Rusty Weiss
Danica Patrick, the former IndyCar and NASCAR star known for her pioneering career as one of the most prominent women in motorsports, has been removed from Sky Sports’ Formula 1 analyst team ahead of the 2026 season.
Sky Sports announced its broadcast lineup for the new F1 campaign on Wednesday, with Patrick’s name conspicuously absent from the roster of presenters, pundits, and analysts.
The network’s coverage kicks off this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. Patrick had served as a rotating pundit for the past five seasons since joining in 2021, often contributing insights during North American races.
While the network has yet to offer a reason for Danica’s removal, it hasn’t stopped speculation from running rampant.
“Some English media outlets have linked the move to Patrick’s support for (President) Trump,” the New York Post reports.
Sky Sports have confirmed their list of presenters and pundits for the new #F1 season.
— Daniel Moxon (@dmoxon_) March 4, 2026
Danica Patrick is not on that list.
Outspoken Trump Supporter Dropped from Sky F1 Lineup Ahead of 2026 Season Kickoff
That said, a Sky Sports spokesperson confirmed that Patrick will not be part of the F1 team going forward, stating she will focus on other projects within motorsport. The departure appears to be a mutual or contractual decision rather than a dramatic firing.
Patrick’s time at Sky Sports was marked by both praise for her racing pedigree—the only woman to win an IndyCar race—and criticism from segments of the F1 audience.
Some fans questioned her depth of knowledge on Formula 1 specifics, while others highlighted her increasingly outspoken political views.
In recent years, Patrick has been a vocal and public supporter of President Trump, including voting for him in the 2024 election, attending rallies, and traveling with him on private jets. *GASP* She’s a conservative! We can’t have that type of person in sports-related journalism.
READ MORE:
The former NASCAR star made headlines last year when she publicly questioned why water availability was an issue for firefighters battling the devastating Palisades wildfires.
“California has 840 miles of coastline and 3,000 lakes and reservoirs. Why don’t they have enough water to fix any and all fires?” Patrick wrote on X at the time. “At some point, I have to imagine it’s getting difficult for hardcore Cali lovers to accept the state of their state and how it’s managed.”
Patrick had also been criticized for attending a pro-American political conference, though she refused to shy away from it.
“I was like, ‘Wow.’ All I really said was that I love America. I found it really sad and shocking that that could be so polarizing,” she said in an interview at the time.
Patrick was a pioneering female driver in NASCAR. She became the first woman to win a pole position in the Sprint Cup Series at the Daytona 500 in 2012. She ultimately finished 8th in that race, the highest ever by a female driver.
Throughout her NASCAR career from 2012 to 2018, Patrick drove for teams like Stewart-Haas Racing. She achieved notable moments, including top-ten finishes and leading laps.
Patrick helped increase the visibility of women in motorsports. She has not yet publicly commented on the news of her removal from F1 coverage.
Her absence shifts the focus back to Sky’s core team, which includes established names like Martin Brundle, Jenson Button, Nico Rosberg, Jacques Villeneuve, Naomi Schiff, Bernie Collins, Karun Chandhok, Jamie Chadwick, and Anthony Davidson.