{"id":518868,"date":"2026-03-06T20:31:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T20:31:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/518868\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T20:31:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T20:31:11","slug":"danica-patrick-says-she-wasnt-axed-by-f1-broadcaster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/518868\/","title":{"rendered":"Danica Patrick says she wasn\u2019t axed by F1 broadcaster"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Breadcrumb Trail Links<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"breadcrumbs__item-link\" data-tb-category-link=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/torontosun.com\/category\/sports\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sports<\/a><a class=\"breadcrumbs__item-link\" data-tb-category-link=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/torontosun.com\/category\/sports\/auto-racing\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Motorsports<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"article-subtitle\">Outspoken ex-NASCAR and IndyCar driver said she chose to leave role as Formula 1 analyst for Sky Sports ahead of 2026 season.<\/p>\n<p>Published Mar 06, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 18\u00a0minutes ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n<p><a aria-label=\"Join the conversation\" class=\"article-meta-comment-count\" data-story-comment-component=\"\" href=\"#comments-area\">   <\/a><\/p>\n<p>You can save this article by registering for free <a class=\"bookmark-link\" data-evt-skip-click=\"true\" href=\"http:\/\/torontosun.com\/register\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>. Or <a class=\"bookmark-link\" data-evt-skip-click=\"true\" href=\"http:\/\/torontosun.com\/sign-in\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Danica Patrick sits on the set of ESPN's College Game Day in 2021.\" class=\"featured-image__image type:primaryImage\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0307-danica-patrick-formula-one.jpg\"  decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" height=\"750\" width=\"1000\"\/>Danica Patrick sits on the set of ESPN&#8217;s College Game Day in 2021. AP PhotoArticle content<\/p>\n<p>Danica Patrick has broken her silence after being dropped by Sky Sports just days ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season \u2013 and her comments appear to raise questions over whether she was dropped by the broadcaster or she quit.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement 2<\/p>\n<p>This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Toronto Sun\" class=\"market-logo\" height=\"37\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.7.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\" width=\"280\"\/><\/p>\n<p>THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n<p class=\"identity-intro__description\">Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<p>Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n<p>SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p class=\"identity-intro__description\">Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<p>Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n<p>REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p class=\"identity-intro__description\">Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<p>Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n<p>THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n<p class=\"identity-intro__description\">Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<p>Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p data-async=\"\">Earlier this week, the F1 broadcaster announced the <a data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields=\"\" link=\"\" motorsports=\"\" trailblazer=\"\" will=\"\" not=\"\" be=\"\" part=\"\" of=\"\" its=\"\" coverage=\"\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/torontosun.com\/sports\/auto-racing\/danica-patrick-cut-by-f1-broadcaster\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">outspoken motorsports trailblazer will not be part of its coverage<\/a> for the coming season, which <a data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields=\"\" link=\"\" this=\"\" weekend=\"\" with=\"\" the=\"\" australian=\"\" grand=\"\" prix=\"\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/www.formula1.com\/en\/racing\/2026\/australia\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">begins this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix<\/a> in Melbourne.<\/p>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p data-async=\"\">On Thursday, <a data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields=\"\" link=\"\" took=\"\" to=\"\" instagram=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DVhOr2kjjKD\/?hl=en\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Patrick took to Instagram<\/a>, thanking Sky Sports for the opportunity while also claiming she made the decision to leave herself.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFrom my first @skysportsf1 race in Austin to my last 5 years later\u2026 I had such a blast!\u201d she wrote in her post. \u201cThe 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!<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI 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!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"opening envelope\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.7.1\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-sun-middaySun.svg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Your Midday Sun<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text__new-story-page\">Your noon-hour look at what&#8217;s happening in Toronto and beyond.<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__disclaimer__new-story-page text-size--tiny\">By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.<\/p>\n<p>Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text__new-story-page\">A welcome email is on its way. If you don&#8217;t see it, please check your junk folder.<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text__new-story-page newsletter__feedback--last\">The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox.<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text__new-story-page js-submit-error\" hidden=\"\" id=\"submitErrorTORSUN_YourMiddaySun\" style=\"margin-top:8px\">We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again<\/p>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement 3<\/p>\n<p>This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd 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!\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Loading...\" height=\"64\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.7.1\/websites\/images\/common\/icon-spinner-animated.svg\" width=\"64\"\/><\/p>\n<p>We apologize, but this video has failed to load.<\/p>\n<p>Play Video<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>So, was Patrick cut by the broadcaster or did she quit? We\u2019re unlikely to know the full truth any time soon, but what is known is that she won\u2019t be part of Sky Sports\u2019 coverage for the 2026 season.<\/p>\n<p>What did Patrick do for Sky Sports?<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"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.\" class=\"embedded-image__image lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1772829070_926_0305-danica-patrick-f1-sky-sports.jpg\"  height=\"750\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\"\/> Jenson Button, Danica Patrick and Simon Lazenby of Sky Sports F1 prior to Qualifying ahead of last year\u2019s F1 Grand Prix of United States. Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>However, when the U.K. broadcaster revealed its lineup of commentators, hosts and analysts for the 2026 season, Patrick\u2019s name was conspicuously absent.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement 4<\/p>\n<p>This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>While <a href=\"https:\/\/www.skysports.com\/f1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sky Sports is the official broadcaster of F1<\/a> in the U.K., its feed also was shown in the U.S. and Canada as part of ESPN and TSN\u2019s coverage of the races.<\/p>\n<p>Patrick had not been a full-time analyst for the broadcaster, but she had been a regular at races hosted in North America \u2013 namely the Canadian and Mexican GPs as well as the three races based in the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>Read More<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/torontosun.com\/sports\/auto-racing\/danica-patrick-cut-by-f1-broadcaster\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Danica Patrick looks on from the drivers parade prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in 2024.\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1772829070_25_0305-danica-patrick-f1-headshot.jpg\"  class=\"lazyload\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"96\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Danica Patrick cut by broadcaster days before F1 season, fans call it &#8216;big win&#8217;<\/p>\n<p> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/torontosun.com\/sports\/auto-racing\/danica-patrick-flaunts-sexy-body-patriotic-tattoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Danica Patrick sitting poolside in red bikini.\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1772829071_490_danica_patrick_red_bikini-e1751915464171.jpg\"  class=\"lazyload\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"96\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Danica Patrick flaunts sexy body and patriotic back tattoo in tiny red bikini<\/p>\n<p> <\/a>Why is Patrick a divisive figure?<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p data-async=\"\">She also made several eyebrow-raising comments about <a data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields=\"\" link=\"\" involving=\"\" people=\"\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/sport\/othersports\/article-14889481\/Danica-Patrick-entertains-wild-conspiracy-theories-NASCAR-legend-questions-moon-real.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">conspiracies involving \u201clizard people\u201d<\/a> and recently shared a story at a Turning Point USA event about a \u201cpast life regression\u201d <a data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields=\"\" link=\"\" involved=\"\" her=\"\" living=\"\" as=\"\" a=\"\" native=\"\" american=\"\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/sport\/formulaone\/article-15614149\/danica-patrick-sky-sports-f1-axe.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">that involved her living as a Native American<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>During the 2026 Winter Olympics last month, she also posted on Instagram, trolling Canada over its loss in the men\u2019s gold medal hockey game to the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>Patrick shared a post that said: \u201cIf Canada had been smart and become the 51st State, they\u2019d be gold medalists right now,\u201d along with the cheeky caption: \u201cToo soon?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Check out our <a data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields=\"\" link=\"\" section=\"\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/torontosun.com\/category\/sports\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">sports section<\/a> for the latest news and analysis. Care for a wager? Head to our <a data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields=\"\" link=\"\" betting=\"\" section=\"\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/torontosun.com\/category\/sports\/sports-betting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">sports betting section<\/a> for news and odds.<\/p>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Share this article in your social network<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Breadcrumb Trail Links SportsMotorsports Outspoken ex-NASCAR and IndyCar driver said she chose to leave role as Formula 1&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":518869,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[441],"tags":[49,48,578,576,577,82],"class_list":["post-518868","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-formula-1","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-f1","tag-formula-1","tag-formula1","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/518868","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=518868"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/518868\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/518869"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=518868"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=518868"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=518868"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}