David Croft Pays Emotional Tribute as Rachel Brookes Confirms Sky F1 Departure

Rachel Brookes’ unexpected departure from Sky Sports F1 has sparked widespread reaction throughout the Formula 1 community, with fans and colleagues expressing their surprise after the long-serving presenter confirmed she is leaving the broadcaster following more than a decade on the team.

Among the many messages of support, one stood out in particular. Veteran commentator David Croft, widely regarded as one of Formula 1’s most recognizable broadcasting voices, shared a heartfelt farewell that quickly caught the attention of fans. His public response reflected the close relationships built within the Sky F1 team over years of traveling together on the Formula 1 calendar and highlighted the impact Brookes’ departure will have on the broadcast crew.

Brookes announced the news ahead of this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, revealing that her time with Sky Sports F1 has come to an end. Although she is leaving the broadcaster, she made it clear that her involvement in Formula 1 is far from over.

Instead of stepping away from the sport entirely, Brookes explained that she is preparing for a new chapter in her career while continuing to work within the Formula 1 paddock in a different capacity. She also confirmed that she expects to be present at next month’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone, reassuring fans that they will continue seeing her around the championship despite her departure from Sky.

Sharing the announcement across her social media channels, Brookes reflected positively on her years with the broadcaster while looking ahead to future opportunities.

She wrote that after spending many successful years at Sky, she was moving on to exciting new ventures and was looking forward to discovering what comes next in her professional career.

Brookes also emphasized that although she had officially left the Sky F1 team, her passion for Formula 1 remains as strong as ever. She promised followers that she would continue working within the sport and would provide more details about her future plans when the time is right.

She concluded her message by telling fans that she would see them at Silverstone, a statement that immediately fueled speculation about her next role within Formula 1 media.

The announcement generated significant attention online within hours of being published. Thousands of Formula 1 supporters shared messages thanking Brookes for her work over the years, while many expressed sadness at seeing another familiar face leave Sky’s coverage.

At the time of publication, Brookes’ announcement on X had attracted more than 365,000 views and received approximately 4,000 likes, illustrating the popularity she built during her years covering Formula 1.

The strongest reactions, however, came from the colleagues who worked alongside her throughout countless race weekends.

David Croft, Sky Sports F1’s lead commentator, responded publicly to Brookes’ Instagram announcement with a warm and personal farewell.

“Good luck for the future Rach, we’re gonna miss ya,” Croft wrote, adding several kisses to underline the affection shared between the pair.

His message quickly resonated with fans, many of whom viewed it as evidence of the close friendships that exist behind the scenes within Sky’s Formula 1 team.

Croft and Brookes have spent many seasons covering races together across the globe, becoming familiar voices and faces for Formula 1 viewers. Their professional relationship has developed through years of reporting from circuits around the world, making his farewell particularly meaningful.

Sky Sports F1 lead presenter Simon Lazenby also shared his appreciation for Brookes, writing that she would be greatly missed by everyone on the team.

Former Formula 1 driver Karun Chandhok, who raced for HRT and Lotus Racing before moving into television as one of Sky’s analysts, echoed those sentiments.

Chandhok affectionately referred to Brookes as “Raquel” in his farewell message and admitted he would miss working alongside her during the Formula 1 season.

The messages were not limited to Sky employees.

Kelly Piquet, partner of four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen, also thanked Brookes for her contribution to Formula 1 coverage.

Piquet described Brookes as “amazing” and said she would be greatly missed around the paddock, demonstrating the respect Brookes has earned from people throughout the sport rather than only among broadcasters.

Harry Benjamin, who regularly replaces Croft in the commentary box whenever scheduling conflicts prevent the lead commentator from attending a race, also wished Brookes well.

Benjamin expressed confidence that the pair would meet again soon within the Formula 1 paddock, reinforcing Brookes’ promise that she intends to remain actively involved in the championship.

International colleagues also joined the conversation.

Mara Sangiorgio, Sky Sport Italy’s Formula 1 reporter, thanked Brookes for the opportunity to work together and wished her every success in whatever comes next.

The overwhelming response illustrated just how highly regarded Brookes has become during her lengthy broadcasting career.

Having joined Sky Sports F1 shortly after the channel launched its dedicated Formula 1 coverage, Brookes established herself as one of the broadcaster’s key reporters. Her interviews with drivers, team principals, and senior figures became a familiar feature of every race weekend, helping viewers gain insight into the biggest stories unfolding across the championship.

Although Sky has not publicly explained the exact circumstances surrounding her departure, Brookes’ announcement suggests the decision marks the beginning of a new professional challenge rather than a complete departure from motorsport broadcasting.

Speculation regarding her future role continues, particularly after she confirmed she will remain active within Formula 1.

Her departure also comes during an emotional period personally, following her recent comments about online abuse she received after interviewing Max Verstappen during last season’s Spanish Grand Prix.

Only days before announcing her exit from Sky, Brookes spoke openly about the criticism directed at her following a post-race interview with the reigning world champion.

During that interview, she asked Verstappen whether his controversial collision with Mercedes driver George Russell had been intentional.

The question generated significant debate among Formula 1 fans, with some supporters criticizing Brookes on social media.

The volume of hostile comments eventually became so severe that she decided to disable comments on her Instagram account in an effort to protect herself from further abuse.

Her experience highlighted the increasingly difficult environment many sports broadcasters face online, where routine journalistic questions can trigger waves of personal criticism across social media platforms.

Despite those challenges, Brookes has continued to earn widespread respect throughout Formula 1 for her professionalism and dedication to covering the sport.

Her decision to move on from Sky therefore marks the end of an important chapter for the broadcaster.

For viewers, Brookes became one of the most recognizable members of Sky Sports F1’s coverage, regularly reporting from pit lane, conducting exclusive interviews, and delivering breaking news from inside the paddock.

For colleagues like David Croft, Simon Lazenby, and Karun Chandhok, her departure represents the loss of a trusted teammate who shared countless race weekends across multiple continents.

Although her next destination has yet to be officially revealed, Brookes’ promise to remain involved in Formula 1 suggests fans may not have to wait long before seeing her return in a new role.

As the championship heads toward the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, attention will naturally turn to what Brookes’ future holds.

Until then, the heartfelt messages from Croft and many others serve as a reminder of the lasting impact she has had both on Sky Sports F1 and across the wider Formula 1 paddock.

While one chapter has closed, Brookes has made it clear that her journey in Formula 1 is far from finished, leaving fans eager to discover where her career will take her next.