The Melbourne Grand Prix tossed up plenty of spectacular crashes and action, but fuming viewers have accused Channel Ten of failing to bring them the most important moments of the race.
Aussie Formula One fans have taken to social media to complain about the host broadcaster running too many ads during the first event of the season, especially during critical developments.
The race included several spectacular incidents, including Aussie hope Oscar Piastri spinning off the track while he was second, and his countryman Jack Doohan crashing out in terrible weather conditions.
Other moments included 2024 Melbourne GP winner Charles Leclerc watching his hopes of back-to-back victories vanish after dramatically slipping off the track mid-race.
Lewis Hamilton’s gamble to stay on track backfired when heavy rain forced him into a disastrous pit stop for wet tyres.
And New Zealand’s Liam Lawson endured heartbreak, crashing out with just 10 laps remaining after a promising performance.
Liam Lawson lost control of his Red Bull with 10 laps left in the race in one of several highlight-reel moments viewers claimed they missed due to Channel Ten’s coverage
Aussie Jack Doohan crashed out in the early exchanges of the Melbourne Grand Prix
Last year’s winner Charles Leclerc was caught out by the atrocious weather
But viewers fumed they missed those critical moments because Network Ten went to ad breaks as they happened.
‘@channelten10 slinging a shed load of ads at viewers during a critical stage of the GP as weather changed. We missed Leclerc spin, Hamilton leading then his tyre change, then Lawson going off. Absolutely disgraceful cash grab,’ one viewer raged.
That extended to the network’s streaming platform 10Play as well.
‘#10play you are an absolute JOKE!! You decide in the most critical part of the race to cram 7 bulls**t adverts promoting your stupid shows that NO ONE will watch !! No wonder #channel10 you are broke!! #f1 #AusGP,’ one Aussie F1 fan posted to social media platform X.
And viewers said the saturation of advertisements only got worse as the race reached its dramatic conclusion.
‘Channel 10…. WTF is with the ads when it is all happening at the last 10 laps and everyone is in the pits… seriously,’ another fan posted on social media.
‘#Channel10 coverage of #MelbourneF1 is 10% action, 10% talk from people who’ve no idea about F1 and 80% adverts,’ fumed another.
‘Nice ads in the middle of action you garbage channel,’ yet another disgruntled F1 fan posted.
McLaren’s Lando Norris managed to claim victory in Melbourne
Oscar Piastri was set for a podium finish before spinning out and finishing in ninth
Ten stood by its coverage in a statement to Daily Mail Australia.
‘Viewers watching Network 10’s live and free coverage of the via 10 and 10 BOLD enjoyed uninterrupted coverage with innovative picture-in-picture commercial breaks so viewers did not miss a second of the action,’ it read.
‘However, for 10 Play viewers, regular commercial breaks aired as per normal and best endeavours were made to broadcast these with minimal disruption.’
Piastri managed to recover from spinning out with 10 laps to go to finish a fighting ninth.
‘Once you’re in the gravel, in the grass, you obviously try to keep the car as straight as possible,’ Piastri said.
‘Then to get stuck in the grass like that was pretty unbelievable, just sat in the car.
‘But I’ve only got myself to blame for being there, so it’s a shame.’
And Doohan said he won’t dwell on his ‘brutal’ F1 crash despite intensifying pressure to keep his position at Alpine.
‘It’s my first shunt in one of these Formula One cars. I’m sure it won’t be the last. It’s a brutal way to have it, but it happens,’ Doohan said.
‘I didn’t want it to happen, but it has. I’ve accepted it and I’m not really looking for excuses.
‘I made this mistake and I accept it, and I look forward to just bouncing back.’
