Where it used to be the case that Formula 1 was pushed to the periphery of sport, with a selective audience of fans around the world and a vast majority of doubters who questioned the talents of those in the driver’s seat, the Netflix series Formula 1: Drive to Survive came and changed all of that. Suddenly, we were given an intimate look into the world of the sport’s drivers, learning about their intensive training routines and the gruelling fitness sessions they have to endure simply to get in racing shape. We discovered more about team dynamics and the rivalries at play in the sport, and came to meet driver’s that eclipsed Formula 1 entirely, becoming characters we felt a certain fondness for.
Already, there have been developments in film, documentary and highly-anticipated series surrounding the sport. But in what appears to be the latest streaming platform to jump on the bandwagon, Disney+ will now be creating a new series on Formula 1 with Keanu Reeves serving as host. According to reports from Variety, Reeves will serve as host for a four-part series that focuses on current F1 managing director/then-Honda team principal, Ross Brawn. For those uninitiated with the name, Brawn brought the Honda team for a single British pound in 2008 after it entered significant financial ruin.
In a remarkable turn of events that seemed destined to be put to the screen, Brawn renamed the outfit after himself only to see Brawn GP take the 2009 season by storm. It then went on to claim two “unprecedented championship victories” with a constructor’s title and drivers’ title with Jenson Button serving behind the wheel. In 2010, Brawn GP was then sold once more and rebranded as Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 which has since enjoyed monumental success in the sport, thanks to the likes of world champions Nico Rosberg and Sir Lewis Hamilton.
With Reeves in charge of hosting duties, he’s reported to have already conducted interviews with the likes of former Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo and former Brawn GP driver Rubens Barrichello, along with conversations with Jenson Button and Ross Brawn. Speaking to a local racing journalist at Silverstone during the British Grand Prix, Reeves explained: “We want to tell that amazing remarkable story [of Brawn GP]…There is so much to talk about.”
As Reeves explained, “A friend of mine was telling me the story and I was so struck by it and he was actually working for Brawn back in the day in publicity and he’s a producer/director and so we were like, ‘Well, let’s tell that story, let’s try and tell that story.’ It’s been really great to be able to learn more about what was going on in Formula One that year. It wasn’t just the cars, new regulations, FOTA [the Formula One Teams Association] breakaway series. I mean there was just so much happening in Formula One at that time.”
“The world of Formula One was just extraordinary. I mean, it’s always extraordinary, but in that year with Brawn GP I think something really special happened.”
keanu reeves
Disney+ is yet to confirm the release date of the upcoming documentary series, but sources seem to suggest it will debut in late 2023. We’ll be sure to keep you posted as more details emerge.
