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Outspoken ex-NASCAR and IndyCar driver said she chose to leave role as Formula 1 analyst for Sky Sports ahead of 2026 season.
Published Mar 06, 2026 • Last updated 18 minutes ago • 3 minute read
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Danica Patrick sits on the set of ESPN’s College Game Day in 2021. AP PhotoArticle content
Danica Patrick has broken her silence after being dropped by Sky Sports just days ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season – and her comments appear to raise questions over whether she was dropped by the broadcaster or she quit.
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Earlier this week, the F1 broadcaster announced the outspoken motorsports trailblazer will not be part of its coverage for the coming season, which begins this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
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On Thursday, Patrick took to Instagram, thanking Sky Sports for the opportunity while also claiming she made the decision to leave herself.
“From my first @skysportsf1 race in Austin to my last 5 years later… I had such a blast!” she wrote in her post. “The sky team was so much fun (thank you all), I saw so many amazing new race tracks and cities, and got to be part of a huge boom in F1!
“I called after the last race in 2025 and said it was time for me to move on and I was so grateful for the opportunity and experience I was given!
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“And now due to my deep exposure to F1, I will be glued to my tv for the season starting this weekend, like every other fan!”
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Patrick included pictures of herself on set and standing on the track at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Tex., while covering the United States Grand Prix.
So, was Patrick cut by the broadcaster or did she quit? We’re unlikely to know the full truth any time soon, but what is known is that she won’t be part of Sky Sports’ coverage for the 2026 season.
What did Patrick do for Sky Sports?
The 44-year-old Patrick had been part of their F1 coverage for the past five seasons, making her first appearance during the 2021 United States Grand Prix.
Jenson Button, Danica Patrick and Simon Lazenby of Sky Sports F1 prior to Qualifying ahead of last year’s F1 Grand Prix of United States. Getty Images
However, when the U.K. broadcaster revealed its lineup of commentators, hosts and analysts for the 2026 season, Patrick’s name was conspicuously absent.
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While Sky Sports is the official broadcaster of F1 in the U.K., its feed also was shown in the U.S. and Canada as part of ESPN and TSN’s coverage of the races.
Patrick had not been a full-time analyst for the broadcaster, but she had been a regular at races hosted in North America – namely the Canadian and Mexican GPs as well as the three races based in the U.S.
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Why is Patrick a divisive figure?
Patrick has become a divisive figure over the last few years because of her political views and outspoken support for U.S. President Donald Trump.
She also made several eyebrow-raising comments about conspiracies involving “lizard people” and recently shared a story at a Turning Point USA event about a “past life regression” that involved her living as a Native American.
During the 2026 Winter Olympics last month, she also posted on Instagram, trolling Canada over its loss in the men’s gold medal hockey game to the U.S.
Patrick shared a post that said: “If Canada had been smart and become the 51st State, they’d be gold medalists right now,” along with the cheeky caption: “Too soon?”
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