No change of direction as FOM prioritizes racing-first coverage.

      "The broadcast concentrated solely on the racing."

      Formula 1's TV coverage has significantly changed in recent races, with the Mexico Grand Prix demonstrating that FOM has notably minimized its previously controversial emphasis on celebrity guests and drivers' partners. After strong criticism following the Singapore race, particularly from Carlos Sainz, who criticized the numerous "girlfriend" shots aired during live broadcasts, F1's television directors seem to have quietly adjusted their approach.

      At both Austin and Mexico, cameras steered clear of the usual close-ups of celebrities and team garages, concentrating instead on the action on the track. The German outlet Auto Motor und Sport observed that "drivers’ wives were no longer shown at all" during the Mexican Grand Prix, indicating a clear acknowledgment by Formula 1 of previous criticisms.

      "Anyone anticipating WAGs or Hollywood celebrities during the race was left disappointed," journalist Tobias Gruner noted. "The broadcast was entirely centered on the racing." He praised the TV crew for effectively capturing the excitement of Verstappen’s climb through the field and showcasing more midfield action that had been overlooked earlier in the season.

      The magazine remarked that the production team seemed to have "taken lessons from the backlash" after the Singapore race, when fans expressed dissatisfaction over missed overtakes and excessive celebrity cutaways. However, not all were satisfied. Former F1 driver Christijan Albers told De Telegraaf that the new approach still fell short, this time for not adequately capturing essential race moments.

      "That was so poor - truly dreadful," he remarked. "It was extremely hard to follow what was happening. After five laps, they were still replaying the start but overlooked the incident when Verstappen and Hamilton raced side by side into Turn 1. I’ve never witnessed anything like it."

      Albers’ criticism reflected a wider frustration regarding FOM’s timing of replays in Mexico, particularly as the near-miss involving Liam Lawson and the marshals was only shown on Sky's onboard feed instead of the main global feed.