Sky F1 broadcaster announces shock exit with immediate effect before Austrian GP
Sky F1 reporter and presenter Rachel Brookes has announced her surprise departure from the company with immediate effect before this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix.
Brookes has been involved with Sky's Formula 1 coverage since they won exclusive live rights to show the sport in the UK from 2012.
Her main role has been as a paddock reporter, interviewing the drivers before, during and after sessions.
She has also presented Friday practice sessions during some weekends, as well as being an occasional lead commentator.
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Taking to Twitter (X), Brookes has confirmed that she will now no longer be part of Sky's coverage, but will still be involved in F1 and will be present at next weekend's British Grand Prix in a different capacity.
"After many years at Sky I am moving on to exciting new ventures and looking forward to what comes next," she wrote.
"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!"
As well as her role on Sky Sports F1, Brookes was also an occasional presenter on Sky Sports News.
Sky are yet to announce plans to replace Brookes.
Natalie Pinkham - who has also been with Sky F1 since its inception in 2012 - is the other paddock reporter but, like all other members of the presentation team, does not work at every Grand Prix of the 24-race calendar.
Who else is part of the Sky F1 team?
Like in its football and cricket offerings, the F1 team at Sky Sports has remained relatively stable over the years, with Sky preferring not to make major changes.
Main presenter Simon Lazenby, lead commentator David Croft and co-commentator Martin Brundle have all been with Sky since the company won the F1 rights, as well as analyst/commentator Anthony Davidson and pit lane reporter Ted Kravitz.
Karun Chandhok, Naomi Schiff, Bernie Collins, Jamie Chadwick and the F1 world champion trio of Nico Rosberg, Jenson Button and Jacques Villeneuve are also part of the team, with Sky using most of the above as fill-in co-commentators when Brundle is not present.
Damon Hill, who won the Drivers' Championship in 1996, and Johnny Herbert were previously part of the punditry line-up, while ex-IndyCar and NASCAR driver Danica Patrick was not retained for the 2026 season.
Current Sky F1 presenters
- Simon Lazenby
- Natalie Pinkham (also paddock reporter and occasional commentator)
Current Sky F1 commentators
- David Croft (lead commentator, most races)
- Harry Benjamin (relief)
- Martin Brundle (lead co-commentator, most races)
Current Sky F1 pundits
- Nico Rosberg
- Jenson Button
- Naomi Schiff
- Anthony Davidson
- Jacques Villeneuve
- Karun Chandhok
- Jamie Chadwick
- Bernie Collins (also pit lane reporter)
Current Sky F1 pit lane reporters/interviewers
- Ted Kravitz
- Craig Slater
When is the Austrian GP?
The Austrian Grand Prix race gets underway at 2pm UK time (3pm local) on Sunday at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg.
It is a traditional race weekend, with no sprint race scheduled until the British Grand Prix at Silverstone next weekend.
Austria is the home race for Red Bull, who are yet to win a Grand Prix in 2026 so far.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton became the first driver not driving a Mercedes to win a race this season when he took the chequered flag at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix earlier this month.
It was his first win since the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix, and the seven-time world champion will look to go back-to-back in Spielberg.
Topics: Formula 1, Sky Sports
Ryan Smart