Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz has expressed his dissatisfaction with the way races are broadcast live, criticizing the excessive emphasis on the reactions of the drivers’ partners and celebrities during key moments of the competition.
Sainz, known for his performance on the track, pointed out that television coverage often overlooks crucial moments of the race, such as his impressive comeback from the back of the grid to tenth place in the Singapore Grand Prix. In addition, he lamented that the broadcast did not focus on the intense battle between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton in the final laps.
Although television channels control their own coverage, the images from the track are directed by a global signal from Formula 1.
The practice of showing the reactions of couples, family members, and celebrities in the garage has become common, something that Sainz considers an outdated approach to sports broadcasting.
Sainz emphasized that several of his overtakes and the pursuit of Fernando Alonso were not shown the previous weekend. The driver suggests that Formula 1 needs to re-evaluate the balance between sport and spectacle. “The rest is fine, but don’t lose sight of the main thing. For me, they go a bit overboard showing the celebrities and the girlfriends,” he added. “Sometimes there are so many VIPs in the paddock that you can’t even walk. We get around by bike or scooter [in the paddock] because otherwise, you just can’t move.” Formula 1 continues with the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin on October 19.“It’s becoming a trend, which should have worked at the time, when people found it interesting to see our girlfriends, see celebrities on TV, the reactions… I understand that if there is an overtaking, a very tense moment in the race, it is understandable that the production wants to show a reaction if it has seen that it has worked in the past… but as long as the competition is respected and you are always showing the important moments of the race”.
Carlos Sainz