Sky Sports F1 has lost another familiar face. Rachel Brookes, one of the paddock’s most recognisable reporters, confirmed on 24 June that she has left the broadcaster with immediate effect, choosing a social media post to break the news rather than any kind of formal announcement from Sky itself. Draw your own conclusions.
What Brookes Actually Said
The message, posted on X, was warm but deliberately vague:
“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 and so I’ll still be involved in it. I’ll keep you posted, in the meantime see you at Silverstone!” – Rachel Brookes
No mention of what comes next. No clarification from Sky. Just a cheery wave and a promise she’ll be at Silverstone in some capacity. It is, in the grand tradition of broadcaster departures, expertly non-committal.
The Second Exit of 2026
This is not an isolated incident. Danica Patrick departed on the eve of the season back in March. Now Brookes follows, and the timing could hardly be more awkward, with the Austrian Grand Prix weekend upon us and Sky’s coverage already stretched across a packed schedule.
Brookes spent years becoming a trusted face in the F1 paddock, conducting interviews with drivers, team principals and every key figure imaginable across circuits worldwide. She was not decoration. She was competent, professional and well-regarded by the people she covered. That combination is rarer than it sounds in broadcast media.
Sky’s Remaining Lineup
The core team still reads impressively on paper. Martin Brundle, Ted Kravitz, David Croft and lead presenter Simon Lazenby remain. Karun Chandhok, Bernie Collins and Naomi Schiff add genuine technical credibility. Sky’s F1 output is not falling apart. But losing two experienced reporters in the same season without any public succession plan is a curious way to run a flagship broadcast.
For a team already navigating one of the most compelling title fights in years, with Kimi Antonelli leading the championship and every race weekend delivering genuine drama, the last thing Sky needs is questions about who is actually holding the microphone.
What Comes Next
Brookes insists she will remain involved in F1. Given her network and experience, that is entirely plausible. Whether that means a rival broadcaster, a digital platform, or something else entirely, nobody is saying yet.
Sky, for its part, appears content to let a loyal long-term employee announce her own exit and leave the rest to imagination. Classy, as always.
