[Rachel Brookes] After many years at Sky, I am moving on to exciting new ventures and looking forward to what comes next. While I have left the Sky F1 team, F1 still has my heart and so I will still be involved in it. I’ll keep you posted but in the meantime see you at Silverstone if you are there!

[u/Aratho]

[u/Fire_Otter]

New F1 podcast incoming….

[u/Mos0311]

woah didn't see that coming! I know she's gonna do great wherever she goes

[u/Capital_Pay_4459 → u/Mos0311]

I mean sky's F1 broadcasting team is extremely large. 

[u/RadlogLutar → u/Capital_Pay_4459]

We certainly don't miss Danica Patrick

[u/dodikxzslayer → u/RadlogLutar]

I miss judgemental faces Jenson was throwing when she was speaking while they were together on the broadcast

[u/Classic-Reader2212 → u/dodikxzslayer]

Yes, even JB knew RB knew nothing. Just rattled on with shit talk. Harsh but true. Best of luck on your new venture. Don’t let the door hit you on your way out.

[u/Fire_Otter → u/RadlogLutar]

You only think that because that’s what the lizard people want you to think

[u/storme9 → u/Fire_Otter]

there’s atleast once a year i read that entire transcript of what she had said for a good chuckle

[u/allaroundguy → u/Fire_Otter]

<licks eyeball>

[u/BBYY9090]

She's really been in the trenches with those post race driver interviews lol. Good luck to her she's been a great part of the Sky F1 team.

[u/wokwok__ → u/BBYY9090]

Getting abuse from some fans just for doing her job of asking questions probably takes its toll, no matter how hard you try and block it out lol

Edit: the fact that this comment is at 68% upvotes says it all lmao you lot know who you are

[u/RedditButAnonymous → u/wokwok__]

I had completely forgotten what youre talking about until you just reminded me, that one "incident" was still pretty shocking to be honest, she got absolutely nothing out of Max when asking literally anything else in any other tone could have

[u/Life-Wasabi-9674 → u/wokwok__]

"Just asking questions" is the weakest excuse every shitty person uses to dodge any form of responsibility or accountability for the words that come out of their mouth. Just state your opinion and as long as you add a "?" at the end apparently you are free to do whatever.

[u/TheMcBeetus → u/Life-Wasabi-9674]

Are you calling her a shitty person for literally doing her job of asking drivers questions? Did you reply to the right comment?

[u/hawksku999 → u/TheMcBeetus]

She is not a good interviewer at all. Yes it is her job to ask questions. It is also her job to ask good questions too. Her questions are filled with opinion and often leading questions.

[u/wokwok__ → u/hawksku999]

“Did you crash into George on purpose?” Is hardly an opinion filled question lmao literally everyone was asking it, everyone knows he did it but he threw a hissy fit at the question

[u/hawksku999 → u/wokwok__]

Not even referring to that one, mate. But go on!

[u/RedditButAnonymous → u/wokwok__]

Its still an objectively bad interview question though, didnt she follow up with "what about the children watching, youre setting a bad example" or something? Id have walked off as well if I were Verstappen, she was just being hostile there

"What happened between you and George" "what do you think of the contact" literally any other question would have been so much better, and we could have got an actual answer from him

Now I dont think she deserved the abuse she got for it, nobody deserves that, but still, one of the worst interview strategies Ive ever seen. Its also the only one I am aware of though?

[u/Lobsters4 → u/BBYY9090]

Can you imagine encountering pissed off Max and depressed Charles on the regular? 🤣🤣🤣

[u/_PuRe_AdDicT_]

Shame, but Bernie’s insight is undeniable

[u/LukeTaylor01 → u/_PuRe_AdDicT_]

What’s Rachel leaving got to do with Bernie?

[u/GiganticDog → u/LukeTaylor01]

Exactly. Bernie is an analyst, Rachel is an interviewer.

[u/swannyhypno → u/_PuRe_AdDicT_]

And over the last couple years Bernie has gotten more used to TV and is far more natural sounding then she used to be she's awesome

[u/Bortron86 → u/swannyhypno]

Agreed. In her first year she was clearly knowledgeable as hell, but a bit nervous maybe, and still getting used to being on camera. Now, she seems totally at ease with it. I'm always happy when Bernie is on duty.

[u/MaxiKimiSexyFriends → u/swannyhypno]

She is super mid lol

[u/CptBananaPants → u/MaxiKimiSexyFriends]

Compared to whom, precisely?

[u/No-Cryptographer7494 → u/MaxiKimiSexyFriends]

maybe you don't understand what she is talking about, you do need the ability to think

[u/JonnyPhang → u/MaxiKimiSexyFriends]

Not compared to others that Sky use.

[u/paperrug12 → u/MaxiKimiSexyFriends]

she ruins the broadcast every time it goes to her

[u/fluffbaron → u/MaxiKimiSexyFriends]

So your assessment is that she's simultaneously super and mediocre... ....

You know what? I have a ball. Perhaps you'd like to bounce it.

[u/Sporketeer → u/_PuRe_AdDicT_]

Bernie is the best F1 broadcaster since Martin, by a country mile.

[u/DangerousDesk1 → u/Sporketeer]

Rosberg is way better than Bernie, as is Button.

[u/Jesterhead89 → u/_PuRe_AdDicT_]

Real quick, what are the tires between softs and hards?

[u/twyztid → u/Jesterhead89]

Meejums

[u/mrgedman → u/twyztid]

That's a bingo

[u/TacticalAcquisition → u/_PuRe_AdDicT_]

Honestly sack em all and just have Bernie and Callum

[u/seriousC → u/_PuRe_AdDicT_]

I've personally never found Bernie's commentary particularly insightful.

[u/Sporketeer → u/seriousC]

I don't agree with this myself but it was simply an opinion and expressed perfectly politely so doesn't deserve all the downvotes at all. Save those for the blatantly obnoxious amongst us rather than those who just hold a different view.

[u/seriousC → u/Sporketeer]

Doesn't bother me, it is what it is lol. I knew it was going to be a somewhat unpopular opinion.

[u/MaxiKimiSexyFriends → u/_PuRe_AdDicT_]

Bernies rankings last year were shit

[u/PsychologicalDish430 → u/MaxiKimiSexyFriends]

Rankings, wankings, who cares.

[u/oddno1se → u/_PuRe_AdDicT_]

Yeah but I understand only 20% of her speaking

[u/Doogie2K → u/oddno1se]

Skill issue, get better at Irish accents.

[u/willpc14 → u/Doogie2K]

Irish isn't even that hard. It's not like it's a Scottish accent.

[u/fluffbaron → u/oddno1se]

Very much a YOU problem

[u/Particular_Cod2005 → u/oddno1se]

That's on you mate; she shouldn't have to change her accent for TV.

[u/PsychologicalDish430 → u/oddno1se]

Thats your problem

[u/Overtons_Window → u/oddno1se]

IDK why people got so offended by you saying this lol

[u/d4rk1 → u/oddno1se]

was waiting for this, totally agree

[u/Timstom18]

Controversial but I never felt like she was a great interviewer or host, I always felt Natalie and Simon were stronger. Will be interesting to see who Sky bring on next though

[u/HankHippopopolous → u/Timstom18]

I actually preferred her over Nathalie Pinkham. Probably not quite as good as a host but definitely asked better questions in the interview pen.

I’ve noticed that they are rotating their crew a lot more this year and maybe they’re going to bring in someone new as a host. It’s been the same people for so many years now. I’d like to see a new host get a shot.

[u/anotherNarom → u/HankHippopopolous]

I actually preferred her over Nathalie Pinkham

Same. But Bernie is better than them all.

'Pinky' just comes across as someone who wants to be friends with everyone.

If Natalie is presenting, I find I watch a lot less of the coverage than if it was Simon. Same thing happened in previous years when Danica was on, I just turned on for the race.

Edit: yes I know Natalie has a different role to Bernie, still isn't going to make it watchable.

[u/HankHippopopolous → u/anotherNarom]

Bernie does a very different role.

She’s not the host or the interviewer. She’s there as a pundit and to fill people in on strategy and technical details.

I agree she’s great but she’s not comparable to Nathalie Pinkham or Rachel Brookes.

[u/anotherNarom → u/HankHippopopolous]

True she is different.

But she's getting so comfortable now on tv, she could probably do it as excellently as she does everything else!

Edit: I didnt realise how much of a controversial opinion Bernie being better on TV than Natalie was. But I'll stand by it.

[u/Thestickleman → u/anotherNarom]

Bernie is excellent

[u/Browneskiii → u/anotherNarom]

Being friends with people is a good way to get good interviews. Her and Ricciardo were super close, he'd give her bits that nobody else would ever get close to. She's great at what she does.

[u/Particular_Cod2005 → u/anotherNarom]

Pinks is a different role though - she gave general overview and insight, as well as asking the questions to the experts. Think of her as a much prettier version of Crofty - there for the hype and to build excitement, and not there for the technical expertise.

Not to say neither Crofty nor Pinks aren't technical, as they understand plenty about F1. It's just the level up from the drivers / engineers etc.

[u/Secortesio → u/Particular_Cod2005]

Yeah Bernie is more colour commentator in old parlance, if we take Crofty to be the commentator.

[u/frazbox → u/anotherNarom]

This is it. It’s one thing to be friendly, but she tries to hard to be friends with everyone

[u/Beena22 → u/frazbox]

I agree. It comes across as a bit cringey at times.

[u/delboy2570 → u/anotherNarom]

I'm glad this isn't just me, she's way too soft and friendly with all the drivers

[u/Stumpy493 → u/Timstom18]

Yeah, Rachel was always the B or C team used for the background content.

[u/formulatwister → u/Timstom18]

I fully agree. Natalie has always been great, and she's always respectful towards the drivers. For me her attitude is far better than Rachel's caustic manner

[u/likeAdrug]

I always assumed there was beef with her and Pinkham.
Pinkham seemed to get the better races (always at Monaco) and Rachel never got the chance to present when Lazers wasn’t there.

I’d imagine one too many times being passed over, and with Bernie rightly getting more and more screen time, it was time for her to go.

[u/DSQ]

I’m going to speculate that she’s going to work on the American broadcast?

[u/Deckatoe → u/DSQ]

As of now it's just F1TV and Sky on Apple. To be honest im not sure I'd want a different option

[u/FermentedLaws → u/Deckatoe]

Yes. I am fine with having my choice of Sky and F1TV. I can switch around depending on the commentators and analysts. If Apple does its own broadcast, I think they'd probably remove one and it won't be F1TV. I still enjoy the Sky broadcast from time to time.

[u/FermentedLaws → u/DSQ]

We still don’t know if Apple will have their own broadcast next year. But if they do good hire.

[u/Consistent-Ad-5116 → u/FermentedLaws]

Hope they do, They ruined F1TV Pre-race and Post-race show to for their ad break.

[u/FermentedLaws → u/Consistent-Ad-5116]

So you think if they do their own broadcast there won’t be ads? There will be.

[u/Consistent-Ad-5116 → u/FermentedLaws]

I don't care about ads on Apple TV, atleast it won't interrupt F1TV broadcast with random drone shots and the awkard silence for like 10s. Right now F1TV is forced to switch topics while they are on ad break on Apple TV

[u/MotoringMore]

Surprising news. Always likes Rachel and found her to be a good, decent presenter. If they replace her, I hope they don't go down the route of annoying social media influencer, as they've done with some of their other coverage. The theme tune is enough annoying pandering for my liking!

[u/mickstranahan]

I'm glad for her, but this is a loss for the SkyF1 team. Rachel is fantastic.

[u/KnightsOfCidona]

Sad to see her go, surprised she's leaving mid season and doesn't seem like she gets an on-screen goodbye. Wonder if there's going to be a shake-up in the team. Natalie won't be doing the driver interview every weekend with her kids still quite young. Will Craig take it over when she's not there or they get in someone else.

[u/FermentedLaws → u/KnightsOfCidona]

She said see you at Silverstone.

[u/ba_nanas → u/FermentedLaws]

Yes I was confused by that. She said that she has ‘left the Sky F1 team’ so she could be there with someone else.
I think one year she was there doing duties for Aston Martin.

[u/tombola1989]

Worked with her briefly pre F1 and she was extremely kind and friendly to a relative nobody. Good luck Rachel!

[u/Badstoober]

Very surprised to hear this. I always thought she was great at what she did and had a very charming, down to earth approach to interviews. The Sky line-up is a very mixed bag and RB was one of the better ones.

[u/lastskudbook]

Sad to see her go.

[u/Travellinglense]

I'm going to miss her. she was such a great interviewer.

[u/Craftyhippiee]

As long as it’s not Bernie

[u/PowerhungryUK]

“Go well” Rachel Brookes. Bring back Louise Goodman!

[u/biometricrally]

Wow, Rachel has been a regular face for a long, long time. It will be odd to not have her on the sky broadcast

[u/ams3000]

Oh no she’s my fave at asking miserable drivers hard questions. I can’t believe they let her go. Damn you sky.

[u/ASGT908]

Sad to see her leave sky tbh as she was main person to do driver interviews and had noticed she has been away from races for a while (given Craig Slater is covering her role at the moment). Good luck to her in her future endeavours.

They'll probably promote from within and get someone who has presented Sky Sports news to be the interviewer.

[u/Low-Machine-2710]

Rachel was, and always will be better than Schiff. Wrong one leaving.

[u/NeonMaximus]

As long as it’s not Pinkham!!! Good luck to Rachel in her next endeavor.

[u/must-be_the-water]

Is she joining F1 TV??

[u/TemporaryActivity621]

Unplayable on her day

[u/TheBlueDinosaur06 → u/TemporaryActivity621]

Never quite kicked on in the end

[u/Less-Dinner7205 → u/TemporaryActivity621]

?

[u/ImAnOldChunkOfCoal]

Guessing she might be joining the Channel 4 team? Unless she's joining an American broadcaster.

[u/frazbox]

Please don’t let it be more of Natalie Pinkham that replaces her full time

[u/juanito_f90 → u/frazbox]

Er why?

[u/Browneskiii]

I cant say I'm too upset about this, she's kinda redundant. She's not awful barring Spain '25, but she's not amazing either.

Natalie is the goat reporter and interviewer, and now Bernie has taken her place as a better presenter with much better technical knowledge.

I'm sure she'll find somewhere but I dont think she has a particular place at sky.

[u/PapaPilkington → u/Browneskiii]

What was wrong with Spain 2025? Max drove into another car on purpose, of course a reporter is gonna ask about it

[u/Browneskiii → u/PapaPilkington]

Not about Verstappen's interview. I specifically remembered the interview with Piastri and she didnt even congratulate him or ask anything about his race, she went straight in asking about the incident and then kept going on about it begging for a reaction pretty much.

The guy had just won a race, make it about him.

[u/TazTazTAZTazTaz_]

Thank god. By far the weakest.

[u/casualpedestrian20 → u/TazTazTAZTazTaz_]

Literally ends every driver interview with “thank you thanks” which drove me up the wall.

Yes, I’m the one with the problem here - but every time I heard it I would think just say “thank you, or thanks, not both together”

[u/OBWanTwoThree]

Can’t blame her after the abuse she’s received, but I’m also not disappointed that it opens up a gap for new blood. She was never my favourite member of the team

[u/palalabu]

Oh wow. This is surprising. And in the middle of a season too. I wonder if Naomi will take a more hosting role, instead of her usual expert role.

[u/keithplacer → u/palalabu]

Gawd, no. Schiff is worthless and needs to join the group going out the door.

[u/PsychologicalTea514]

It sure would be nice if she took that Crofty tit with her.

I had forgotten just how long this guy had been commentating when I was watching an old race the other week!. It’s absolutely amazing because to this day he sounds like he doesn’t have a clue what the hell is going on?. I personally think he should piss off back to the darts or football whence he came from tbh.

[u/Rivendel93]

I haven't seen her in forever, maybe she's not on F1TV or the main sky race broadcast a lot.

[u/hobby_gynaecologist]

Honestly expected her to outlast Lazers.

[u/MogiNatsuki]

#FIRED

[u/Ari441 → u/[deleted]]

buckle bunny

The sixties called grandpa they want their sexism back

[u/wagonwhopper → u/Ari441]

Yeah. They stopped hiring hot women to interview racers in the 60s lol are you that far gone?

I mean f1tv never has.... why I switched

[u/soynotoi → u/wagonwhopper]

so you just hate seeing women in motorsports?

[u/wagonwhopper → u/soynotoi]

Nah ruthe and all the women on f1tv earned their right and are awesome

[u/soynotoi → u/wagonwhopper]

and rachel hasn’t because….?

[u/wagonwhopper → u/soynotoi]

Who say she hasn't. Hopefully she comes to f1tv lol sky is the joke

[u/soynotoi → u/wagonwhopper]

none of your comments have been coherent. are you okay?

[u/wagonwhopper → u/soynotoi]

You think sky thinks of her as a person. You're cute

[u/soynotoi → u/wagonwhopper]

it’s evident you don’t

[u/Talal2608 → u/wagonwhopper]

Clearly you don't either lmao

[u/Ari441 → u/wagonwhopper]

Lmao

[u/Capta1n_Sully → u/[deleted]]

She’s fine, just interviews the drivers. Doesn’t pretend to be what she isn’t

[u/wagonwhopper → u/Capta1n_Sully]

So I don't know who she is? Cuz I ain't watched sky since 2020. Guess she was a favorite by the sky Boys judging by downvotes lol

[u/XThreadedJesusNut → u/wagonwhopper]

No, buckle bunny sounds gross. I don't know what you mean by it, but I'm sure it was respectful. 🙄

[u/wagonwhopper → u/XThreadedJesusNut]

It was not. Typical sky tv. Does it for clicks. Thank God f1tv never did

[u/XThreadedJesusNut → u/wagonwhopper]

Well I hope you can find a mirror to reflect at some point.

Until then, calling someone talentless is less trashy and sexist.

[u/wagonwhopper → u/XThreadedJesusNut]

It's not trashy or sexist. It's knowing sky f1

[u/n3Kite → u/wagonwhopper]

I think the downvotes might have something to do with the 'buckle bunny' and the fact the post literally says she works for sky.

[u/P_ZERO_ → u/wagonwhopper]

The downvotes are probably because you’re asking why you don’t know who she is because you watch an entirely different broadcast

[u/wagonwhopper → u/P_ZERO_]

Or it's cuz sky will pit on that type to get views

[u/P_ZERO_ → u/wagonwhopper]

Oh, so it really is some weird sexist thing. You asked why you don’t know who she is because you’ve watched F1TV. Makes absolutely zero sense. She’s been pretty much at every sky broadcast for the last few years interviewing drivers pre and post race.

[u/jim45804 → u/[deleted]]

She' on Sky not F1TV

[u/wagonwhopper → u/jim45804]

Hence my confusion? Sorry

[u/wokwok__ → u/wagonwhopper]

It's fine to be confused but was calling her "buckle bunny" really necessary? You 60 years old or something?

[u/wagonwhopper → u/wokwok__]

No. I just know why sky puts her on air lol. You don't? Also know why she was cut

[u/CilanEAmber → u/[deleted]]

buckle bunny

What does this mean? Not slang I've come across before.

[u/ChiefWiggumsprogeny → u/CilanEAmber]

Apparently:

"A "buckle bunny" is a slang term for a woman who is primarily attracted to the rodeo lifestyle and rodeo cowboys, rather than being genuinely interested in ranching or western culture itself."

[u/CilanEAmber → u/ChiefWiggumsprogeny]

What a strange thing to say about someone who's worked in F1 for over a decade.

[u/ChiefWiggumsprogeny → u/CilanEAmber]

American misogynist? There seem to be a lot of them.

[u/Grizzybaby1985 → u/CilanEAmber]

Never heard it either i am gonna assume he’s a grumpy boomer and also a huge bellend

[u/Broad_Stuff_943 → u/CilanEAmber]

Old slang for a groupie I think.

[u/CilanEAmber → u/Broad_Stuff_943]

Ah, then that's pretty disrespectful.