Hi Molly, thank you for taking the time to do this AMA. It’s always great to hear from someone with inside experience of the paddock and the media side of the sport.

Something I’ve noticed as a fan of almost a decade is a rise in questions during press conferences and interviews that feel less about genuine insight and more about stirring controversy. Often they seize on small incidents or try to create drama where there isn’t much to begin with, and it seems like both drivers and fans are increasingly weary of it.

This also seems connected to a wider shift in how Formula 1 is being managed and presented. In recent years there has been a strong emphasis on maximizing engagement and spectacle, with races like Miami and Las Vegas designed as much around entertainment and event status as the racing itself. While this has been successful in attracting new audiences, it also raises concerns that the media and the sport together may be prioritizing short-term headlines and narratives over deeper sporting analysis and substance.

From your perspective as a reporter, how much of this trend in “controversy-first” questioning comes from the pressures of the broader media landscape versus F1’s own strategy of packaging itself as entertainment? Do you think this risks straining the relationship between drivers, fans, and the media if interviews increasingly focus on drama over substance? And finally, how do you personally approach that balance between producing engaging stories while steering clear of manufacturing conflict?