F1 2026 Drama Is Coming to Netflix: Drive to Survive Season 9 Confirmed

Netflix has confirmed that Formula 1: Drive to Survive will return for a ninth season, with the upcoming instalment set to chronicle the 2026 Formula 1 campaign. The announcement comes as the sport heads towards the final stages of a season shaped by one of the biggest regulatory overhauls in recent F1 history. Season 9 will once again take viewers behind the scenes, offering access to drivers, teams and key figures away from the circuit. The series is expected to arrive in 2027, continuing a run that has significantly expanded Formula 1's global audience since its debut.

Drive to Survive Season 9 confirmed for 2027

Netflix has officially renewed Drive to Survive for a ninth season, with the new series set to focus on the 2026 F1 season.

Produced by Box to Box Films, the documentary series has followed the drivers and teams throughout the championship since its launch in 2019. Its combination of race footage, paddock access and interviews has helped bring Formula 1 to audiences beyond its traditional fanbase.

The series has also remained a divisive subject among long-time F1 followers, particularly over its portrayal of rivalries and events. Nevertheless, its impact on the sport's popularity has been substantial, with the show credited with helping attract a younger and more international audience.

2026 F1 season provides plenty of storylines

The ninth season will have no shortage of material to work with.

The 2026 campaign introduced sweeping technical and regulatory changes, creating a markedly different competitive landscape across the grid. Kimi Antonelli has established himself as the championship leader, but the fight behind him has intensified as the season has progressed.

Ferrari and Mercedes remain central to the title picture, while Lando Norris and McLaren have emerged as an increasingly significant threat.

Norris has won consecutive Grands Prix in Hungary and the Netherlands, strengthening his championship challenge and giving McLaren renewed momentum. The team's MCL40 has also shown signs of returning to the competitive level it displayed during its dominant run last season.

Those developments are likely to provide significant material for the new *Drive to Survive* season, particularly as the championship enters its decisive phase.

Drive to Survive promises greater F1 access

James Gay-Rees and Paul Martin, executive producers at Box to Box, confirmed that the production team is returning with an ambition to take viewers further inside the sport.

"We're so excited to be making Season 9 of this iconic show. This year we're going to go deeper than ever before into the hidden spaces of this fantastic sport," they said.

The promise of greater behind-the-scenes access could make the 2026 season particularly compelling given the scale of change across Formula 1.

When will Drive to Survive Season 9 be released?

Netflix has not announced an official release date for Drive to Survive Season 9.

However, the series has traditionally been released shortly before the start of a new F1 season. If that pattern continues, Season 9 is expected to arrive in early 2027, ahead of the 2027 Formula 1 campaign.

The new season will give fans an opportunity to revisit the defining rivalries, controversies and championship battles of the 2026 season from behind the scenes.