Sainz criticizes F1 approach: “Too many celebrities, less action on track”

Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz has expressed his dissatisfaction with the way races are broadcast live, criticizing the excessive focus on the reactions of the drivers’ girlfriends and celebrities during key moments of the competition. Sainz, known for his performance on the track, pointed out that the live broadcast of the Singapore Grand Prix, for example, completely omitted his impressive comeback from the back of the grid to tenth place. A race that, according to Sainz, lacked the necessary excitement. Furthermore, the live coverage barely focused on Fernando Alonso’s attempt to catch Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari in the final laps. Most of the on-track footage focused on Max Verstappen’s defense against Lando Norris in the fight for second place. While television channels control the look and feel of their coverage during live sessions and the race, the on-track footage is controlled by a single world feed directed by Formula 1 itself. It’s common for race images to include cuts to the reactions of girlfriends, family members, and celebrities in the garage, something Sainz considers an outdated approach to showcasing the sport.

In an interview with El Partidazo de COPE, Sainz commented: 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 added that he understands that the production team wants to show a reaction if there is an overtake or a tense moment in the race. However, this should only happen if the competition is respected and the important moments of the race are always shown. The Spanish driver regretted that, last weekend, none of the four or five overtakes he made at the end of the race were shown, nor Fernando’s pursuit of Lewis. “Many things were missed,” he stated. Sainz suggests that Formula 1 needs to re-evaluate where the line is between sport and spectacle. Furthermore, he added:

The other thing is fine, but we must not lose sight of the main thing. For me, they go a little overboard showing celebrities and girlfriends.

Carlos Sainz

He also mentioned the difficulty of moving around the paddock due to the large number of VIPs present. “Sometimes there are so many VIPs in the paddock that you can’t even walk. We move around by bike or scooter because if not, you simply can’t move,” he concluded. Formula 1 continues with the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin on October 19.