Drive to Survive is like the oasis in the desert of isolation that we're all going through at the moment. And like any good oasis, its best served cool, relaxed, and with a side of sandy-foot. Okay maybe not that last one, but its value to entertain is undeniable at times like these.
What's really set the Netflix documentary apart from any other so far, is its ability to take us closer to the personalities (-Kimi) and talents (-Gasly) that we all love. Its most stunning (surprising) episode from this season has been the focus on the German Grand Prix.
Since kicking off their championship pedigree in 2016 -- Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One (ex-Brawn GP) Toto Wolff Daimler Racing has double retired: once. That's four seasons of clear racing minus a single double collision stemming solely from driver error. For Netflix to be present and recording at this race where that nearly occurred again, the odds were nearly 100-1.
However, they did, and like many of us, the expectation was a top secret cover up job by Mercedes. They'd fly in a replacement car and reshoot the whole GP later. Rumors swirled of Mercedes rejecting the footage. Despite this, the episode that premiered largely shows all of the carnage of that highly unusual weekend.
Far from the carnage, Toto Wolff unleashed a typically German, but stand-out quote on the subject. "We try to blame the problem, not the people. No matter how hard it can be." It makes you think. Each team is equipped to the teeth with top class talent from the world of motorsport. If any of these engineers wanted a job elsewhere, they could get it, but they're here, racing at the pinnacle of the sport. So when it comes to dominating those 1000+ professionals on a weekly basis, one has to ask, what's the difference that sets them apart?
This quote for me, and likely many others, sums up that feeling. The people at Mercedes aren't better, they're just treated better. Look at Mclaren last year, or Williams this year, as the atmosphere feels dead and disastrous upon entry. Look no further than Red Bull post-Gasly full-Albon to see in Horner's own words: how "intensely motivated" a team can be from a single addition of a leading personality. As Toto Wolff continues to be in charge of all of this dominating history of F1 it's worthwhile for all of us to take a look at what the Mercedes chief is doing differently to run such an efficient and effective operation at the pinnacle of his craft.
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