Carlos Sainz Jnr, Williams, Singapore, 2025

Formula 1 has responded to criticism of television coverage of its races by Carlos Sainz Jnr, insisting that it strives to provide “the best possible footage” of events.

Coverage of last weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, controlled by Formula One Management’s (FOM) television production team, received significant criticism from fans on social media.

Fans were vocal in their disapproval of what they considered an excessive amount of shots of drivers’ partners in the pit lane, as well as several on-track overtakes during the race not being broadcast and a tense final lap battle between Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso over seventh place being ignored completely following the chequered flag.

Sainz, who started Sunday’s race from 18th and rose to finish in the points, had few of his battles for position featured on FOM’s world feed during the course of his race. Speaking to Spanish programme El Partidazo de Cope, Williams driver Sainz cautioned against the volume of garage reaction shots of drivers’ significant others during live races.

“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 said.

“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 (only) if the competition is respected and you are always showing the important moments of the race.”

In response to Sainz’s comments, Formula 1 has insisted that it is satisfied with the quality of race coverage that FOM’s producers and directors are providing to fans over the world feed.

“We always focus on giving our fans the best possible footage of the race and never compromise the key focus – the racing on track,” said an F1 spokesperson in a statement to RaceFans.

“Our team does a great job of covering a highly complex situation with multiple cars at different points on a track and also provide great context moments of the grandstands, high profile guests and the locations we race at. We are always in pursuit of excellence and improvement in what we deliver.”

Sainz scored the final point in last weekend’s race, finishing tenth. It was Sainz’s second consecutive points finish following his podium placing in Azerbaijan and moved the Williams driver up to 12th place in the drivers’ championship, equal on points with Lance Stroll.

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