Rachel Brookes Discusses Sky Sports Departure, Fan Abuse and Support from Lewis Hamilton

Former Sky Sports Formula 1 reporter Rachel Brookes has spoken publicly about her decision to leave the broadcaster, revealing that she received emotional support from several drivers, including Lewis Hamilton. However, she has made it clear that online abuse from fans was not the reason behind her departure.

Brookes announced in June that she would be stepping away from her role as a Sky Sports F1 reporter, a position she had held for 14 years. Her announcement came shortly before the Austrian Grand Prix and surprised many fans, who believed her exit had happened suddenly.

During her time with Sky Sports, Brookes became a familiar figure in Formula 1 coverage. She regularly interviewed drivers before and after races, reporting from the paddock and developing close relationships with teams and competitors across the sport.

Speaking on the podcast Essential F1, Brookes explained that although her departure appeared unexpected to the public, it had actually been carefully planned. She said the timing allowed her to say goodbye properly to many of the drivers and colleagues she had worked with throughout her career.

One of the most meaningful conversations she had was with Lewis Hamilton. The Ferrari driver, who had worked with Brookes for many years during her time covering Formula 1, offered her encouragement and support when they met in the paddock.

Brookes explained that she was able to spend some personal time speaking with Hamilton before leaving her position. She described him as kind and supportive, although she chose not to reveal the full details of their conversation.

She said photographers captured the moment when Hamilton gave her a warm hug at the end of their discussion. According to Brookes, Hamilton told her that he hoped to see her back in the paddock again soon, a message that meant a great deal to her.

She also recalled another emotional farewell with Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. During the Canadian Grand Prix, while Brookes was finishing interviews in the television area, Leclerc approached her after completing his own media duties.

Without saying anything, Leclerc gave her a big hug. Brookes understood that someone had informed him about her departure, and she simply thanked him before he continued on his way.

Brookes said she did not have the opportunity to personally say goodbye to every driver because everything happened quickly. However, after returning home following the announcement, she received several video messages from drivers who told her they would miss working with her.

She described the Formula 1 paddock as a close community where teams, drivers and media members form a unique family. Although she initially believed her departure might not attract much attention, she was surprised by how many people expressed their appreciation and support.

Brookes said she felt overwhelmed by the reaction from the F1 community and realised how strong the relationships she had built over the years had become.

Despite leaving Sky Sports, Brookes confirmed that she intends to remain involved in Formula 1 in the future. She told fans that she would share updates about her next career steps when the time was right.

Her decision to leave came shortly after she had spoken publicly about receiving severe online abuse following an interview with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen during the previous Formula 1 season.

However, Brookes strongly rejected suggestions that the criticism she received had influenced her decision to leave Sky Sports. She stated that the abuse was completely unrelated to her departure and that the situation had already been dealt with.

She also emphasised that she maintained a positive relationship with Verstappen despite the controversy surrounding their interview.

The incident happened after the Spanish Grand Prix, where Verstappen received a 10-second penalty after making contact with Mercedes driver George Russell. Following comments from former world champion Nico Rosberg suggesting that Verstappen may have intentionally caused the collision, Brookes asked the Dutch driver directly whether the incident had been deliberate.

During the interview, Brookes questioned Verstappen about his intentions, asking whether the contact had been purposeful. Verstappen responded by asking whether it really mattered.

Brookes replied that she believed it did matter to fans watching the sport, particularly younger supporters. She explained that she wanted fans to see Verstappen’s talent and greatness, but actions like that could damage the way people viewed him.

After the interview, Brookes received praise from many people working in sports broadcasting. She said several colleagues privately congratulated her for asking a difficult question that others may have avoided because they were uncomfortable challenging such a high-profile driver.

According to Brookes, other journalists admitted they might not have asked the same question because they feared the reaction. However, she believed it was important for reporters to ask challenging questions when necessary.

While professionals supported her approach, the reaction from some fans on social media was much more aggressive. Brookes described the abuse she received as extremely disturbing and said she was targeted with cruel personal attacks.

She revealed that some people told her she should not become a parent because they believed she was a bad influence. Brookes said the comments were shocking, especially because many came from accounts belonging to parents with children of their own.

She questioned why people would respond so aggressively to a normal sporting discussion, reminding fans that Formula 1 is ultimately a sport and disagreements should not lead to personal attacks.

The abuse became so severe that Brookes decided to disable comments on her social media accounts to protect herself from further negativity.

Despite the controversy, Verstappen later admitted that he had made a mistake during the race. The penalty affected his result, dropping him from fifth place to tenth in the final standings for that Grand Prix.

At the end of the season, Verstappen narrowly missed out on another world championship title, losing by only two points to Lando Norris.

For Brookes, however, the experience highlighted both the positive and negative sides of modern sports journalism. While online criticism created difficult moments, the support she received from drivers, colleagues and the wider Formula 1 community demonstrated the strong connections she had built throughout her career.

As she moves into the next stage of her professional journey, Brookes leaves Sky Sports with the respect of many within Formula 1 and the confidence that her future in the sport is far from over.