Sky Sports F1 Drops Danica Patrick, Names New Commentator for Brazilian GP

Sky Sports F1 has announced that motorsports journalist Alexa Rendell will replace Danica Patrick as part of the network's Formula 1 coverage.

Rendell is set to make her debut at the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix.

The announcement was made Wednesday by Sky Sports.

Patrick's removal from the role was originally announced in March of this year.

"Alexa Rendell joins the Sky Sports F1 team ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix as our new F1 Multimedia Journalist," Sky Sports reported.

Patrick first began working as a pundit on Sky's F1 coverage at the 2021 United States Grand Prix.

She became a permanent fixture during the American leg of the F1 season.

Her final outings with the network came during the 2025 season.

Following that, Sky announced that Patrick would no longer work as a pundit for the British broadcaster.

But the former IndyCar and NASCAR driver has continued covering American racing series sporadically in 2026.

Patrick took to Instagram in March to share a thank-you note following her exit from Sky Sports.

The American former racing driver said it was she who made the decision to step away from the role.

She said she was not removed by the company.

"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!" Patrick wrote.

"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!" she added.

Patrick raced in the IndyCar Series from 2005 to 2011.

She remains the only woman to win a race in that series, having done so at the 2008 Japan 300.

She also drove in NASCAR in both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series from 2010 until her retirement in 2018.

Rendell shared a statement following the announcement.

She said she is looking forward to beginning her new role at Sky Sports from the Brazilian GP onward.

She explained that she wants to connect new fans to the sport through her new role.

"I'm really thrilled to be joining the Sky Sports F1 family," Rendell said.

"F1 has always been my first love, and Sky has been part of my journey in the sport since I was a teenager, when I got my first taste of the industry through its access events," she added.

"To now be joining the team feels like a really special full-circle moment," Rendell said.

"I can't wait to get stuck in from Brazil and tell the stories that," she continued.

The announcement of Rendell's hiring comes amid a period of political controversy for Patrick.

On Tuesday, November 3, Texas voters elected Democrat James Talarico to the U.S. Senate.

Talarico defeated Republican incumbent Ken Paxton.

It was the first time a Democrat won a Senate seat in Texas since 1988.

Patrick reacted to Talarico's victory on social media.

She resurfaced a clip from Talarico's campaign in which he was asked about his favorite drag queen.

"Oh gosh, probably Alyssa Edwards," Talarico said in the clip.

Edwards is a Texas native and prominent alum of RuPaul's Drag Race.

She appeared on season 5 of the show and returned for season 2 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.

Patrick posted the clip to her Instagram Story on Wednesday, November 4.

She captioned it with one word: "Seriously."

During the Senate campaign, Paxton had used the same clip in an attack ad against Talarico.

"Meet Alyssa Edwards: James Talarico's favorite sick and twisted drag queen," Paxton wrote when posting the ad.

Edwards responded to the Paxton ad with an impassioned letter shared via social media.

"I'm not sure I fully understand your motive or intention in attempting to disparage my name, my character, or my reputation," Edwards wrote.

"But I do know this: the way we choose to speak about others often says far more about our own character than it ever will about theirs," she added.

"My life may look different from yours, but difference does not diminish character, faith, service, or a person's ability to positively contribute to their community," Edwards wrote.

"Texas is big enough for all of us," she concluded.

Since retiring from professional racing, Patrick has attempted to become a prominent name in conservative politics.

Last month, she posted about spending a day with President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One.

"He is so easy to talk to and SO fun to listen to!"

Patrick wrote on Instagram.

"He's a great story teller… funny and obviously interesting," she added.

"He is also very curious what your opinion is pertaining to any topic," Patrick wrote.

"And of course he is really into sports, which I love!" she said.