But before we delve into that. Formula 1 has experienced significant growth in the Middle East over the past twenty years, starting from humble beginnings and now boasting four Grand Prix weekends in the region – Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Bahrain, in particular, is the preferred destination for F1 preseason testing.
Adding to the region’s influence, F1 teams are either owned or heavily backed by Arab investors, such as McLaren and Aston Martin, with numerous sponsors from the Gulf region also involved. There has even been speculation about the Saudis potentially acquiring F1 from Liberty Media.
In essence, the Middle East is a major player on the global stage, and F1 is keen to capitalize on the seemingly abundant financial resources. However, it appears that little investment has been made in nurturing the Arabic-speaking F1 fanbase, which is essential for the sport’s grassroots growth. It seems that while they talk the talk, they have yet to walk the walk.
In February, Formula 1 announced a partnership with beIN, stating, “The multi-year agreement, valid until 2033, will encompass 25 territories in the MENA and Turkey region, granting beIN the rights to broadcast every F1 race weekend. This includes practice sessions, F1 Sprint events, and Grands Prix, which will be available on beIN SPORTS channels and their live-streaming app TOD.”
Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula 1, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “With beIN, we have found a partner who will enhance the broadcast experience and create top-notch programming that aligns with our mission to showcase the drama and spectacle of Formula 1 for our fans at home.”
Ian Holmes, Director of Media Rights and Content Creation at Formula 1, also praised beIN, stating, “beIN has established itself as one of the leading sports broadcasters globally, providing fans with unparalleled coverage across their sports portfolio. We are excited to collaborate with them, leveraging their extensive production capabilities in Doha, to further elevate F1’s broadcast programming and develop customized content that resonates with fans in the region, capturing the drama and excitement of Formula 1.”
Lastly, Yousef Al-Obaidly, CEO of beIN MEDIA GROUP, assured, “We are committed to delivering thrilling Formula 1 experiences to millions of fans and cultivating a new generation of followers through captivating regional content and innovative broadcasting.”
Plenty of optimistic and positive statements from all parties involved. However, a few months into the Championship and after five races, it seems that Arab F1 fans are expressing dissatisfaction with the quality of the commentary they are receiving.
As someone who has resided in Dubai for a long time, I still maintain close relationships with many passionate racing enthusiasts and motorsport contacts in the region. These fans are eager to consume high-quality content and possess extensive knowledge about F1, much like their counterparts worldwide. Additionally, a new generation is eager to learn and absorb information, as is typical of youth.
However, the information being provided to Arabic-speaking F1 fans seems to be hindering the growth of the fanbase, as I have heard from multiple sources. It is crucial that the quality of F1 coverage, regardless of the language, is of the highest standard. While it is understandable that beIN has chosen to use Sky F1 coverage in the short term, this decision may not be beneficial in the long run.
In the region, there is no excuse for not immediately implementing an Arab-speaking F1 team that mirrors the style of Sky. This team should conduct grid walks, provide analysis, insights, and more. Just like their counterparts in English, Spanish, German, Portuguese, or any other language, these commentators should possess the same passion and knowledge of the sport, from drivers to teams and beyond the F1 paddock. There are Arab F1 and motorsport experts out there, and they need to be approached and hired before the situation worsens.
Upon hearing complaints from my friends in Dubai, I asked Jad, who is both an Arab speaker and a devoted F1 fan, to investigate further. He explained, “The F1 coverage was previously provided by the Saudi-owned MBC Group through their Shahid platform. However, it shifted to the Qatar-owned beIN network. The announcement of this agreement came on February 28, just one day before the Bahrain season opener. This left fans, including myself, wondering how we would follow F1 after Shahid pulled out. F1 TV saved me in this case.”
“As mentioned in the press release following the agreement with beIN, many promises were made. However, the initial impressions of beIN’s coverage after five races can be summed up in one word: Disaster. This sentiment is echoed by numerous sources, including disgruntled fans on social media.”
“The commentary team that has been covering the races so far, allegedly selected from beIN’s pool of football commentators and different from the previous team employed by MBC, is simply inadequate. Their blatant mistakes reveal a lack of basic knowledge about the F1 teams, drivers, and even the intricacies of the sport.”
One F1 fan based in the UAE, who is not involved in motorsport professionally, provided examples of the errors made by the beIN commentators: “They are clueless. Suddenly, Liam Lawson is referred to as Williams’ reserve driver, and Daniel Ricciardo is said to be Zhou Guanyu’s teammate at Sauber. These are just a couple of many mistakes.”
Translation of the tweet: “Daniel Ricciardo is Zhou Guanyu’s teammate? 🤦♂️ @beINSPORTS, how long will the constant inaccuracies continue? 👎 #Formula1 #F1 #ChineseGP”
The frustrated Formula 1 enthusiast expressed their dissatisfaction with the technical analysis, stating that the explanation of Strat Mode as a race strategy was misleading. According to the fan, Strat Mode actually refers to the control of the energy recovery system and boost settings. Additionally, during the Bahrain race, a pitstop exercise shown on the live feed failed to showcase the branding on the cars, which was not properly explained by the commentators.
In China, the beIN correspondent struggled to secure interviews with notable figures in the F1 paddock, settling for an interview with a fan instead. The fan, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed disappointment and desired more substantial coverage.
One notable change in the beIN F1 coverage is that it is no longer available for free. Previously, MBC aired certain races, particularly those held in the Middle East, on their free-to-air channels, making it more accessible for local F1 fans. However, this convenience is no longer present with beIN.
Jad, an editor who does not watch the Arabic feed when reporting remotely, shared their perspective on the new coverage. They believe that F1 coverage has been lacking in the Middle East and that it had recently improved with effective Arabic content from the previous team. However, the current coverage is seen as a setback, as beIN has not hired specialized F1 reporters for the paddock. Instead, they are relying on their football correspondents, who lack knowledge and expertise in the sport.
The coverage of Formula 1 through platforms like F1TV, social media, YouTube, and others is unparalleled and of exceptional quality. Fans of the sport have the luxury of accessing every aspect and detail. However, this enthusiasm is not reflected in beIN’s social media channels, where there is a noticeable absence of F1-related posts. Even significant events like Nico Hulkenberg’s move from Haas to Sauber/Audi in 2025 went unnoticed.
Jad expressed his disappointment, stating that the content on beIN primarily revolves around football/soccer and basketball, with only occasional mentions of F1. Personally, he has switched to F1 TV this season and finds the content to be flawless. However, those who prefer Arabic commentary are left with an inferior service. It is worth noting that beIN sources its English content from Sky Sports F1.
Given that the Middle East now hosts four F1 races (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Bahrain) and is considered a promising emerging market for the sport, it is disheartening that the coverage is not up to par. It fails to attract and educate new fans and falls short of satisfying the existing knowledgeable fans, evident from their critical comments on beIN’s social media platforms.
Jad concludes by stating that while F1 coverage in the Middle East has had its ups and downs, the current state is a step in the wrong direction. He suggests that F1, teams, and drivers should not solely focus on profiting from the region’s financial contributions but also prioritize improving the Arabic commentary. It is crucial to effectively convey the F1 narrative and message to Arab-speaking fans. Until beIN takes immediate action to address these concerns, their F1 Messenger service will continue to face justified criticism. It is imperative for the sake of Arab-speaking F1 fans that prompt action is taken.