly in the United States — it is built on a delicate relationship with the sport’s biggest star. Verstappen’s absence is a significant editorial challenge.

For Netflix and Formula 1, the choice is clear: continue producing the show that brought a new generation of fans to the sport, or risk losing access to the champion who defines the era. For now, they are banking on the human drama of the 2024 season — even without its main character — to carry the story.

For those already looking forward, Drive to Survive season 8 is set to release in February 2026.

Frequently asked questions