Drivers, managers and team owners live life in the fast lane — both on and off the track — during this cutthroat new season of Formula 1 racing. In the first episode, the 2021 Formula 1 season begins at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where drivers give it everything to take the first checkered flag of the year.
The inspirational documentary account of one man’s pioneering spirit, unswerving tenacity and endless passion, McLaren is the untold story of a motor racing icon. Born in New Zealand in 1937, Bruce McLaren’s determination to make it to the summit of global motor racing circles saw his name become synonymous with the sport; displaying an incomparable will to succeed and desire to better both himself and his burgeoning super brand. In following a singular dream, McLaren elicited the loyalty, determination and love of family, friends and colleagues to create a dynasty that lives on to this day. Revealing the challenges and adversities faced along the way, including a childhood illness which threatened to alter the path of his life, McLaren is the story of one man’s unfaltering commitment to his vision which will inspire generations of sporting fans.
This is the first of two episodes dissecting the psyche of Daniel Ricciardo. A second big money move in two years now sees the Australian set foot on the shore of the McLaren Technology Centre, only to find the territory is already occupied by Lando Norris. The Australian looks like he was really hoping to flash the car up into Q3 with his teeth, only to find it isn’t that easy. Ricciardo is really struggling to get his head around the idiosyncratic MCL35M, but it gets worse: his boyish, funny, charismatic team-mate Norris is doing him over every week. The relations between the two drivers deteriorate also. Can Ricciardo recover his form? The footage is interspersed with short scenes featuring Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
Ricciardo is still trying to get to grips with that pesky papaya number, whilst things get tetchier and tetchier between the Macca team-mate as races go by. 'We’re very different,' says Norris darkly. Luckily there's a sprint race for Ricciardo to get his Mansell-esque chops into, then it all falls into place. Bottas gets a grid penalty, Verstappen and Hamilton waltz off the track together and Norris promises not to overtake the old man in front a la Damon Hill / Ralf Schumacher at Spa ’98. The Honey Badger is back!
Since the Silverstone GP, it's just gone up and up and up. For Max Verstappen, is kind of do or die. Only a few races remain, and for drivers desperate for any advantage they can get their hands on, the gloves are officially off.
In the first episode, the 2021 Formula 1 season begins at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where drivers give it everything to take the first checkered flag of the year.