Liam Lawson's drop to Lando Norris' win: What to expect in 'Drive to Survive' S8

From brutal driver swaps to championship glory, ‘Drive to Survive’ season eight is shaping up to be one of the most unreal yet.

The hit Formula 1 docuseries returns to Netflix on 27 February 2026 - just a month away - promising behind-the-scenes looks, more emotional radio calls, and the need for speed we’ve all been holding out for since the last season took a brake... ha!

So what could we expect to see in the upcoming season? Where's the start line?

Lando Norris finally claimed his first-ever Drivers’ Championship in 2025, edging out Max Verstappen by just two points in a nail-biting Abu Dhabi finale.

It was a huge moment for Norris and McLaren, with teammate Oscar Piastri right there in the title fight all season. Their intra-team battle, and the now-infamous “papaya rules” - race hard but clean without contact, to prioritise the team rankings.

Verstappen dubbed the rules “nonsense” back in December 2024.

“I have no use for that at all,” he said. "When I'm told that by my engineer, I immediately say, 'Just shut up.' What is that supposed to mean?”

The McLaren battle is almost guaranteed to be a major storyline, leaning into the tension of two star drivers fighting for the trophy.

For Kiwi fans, one storyline will hit closer to home. Liam Lawson’s stint at Red Bull was one of the most talked about moments in 2025. 

After replacing Sergio Perez early last year, Lawson was dropped after just two race weekends, with Yuki Tsunoda stepping into the seat ahead of his home race in Japan. 

It was a ruthless reminder of how brutal Formula 1 can be - and exactly the kind of raw, emotional moment ‘Drive to Survive’ will rev about.

Off the track, in an unexpected turn of events, Red Bull Racing CEO and Team Principal Christian Horner announced he was “exiting the squad” effective immediately, after upwards of 20 years.

It was one of the biggest organisational changes in recent F1 history, and a storyline Netflix will fully unpack - we hope!

Lewis Hamilton’s first year at Ferrari proved tougher than expected. Despite a sprint race win in China, the seven-time world champion failed to score a Grand Prix podium. 

We’re also holding out to watch Nico Hülkenberg finally score his first podium after 239 race starts, and Max Verstappen’s late comeback that saw him make his way back to second overall.

So fans, start your TVs and have your remote at the ready - season eight is STACKED!