From Hamilton’s shock switch to Red Bull’s musical chairs – 5 standout moments in Season 7 of Drive to Survive

Following on from the spectacular F1 75 Live launch event and three days of testing in Bahrain, fans have another reason to celebrate this week as Drive to Survive returns to our screens on Netflix. Having watched all 10 episodes that make up Season 7, we present five particularly absorbing moments…

Hamilton’s Ferrari bombshell

Where else is there to start than Hamilton’s pre-season announcement that he would be leaving long-time employers Mercedes to start a new chapter at Ferrari from 2025 onwards?

READ MORE: Inside Hamilton’s pre-season testing – and what it could mean for Ferrari’s hopes

Unsurprisingly, the news is covered early in Episode 1, with Netflix in the room when Hamilton and Toto Wolff reconvene at Mercedes’ car launch – capturing the team boss’ joke about a dash of red being featured on their 2024 livery.

Some raw comments from Wolff are then weaved in, such as his questions over the timing of Hamilton’s move, while a scene in Episode 3 sees him run through potential driver options with wife and F1 ACADEMY Managing Director Susie.

When Max Verstappen’s name comes up (amongst others such as Fernando Alonso and ousted Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz), Wolff comments: “I haven’t talked to him, because I promised Lewis not to talk to him, but I will have the conversation now.”

Ultimately, of course, the seat goes to Mercedes protégé Kimi Antonelli, with the teenager’s delight – and that of his family – caught on camera when he is informed.

Sainz ponders his F1 future

Off the back of Hamilton’s news, the series goes to the heart of Sainz’s painstaking search for another F1 team – the Spaniard looking up and down the grid to seek out the best option.

F1 STORE: Check out Drive to Survive merchandise here

Williams appear to be in pole position to land Sainz’s signature in the appropriately titled Episode 4, ‘Carlos Signs’, only for there to be a delay to proceedings. When asked why this is the case in the now famous Netflix chair, Sainz states: “Because Flavio [Briatore] called me.”

But amid that late interest from Alpine, as well as Kick Sauber, Williams Team Principal James Vowles’ persistent efforts to tempt Sainz in – “I wake up and go to sleep thinking of nothing else” – pay off in the end, with chilled champagne ready to go as contracts are drawn up.

When the episode reaches its conclusion, Sainz, his manager and cousin Carlos Oñoro and Vowles meet in a hotel room to put pen to paper and make it official, with the multiple race winner declaring that he is “totally convinced” the move will pay off.

Leclerc’s Monaco ‘curse’

Episode 5, or ‘Le Curse of Leclerc’, begins with the man himself picking up a few items at a Monegasque supermarket – until his card is declined. “Insufficient funds… on Netflix,” he rues with a chuckle.

Given his scarcely believable run of misfortune on home soil over the years, an emotional episode develops as Leclerc lets the cameras in for the weekend and ultimately secures the trophy he has been craving for so long.

READ MORE: Leclerc says previous heartache in Monaco made 2024 success ‘even better’

There are tender moments involving friends and family throughout, including a pre-race haircut from his mother, while Leclerc takes a moment to reflect on the role his late father played in helping him reach F1.

Viewers also get a glimpse into the 24/7 attention on drivers, particularly at a home race, when Leclerc is out for a walk with his partner and dog and can barely move a few metres before being stopped.

It all comes together with a magical drive to victory on Sunday and some final, heartfelt words. “I definitely did not only realise my dream, but my father’s dream,” Leclerc says. “He’s probably celebrating it from above.”

Drivers take over in Singapore

In addition to capturing the highs and lows of another F1 season, Drive to Survive offers something a little bit different this year thanks to Episode 7, which follows a group of drivers at the Singapore Grand Prix.

Leclerc, Lando Norris, George Russell, Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly were all given Netflix phones for the weekend – their clips ranging from what they had for breakfast to amusing conversations with fans on the way into the circuit.

INSIGHT: How F1 TV’s ever-evolving presenter, pundit and production team take fans to the heart of the action

There’s also the revelation that Russell travels with his own pillow and duvet to get that perfect sleep in wherever he is in the world, while Albon has some fun watching a window cleaner work his way along a nearby hotel…

In what is an intense and fiercely competitive world, the episode offers a welcome, personal look at what drivers experience at and away from the track.

The race for a Red Bull drive

Another huge talking point in the paddock last season was Red Bull’s roster of drivers – both at the senior team and their sister RB (now Racing Bulls) squad.

Episode 8 dives into a complicated web of stories that involves Sergio Perez’s dipping form, Daniel Ricciardo’s quest to make a “dream” Red Bull comeback, and Liam Lawson’s push to turn his super-sub outings into a permanent drive.

EXCLUSIVE: ‘He embraced the series’ – How ‘charismatic’ Ricciardo took on a starring role in Drive To Survive

With Ricciardo going from a possible Red Bull seat to none at all in a matter of races, he thoughtfully opens up to the cameras. “Maybe I ask the question now,” the Australian says, prompting Netflix to ask, “What is the question?” Ricciardo adds: “I don’t know if I want to say it, because it’s too vulnerable… ultimately, is it worth the risk?”

Lawson is then followed at a private Silverstone test, where he posts a time around two-tenths slower than Verstappen’s benchmark, and later takes Ricciardo’s place at RB, before doing enough over the final flyaway races to claim Perez’s Red Bull cockpit for 2025.

A whole host of feelings are documented as Ricciardo and Perez reflect on their lengthy Grand Prix careers and Lawson previews the golden opportunity ahead.

The new series of Drive to Survive is available to watch on Netflix from March 7, one week ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 14-16. Click here to view every episode.

DISCOVER MORE...

FP2: Piastri leads Norris as McLaren dominate second practice in Bahrain

F1 EXPLAINS: Ask an F1 Team Principal with Williams boss James Vowles

NEED TO KNOW: The most important facts, stats and trivia ahead of the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix

BETTING GUIDE: Who are the favourites as F1 heads to Bahrain?

EXCLUSIVE: Perez reveals talks with ‘a few’ teams as he hints at possible F1 return