Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz has voiced frustration with the way Formula 1 broadcasts its races, arguing that live coverage spends too much time showing celebrities and drivers’ partners instead of focusing on the on-track action.
Sainz’s comments came after the Singapore Grand Prix, where his impressive charge from the back of the grid to 10th place was completely missed by the world feed. Fans also noticed that the broadcast barely covered Fernando Alonso’s pursuit of Lewis Hamilton, instead centering on Max Verstappen’s battle with Lando Norris for second place.
Although local broadcasters handle commentary and pre/post-race segments, the main race footage is controlled by Formula 1’s centralized world feed, which decides what moments are shown live.
According to Sainz, F1’s growing tendency to cut to shots of girlfriends, families, and VIP guests during key moments feels outdated.
“It’s becoming a bit of a trend,” Sainz told El Partidazo de COPE. “Maybe it worked in the past when people liked seeing our girlfriends or celebrities in the garage, but the focus should always stay on the racing.”
The Spanish driver said he understands that reaction shots can add emotion, but believes they shouldn’t come at the cost of missing crucial race moments.
“Last weekend, they didn’t show any of the four or five overtakes I made at the end,” he added. “They also missed Fernando’s chase of Lewis — a lot of important action wasn’t shown.”
Sainz urged F1 to rethink the balance between sport and spectacle, emphasizing that the competition itself should remain front and center.
“It’s fine to show famous faces now and then, but don’t lose sight of what matters most,” he said. “Sometimes there are so many VIPs in the paddock you can barely move — we need scooters just to get around.”
The 2025 F1 season continues with the U.S. Grand Prix at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas on October 19.
