In the high-octane world of Formula 1, where every tenth of a second counts, a new controversy is brewing, and it has nothing to do with what’s happening on the track. The debate, sparked by comments from Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, revolves around whether F1’s broadcast is becoming too focused on celebrities and drivers’ girlfriends, affectionately known as the “F1 WAGs.”

Following the Singapore Grand Prix, Sainz voiced his frustration in a radio interview, stating, “The TV broadcasts failed to show any of the four or five overtakes of his at the end of the race nor did they show Fernando’s pursuit of Lewis. They missed lots of on-track battles.” But the comment that truly ignited the firestorm was his observation that “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.”

Sainz’s remarks struck a chord with many fans who have long felt that the sport is becoming more about the glitz and glamour and less about the racing. Social media was instantly abuzz with fans echoing Sainz’s sentiments, with many claiming that the broadcasts are “littered” with shots of girlfriends and celebrities. But is this perception rooted in reality, or is it a classic case of a vocal minority shaping the narrative?

To get to the bottom of this, F1 photographer and content creator Kym Illman took it upon himself to conduct a detailed analysis of the Singapore Grand Prix broadcast. Armed with a pen, paper, and a stopwatch, Illman meticulously timed every cutaway from the on-track action to a driver’s girlfriend, team principal, or crew member. The results of his investigation are nothing short of surprising.

During the 1 hour and 41-minute race, a total of just two girlfriends were shown on screen: Rebecca Donaldson, Carlos Sainz’s girlfriend, for 8 seconds, and Maggie, Lando Norris’s girlfriend, for 7 seconds. That’s a grand total of 15 seconds of girlfriend screen time in a broadcast that lasted 6,060 seconds. To put that into perspective, that’s a mere 0.25% of the entire race broadcast.

The analysis also revealed that the broadcast cut away to show Toto Wolff for 15 seconds, the McLaren crew on six separate occasions for a total of 36 seconds, and single shots of Fred Vasseur, Bono, Peter Bayer, and Andy Cal each for about 7 seconds. All in all, the total time dedicated to these off-track shots amounted to approximately 86 seconds, or just over 1% of the total coverage.

So, if the actual screen time dedicated to girlfriends and celebrities is so minimal, why is there such a strong perception that it’s excessive? The answer may lie in the post-race coverage. Illman’s analysis found that in the 24 minutes following the checkered flag, the focus did indeed shift. George Russell’s girlfriend, Carmen, was shown on screen five times for a total of 31 seconds, and Maggie popped up for another 3 seconds. The longest shot of any girlfriend in the entire broadcast was of Carmen in parc fermé, a shot that pulled back to reveal Illman himself talking to her.

It’s also worth noting that in that particular race, George Russell had no other family or friends present, making Carmen the only person the director could cut to for a personal, emotional reaction. This highlights a key point in the debate: the human element. Formula 1 is not just a sport about cars and technology; it’s about the people, the passion, and the drama. Seeing the raw emotion on the faces of a driver’s loved ones after a hard-fought victory or a devastating defeat adds a layer of depth and relatability to the sport.

However, the more pressing issue, as Sainz rightly pointed out, is the on-track action that is being missed. The Singapore Grand Prix, for instance, featured a thrilling last-lap battle between Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, a battle that was largely ignored by the broadcast in favor of showing the McLaren team celebrating. This is a far more egregious offense in the eyes of most fans than a few seconds of a girlfriend’s reaction.

The challenge for the F1 broadcast director is to find the right balance between showcasing the on-track action and telling the human stories that unfold in the paddock and the pit lane. It’s a delicate dance, and with dozens of cameras and audio feeds to choose from, the pressure to make the right call in the heat of the moment is immense.

In response to the controversy, Formula 1 management stated that it “seeks to strike a balance between on-track action and context moments showing the reactions from friends and family,” and that they “always focus on giving our fans the best possible footage of the race and never compromise the key focus: the racing on track.”

To see if this was a one-off occurrence, Illman also analyzed the Monza Grand Prix and found similar results. During the 64-minute race, there were four crosses to girlfriends for a total of 28 seconds. Post-race, the numbers were slightly higher, with Kelly Piquet, Max Verstappen’s partner, appearing on screen for 26 seconds in 19 minutes.

Ultimately, while the perception may be that F1 is becoming a reality TV show, the data suggests otherwise. The screen time dedicated to girlfriends and celebrities is minimal, and the real issue at hand is the missed on-track action. As the sport continues to grow in popularity, it will be crucial for the broadcast to evolve and find new and innovative ways to capture the hearts and minds of its fans, without sacrificing the core product: the racing.