Carlos Sainz has criticised F1’s broadcast of races by claiming that coverage of celebrities and girlfriends has gone ‘overboard’.
Race footage is controlled by a singular global feed, so broadcasters such as Sky Sports can only show images supplied by Formula One.
Sainz, who drives for Williams, has made his unhappiness clear after his late surge at the end of the Singapore Grand Prix was barely televised last Sunday.
Fans were also unhappy at missing Fernando Alonso’s attempt to catch Lewis Hamilton on the final lap with the Brit forced to nurse his Ferrari over the finish line due to a brake failure.
‘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 told Spanish radio station El Partidazo de COPE.
‘I understand that if there is an overtake, a very tense moment in the race, it is understandable that the production team might want to show a reaction shot if they have seen that it has worked in the past.
‘But [it should only be shown] if the competition is respected and you are always showing the important moments of the race.
‘Last weekend they didn’t show any of the four of five overtakes I did at the end, nor did they show Fernando’s pursuit of Lewis – they missed a lot of things.’
Sainz is also unhappy with the number of celebrities and VIPs in the paddock before races.
‘Don’t lose sight of the main thing,’ Sainz said.
‘For me, they go overboard a little showing the celebrities and girlfriends.
‘Sometimes there are so many VIPs in the paddock you can’t even walk. We move by bike or scooter [in the paddock] because if you don’t, you just can’t get around.’
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