Carlos Sainz: F1 go overboard by showing the celebrities and girlfriends

Williams driver Carlos Sainz arrives ahead of the first practice session of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix. Pic: AP Photo/Vincent Thian.

Carlos Sainz believes that Formula One “go overboard” showing images of the drivers’ girlfriends during races instead of broadcasting what is going on out on the track.

The Williams driver spoke out after television viewers missed several key moments during the Singapore Grand Prix last Sunday.

Sainz’s model girlfriend, Rebecca Donaldson, was shown during a race in which he finished 10th after starting 18th on the grid with the TV production missing out on several of his overtakes, along with a dramatic battle between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.

Lando Norris’s girlfriend, Magui Corceiro, was also shown during the race as was Alexandra Saint Mleux, partner of the Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.

Speaking to Spanish radio station El Partidazo de COPE, Sainz said: “It’s becoming a bit of a trend, which 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, 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 this has worked in the past, but only 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 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 [showing the off-track things] is fine, but don’t lose sight of the main thing.

“For me, they go overboard a little by showing the celebrities and girlfriends.”

Broadcasters like Sky Sports take their race footage from F1’s world feed but do offer on-board cameras.