As Daniel Ricciardo steps back from Formula 1, he will be sorely missed by the sport's die-hard fans, but a shadow of loss is also looming over the Drive To Survive production team.
Ricciardo, known for his laid-back, jovial demeanor off the track, quickly became a standout character from the moment the massively popular Netflix series debuted.
Executive producer James Gay-Rees recently reflected on the Australian drivers' lasting impact, reminiscing about Ricciardo's easygoing charm and his undeniable contribution to the series that redefined F1 fandom.
In Gay-Rees' words, Ricciardo “just became everybody's favorite straight away.”
“He's been an amazing part of it, there's absolutely no doubt,” the Box-to-Box producer told F1.com.
“I went back to watch the super-tease video for Season 1 the other day. I hadn't watched it since we made it, probably – it's a long time ago now. Then I ended up watching a bit of the first episode and obviously it's the Danny show!
“He embraced the series when a lot of people weren't really embracing it and gave us a lot of his time. “He's a hugely likeable bloke and just had an infectious energy from the get-go.”
The production team's initial meeting with Ricciardo in London's East End before filming the first season in 2018 was a turning point.
The then Red Bull driver embraced the opportunity, which was crucial, as not every driver was comfortable with the level of access Drive to Survive required. Yet Ricciardo, with his infectious energy, didn't just tolerate the cameras—he thrived in front of them.
“Daniel's just very relaxed in front of a camera, isn't he?” commented Gay-Rees. “He's very relaxed with himself, he doesn't overthink it, he's charismatic, and he's a very cool human being, so I don't think he found it particularly problematic being filmed.
“If you're Daniel Ricciardo, it's pretty simple – you just be yourself and it kind of works for people,” he adds of the Perth native's personality.
“You can't say that about a lot of athletes. That's a huge generalization, but a lot of athletes either don't want the distraction, or they can't be bothered, or they're not particularly extroverted or whatever it might be.
This authenticity endeared Ricciardo to fans and made him the “right guy at the right time” for Drive to Survive.
His role extended beyond just race footage; He let viewers into his personal life, sharing glimpses of his European home base in Monaco and time spent with family in Australia. This openness humanized him, drawing in new fans who might not have been traditional F1 followers.
The relationship between Ricciardo and the show evolved naturally, and Gay-Rees acknowledged the mutual benefits.
“Daniel became a major part of the show. He was a cornerstone, and still is, in some ways. It was meant to be. “He continued to let us inside whatever happened in his career in a really amazing way, so it worked for both parties, I think.”
Ricciardo's lighthearted nature provided many of the series' most memorable moments, from his pranks in the paddock to his witty one-liners, creating some of the funniest and most relatable scenes in the entire six-season run.
Throughout his F1 career, Ricciardo experienced his share of highs and lows, and Drive to Survive was there to capture it all. Gay-Rees noted the bittersweet journey.
“It's been an eventful journey with massive highs and some pretty big lows – but that's modern sport. “He won't be the last driver who has a complicated journey through their F1 career as told by Drive To Survive .”
But as Ricciardo steps away from the sport for now, there's a sense of finality. While the series will go on, the unique energy and personality Ricciardo brought to the screen will be hard to replicate.
“It's the end of an era, isn't it?” Gay-Rees said. “I thought it was just a really happy union. We have that with a number of drivers now, which is good.
“We're not trying to replace him. We'll miss him on a personal, professional and sporting level, but nothing lasts forever – for any of us!
“If it is the end, it's sad. We'll be sad to lose him in that capacity, like we were sad to lose Guenther Steiner, in a way. But he's a young man, he's got a lot of time ahead of him. Who knows where it'll take him? I'm sure he'll have a pretty rich and storied life going forward.
“He's going to be around in some capacity… I wouldn't necessarily mind trading places with Danny Ric going forward, do you know what I mean? He'll have a lot of fun!”
As the F1 world adjusts to life without Ricciardo, his legacy on Drive to Survive is secure, leaving behind a trail of laughter, drama, and unforgettable moments that won't soon be forgotten.
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