Without Ricciardo, probably no Netflix F1 Drive to Survive

It's well-documented how the advent of the series, delving into the never-before-seen background of the sport, created a boom in Formula 1 interest, particularly in the USA which has resulted in attracting a much younger and broader American audience to a once Eurocentric sport.

Ahead of season five's premiere on Netflix, on 24 February, in an interview, Martin told New York Post: “Without Daniel, I think there probably wouldn’t have been a Drive to Survive. He was the first driver that we talked to about it, the first driver that invited us to his home in Australia. I felt very emotional with him leaving.”

Indeed Ricciardo is no longer on the grid, ditched by McLaren and replaced by fellow Australian Oscar Piastri, a rookie with no proven track record in F1.

The new series is likely to feature the downfall of the big smiling Aussie, once ranked among the cream of F1 drivers, but his shares were in freefall, probably since he departed Red Bull. A spell at Renault and then McLaren did him no favours.

As is well known, 33-year-old Ricciardo's McLaren contract ended a year prematurely due to his woeful performances against younger teammate Lando Norris and, no matter what the team and Dan tried, they were unable to find the form that once made him one of the most feared and respected racers on the F1 grid.

The World Champions gave their 'prodigal son' a reserve role with the team for 2023, which by all accounts will include a busy PR presence in the USA, with F1 roadshows, appearances, interviews and the like, on behalf of Red Bull as there will be three races Stateside this season: Miami, Austin and newcomer to the calendar Las Vegas.

Of course, he will also be ready to return to the F1 grid as a sub should Red Bull regular drivers Max Verstappen or Sergio Perez be afflicted by something that forces them to miss a Grand Prix or more this season.

Meanwhile, in place of departing Ricciardo, Martin has found a 'substitute buddy' on the F1 grid in the form of Alpine's new signing, from AlphaTauri, Pierre Gasly: “For me, Pierre has always been in that role as well. The show’s been on this amazing journey with Gasly.

"I feel quite emotionally attached to him. We’ve seen him go through some incredible lows: the season where he was demoted [from Red Bull Racing] and Anthoine [Hubert] died.

"So to see him finally get a chance again in a competitive car is going to be great. He’s grown on screen as a driver and as a person, so I think he’ll be someone who will really fill the gap that Daniel leaves," ventured Martin.

As for the rocketing popularity of Drive to Survive, Martin ventured: “It is a soap opera: characters get killed off, they come back, new characters come on. I’m a big fan of old eighties soap operas, so it feels a bit like Bobby Ewing.

"I wouldn’t be surprised to see Daniel pop up in the shower at some point this year,” joked the Drive to Survive producer, adding, "He’s such a character; if a few teams start to go wrong and it doesn’t feel like their drivers are working out, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ricciardo back in a seat.”