Why Danica Patrick was axed from job and never – Sports News
Danica Patrick has been axed from Sky Sports’ F1 protection for the 2026 season (Image: Getty)
Former NASCAR and IndyAutomotive driver Danica Patrick was dropped from Sky Sports’ F1 punditry crew forward of the 2026 season. The new F1 marketing campaign begins in Melbourne this weekend, with Sky Sports confirming Patrick’s departure of their protection announcement.
The 43-year-old made her on-screen debut as an F1 commentator and analyst for Sky Sports on the 2021 U.S. Grand Prix at Austin’s COTA. Patrick‘s involvement with Sky Sports grew, together with a outstanding look within the sixth season of the Netflix documentary collection Formula 1: Drive to Survive in 2024. However, Patrick’s time on air was marked by controversy, with requires her elimination from the broadcaster’s F1 lineup.
Some F1 followers additionally criticized her outspoken help of President Donald Trump. Patrick’s final Sky Sports look was at COTA final October, bringing her position full circle earlier than being brutally AXED by the broadcaster for its F1 protection.
Patrick has not commented on her Sky Sports F1 departure. Her latest social media posts show a ski journey to Colorado and her real estate buy from final August, which she described as a “little slice of heaven” after a five-year search.
It is unclear whether or not Patrick will return to F1 punditry elsewhere or to U.S. motorsport collection similar to NASCAR or IndyAutomotive. She did seem on FOX Sports’ Indy 500 protection final season, the place her outfit sparked controversy.
Danica Patrick raced in IndyAutomotive and NASCAR – however never made it to F1 (Image: Getty)
Why was Danica Patrick axed from F1 pundit job?
According to Mirror U.S. Sport, Sky Sports didn’t renew Patrick’s contract. The report goes on to state that whereas no official motive has been given, Patrick “will be focusing on other projects moving forward.”
Patrick was commonly subject to criticism, although, each for cases caught on Sky Sports cameras, with followers calling for her elimination after an odd United States GP commentary left on-air companion Jenson Button awkwardly stare down the digicam, and away from F1, for her outspoken politics.
Patrick, identified for her vocal help of Trump, has attracted consideration for her controversial remarks, together with criticizing the selection of Puerto Rican musician Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl halftime show and joking that Canadian ice hockey gamers “would be gold medallists” within the Winter Olympics if that they had “been smart and become the 51st state” of the USA.
Why did Danica Patrick never race in F1?
Patrick made a number of makes an attempt to interrupt into F1, however never secured a race seat. In 2005, she examined a Jordan F1 car at Silverstone, giving her a first style of F1 machinery.
She explored additional alternatives in 2008, together with a potential take a look at with Honda, however these plans never materialized, and she shifted her focus to proceed racing within the United States.
In the U.S., Patrick grew to become one of essentially the most marketable and profitable feminine athletes in historical past. She made historical past as the primary lady to win an IndyAutomotive race and parlayed that success into a NASCAR profession, attracting main endorsements from GoDaddy, Chevrolet, Coca‑Cola, and more.
At her peak, she reportedly earned over $10 million a yr, with a web value of round $80M from racing, sponsorships, and business ventures.
Ultimately, F1 never grew to become a real looking path for Patrick. The European feeder collection route, together with GP2/F2, required long-term dedication overseas, which clashed along with her American-centered trajectory.
Stay forward of the sport with the newest developments within the sports activities world! Our web site is your final vacation spot for sports activities information, delivering complete updates, in-depth analyses, and professional insights into the fast-evolving realm of athletics. We deliver you every day protection on all the pieces from breakthrough coaching techniques and rising crew methods to main bulletins which can be setting the tempo within the sports activities industry.
Discover how these trends are redefining the aggressive panorama! Visit us commonly for participating and informative content material by clicking right here. Our meticulously curated articles cowl game-changing ways, investment alternatives in sports activities, and key milestones in in the present day’s dynamic athletic enviornment.
