Danica Patrick Sparks More Fury In F1 Fans As Sky Sports Presenter Announces Exit

Former F1 champion Damon Hill has bid farewell to Sky Sports F1 after an impressive 13-year career as a pundit. Hill made the surprise announcement through a heartfelt social media post. However, the news has resulted in backlash from fans 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:

“Its been a fantastic 13 years with @SkySportsF1 but all good things come to an end. I will miss the most impressive bunch of professionals it has ever been my pleasure to have worked with. Looking forward to new challenges.”

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

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

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 previously, Patrick was asked about the W Series and F1 Academy’s goal of introducing a female driver to Formula 1. Patrick responded:

“Well, you’re assuming I want that, you’re assuming that is important to me, and it’s not.

“It’s always an interesting stance I have on it. I think that what makes the sport really popular is great racing – you can have half the field out there women and have it be follow the leader, and it’s not going to be interesting to watch.

“Good racing, and that’s what we have so much of these days in Formula 1, I mean pretty much everything other than Max is a toss-up for who’s going to be second, third, fourth, fifth that weekend, and so that’s what makes it really appealing.

“And so I think, as someone who obviously was a girl, you’ve just got to come up like normal.”

Patrick faced more criticism from fans after explaining to a young girl with a dream of joining the world of F1 that the sport is “masculine.” She explained at the time:

“I think that the nature of the sport is masculine. Its aggressive.

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

On top of her comments about women in motorsport, Patrick’s ‘Pretty Intense’ podcast touches on some controversial topics which has also not sat well with some F1 fans.

Here is just a selection of responses from fans after Hill’s exit was confirmed.

“Sky Sports is a joke, Danica Patrick is still employed by them but Damon Hill gets let go?”

“Tell me why in big 2024 we are getting rid of Damon Hill from our TVs but are forced to sit and listen to D*nica Patrick the Trump *ss licker. Sickening.”

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

“I swear to god, if they’re letting the great Damon Hill go but retaining that horrible Trump supporting lizard people believing Danica Patrick…I’m going to lose my f’n mind!!”