Max Verstappen's favourite show, Drive to Survive, speeds back on screens this week but the latest season is conspicuous by his absence.

The reigning world champion has had a famously rocky relationship with the Netflix docuseries that dates back to its 2019 debut.

Drive to Survive, which has been credited with the explosion of Formula 1 in America, dramatises the biggest stories from the grid.

However, the build-up to the release of season six on Friday has been dominated by Verstappen's seemingly minimal presence.

D2S series six will be telling the story of the 2023 F1 season, in which Verstappen dominated to win his third successive world title.

The Dutchman claimed a record-breaking 19 wins from 22 Grands Prix to help steer Red Bull to both championships - yet he was barely a footnote in any of the Netflix promotion material and trailers.

That might be due to Verstappen's open dislike of the show, which led to him refusing to take part in their fourth season.

His feud with Netflix originated during Drive to Survive season one, with the 26-year-old furious with his portrayal in the documentary.

Red Bull were the only major team to agree to take part in the first series, with Ferrari and Mercedes initially refusing before joining from season two.

As a result, much of the opening season was dominated by Red Bull, which fan favourite Daniel Ricciardo featured in extensively.

Verstappen was treated less sympathetically than his teammate, with Netflix hyping up perceived tension between the two as the driving reason behind Ricciardo quitting Red Bull at the end of the season.

But it was likely Drive to Survive's coverage of his infamous fallout with Esteban Ocon in Brazil that tipped him over the edge.

The pair were involved in an extraordinary coming together on lap 44 at Interlagos when race-leader Verstappen passed backmarker Ocon.

Then-Force India driver Ocon attempted to unlap himself going into Turn 1 causing a collision that saw Verstappen spin out and hand Lewis Hamilton the race win.

“What a f***ing idiot,” was Verstappen’s response on the team radio before he flipped Ocon off as he drove back past him.

The Frenchman was handed a 10-second stop-go penalty but Verstappen was incensed at having to settle for second.

The drama didn't stop after the chequered flag had flown with Verstappen confronting Ocon in the drivers’ weighing area before repeatedly shoving him in the chest.

FIA officials intervened to restrain Ocon from retaliating but Netflix, of course, captured the dramatic fallout on camera.

Neither driver had calmed down when speaking to the media later, with Ocon calling Verstappen a 'lunatic' on French TV.

"With Max it did not work out," he said. "That's one thing. But what is worse is Max's behaviour afterwards - being violent, pushing me, wanting to punch me. The FIA had to stop him.

"That is not a professional way of handling things. I would do the same again."

Verstappen, responded: "He [Ocon] has always been an idiot. I was trying to do my job, and then suddenly a backmarker is racing you and taking stupid risks."

He added in the driver's press conference: "I don't really have lots to comment on that, except that he was being a p***y."

Verstappen's Red Bull team principal Christian Horner claimed his star driver was 'pretty restrained' and that Ocon was 'lucky' to get away with just a push - although the stewards didn't agree.

Verstappen was found guilty of "starting an altercation", and failing to "act as a role model" and was sentenced to two days of community service.

In the Drive to Survive season one finale, 'Crossing the Line', F1 broadcaster Will Buxton said of the incident that Verstappen still needed to mature.