Danica Patrick sparks further anger from F1 fans as Sky Sports presenter announces exit

Former F1 champion Damon Hill has parted ways with Sky Sports F1 after an impressive 13-year career as a pundit. Hill made the surprising announcement via a heartfelt post on social media. However, the news has resulted in fan backlash against the broadcaster for retaining Patrick but not Hill, although it is worth noting that it is not clear whether Hill was let go or if he decided to leave.

In his post, Hill explained:

“It’s been a fantastic 13 years at @SkySportsF1, but all good things must come to an end. I will miss the most impressive group of professionals I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. I’m looking forward to new challenges.”

Hill joined Sky Sports shortly after his retirement following an illustrious Formula 1 career that lasted from 1992 to 1999. During his tenure as a driver, Hill achieved 22 Grand Prix victories and crowned his career by winning the Drivers’ Championship with Williams in 1996. Hill transitioned seamlessly into a broadcasting role.

His departure from Sky Sports F1 has led to an outpouring of admiration and disappointment from fans, but it has also fueled the controversy surrounding Sky Sports’ decision to retain Danica Patrick, a former IndyCar and NASCAR driver. Fans have expressed their dissatisfaction, pointing out Patrick’s public views on controversial topics and her pointed comments about women in motorsport.

In an earlier conversation with Sky Sports F1, Patrick was asked about the aim of the W Series and the F1 Academy to introduce a female driver to Formula 1. Patrick replied:

“Well, you assume that’s what I want, you assume that’s important to me, and it’s not.

“It’s always an interesting point of view that I have about it. I think what really makes the sport popular is the great racing. You can have half the field, women and have it follow the leader, and it won’t be interesting to watch.” .

“Good racing, and that’s what we have so much of in Formula 1 these days, I mean pretty much everything except that Max is a matter of who’s going to be second, third, fourth, fifth that weekend, and so that’s what makes it real attractive.

“And so I think as someone who was clearly a girl, you just have to act normal.”

Patrick faced further criticism from fans after explaining to a young girl with dreams of being part of the F1 world that the sport is ‘masculine’. She explained at the time:

“I think the nature of the sport is male. It’s aggressive.

“You have to, you know, handle the car – not just just the car, because that’s skill, but the mentality that it takes to be really good is something that is not normal in a feminine mind, a feminine mind .”

In addition to her comments on women in motorsport, Patrick’s ‘Pretty Intense’ podcast touches on some controversial topics, which also didn’t go down well with some F1 fans.

Here’s just a selection of fans’ reactions after Hill’s departure was confirmed.

“Sky Sports are a joke, Danica Patrick still works for them but Damon Hill is getting fired?”

“Tell me why in the great 2024 we will remove Damon Hill from our TVs but be forced to listen to D*nica Patrick, the Trump *ss licker. Sickening.”

“Damon Hill leaves but Danica Patrick stays? Make sure it makes sense…”

“I swear to God, if they let the great Damon Hill go, but keep that horrible Trump who supports the lizard people and believes Danica Patrick…I will go crazy!!”