Controversy over F1 broadcast coverage intensifies
Margarida Corceiro, who accompanies Lando Norris to Formula One races, has addressed mounting criticism about television broadcasts focusing excessively on drivers’ partners during competitions, reports BritPanorama.
The Portuguese model acknowledged she lacks any understanding of motorsport and attends Grand Prix weekends purely as moral support for the McLaren driver. “I don’t know anything about cars. I don’t understand anything,” Corceiro told Jornal de Noticias, dismissing suggestions she bears responsibility for camera operators’ editorial choices.
Her remarks follow complaints from Williams driver Carlos Sainz that broadcast directors prioritise celebrity reactions over crucial racing moments, sparking debate about appropriate television coverage as Norris pursues his maiden championship title. Sainz expressed frustration after the recent Singapore Grand Prix, where broadcast footage frequently highlighted his partner, Rebecca Donaldson, while significant on-track battles were overlooked. “Last weekend they didn’t show any of the four or five overtakes I did at the end. Nor did they show Fernando’s pursuit of Lewis,” Sainz told Spanish radio station El Partidazo de COPE.
He acknowledged that while reaction shots might enhance dramatic moments, the focus must remain on the sport itself. “For me, they go overboard a little showing the celebrities and girlfriends,” he added. Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft echoed these concerns, particularly when Fernando Alonso’s late-race duel with Lewis Hamilton went unbroadcast, amplifying discussions about editorial priorities in Formula One coverage.
The 23-year-old actress firmly rejected any notion that she bears responsibility for broadcast decisions during race weekends. “I feel absolutely no pressure from being a public figure,” Corceiro stated. “I’m there to support someone. I have nothing to do with that.” She remained dismissive when questioned about whether excessive camera attention affects her, saying, “If I get affected when they say I’m more filmed than cars? No, because I don’t call the cameras. I have nothing to do with it. It’s not my job. It’s not my area.”
The British driver currently holds a commanding 24-point advantage over McLaren colleague Oscar Piastri in the championship standings, with merely three races left in the season. Norris trails defending champion Max Verstappen by 49 points, positioning himself to potentially become Britain’s eleventh Formula One world champion. The couple’s relationship became public knowledge at this year’s Hungarian Grand Prix, where they appeared together following months of speculation about their romantic involvement dating back to 2023.
Corceiro joins other high-profile partners in the paddock this season, including Alexandra Saint Mleux, Charles Leclerc’s fiancée, and Kelly Piquet, Max Verstappen’s partner. Formula One officials responded to broadcast criticism by avoiding partner footage entirely at the subsequent race.
