There is nothing quite like Drive to Survive to really bring the drama of Formula 1 racing to life. With each season, Netflix's gripping documentary series digs deeper into the fierce rivalries, behind-the-scenes tension, and pulse-pounding moments that make Formula 1 more than just a sport. As the 2024 calendar is coming up, expectations for Season 7 are soaring. 

It is going to be one of the seasons with the fastest laps, and toughest battles off the track, all for the drama and race buckle up because this season is going to be one for the books, and here is why.

For Lewis Hamilton, 2024 marks the end of an era. The seven-time world champion is leaving Silver Arrows after a successful stint that lasted for 12 years. Hamilton and the team mutually agreed to his departure, following their record-breaking partnership. Hamilton's transition to Ferrari for 2025 has dominated the headlines, but his farewell from Mercedes is more than just a contract change.

 Hamilton's departure from Mercedes is a significant chapter in the history of Formula 1. Mercedes is paying homage to his contribution by giving him a farewell tour of key locations, including Malaysia and the factories in Brackley and Brixworth.

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Christian Horner,  the highly influential team principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing found himself in a controversy that potentially threatens to disrupt the team going into the 2024 season. Early in 2024, allegations surfaced in early 2024 from a female employee, accusing Horner of inappropriate and controlling behavior. Red Bull had initially cleared him after an internal investigation. However, things got more complicated when s--ually suggestive messages between Horner and the employee came to light, stirring media and public attention. 

There were calls for his removal, including by those in the F1 fraternity like Jos Verstappen, who had expressed concerns about Horner's leadership during the scandal. While Horner insists the team remains on business as usual, this continues to be far from clear, both in terms of emotions and operations. 

Carlos Sainz's time at Ferrari is coming to an end as the team has confirmed that Lewis Hamilton will replace him in 2025.  Sainz has said nothing negative about the decision, saying such moves are part of the competitive nature of Formula 1. Focused on the 2024 season and aiming for a strong finish with Ferrari, he hinted, "My door will always be open to Ferrari."

With Sainz ending a very successful run with Ferrari after achieving his first F1 victories with the team, all eyes will be on his next career move. Sainz's future remains bright, with options ranging from Audi's Sauber to potential openings at other top teams.

F1 recently turned down Andretti's application to the grid for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, stating that a standalone 11th team would not give enough value to the championship. Though the FIA had okayed Andretti's proposal, Formula One Management took the final decision. FOM insisted that the introduction of a new team must be accompanied by high competitiveness, which, at the moment, Andretti's proposal failed to guarantee. They also asserted that introducing a new team would add operational strain on race promoters and reduce the available space for existing competitors.

But the denial is not final—FOM has left the door open for Andretti's entry in 2028, when General Motors (GM) expects its engine technology to be ready. This timeline hinges on GM's planned entry into F1 as an engine supplier under the Cadillac brand.

The growing tension between Max Verstappen and George Russell is undoubtedly one of the most thrilling rivalries in Formula 1. Recently, at the annual dinner in Abu Dhabi, these two drivers made headlines due to an awkward exchange. When Russell was late, Verstappen waved him over to sit next to him, but Russell chose to sit at a distance, sitting alongside his teammate, Lewis Hamilton. This fueled the ongoing feud between them that has been simmering ever since their tense interaction at the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix.

The conflict increased over the course of the early spring when Russell said that Verstappen was dangerous driving, leading to a penalty for the Red Bull driver. Verstappen, in turn, expressed his thoughts on Russell's actions, claiming to have lost all respect for him. Tensions ran very high in the drivers' parade before the Qatar GP as Verstappen reportedly confronted Russell, still fuming from their previous encounters.

In the 2025 Formula 1 season, several confirmed driver changes are set to shake up the grid, making it a thrilling year ahead. Red Bull retains Max Verstappen and has Sergio Perez on the roster until 2026. Mercedes will have Kimi Antonelli replace Lewis Hamilton. The latter makes a very high-profile move to Ferrari, where he will drive alongside Charles Leclerc, who stays with the team beyond 2025. 

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will stay in McLaren, as will Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll at Aston Martin. Alpine retains Pierre Gasly and promotes Jack Doohan to replace Esteban Ocon. Williams signs Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, replacing Logan Sargeant. The RB team (ex-AlphaTauri) will retain Yuki Tsunoda, although their second driver is not yet announced. 

At the Hungarian Grand Prix, McLaren's Lando Norris became embroiled in a team orders controversy that overshadowed teammate Oscar Piastri's milestone first victory. The drama unfolded when Norris was pitted early, which led to him overtaking Piastri. The team then instructed Norris to relinquish the lead, a process that took over 15 laps of tense radio exchanges. 

While initially, Norris seemed hesitant, he did admit that Piastri had the better race and stated it as the fair thing to do and stepped up. This moment ignites debate on team strategy and, more importantly, shows the growing tensions between individual ambition and loyalty to the team in F1. 

Charles Leclerc's long-awaited Monaco Grand Prix victory in 2024 was a thrilling moment for the Ferrari driver. Despite early chaos with a red flag caused by a massive crash involving Sergio Perez and two Haas drivers, Leclerc kept his composure after the restart. He dominated the race, leading the pack ahead of Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz, to win his first victory on the streets of Monte Carlo.

It was his first Monaco win, but it cemented his place in the sport, making it an iconic moment for Ferrari fans and F1 enthusiasts. Moments such as these along with Netflix: Drive to Survive have made Formula 1 the hot cakes of the US market. And with the 2024 calendar setting the stage for these unforgettable moments, Season 7 of Drive to Survive is looking to be the most thrilling one yet! 

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What are you most excited to see in the new season? Let us know in the comments!