Netflix confirms ‘Drive to Survive’ Season 8 release date

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Netflix has officially locked in the return of one of its most influential shows, confirming that F1's Drive to Survive will be back next month.

Season 8 of the popular docuseries will premiere globally on February 27, bringing fans an all-access look at a 2025 campaign that delivered shock, controversy and title drama in equal measure.

The series will chronicle a year many inside the paddock are already calling one of the most chaotic in recent memory. With a Drivers’ championship decided at the wire and power structures shaken at the top of the grid, the latest installment promises no shortage of headline-grabbing storylines.

A Season Packed with Shock and Drama

At the heart of the new season will be the stunning mid-summer dismissal of Christian Horner from his dual role as Red Bull team principal and CEO – a move that sent shockwaves through Formula 1 and reshaped the competitive landscape overnight.

The fallout inside Milton Keynes, and its impact on the team’s title defence, is expected to be a central narrative thread.

Equally compelling will be the championship battle itself. The 2025 season went down to the final race in Abu Dhabi, where Max Verstappen’s late surge ultimately fell short, as Lando Norris claimed the drivers’ crown by just two points.

Netflix cameras were embedded throughout the year, capturing the pressure, momentum swings and emotional toll of a title fight that remained unresolved until the very last laps.

Fans can also expect unprecedented access to Lewis Hamilton’s difficult first season in Ferrari red.

Marketed as a dream move when it was announced, Hamilton’s transition quickly turned turbulent, and Season 8 is set to explore the challenges, frustrations and internal dynamics behind a campaign that never found its rhythm.

Read also: Apple takes over F1 broadcast rights in the U.S. from 2026

Beyond the established stars, the new season will shine a spotlight on Formula 1’s next generation.

Viewers will follow the contrasting rookie journeys of Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes, Isack Hadjar’s road to redemption, Ollie Bearman’s breakout performances, and Jack Doohan’s struggles under the sport’s unforgiving spotlight – both on race weekends and behind the scenes.

While Netflix has yet to release episode titles or a full breakdown, anticipation for Season 8 is already sky-high. As fans relive the drama of 2025 through Drive to Survive, the sport itself will already be moving on, with 2026 set to begin shortly with a closed test in Barcelona before pre-season running in Bahrain.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.