Otmar Szafnauer, head of the Alpine F1 Team, believes that Netflix’s access to key meetings behind the scenes will help raise awareness of F1 in the popular Drive to Survive series. There is.
Netflix cameras are reportedly a fierce meeting of team representatives discussing the impact of the FIA’s new technical directive aimed at limiting the amount of porpoising that preceded the F1 Canadian Grand Prix. It is said that he was shooting.
At the meeting, Red Bull’s Christian Horner and Mercedes’ Toto Wolff clash. He and other team principals have allegedly accused him of playing a “political game”, suggesting that new technical directives are helping Mercedes disproportionately.
Otmar Szafnauer points out an example of Ayrton Senna’s documentary released in 2010. It contains a rare footage that violently protests the FIA at a driver briefing. Bringing Netflix to the current conference could shed light on those dramas again.
Otmar Szafnauer said he feels that Netflix access could have a positive impact overall, while adding that the presence of Netflix cameras could keep his mouth closed.
“Well, I’m sure it’s a bit understated!” Laughs Otmar Szafnauer.
“I don’t know if Netflix should or shouldn’t be there.”
“I remember watching Senna’s movie. Many years ago, they had their cameras in that type of conference.”
“Is it good for fans? If they understand some of those things, will it help us all? Probably.”
“Is there a drama that wouldn’t exist without a camera? I don’t know.”
“It’s not a controlled experiment, so it’s hard to talk. Until now I had to have the same meeting without them, so I don’t know.”
“But people would guess it’s influential, and maybe it’s going to be. Is it good or bad? I don’t know.”
“But what fans see and understand is that it only adds a bit of charm to our sport. I think it’s a good thing.”
And Otmar Szafnauer said in a broader context, there is no doubt about the impact of Drive to Survive on F1’s global popularity.
“On my flight to Canada, I met a fan from Chicago and a fan from Michigan,” recalled Otmar Safner.
“They both said,’We are COVID F1 fans.’ I asked them,’What does that mean?'”
“They said … during COVID, only F1 was doing on TV. They were watching all F1 races, then watching Netflix and saying they now understand.”
“Surprisingly, they came here from Detroit and Chicago to see the first race. One of them also went to Miami, so Canada was the second race.”
“Neflix helps attract those people. I think we’re doing a great sport. It used to be a well-maintained secret. If you expose it to more people, it’s better for us all. ”
Category: Category: F1 / Alpine