Rachel Brookes has confirmed her departure from Sky Sports F1 after 14 years with the broadcaster, just days after she disclosed the horrific online abuse she received for holding Max Verstappen accountable during an interview.
Departure Announcement
The 51-year-old reporter, a familiar face in the F1 paddock, announced her exit on social media, stating she and Sky had parted ways. Brookes wrote: '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 confirmed she would attend the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in just over a week.
Background of the Abuse
Brookes' most high-profile moment came after the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix in May, when she interviewed Verstappen following a chaotic race. The Dutch driver had collided with Mercedes' George Russell, earning a 10-second penalty. Brookes asked Verstappen if the collision was deliberate. Verstappen responded dismissively, 'Does it matter?' Brookes countered: 'I think it does to the fans watching and to the kids.' The exchange drew praise from colleagues but sparked a torrent of online abuse.
Brookes later revealed: 'I got a lot of messages from people in broadcasting, in sports broadcasting, saying: 'Well done for asking the question'. Because nobody else in that pen that day asked him that question – and even my colleagues said they wouldn't have asked that question, because they'd have been too scared to ask it. But then the fans, the social media side of it, was horrendous. 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.' She noted that many abusive profiles belonged to fathers with daughters, adding: 'Take a step back. It's a Formula 1 race. It's sport. But the stuff I got sent was horrendous, utterly horrendous. So I just closed my comments.'
Impact and Future
Brookes had been a regular part of Sky's F1 coverage for 14 years, conducting pre- and post-race interviews with drivers and key figures. Her departure comes as she embarks on a 'new venture' within the sport, though details remain undisclosed. She will be present at the British Grand Prix, indicating her continued involvement in F1.
