Carlos Sainz delivered an impressive drive at the Singapore Grand Prix, climbing from 18th on the grid to finish in 10th place. However, the Spaniard  was left frustrated, not because of his performance, but because viewers barely saw it on television.

Instead of showing the on-track action, Formula 1’s broadcast often cut away to shots of drivers’ girlfriends, families, and celebrities in the garages. Viewers saw plenty of clips of Sainz’s partner Rebecca Donaldson, Lando Norris’s girlfriend Margarida Corceiro, and Lance Stroll’s family, but very little of the racing itself.

Sainz told Spanish radio station El Partidazo de COPE that F1’s television directors have gone too far with these cutaway shots. “It’s becoming a bit of a trend,” he said. “Maybe it worked in the past when people found it interesting to see our girlfriends or famous people’s reactions. I understand showing a reaction if there is a tense moment, but the important racing moments must come first.”

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The Williams driver was particularly disappointed that none of his late overtakes were shown live. He also pointed out that fans missed the exciting final lap battle between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, when the Aston Martin driver came within half a second of overtaking the Mercedes, who was struggling with brake problems.

“Last weekend they didn’t show any of my overtakes, nor Fernando’s pursuit of Lewis,” Sainz said. “They missed a lot of things. The other shots are fine, but don’t lose sight of the main thing. For me, they go a bit too far with the celebrities and girlfriends.”

Sainz added that the paddock has become overcrowded with VIP guests, making it difficult for the drivers to move around. “Sometimes there are so many VIPs in the paddock you can’t even walk,” he said. “We have to use bikes or scooters to get around.”

Fans also shared Sainz’s frustration on social media, complaining that key race moments were replaced with celebrity reactions and scenic shots of Marina Bay.

Formula One Management says its goal is to balance racing coverage with glimpses of the host city, fans, and drivers’ families as part of a wider effort to attract a younger global audience through shows like Drive to Survive. But for Sainz, the balance has tipped too far.

“I understand showing reactions, it’s part of the show,” he concluded. “But the competition must always come first.”