Yuki Tsunoda's career has hit the skids after Drive to Survive stardom - but he's not the only one
It can't be underestimated just how much Drive to Survive has transformed the world of Formula 1 and brought the sport to new audiences across the world.
The Netflix show has shed light on the intricacies of the sport, as well as the unique characters and personalities both on and off the track. Alongside the sheer sporting drama that has captivated viewers, audiences have grown to love the personal stories of drivers looking to make a name for themselves in the highly competitive world of Formula 1.
It has also made for an interesting dynamic. While some drivers might have huge fanbases thanks to their coverage on the show, that does not guarantee the same success on the track. Likewise, some drivers who received little airtime might not have the same devoted following as others further up the pecking order.
Here is a look at some of the Drive to Survive stars who have not quite lived up to their newfound fame.
Yuki Tsunoda
Tsunoda quickly became a fan favourite thanks to his unique sense of humour and unfiltered team radio outbursts. Drive to Survive first followed him during his 2021 rookie season and his relocation to Milton Keynes, which he described as 'the most boring place in the world'.
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During the following season, viewers saw the Japanese driver mature into a senior figure following Pierre Gasly's departure as he looked to establish himself as one of the more reliable competitors on the grid. He remained with AlphaTauri until the 2024 season, when the team was rebranded as Racing Bulls, before he was promoted to the Red Bull senior team the following year.
However, the 26-year-old was replaced by Isack Hadjar for the 2026 season, which saw him drop into the reserve driver role for both Red Bull and Racing Bulls. He has not raced in F1 since the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, though recent reports suggest he could return to the grid next year with Haas.
Daniel Ricciardo
Ricciardo was another fan favourite among Drive to Survive viewers thanks to his hilarious sense of humour and attempts to derail the show with his chaotic comments. The Australian often joked that he was the funniest driver on the circuit, as well as one of the most good-looking.
He was a star from the very first season of the show, when many other teams were reluctant to grant access, with Ricciardo quickly becoming the poster boy of the series. Although initially framed as a potential F1 world champion, the show followed him as he left for Renault before a spell at McLaren saw his contract end a year earlier than planned.
Ricciardo eventually returned to Red Bull as a reserve driver for the 2024 season, but was outperformed by Tsunoda before his professional career came to an end. He is now the global ambassador for Ford Racing, leaving F1 with eight wins and 32 podiums during his 13-year career.
Romain Grosjean
Grosjean was one of those who shone in the early years of the show amid reluctance from many teams to be part of the documentary. He was in his ninth F1 season, and his third with Haas, when Drive to Survive documented his struggles as team principal Guenther Steiner contemplated his future.
The Frenchman went on to finish 14th in the 2018 World Championship and continued to race for Haas across two more seasons before his horrifying crash at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix. Grosjean's miraculous escape captured the hearts of millions when his car split in half and caught fire after hitting a metal crash barrier. Against all odds, he survived.
It proved to be his final race in Formula One. The 40-year-old made the switch to IndyCar in 2021 and achieved his first pole position at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis. He moved to the MSA SportsCar Championship in 2023 before returning to IndyCar this year on a full-time basis.
Kevin Magnussen
Magnussen became one of the early stars of Drive to Survive as his rivalry with Nico Hulkenberg became one of the underlying storylines. It not only focused on the competition between the two drivers, but also the battle between Haas and Renault as they fought for fourth place in the constructors' championship.
There was less focus on the Danish driver as the show progressed, with Magnussen remaining with Haas until the end of the 2020 season. He participated in the IMSA SportsCar Championship with Cadillac, competed in the IndyCar Series with Arrow McLaren and also entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans with High Class before returning to Haas in 2022.
Magnussen became the first driver since Grosjean in 2012 to receive a race ban after clashing with Alpine rival Pierre Gasly during the 2024 Italian Grand Prix, which proved to be his final season. He still holds the unwanted Formula One record for the most career starts without leading a lap and returned to sportscar racing in 2025 with BMW.
Guenther Steiner
Although not a driver, Steiner rose to fame on Drive to Survive thanks to his honest personality and expletive-laden rants in which he always spoke his mind. He worked as the team principal of the Haas Formula One Team from 2016 to 2023, receiving plenty of coverage during the early seasons of the show.
His contract was not renewed for the 2024 F1 season, when he was replaced by Ayao Komatsu. Steiner has established himself as a motorsport personality and has released two books detailing his time at the top of the sport. Shortly after departing Haas, he joined German broadcaster RTL as a specialist commentator.
Steiner became a race ambassador for the Miami Grand Prix in 2024 and last year headed a consortium that bought the Red Bull KTM Tech3 MotoGP motorcycle team.
Christian Horner
Horner never shied away from the limelight and quickly became one of the most notable figures on Drive to Survive. His home life took up plenty of screen time alongside his wife, Geri Halliwell, including one awkward scene when Father Christmas turned up at their house and asked whether 'he had been good this year?'
The 52-year-old served as team principal and CEO of Red Bull until 2025, when they won six World Constructors' Championship titles. He left the team midway through 2025.
Horner has remained out of work since his Red Bull contract was terminated but has been regularly linked with a potential role at Aston Martin.
Topics: Formula 1
Rich Fay