LONDON • Leading Formula One drivers defended the popular Netflix Drive To Survive fly-on-the-wall series on Thursday after Red Bull's championship leader Max Verstappen said he was snubbing it because he felt some of the rivalries were "faked".
The docu-series, now filming its fourth season, has been credited as a big factor in fuelling greater interest in the sport in the United States.
Verstappen earlier told the Associated Press that he recognised the importance of the series but did not like being a part of it and would not be giving interviews.
Mercedes' seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, Verstappen's title rival, told reporters at the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, that he had noticed a surge in interest in the country.
"In this last couple of years it's been the steepest rise and more and more people are talking about it, more and more people engaging," the Briton said.
"The amount of e-mails and messages I get from people I've known for years in the States and who never knew what I was doing and now are hooked and can't wait to come. I think a lot of them are coming this weekend."
Verstappen's Mexican teammate Sergio Perez, a two-time race winner who featured heavily last season, said he respected what the documentary was doing.
"What it has done for Formula One is tremendous. It's really something I appreciate," he said.
"The way they sell the sport is a bit of a drama. It is a show but at the end of the day, it is good for the sport and is good for the fans so I am happy with it."
McLaren's Lando Norris, voted the second-most popular driver after Verstappen in a fan survey published on Thursday, also appreciated the show.
"I'm fine with it," he said. "I think it's a cool thing... I think I come across on it alright.
"I think they do a good job. I can't really speak on behalf of Max."
His Australian teammate Daniel Ricciardo agreed: "There's times where you want a little bit of space or privacy but I do think if you let them know no cameras in this room, they are pretty good with that."
REUTERS
F1 UNITED STATES GP
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