Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz has expressed his dissatisfaction with the way live races are broadcast, pointing out an excessive focus on the reactions of the drivers’ partners and celebrities during crucial moments.
Sainz criticized the television coverage, especially for overlooking key moments of the race, such as his outstanding comeback in the Singapore Grand Prix, where he managed to climb to tenth position from the back of the grid.
Live broadcast also minimized the tracking of Fernando Alonso to Lewis Hamilton in the last laps, prioritizing the images of Max Verstappen defending his position against Lando Norris in the fight for second place.
While television broadcasters control the coverage around the live sessions and the race, the on-track images are directed by a single global Formula 1 feed.
It’s common for race images to include cuts to the reactions of couples, family members, and celebrities in the garage, something that Sainz considers an outdated approach to showcasing the sport.Carlos Sainz ha expresado su preocupación sobre la forma en que se transmiten las carreras de F1.“It’s becoming a trend, which must have worked for them at some point when people found it interesting to see our girlfriends, see celebrities on television, the reactions,” Sainz commented to El Partidazo de COPE in Spain.
Sainz argued that, although reactions can be valid in moments of high tension, such as an overtaking maneuver, the priority should always be to show the important moments of the competition.
“Last weekend they didn’t show any of the four or five overtakes I made at the end. They didn’t show Fernando’s pursuit of Lewis either… a lot of things were missed,” he lamented.
Sainz suggested that Formula 1 needs to re-evaluate where the line between sport and spectacle lies.
“The rest is fine, but don’t lose sight of the main thing. For me, you go a bit overboard showing celebrities and girlfriends,” he added.
“Sometimes there are so many VIPs in the paddock that you can’t even walk. We move around by bike or scooter [in the paddock] because if not, you simply can’t move,” he concluded.
F1 continues with the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin on October 19.
