A racing season between triumph and tragedy: Netflix revisits the 1994 Formula 1 season, focusing on Michael Schumacher.
Netflix itself describes it as follows: “1994 marks a turning point in the history of Formula 1: 25-year-old Michael Schumacher wins the first Grand Prix of the racing season in Brazil, laying the foundation for an unprecedented career.”
And further: “1994 ranks among the most dramatic and exciting racing seasons in Formula 1 history. The year was marked by dramatic events such as the fatal accident of Ayrton Senna and allegations of manipulation and unfair driving maneuvers [against Benetton and Schumacher]. At the same time, a veritable ‘Schumi-mania’ emerged.”
The focus is on Michael Schumacher as a person
As in the 2021 Netflix documentary “Schumacher,” Schumacher’s wife Corinna Schumacher appears in the new documentary, alongside other companions who recall the special events of the 1994 Formula 1 season.
At its core, “Schumacher ’94” – the working title – is about “Schumi,” whom Netflix describes as “an uncompromising fighter on the racetrack and a sensitive, empathetic person off it.” “Corinna Schumacher, who has always given him emotional support, also provides insights into the beginnings of an extraordinary love story – a story that continues to this day.”
Netflix focuses on more German-language content
The new Schumacher documentary is part of a large-scale Netflix strategy, as Katja Hofem, Vice President of Content at Netflix for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, recently explained: “2026 will be our most ambitious year yet, with more German-language series, films, and non-fiction projects and greater diversity than ever before.”
Formula 1 will not be neglected: shortly before the season opener in Australia, Netflix plans to release the eighth season of the Formula 1 series “Drive to Survive.”
The documentary series takes viewers behind the scenes of the “premier class” of motorsport, but with a lot of artistic freedom on the part of the producers: some topics are presented in a dramatically exaggerated way. But that’s what appeals to the audience: the format has been around since 2019.
The documentary series takes viewers behind the scenes of the “premier class” of motorsport, but with a lot of artistic freedom on the part of the producers: some topics are presented in a dramatically exaggerated way. But that’s what appeals to the audience: the format has been around since 2019.
