The incident resulted in their suspension after they made offensive remarks during the broadcast of the Spanish Grand Prix. Federica Masolin, a former presenter for Sky F1 in Italy, has opened up about her personal struggle following a sexism scandal involving her colleagues, Davide Valsecchi and Matteo Bobbi, in 2023. The incident led to their suspension after they made derogatory comments during the Spanish Grand Prix broadcast, but both returned to their roles four weeks later. The controversy arose from a comment by Bobbi regarding a woman nearby, implying that she was an “upgrade package,” to which Valsecchi jokingly responded about not being able to “test” them, indicating a sexist undertone to their banter. Valsecchi later announced his departure from Sky Italia’s F1 coverage for 2024, and Masolin also left her F1 role, which she had held for a decade, to lead the broadcaster’s Champions League football coverage. They were replaced by Davide Camicioli and Vicky Piria, a former W Series driver, for the new season.
During an episode of the BSMT by Gianluca Gazzoli podcast, Masolin shared her distress over the backlash, defending Valsecchi and Bobbi, stating that their comments were not intended to offend. She described her close bond with both, portraying Valsecchi as a “messy brother” and Bobbi as a “nice guy,” and emphasized that their remarks were made in jest during a long day of live broadcasting and were not meant to belittle anyone. Masolin highlighted the camaraderie and familial atmosphere within the Sky F1 team, suggesting that the comments were made in a lighthearted manner. Despite receiving support from within the organization, both Valsecchi and Bobbi publicly apologized for their remarks, acknowledging the inappropriate nature of their jokes and expressing regret to those who were offended. Valsecchi used Instagram to convey his apologies, particularly to women and Sky, while Bobbi used Twitter to express his remorse, emphasizing his respect for women and his commitment to personal growth and professional improvement.