Netflix’s “F1: Drive to Survive” is an instant classic ( I loved S1 and S2 which just came out is even better). It follows a Formula One season from start to finish with unprecedented access to the teams. Liberty (the new-ish owners of F1) pulled off a coup here because I’ve seen it make instant fans of F1 racing from people who had never cared before and it captures the drama, passion and heart break of F1 racing.
Where the show really shines is as a lesson on management and team building. From the massively resourced, precise and unyielding Mercedes to the ruthless Red Bull to the downright quirky Haas racing. Every episode also shows you a situation which happens in corporate America all the time - a new employee who isn’t working out, two team mates not getting along, a manager pushing their reports because he/she is worried about their own job (Haas again!).
My wife and I wind up discussing every episode in length. Should that team principal have yelled at the driver or maybe the driver was lacking the right support structure? Gasly being a bad culture fit for Red Bull but a great fit elsewhere. And we admired little moments like Toto Wolff’s unyielding demeanor or the Red Bull PR person shutting down a personal interview and protecting their driver.
Highly recommended.
