Friday marks two weeks until the first race weekend of 2022 gets underway. For many, though, it's even more exciting as it marks a week until the new season of Formula 1's Netflix extravaganza. The first reviews of Drive to Survive season four have begun to emerge, and they paint an interesting picture of what to expect.
The reaction to the new season has, so far, been quite mixed, with some suggesting that season four will leave fans exhilarated, and others suggesting that it may well be the poorest season of the Netflix show so far.
Drive to Survive: The first season four reviews pour in
There are a few things we already know about Drive to Survive season four. We know that Max Verstappen will not take part, we know that there will be ten episodes released, and we know it's coming next Friday.
The teaser trailer really didn't show us a huge amount more than that. However, several F1 fan-sites and UK publications have been given early access to eight of the new season's ten episodes, and the reviews have been pouring in.
The first reviews of Drive to Survive season four were released this week, and they've given us a little bit more information on what to expect from the season ahead.
The Independent (UK) have the most positive review thus far, giving the new season of DTS five stars. They're confident that the new season will live up to fans' expectations, and have said that the showrunners have allowed the main plot of the Hamilton v Verstappen title battle to "flourish", even without behind-the-scenes access to Verstappen.
The lack of Max time is cited as a weakness of the new season by the Independent but, nonetheless, it appears as though it has helped them to draw the focus towards other drivers further down the grid - including fan favourite Daniel Ricciardo.
Despite the five-star review, there are several weaknesses pointed out by the Independent - and F1 fansite WTF1 have gone a lot further than that.
The site's video presenter Matt Gallagher - who has commentated on several Formula 2 races - posted a Q&A video on the season's first eight episodes and said that he could only give the new season a score of 5/10. He even went as far as saying it could be dragged down as far as a four.
His most shocking quote suggested that the new season is the worst season of the Netflix show thus far.
I hate to say this, because I think Drive to Survive has been groundbreaking and amazing for bringing in new Formula 1 fans. But this season is honestly the worst of the lot. It's the worst season of the four.
The review from WTF1 will be disappointing news for Drive to Survive fans, especially as it comes from such a fan of the show in Gallagher.
One other F1 fansite, RaceFans, have a disappointing revelation for fans of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel. They wager that both drivers feature in the new season less than Christian Horner's wife Geri Halliwell does. With Raikkonen retiring at the end of a decades-long career in 2021, it's disappointing we don't seem likely to get any meaningful screen time.
A recurring theme across all of the reviews is that the contrived, slightly staged nature of the show has not departed, with an unusual dynamic portrayed between Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris, and the inevitable mismatching of team radio and commentary clips.
These are unlikely to bother newcomers to the sport but, for long-term fans, it will be frustrating to know that the same unfortunate tendencies are still prevalent.
Meanwhile, major motorsport publication Autosport have revealed what each of the first eight episodes will tackle, with the final two episodes still yet to be confirmed.
There are episodes on Daniel Ricciardo's first season at McLaren, Haas's struggles, the return to form of Williams, and the rivalry between Valtteri Bottas and George Russell. Inevitably, several of the episodes focus on the dramatic title battle.
The reviews for Drive to Survive season four are mixed at best, but fans will be able to make their minds up for themselves when the series drops its latest ten episodes on Netflix on Friday March 11th.
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