SILVERSTONE, England: Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen says he is now ready to work with the Netflix docu-series Drive to Survive, having previously avoided it because of the way the protagonists were portrayed .
The Red Bull driver has not worked with producers for the fourth season of the behind-the-scenes show, which premieres this year.
Last season was about Verstappen’s controversial and heated title fight with Mercedes rival and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
In March he said it wasn’t his thing and his stance was unlikely to change, but Netflix and Formula 1 confirmed two more seasons in May and the 24-year-old Dutchman said he was more involved now.
“I just sat with them and explained how I thought about it and what I think went wrong in the past and it was actually a very good quick little chat and we’ll try to improve from there ‘ he told reporters at the British Grand Prix.
He said he would be given more say in how footage is portrayed and used.
“That’s all I ask. It’s just more realistic, at least from my side,” he said.
“Obviously I can’t control what they do to other riders, but at least I want to be in control of what I put out. We will do that.
“Of course I hope it will be good because I also understand that Netflix has really contributed a lot to the popularity, especially in the US and I don’t mind playing a part in that, but it has to be good for both of us.” us.”
In March, Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali said he would speak to Netflix about keeping the narrative rooted in reality.
Drive to Survive has played a key role in attracting new, younger fans to the sport and bringing a surge in popularity to the previously elusive American market.
But it has drawn criticism for crafting rivalries between drivers and placing talk and radio commentary out of context.