Rachel Brookes has officially left Sky F1, announcing her departure on social media and confirming she will still attend the British Grand Prix.
Brookes joined Sky Sports in 2009 and soon became a key voice in the channel’s Formula 1 coverage after Sky secured the UK rights in 2012. She has spent the last decade interviewing drivers from the media pen and traveling with teams to every race, making her one of the most recognised faces on the circuit.
In a brief post, Brookes wrote: “After many years at Sky I am moving on to exciting new ventures … 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!”
Image: Liam Lawson, Scuderia AlphaTauri, interviewed by Rachel Brookes. Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Sky’s broadcasting legacy in F1
Sky first acquired the full‑season rights to Formula 1 in 2012, ending the BBC’s broadcast monopoly and later transferring its host rights to Channel 4 in 2016. Channel 4 continued to air the British Grand Prix live until 2018, after which the free‑to‑air channel has only broadcast that event each year.
Sky has renewed its UK licence through at least 2034, while its Italy rights expire in 2032, marking a long‑term partnership with the sport that will shape coverage for the next decade.
What’s next for the former Sky presenter?
Brookes hinted at fresh ventures beyond Sky, but indicated that her passion for Formula 1 remains intact. Her scheduled appearance at Silverstone confirms her continued presence in the paddock, though she will no longer be part of Sky’s official broadcast team.
Although she has stepped away from the Sky brand, her recent statement suggests she will stay involved in the sport in some capacity, possibly through independent commentary or media appearances.
Her departure highlights a shift in Sky’s F1 roster, while her Silverstone visit signals that the era of her live interviews will not end immediately but rather migrate to new platforms.
"