Rachel Brookes, a well-known face on Sky Sports F1, has announced her immediate exit from the broadcaster, just days before the Austrian Grand Prix. The 51-year-old reporter confirmed the news in a social media statement, ending a 14-year tenure with the network.
Brookes Confirms Departure
In her statement, Brookes said: "After many years at Sky I am moving on to exciting new ventures and looking forward to what comes next. I have left the Sky F1 team but F1 still has my heart & so I'll still be involved in it. I'll keep you posted, in the meantime see you at Silverstone!" She did not specify the reason for leaving or details of her next role.
Career at Sky Sports
Brookes joined Sky Sports F1 when the broadcaster acquired the rights from the BBC in 2012. She became a regular reporter, interviewing drivers before and after races. Prior to Sky, she worked at talkSPORT and a radio station in Southampton. She once said on the Road to Success podcast that she never planned to be a TV presenter, but fell into the role after a friend encouraged her to fill ad breaks on camera.
Abuse After Verstappen Interview
Brookes previously revealed the extent of online abuse she received after interviewing Max Verstappen at the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix. She asked Verstappen if he deliberately crashed into George Russell, following a suggestion by Sky colleague Nico Rosberg. "I got a lot of messages from people in broadcasting saying: 'Well done for asking the question.' Because nobody else in that pen that day asked him that question," she said. However, the social media backlash was severe: "I got people telling me I should never be able to have children because I'm a bad example. It was horrendous."
Future in F1
Despite leaving Sky, Brookes confirmed she will remain involved in Formula 1. She hinted at new projects, saying she will keep fans posted. Her departure comes just before the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg, where she will not be part of Sky's coverage.
