“Unfortunately I was not able to commentate on F2 as I suffered an epileptic seizure before the race,” Chris McCarthy wrote on X on Saturday, announcing the abrupt reason he would not be on air for the Monaco weekend’s junior-series coverage. He added: “Glad to say I’m all okay & heading back from the hospital to rest up for the weekend.”
McCarthy, F1tv’s lead commentator for Formula 3 and Formula 2, had been in the Monaco commentary box for Thursday’s Formula 3 practices and Friday’s Formula 2 qualifying. The seizure — which occurred before Saturday’s Formula 2 Sprint race during the Monaco weekend that hosts Formula 3 round two and Formula 2 round four — forced him to be taken to hospital and to miss the live F2 commentary.
Alex Brundle and Alice Powell stepped into the gap on Saturday, taking over McCarthy’s duties for the junior series for the remainder of the weekend. They also led commentary on Sunday, ensuring continuous coverage while McCarthy recovered; McCarthy publicly thanked them, writing: “Thanks to Alice and Alex for taking over.”
The immediate weight of the interruption was practical: viewers tuning into F1tv expecting the familiar pairing of McCarthy’s voice with the junior grids heard Brundle and Powell instead, and the broadcast team had to reassign roles mid-weekend. Brundle posted a direct message to McCarthy — “Mate, we were concerned for you” — and added: “Glad you are feeling a little better, rest up and we’ll see you for the next one.” Karun Chandhok also sent quick well wishes: “Glad to hear you’re ok Chris! Get well soon.”
McCarthy confirmed he was released from hospital later the same day he was admitted and used X to thank followers: “Thanks to everyone for all the messages” and “Incredibly grateful to everyone for the messages of support, it really means a huge amount.” A few hours after Saturday’s race he stated he would miss Sunday’s on-air duties and “Will be resting up tomorrow to enjoy the racing from home.”
Context matters: McCarthy is not a weekend guest but the lead voice for both Formula 2 and Formula 3 on F1tv, so his sudden absence reshuffled coverage across two championship rounds in one of the sport’s biggest venues. Monaco’s tight schedule and high-profile setting made the disruption visible to a global audience tuning in for the junior categories as much as the Grand Prix itself.
The friction in the story is simple and unavoidable. McCarthy insisted he was “all okay” after the seizure, yet he still missed both Saturday’s Formula 2 Sprint race and Sunday’s commentary, handing the microphone to colleagues despite the reassurances. What caused the epileptic seizure has not been explained in his posts; no further medical detail was provided beyond the hospital visit and same-day release.
That gap — the unanswered why — is the only open element left by the weekend. McCarthy framed the decision clearly: immediate rest and recovery, watched from home rather than behind the mic. The broadcast team treated the situation as an operational problem to be solved in real time; Brundle and Powell’s takeover was practical and, by the weekend’s end, complete.
The most consequential next fact is also the plainest: McCarthy said he would rest and enjoy the racing from home on Sunday, and he offered gratitude for the support he received. There was no further health bulletin by the close of the Monaco weekend, and the only public timetable he provided for return is the implication in Brundle’s message that he’ll be back “for the next one.”
For viewers of F1tv and followers of the junior categories, the weekend answered the immediate question — why he was absent — while leaving the medical cause unresolved. McCarthy’s choice to step back, recover and observe from home ended the weekend’s uncertainty and handed continuity to a deputised commentary pair until he can confirm a return.
