Andrea Kimi Antonelli Discusses His F1 Seat Securing Moment in Drive to Survive Season 7

In an exclusive interview ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season-opener in Australia, rising star Andrea Kimi Antonelli sheds light on the authenticity of his Mercedes F1 seat announcement portrayed in Netflix’s popular docuseries, Drive to Survive.

The Authenticity of Drive to Survive Scenes

Contrary to speculations about creative liberties and clever editing, Antonelli confirms that the scenes depicting his career-defining moment were indeed accurate. He recounts, “I was at home with my parents when I received a video call from Toto, James Allison, Bradley, and other key figures. Toto broke the news to me straight away: ‘I don’t want to keep you waiting; next year, you will be our F1 driver.'”

The Italian driver admits that he spent two sleepless hours that night, awestruck by the gravity of the situation. He expresses his gratitude towards Toto, stating, “He’s a great person and I’m fortunate to have him as part of my team.”

Max Verstappen Clarifies Misrepresentation in Drive to Survive Season 7

Four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen, however, feels misrepresented in the same season. During a recent Twitch stream, he clarified that the production team wrongly portrayed him as upset after the 2024 Miami Grand Prix. Verstappen laughs off the misconception, stating, “Apparently I was very upset after Miami, but I had the best time ever that Sunday night, so I’m unsure what I was upset about.”

Drive to Survive Season 7 was released on Netflix on March 7. The seventh installment covers the top storylines of the 2024 F1 season, including Lewis Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes after 12 years for Ferrari, McLaren‘s intense battle with Red Bull for the constructors’ championship, and the investigation into Red Bull team chief Christian Horner.

The 2025 F1 season commences this week with the Australian Grand Prix, closely followed by the Chinese Grand Prix the following week.