Carlos Sainz has criticised Formula 1‘s coverage of the Singapore Grand Prix, citing the live feed focused too heavily on drivers’ families and partners rather than racing.
The Spaniard produced a spectacular performance at the Marina Bay Street Circuit as he made his way from 18th to 10th at the chequered flag.
Instead of showcasing the racing performances, the broadcast frequently cut to images of drivers’ girlfriends and family in the garages.
Throughout the race, they cut shots of Sainz’s and Lando Norris’ partners, Rebecca Donaldson and Margarida Corceiro, as well as Lance Stroll’s family.
Sainz has grown incredibly frustrated with the situation, which has worsened as the year progressed.
Whilst speaking to a Spanish radio station, Sainz expressed his annoyance with key racing moments being overshadowed by off-track shots.
“It’s becoming a bit of a trend,” Sainz said.
“It must have worked for them at one time, when people found it interesting to see our girlfriends, to see famous people on television, the reactions.”
“I understand that if there is an overtake or a very tense moment in the race, it’s understandable that the production team might want to show a reaction shot,
if they have seen that this has worked in the past, but only if the competition is respected and you are always showing the important moments of the race.”
Alonso and Hamilton drama missed on the broadcast
Sainz emphasised that the broadcast also missed several key moments during the weekend, particularly the battle between Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.
“Last weekend, they didn’t show any of the four or five overtakes I did at the end, nor did they show Fernando’s pursuit of Lewis. They missed a lot of things.
“The other [off-track coverage] is fine, but don’t lose sight of the main thing. For me, they go overboard a little by showing the celebrities and girlfriends.”
The battle that Sainz is referring to unfolded in the later stages of the race as Hamilton battled serious brake issues in the closing laps of the Grand Prix.
In an attempt to stay ahead, the Ferrari driver had to cut corners throughout the final laps. This situation left the Spaniard frustrated, who raged over the team radio.
“F***ing hell mate, I cannot believe it. I cannot f***ing believe it. I cannot f***ing believe it. I mean, I cannot f***ing believe it. I cannot f***ing believe it,” he exclaimed.
“Is it safe to drive with no brakes? It should be f***ing P7, you cannot drive like you are alone on track.”
The stewards agreed with Alonso, handing Hamilton a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits, ultimately dropping him behind the Aston Martin driver.
Despite this intense battle, viewers across the world saw little to no of this key battle.
Instead, viewers were forced to watch garage reactions, celebrity sightings and scenic shots of the iconic Marina Bay.
This caused many F1 fans to take their annoyance to social media as they expressed concerns about F1’s coverage.
Balancing the action and the stardom
The surge of behind-the-scenes content has coincided with the Netflix docu-series Drive to Survive.
This programme has offered viewers an insight into the lives of F1 drivers, as well as the action that fans don’t see on the broadcast.
Alongside this, the Netflix series has introduced millions of new and younger viewers to the sport, thus causing a shift that has influenced how broadcasters engage.
However, according to Formula One Management [FOM], the intent is to balance coverage of the racing action with glimpses into the host city, fans, and family members of drivers. This is part of a wider effort to make the sport more engaging for a growing younger and international audience.
Still, for some F1 fans and drivers, that growing emphasis on lifestyle and celebrity risks overshadowing the reason why fans engage in the sport: the racing.
“I understand showing reactions – it’s part of the show,” Sainz added. “But the competition must always come first.”
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