Rachel Brookes leaves Sky Sports F1 after more than a decade

Rachel Brookes has left her role as a presenter with Sky Sports F1 after more than a decade with the broadcaster, announcing her immediate departure on social media ahead of this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix. The 51-year-old confirmed she will remain involved in Formula 1 in a new capacity and plans to attend next week's British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Why it matters:

Brookes became a familiar face in Sky's paddock coverage during her ten-year tenure, making her sudden exit a significant shift in the British F1 broadcast landscape. The timing is particularly notable given that she recently spoke out about facing severe online abuse following her interview with Max Verstappen at the Spanish Grand Prix, where her questioning about his collision with George Russell drew intense scrutiny from segments of the fanbase.

The details:

• Brookes revealed on social media that she had left the Sky Sports F1 team to pursue "exciting new ventures," confirming the move was effective immediately.
• Sky Sports issued a statement acknowledging her departure, explaining that she moved on to "take on new challenges" as the network evolves its coverage, and praised her as a valued asset to the team.
• Despite leaving the broadcaster, Brookes emphasized that "F1 still has my heart" and vowed to keep followers updated on her next steps in the sport.
• Her exit follows closely on the heels of her public comments about the backlash she received after pressing Verstappen on whether his late-race collision with Russell in Barcelona was intentional, a line of questioning that sparked a wave of targeted online abuse.

What's next:

Brookes is expected to appear at Silverstone for the British Grand Prix, marking her first public involvement in F1 since leaving Sky. The broadcaster will now look to reshape its presenting lineup as it continues to evolve its coverage approach for the remainder of the 2026 season. How Brookes defines her new independent role in the paddock remains to be seen, but her presence at Silverstone suggests she intends to maintain close ties to the sport.