Netflix has teamed up with Mercedes and WhatsApp to take fans inside the biggest driver change in F1 history.
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Where Can I Watch It?
The Seat is available now to watch on Netflix and has a run time of 40 minutes.
What’s It All About?
The Seat is an unprecedented inside look that led to a once-in-a-generation driver change in Mercedes and F1 history. It reveals the private conversations that led the Mercedes team and Toto Wolff, its Team Principal and CEO, to its decision to promote 18-year-old Italian-born Kimi Antonelli to a Formula 1 Driver, making him the third-youngest rookie in the sport’s history. The film follows Kimi, in the lead up to his first Formula 1 season as he takes on his destiny.
Who Directed It?
The Seat was directed by Kyle Thrash, who is no stranger to unique sporting stories. His 2021 NFL documentary, Maybe This Year, follows the story of the Philadelphia Eagles and their improbable 2017 Super Bowl win. The Turnaround is Thrash’s MLB documentary that was released in 2024. It follows the incredible story of how one Phillies fan inspired 42,000 others to give a struggling player a standing ovation that would turn out to be game-changing. (Even if you’re not a baseball fan, it’s worth a watch just for its ability to restore your faith in humanity!)
The Seat is his first dive into the world of Formula 1, and it certainly provides some interesting insights.
Review
The Seat naturally picks up after possibly the biggest bombshell was dropped in Formula 1. Lewis Hamilton has signed with Ferrari. It was a move described by F1 TV’s Laura Winter as one that “only really be compared to when David Beckham left Man U” . Toto Wolff recalls his reaction to the news as “a bit weird”, citing that “Lewis is my second-longest relationship as a partner after my wife Susie.”. The plan was to keep things out of the media’s eye for now, but the word soon got out. Suddenly Toto found himself to be a very popular man. His phone was almost immediately bombarded with drivers chasing one of the rarest seats in Formula 1.
Speculation on who would fill the vacant seat saw several names being brought up. But when suggestions were made that young Kimi Antonelli could be an option, it was largely brushed off as a wild idea. Why would such a successful team risk it all with a brand-new rookie? “No one’s gone from F4 to F1 overnight.”
After some private testing it was announced that Antonelli would be taking part in FP1 at Monza – nothing unusual about that. But it’s the unseen details that make all the difference, and we’re now firmly along for the ride. We’re given a glimpse of the video call where Antonelli is told he has been signed as a driver for 2025. We get to witness the hushed conversations about when and how they would announce this to the world. This is the side of Formula 1 that is normally kept behind closed doors and away from prying eyes and keen ears.
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Get 10% off all official F1 Merch at TheRaceWorks.com using code ‘EF1‘ at checkout.
Final Thoughts
The Seat has some genuinely brilliant insights and a full scope of the emotions felt within the sport. James Allison, the team’s technical director, gives us his honest and hilarious reaction to “a child” showing up at his desk. We get to see glimpses of the work that goes into a seat fitting (including Kimi taking a sneaky nap). We have the privilege of seeing a genuinely touching exchange between Kimi and his father. There’s a heart-in-the-mouth moment during one of the practice pitstops, and again when Kimi crashes out in the FP1 session at Monza. But we also get to witness the reassurance and encouragement that the team offers to the young rookie.
Overall, it’s a rare opportunity for fans to see the unseen. We’re granted access to a part of the sport that is usually highly secretive and kept on a need-to-know basis. The 40-minute run time is just about right too, with a good pace that focuses on all the interesting details. Whether you are new to the sport or a long-time fan, The Seat is definitely worth a watch.
Rating
☆☆☆☆ 4/5
What did you think of The Seat ? Let us know in the comments!