ANALYZING ILLOCUTIONARY ACTS AND IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN F1 DRIVER CARLOS SAINZ’S INTERVIEW

Abstract

This study examines the use of illocutionary acts and impression management strategies in interviews with Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz. A qualitative descriptive method with content analysis was applied to interview videos collected from YouTube. The data were transcribed and analyzed using Searle’s illocutionary act theory and Jones and Pittman’s impression management framework. The findings show that assertive and expressive illocutionary acts dominate the data and are mainly associated with self-promotion and exemplification strategies. These strategies enable Carlos Sainz to construct a professional, competent, and emotionally balanced public image. This study contributes to pragmatics and sports communication by demonstrating how speech acts function as tools of impression management in professional athlete interviews