"Drive to Survive" season 8: Release date and what we know so far

With just over a month to go before the eighth season of the popular Drive to Survive is released, we are taking a look at everything we know so far about the Formula 1 docuseries.

The launch of the series has been instrumental in a boom in the popularity of the championship in the United States, and also among a younger audience. While it has drawn some criticism over the years for dramatising some situations with clever editing, the impact of the show cannot be dismissed.

Here is what we know so far about season 8 of Drive to Survive.

Drive to Survive season 8 release date

Netflix's Drive to Survive season 8 will be released on 27 February 2026.

How to watch Drive to Survive season 8

Drive to Survive season 8 will be released exclusively on Netflix, and so will be available to watch for subscribers of the streaming service.

Netflix has a variety of subscription packages, which range from £5.99 per month for 1080p resolution with adverts, £12.99 per month for 1080p resolution without adverts and £18.99 per month for 4K resolution and no adverts at the time of writing.

How many episodes will there be in Drive to Survive season 8?

While the number of episodes for season 8 of Drive to Survive have not been confirmed yet, the previous seven seasons of the show have comprised 10 episodes.

Drive to Survive season 8: Potential plot points

Netflix tends to reveal the episode names closer to the time of the release (27 February), which will give a better indication of what the eighth season will cover. However, looking back at the 2025 season, these are some of the biggest moments that will likely be covered.

McLaren's intra-team battle

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri battled it out for their first championship victories in 2025. While Red Bull's Max Verstappen had a late-season surge in performance, it was mostly the two McLaren drivers fighting for race wins week in, week out. The 'papaya rules' are surely going to become a talking point on the show, similarly to how they came under scrutiny in the media and with the public.

Christian Horner's Red Bull exit

Christian Horner was replaced as Red Bull Racing CEO and team principal on 9 July 2025 by Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies. Having served in the role since 2005, and amid drama in recent years surrounding him, this is likely going to feature in the series.

Lando Norris' maiden drivers' championship

British driver Lando Norris claimed his first drivers' championship title in 2025. The fight went down to the wire at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where a third-place finish was enough to secure the title with two points over Max Verstappen, who won the race and finished second in the championship. 

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: James Sutton / Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton's first year at Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton joined Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season. Throughout the year, he worked to adapt to the Maranello outfit but struggled more than anticipated. While he clinched a sprint race win in China, he failed to stand on the podium for a grand prix.

Nico Hulkenberg's maiden F1 podium

Nico Hulkenberg secured his first F1 podium finish at the 2025 British Grand Prix after 239 race starts without one. After starting from 19th on the grid, the German driver battled against the wet weather to claim his first podium finish.

Max Verstappen's 2025 comeback

After battling with car issues in the first half of the 2025 season, Verstappen found a late surge in performance following the summer break. He dramatically closed the gap to championship leaders Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and ultimately finished second in the championship after overtaking Piastri. 

While the Dutchman had dominated for the majority of the ground effect era, he found himself pinned as the underdog in 2025.

Red Bull's second driver

After replacing Sergio Perez at Red Bull in 2025, Liam Lawson found himself replaced in the seat after just two race weekends. Yuki Tsunoda stepped in alongside Verstappen ahead of his home race at the Japanese Grand Prix.

While the Japanese driver remained in the seat until the end of the season, Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar has been signed for 2026 and Tsunoda has moved to a reserve driver role.