Sky Sports F1 presenter Rachel Brookes has said she received serious online abuse after asking Max Verstappen about his 2025 Spanish Grand Prix collision with George Russell.
Brookes revisited the incident during a podcast appearance, explaining that her question followed Nico Rosberg’s live analysis of the clash. Verstappen was given a 10-second penalty after the contact with Russell and later accepted that the move was wrong.
According to PlanetF1’s report on Rachel Brookes’ comments, the Sky reporter said the response from some fans on social media became deeply personal after the interview circulated online.
Why The Verstappen Interview Still Matters
The episode is significant because it underlines the pressure facing broadcast journalists in Formula 1 when they challenge leading drivers in live media sessions. Brookes said colleagues in sports broadcasting supported the question, while she also defended the decision to press Verstappen because it reflected the debate already being raised by Sky’s own punditry team.
For Verstappen, the exchange remains attached to one of the more controversial flashpoints of his 2025 season. For F1, it is another reminder that driver scrutiny, fan tribalism and social media abuse are now part of the sport’s media landscape. The timing also keeps the issue relevant as the paddock moves through another intense run of European races, with broadcast access and post-race questioning still central to how supporters understand flashpoints.
