Carlos Sainz has criticised Formula One broadcasters for prioritising shots of drivers' girlfriends and celebrities over on-track action, saying the sport is 'going overboard' with the trend. The Williams driver was frustrated that his charge from the back of the field to 10th place at the Singapore Grand Prix was largely ignored by the world feed, which instead showed his girlfriend Rebecca Donaldson and Lando Norris's girlfriend Magui Corceiro in the paddock.
Sainz told Spanish radio station El Partidazo de COPE that the production team should only show reaction shots if the competition is respected and the important moments of the race are always shown. He noted that several of his overtakes and a battle between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton were missed, while Max Verstappen's tussle with Lando Norris for second dominated the live feed.
'It's becoming a bit of a trend, which must have worked for them once upon a time when people found it interesting to see our girlfriends, to see famous people on TV, the reactions,' Sainz said. 'The other thing is fine but don't lose sight of the main thing. For me, they go overboard a little showing the celebrities and girlfriends.'
Formula One responded on Thursday, stating that it always focuses on giving fans the best possible footage of the race and never compromises the key focus of racing on track. The organisation said its team does a great job of covering a complex situation and also provides context moments of grandstands, high-profile guests and locations.
The popularity of the Netflix series Drive to Survive has increased interest in drivers' personal lives, with Mercedes attracting 7.8 million views for an Instagram reel showing George Russell's girlfriend reacting to his victory. Sainz also noted that the paddock has become so crowded with VIPs that drivers often have to use bikes or scooters to get around.
