Rachel Brookes Opens Up About Surprise Sky Sports F1 Departure and the Heartfelt Support She Received from Lewis Hamilton

Veteran Formula 1 broadcaster Rachel Brookes has spoken publicly for the first time about her unexpected departure from Sky Sports F1, revealing that the decision was far less sudden than many fans believed. The respected journalist also shared touching memories of saying goodbye to members of the Formula 1 paddock, including an emotional conversation with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, whose kindness left a lasting impression.

Brookes announced last month that she was leaving Sky Sports with immediate effect, ending a long and successful chapter with the broadcaster. The news caught many Formula 1 followers by surprise, as she had become one of the most recognizable faces in the sport’s television coverage after more than a decade of reporting from circuits around the world.

Having joined Sky Sports in 2009, Brookes became an integral part of the network’s Formula 1 team when Sky secured the exclusive UK broadcasting rights in 2012. Over the years, she earned widespread respect for her professionalism, insightful interviews, and ability to build strong relationships with drivers, team principals, engineers, and other figures throughout the paddock.

Although her exit appeared abrupt from the outside, Brookes has now explained that the transition had been developing behind the scenes for some time. Speaking on the Essential F1 podcast following the Hungarian Grand Prix, she clarified that she was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to say goodbye to many of the people she had worked alongside during her broadcasting career.

“It may have looked very sudden to everyone watching from the outside, but that wasn’t really the case,” Brookes explained. “I was able to spend time with colleagues, teams, and several drivers before everything officially came to an end. That meant a great deal to me.”

Among the most memorable moments of her farewell was a personal conversation with Lewis Hamilton. Brookes described the Ferrari driver as warm, compassionate, and incredibly supportive during their meeting.

She revealed that Hamilton took time out of his busy race weekend to speak with her privately. While she chose not to disclose the details of their discussion, she admitted that his words were deeply meaningful during what was an emotional period in her career.

According to Brookes, photographers happened to capture the touching moment as Hamilton embraced her in the paddock. She recalled that the seven-time world champion gave her a heartfelt hug and expressed his hope that she would soon return to the Formula 1 paddock in another professional capacity.

The gesture, she said, perfectly reflected Hamilton’s caring personality and meant far more than many people might realize.

Brookes also shared another emotional encounter involving Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc during the Canadian Grand Prix. After completing his media commitments, Leclerc walked past Brookes and, without saying a word, greeted her with a long embrace.

She believes someone within the paddock had already informed the Monegasque driver about her upcoming departure. Although there was little conversation between them, Brookes said the simple gesture spoke volumes.

“I just thanked him,” she recalled. “He didn’t need to say anything. It was one of those moments that reminded me how close everyone becomes in Formula 1.”

Not every driver was able to say goodbye in person before she left Sky Sports, but Brookes explained that several competitors reached out afterward. While spending time at home following the public announcement of her departure, she received a number of personal video messages from drivers expressing their appreciation for her work and wishing her well for the future.

Those unexpected messages, she admitted, were incredibly touching.

“It was so lovely hearing from them,” she said. “Several drivers told me they were going to miss me, and that genuinely meant a lot.”

Reflecting on the overwhelming support she received, Brookes described the Formula 1 paddock as much more than simply a workplace. Instead, she views it as a close-knit community where long-term friendships naturally develop through years of traveling together across the globe.

“The paddock really is like a family,” she explained. “You spend so much time together that people become part of your life. I honestly didn’t expect many people to notice I had gone, but the reaction from the teams and drivers completely overwhelmed me.”

Although her role with Sky Sports has come to an end, Brookes has made it clear that she has no intention of leaving Formula 1 behind. Shortly after announcing her departure, she returned to the sport by hosting Aston Martin’s popular “The Lawn” hospitality event during the British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone, demonstrating that she remains an active figure within the championship.

Her appearance at Silverstone suggested that fans can expect to continue seeing her around Formula 1 in various capacities despite no longer being part of Sky Sports’ television coverage.

During the same podcast appearance, Brookes also addressed speculation surrounding the reasons behind her exit. In particular, she firmly rejected suggestions that her departure was linked to Max Verstappen or the online abuse she experienced after interviewing the reigning world champion last season.

The rumors emerged following Verstappen’s controversial collision with George Russell during the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix. Brookes’ post-race interview with the Red Bull driver generated significant discussion online, with some social media users directing criticism and abusive comments toward the journalist.

However, Brookes stressed that those incidents had absolutely no influence on her decision to leave Sky Sports.

She explained that the situation had been resolved quickly at the time and insisted that she continues to enjoy a positive professional relationship with Verstappen.

“There is absolutely no connection,” she said. “A lot of people assumed the online abuse or the interview with Max had something to do with my departure, but that’s simply not true.”

She acknowledged that various media reports had linked the two events together, but emphasized that those stories were inaccurate.

“I know there were articles suggesting that was the reason, but it wasn’t. Max and I have a very good relationship, and there has never been an issue between us.”

Her comments put an end to months of speculation surrounding one of Formula 1’s most unexpected broadcasting changes.

Brookes’ departure marks the end of a significant era for Sky Sports Formula 1, where she spent more than a decade helping viewers understand the personalities and stories behind the championship. Her calm interviewing style, extensive knowledge of the sport, and strong rapport with drivers earned her admiration throughout the Formula 1 community.

The heartfelt reactions from figures such as Hamilton, Leclerc, and several other drivers underline the respect she has built over many years covering the world’s premier motorsport championship. While one chapter of her broadcasting career has closed, Brookes has made it clear that her journey in Formula 1 is far from over.

With her continued involvement at major events and the widespread support she has received from across the paddock, there is every indication that Rachel Brookes will remain a familiar and respected presence within Formula 1 for years to come, even if her role evolves beyond traditional television broadcasting.