Netflix is expanding its deepening relationship with Formula 1 by adding another compelling documentary to its growing motorsport catalog and this time the spotlight is on one of the sport’s most intriguing personalities, inspiring fans around the world.
Following the stunning global success of Formula 1: Drive to Survive the series that helped transform the sport into a mainstream phenomenon Netflix announced a brand-new behind-the-scenes documentary titled The Seat, focusing on the meteoric rise of young Italian driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli as he steps into the iconic number-one seat at the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team for the 2025 season.
Though the film isn’t a direct biography of Kimi Räikkönen the former world champion widely regarded as Formula 1’s most laid-back and charismatic driver it nonetheless pays homage to the legacy of the Iceman by spotlighting another Kimi in the sport and underscoring the deep passion and resilience of drivers who define the F1 era.
Directed by Kyle Thrash and produced in collaboration with WhatsApp and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, The Seat takes audiences inside one of the most consequential driver decisions in recent F1 history. The documentary strips away the glamour of podiums and starts with real team deliberations — featuring private WhatsApp discussions between team principal Toto Wolff, his engineers, and Antonelli himself — to reveal how Mercedes elected to make an 18-year-old prodigy its next Formula 1 star.
Set against the backdrop of Lewis Hamilton’s shock move to Ferrari which left a vacancy at one of the sport’s most successful teams The Seat charts Antonelli’s evolution from karting sensation and Formula 2 standout to full-fledged F1 rookie. The film captures his training, family life, simulator sessions, championship preparations, and his emotional reaction upon learning he’d been chosen for the coveted Silver Arrows seat.
Netflix will release the 40-minute documentary globally on May 5, 2025, shortly after it debuted in the top 10 in more than 25 countries on its launch date, illustrating the enormous appetite for F1 content outside traditional race coverage.
Fans have already responded enthusiastically. Early reactions describe the documentary as an “emotional rollercoaster” and “inspiring,” with praise for its honest portrayal of what it takes to reach the pinnacle of motorsport at such a young age. Some viewers highlighted the human element — not just the performance — making the story resonate far beyond the racetrack.
Kimi Räikkönen himself remains one of F1’s most admired figures — a 2007 World Champion known for his no-nonsense attitude, dry humour, and unwavering passion for racing — and while Netflix has not yet confirmed a standalone feature dedicated solely to his life and career, the sport’s renewed popularity means his legacy continues to inspire documentaries, retrospectives, and fan-made tributes across platforms like F1 TV and beyond.
For now, fans can enjoy The Seat on Netflix a thrilling, emotional look at on driver’s journey to the top and a testament to the enduring spirit of Formula 1’s coolest personalities.
