Former Sky Sports activities Method 1 presenter Rachel Brookes has opened up about her exit from the broadcaster, revealing the emotional and supportive reactions she acquired from Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Brookes stepped away from her position forward of June’s Austrian Grand Prix, concluding a extremely revered 14-year tenure within the paddock. Whereas the announcement caught followers off guard as a result of it got here in the midst of a season, Brookes has clarified that the transfer was something however abrupt behind the scenes.
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Throughout an look on the Important F1 podcast, Brookes defined that she was in a position to bid farewell to the paddock on her personal phrases. “It appeared very sudden, nevertheless it wasn’t,” she revealed. “I had an opportunity to say goodbye to folks within the paddock, to folks I’ve labored with, groups and drivers.”
Probably the most touching moments got here from seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton. The Briton, who has been having fun with a resurgent 2026 marketing campaign with Ferrari and at present sits second within the drivers’ standings, made certain to share a personal second with the pundit.
“I really had an opportunity to say goodbye to Lewis,” Brookes added. “I had a beautiful chat with Lewis and acquired a while with him to have a dialog. He was, as you’d think about, actually, actually pretty, very supportive. I will not reveal every thing that was mentioned, nevertheless it was caught by some photographers. There is a pretty picture on the finish of it the place he offers me an enormous hug, and he says, ‘I hope I see you again within the paddock quickly.'”
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Throughout the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, Hamilton’s team-mate Charles Leclerc additionally made his emotions identified. “Charles had simply completed his written interviews and was simply strolling again out,” Brookes recalled. “I used to be simply stood by my digital camera, and he got here up and simply gave me the most important hug. Did not say a phrase, simply gave me the most important hug. So clearly somebody had informed him, and I simply mentioned thanks and he left.”
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Brookes famous that different drivers who missed her in particular person despatched touching video messages to her, reinforcing her perception that the F1 paddock operates as “one large household”.
She additionally took the chance to debunk on-line rumours suggesting her exit was linked to the social media backlash following an interview with Max Verstappen final yr, stating that the problem was “resolved in a short time” and that she maintains an awesome relationship with the four-time champion.
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