Verstappen hits out at Netflix: ‘F1 is not the Kardashians’

• Charles Leclerc makes fast start at Practice 1; Lewis Hamilton ninth

• F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Free Practice 1 full results

• F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: When is it? How can I watch?

The Red Bull driver has refused to participate in Netflix’s ‘Drive to Survive’ fly-on-the-wall documentary series after accusing the show of portraying him inaccurately and ‘faking’ elements of the sport. 

‘Drive to Survive’ has been widely credited for bringing a host of new fans to F1, but Verstappen is among those who has criticised how it has overdramatised certain storylines and exaggerated rivalries. 

Verstappen says he has watched a few episodes of the latest season and called out Netflix for making Norris "look like a bit of dick” when he is “a great guy” in an episode focusing on his relationship with McLaren teammate Daniel Ricciardo. 

“It’s just not my thing,” the reigning world champion said on Friday ahead of this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. “Then of course they try to pick moments throughout the season and fabricate it in a way. 

“For me, personally, what I didn’t like was about Lando and Daniel. I think they are two great guys, really nice first of all, and they made it look like Lando was a bit of a dick, which he isn’t at all. 

“Again, I know Lando and I think many people know Lando. He’s a funny guy, a great guy, he has a great character and when you look at that episode you think ‘who is this guy? What is going on?’ 

“I think when you are new to the sport and you’ve never seen a Formula 1 car in general, they do not like him and why should that be, because he is a great guy. You just immediately get a wrong picture of a person and that’s exactly what I think about me in the beginning. 

“I’m someone who when you ruin it from the start, you don’t fix it. That’s it, you’ve ruined it. So that’s my stance and that’s how I’ll go forward.”

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has already held discussions with teams about the situation in a bid to try and get Netflix to rein in some of the fake elements of the show to not discourage drivers from taking part. 

Verstappen said he would happily be involved in conversations about how the show can be improved but stressed he has no desire to end his boycott. 

“I’m sure we’ll talk about it with Stefano but at the moment I’m not really interested to take part in it,” he said. “It’s also just taking more time, when we are already doing so many things. 

“I saw the benefit initially of course to get more popularity, but I think now it’s reached a stage where it’s a bit more like keeping up with the Formula 1 world, if you know my reference. It shouldn’t be like that. 

“It’s better just to make a season review, by F1 itself, I think that’s way nicer to look at. But that’s my opinion, I just don’t like to be a part of it.”