Interview | Joe Saward | F1 Journalist | 160 | Inside F1's Private Testing Controversy

Why did Formula 1 close Barcelona's pre-season testing to media and fans—and what does that decision reveal about who really calls the shots in the sport? In this conversation, Sabrina sits down with Joe Saward, one of only five journalists who attended every F1 race in 2025, all on his own dime and completely independent from teams or media companies.

They talk about the political and business calculations behind Barcelona's closed-door testing, why Bahrain's contract forced F1's hand, and whether this precedent could return in 2031. You'll also hear Joe's take on what the 2026 regulations will actually deliver—battery glitches, potential ECU failures, and why Mercedes doing 100 laps on day one with a brand-new power unit is more impressive than most fans realize. Beyond the technical side, they dig into F1's brutal travel schedule and why only five journalists now go to all 24 races, how workforce turnover is changing team culture, and what makes F1 different from any other business when teams like Mercedes are turning over a billion dollars but the people doing it would still say it beats working.

If you want to understand the politics, the money, and the real decision-making that shapes what you see on a Grand Prix Sunday, this is the conversation that connects those dots.

Check out Joe online: 

• JSBM Newsletter 
• Grand Prix+
• The Green Notebook

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