Rachel Brookes breaks silence on shock Sky F1 exit and strong Max Verstappen rumours

F1 presenter Rachel Brookes has finally spoken out about leaving Sky Sports after 14 years with the British broadcaster.

Brookes left Sky’s Formula 1 broadcasting team ahead of June’s Austrian Grand Prix.

The well-known paddock reporter was beloved by fans for her trackside interviews and top-class coverage of the sport.

The 51-year-old, who, according to her LinkedIn page, began working for Sky on a freelance basis in 2009, announced her surprise exit via social media on June 24, writing: “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.”

Sky Sports later released a statement addressing her exit, wishing Brookes well in “new endeavours” without going into the reason behind her departure.

Just weeks after her Sky exit, Brookes returned to work with Aston Martin at the British Grand Prix, hosting ‘The Lawn’, a VIP hospitality and fan event.

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Now, the broadcaster has finally addressed her decision to leave Sky while setting the record straight on rumours that she left due to receiving abuse after an incident involving Max Verstappen.

After the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, she asked the Dutchman, who had been handed a 10-second penalty, whether he had deliberately made contact with George Russell during the race.

"Does it matter?" Verstappen replied.

Speaking on the Road to Success podcast, she discussed the incident and the "horrific" abuse that followed.

“The social media side of it was horrendous,” Brookes explained. “I got people telling me I should never be able to have children because I'm a bad example. I got the most horrific stuff you could imagine.”

However, she cleared up the rumours following last Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

“It was nothing to do with comments and abuse I got online last year at all,” said Brookes.

“That was resolved very quickly, and I’ve got a great relationship with Max. So absolutely nothing to do with that.

“I know a lot of people thought that, and there were some articles written. Absolutely not the case at all.”

Rachel Brookes makes Max Verstappen prediction

Brookes then went on to make a prediction about Verstappen’s future, suggesting the Dutchman, who has a performance-related exit clause in his contract, could join Mercedes despite links with McLaren.

“I still think Max is looking for an exit,” Brookes claimed. “Because I feel like, yes, he’s showing us all what he can do right now, and we’re all impressed and we’re like, ‘Max is amazing,’ because he is, but he wants to be winning again.

“He doesn’t want to have to show that he can get a car that should be 10th up to second. He wants to be winning races again. Much as it looked easy for him before, he still wants to win. He still wants a trophy at home.

“With all the people that have left there [Red Bull] now, Michael Manning the latest to go, I still feel that he’s looking around, going, ‘I’ve done my time. I’ve given you everything I possibly can, and now I want to go somewhere I can win again.’

“I think Max will go to Mercedes alongside Antonelli.

“It’s just in my head still. Toto missed out on him before. I think that still bugs him. I think he would feel like that was a massive coup to get him from Red Bull now.

“I also think Max would really love to go up against Kimi Antonelli.

“Toto said, ‘No, he wanted too much money. He wanted three years’ or whatever.’ I still see it happening.”

F1 returns next month with the Dutch Grand Prix scheduled for August 23.