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The makers of the upcoming Netflix documentary surrounding the 2018 Formula 1 season has accused Mercedes and Ferrari of doing F1 a disservice by not taking part in the ten-part series.
The two F1 giants opted not to give the filmmakers inside access to their operations amid a close title fight. The other eight teams agreed to the terms, and the series' executive producer Paul Martin said that it was all or nothing for every team.
"Mercedes and Ferrari wanted to operate under different terms to the rest of the teams, and us, as producers, and Netflix as the broadcasting platform, didn't feel comfortable with that," Martin said.
"It was going to be all-or-nothing and if those terms were good enough for the eight other teams, it should have been good enough for Mercedes and Ferrari, too. My view is that they did a slight disservice to the fans and the sport by not taking part.
"We were lucky enough that teams such as Red Bull, Renault, Haas, and the others gave us fabulous access and bared their souls."
Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes came out on top in the drivers' and constructors' championship respectively last year, defeating Ferrari who dropped off in form in the second half of the year.
Speaking about the situation, a Mercedes spokesperson said: "We were delighted to see that last season's compelling, year-long battle for the championship between Ferrari and Mercedes helped drive 10 per cent growth in unique viewership for F1 worldwide and made the sport the fastest growing in the world on social media.
"Competing for the world championship is an all-consuming business that demands every ounce of focus from the entire team; we are driven first and foremost by performance in every decision we make."
Ferrari did not comment on the situation.
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