Carlos Sainz’s criticism hits the mark: no shots of girlfriends or VIPs during the Austin GP. After Carlos Sainz criticized Formula 1’s TV direction in Singapore.

A comeback in Singapore that went unseen

Following the Singapore Grand Prix, Spanish driver Carlos Sainz expressed frustration with Formula 1’s television coverage, claiming his impressive comeback drive had gone largely unnoticed by the cameras. In an interview with Spanish media, the Williams driver remarked that his recovery from the back of the grid to the points was overshadowed by constant shots of the drivers’ partners and celebrities in the paddock.

Carlos Sainz stated, “It’s becoming a kind of trend to constantly see our girlfriends or VIPs on TV. I understand that if there’s an overtaking move or a moment of tension, the production might want to show reactions — but they should do it while still respecting what’s happening in the race.”

Formula 1 responds in Austin

Formula 1 responded to Carlos Sainz’s comments with an official statement defending its production choices. The note read: “Our goal is always to provide fans with the best possible images of the race. There are no compromises when it comes to the most important thing — what happens on track. Our team does an excellent job of showing complex situations involving multiple cars in different positions and linking them to crowd reactions, key guests, and the overall atmosphere.”

Even though Formula 1 did not admit to any misjudgment over the Singapore broadcast, a noticeable change occurred during the United States Grand Prix in Austin. Throughout the 56 laps of the race, there were no televised shots of drivers’ girlfriends or celebrity guests. The entire broadcast focused exclusively on the on-track action, leaving little doubt that Carlos Sainz’s criticism had made an impact.

The only exceptions were two brief moments: a quick glimpse of Ollie Bearman’s father reacting after his son’s collision with Yuki Tsunoda, and a shot of American singer Shaboozey waving the chequered flag at the end of the race. Beyond that, the cameras remained firmly on the cars and the racing battles — a welcome change for many fans who had long asked for a greater focus on the sport itself rather than the off-track personalities.

Whether this shift marks a one-off decision or the beginning of a new direction in Formula 1 broadcasting remains to be seen. However, after Carlos Sainz’s public remarks, the Austin GP seemed to signal that F1’s producers had indeed listened — prioritizing wheel-to-wheel racing and on-track storylines over celebrity reactions.