F1 Fans Furious Over Sudden Lack of Girlfriend Coverage at U.S. Grand Prix
Critics call the sudden focus on racing ‘confusing and unnecessary.’
AUSTIN—Formula 1 fans were left disoriented and deeply unsettled during the U.S. Grand Prix this weekend after broadcasters made the shocking creative decision to focus almost entirely on the racing.
Viewers who had grown accustomed to long, slow pans of drivers’ girlfriends found themselves overwhelmed by the sudden influx of cars, strategy, and worst of all, driver battles. “It was chaos,” said longtime fan Nando Torres. “One minute I’m expecting a reaction shot of Lando’s girlfriend adjusting her sunglasses, and suddenly they’re talking about tire degradation? It’s like they forgot why we’re here.”
The outrage comes just a week after fans complained that the Qatar Grand Prix had too much coverage of the partners, accusing F1 of turning into a reality show like Drive to Survive. But now, the abrupt shift toward racing has left many feeling emotionally devastated. “There has to be balance,” said Carlos Mendoza, an F1 Instagram creator. “We didn’t ask for this much racing. It’s jarring. They should be able to capture our expectations perfectly. All millions of us.”
Broadcasters defended the decision, claiming the focus on actual competition was “intentional.” “We thought we’d try something different,” said F1 TV director Nigel Hughes. “You know, show the drivers driving. Clearly, that was a mistake.”
Some fans are already demanding a return to what they call the “Golden Era of Coverage.” Online petitions are circulating, calling for minimum screen-time regulations per partner and even a dedicated split-screen feed “for guest celebrities.”
“It’s about storytelling,” explained influencer James Lee. “When Max wins, I want to see Kelly’s face. When Charles locks up, I need to see who’s comforting him. Otherwise, what’s the point?”
As F1 attempts to navigate this new TV direction they can be assured that no matter how much of the event they actually cover, some fans will always prefer to be unhappy.