The best bits of Drive to Survive Season 8
04 March 2026Now in its eighth season on Netflix, F1's Drive to Survive once again pulled fans behind the garage doors, onto the pit wall and inside the cockpit during a thrilling 2026 season.
But while Season 8 hops from Melbourne to Miami, and Las Vegas to São Paulo, many memorable moments orbit one familiar venue: Silverstone Circuit.
From long-awaited podiums to home-hero triumphs, here are the best bits of Drive to Survive Season 8, including several stories that connect most strongly to the home of British motor racing.
Kimi Antonelli’s rookie season
Season 8 uses Kimi Antonelli as one of its long-form narrative threads. Across multiple episodes, the Mercedes rookie’s first full Formula 1 campaign is shown in all its intensity: the early promise showed in the early part of the season, then the disappointing mid-season and the emotional lows that went with that, and finally his climb towards confidence in the final handful of races.
The season opens with a stirring recovery drive in Melbourne, where Antonelli charges from P16 to P4, instantly signalling that his raw talent belongs at the highest level of motorsport.
Later on, we see the pressure of expectations, the weight of sponsor commitments, and the toll taken by difficult weekends, with Antonelli openly admitting to feeling overwhelmed.
By the time the series reaches his electrifying Brazilian Grand Prix duel with Max Verstappen over second place, the audience understands exactly what it cost to get there, and how bright the young Italian’s future is.
Nico Hulkenberg finally breaks his duck at the British Grand Prix
Some moments feel custom-built for Drive to Survive, and Nico Hulkenberg finally standing on an F1 podium is one of them.
Episode 2 captures the significance of Hulkenberg’s first-ever Formula 1 podium, achieved at the British Grand Prix after years of near-misses and torrid luck.
And when the moment finally arrived for Nico, nine-time Silverstone winner Lewis Hamilton was there to make him work extra hard, chasing the German all the way to the flag.
The series leans heavily into the emotional weight of the moment, not just for the driver, but for a paddock that has long respected his ability, and the historic backdrop of Silverstone, where results must be earned, made it all the more special.
Lando Norris wins at Silverstone
Episode 3 documents Lando Norris’ emphatic victory in front of record crowds at the 2025 British Grand Prix. However, as chronicled in the episode, it was by no means a straightforward win. Like Hulkenberg’s podium, it was incredibly hard fought.
In treacherous conditions, while Oscar Piastri was penalised for a Safety Car infringement, and both Max Verstappen and George Russell spun out of contention, Norris kept his composure.
Emotional scenes of Lando and his mother in Parc Fermé followed, with the young Brit commenting on the significance of the result.
One of the episode’s most memorable shots comes as Norris glances out of a car window on his way into the circuit, acknowledging the Landostand in his instantly recognisable branding.
Carlos Sainz and a fresh start that begins at Silverstone
Season 8 treats Carlos Sainz’s move to Williams as a story of reinvention, and notably, it begins not with a race, but a test day at Silverstone.
Episode 5 opens with Sainz bedding into his new surroundings, learning new systems and recalibrating expectations after his switch from Ferrari, all while surrounded by Silverstone on a quiet test day early in the year.
From there, the season charts his early season struggle to adapt to a new car, then his slow build back toward form, culminating in a podium finish in Baku.
Christian Horner’s Red Bull exit marks the end of a Drive to Survive era
Few figures are as closely associated with Drive to Survive as Christian Horner, and Episode 4 makes his departure from Red Bull feel like the end of a long-running chapter.
Coming shortly after the British Grand Prix, Horner is removed as team boss and is seen watching races from home instead of the pit wall, underlining how quickly things can change in the paddock.
Drive to Survive gives Horner space to reflect, capturing a rare moment of sincerity as he reads out a farewell text from Mercedes Team Boss Toto Wolff.
