F1: Verstappen will approve his portrayal in Drive to Survive
The next season of Formula 1’s Drive to Survive is currently being filmed and will be broadcast early next year.
Max Verstappen will return to the Netflix series after previously refusing to be in it.
However, after seeing just how huge the show is and what it can do to a driver’s popularity with fans, Verstappen has finally had a change of heart.
He recently had a meeting of the minds with the production team behind the popular Netflix series to discuss his appearance in future episodes, and has agreed to be interviewed for the current season, to be aired in 2023.
“It was actually a very good quick little chat, and we will try to improve from there, so you can have a bit more say in how you are going to be portrayed instead of giving an interview and not knowing what is going to be done with it and the way they put it into the show,” Verstappen said.
“All I’m asking for, you know, is that it’s just more realistic, at least from my side.
“I cannot control of course, what they do with other drivers, but at least I want to be in control with what I’m releasing and that’s what we’re going to do.
“I understand they want me in it, but it needs to be more on my terms.”
“I also understand that Netflix really helped a lot for the popularity, especially in the US [actually it is the #1 Netflix show in 33 countries] and I don’t mind playing a role in that, but of course, it needs to be good for the both of us,” he added.
“I also understand for people watching it [Drive To Survive] that they want more people in it and a bit more of a personal story, but of course, in the way I want to be seen.
“I’m not a big fan of being in the foreground anyway.”
As part of the arrangement, Verstappen will have the ability to preview his content, prior to it making the final cut.
“I think that’s how it should be like,” he reasoned.
“You need to be able to say, well, sorry, guys, I don’t really think that makes me look good.
“Sometimes, you know, you don’t even know that there is a camera around or someone is walking behind you, and they can use that.
“So let’s see what comes out of it and how much is going to be in it.”