Danica Patrick‘s return to the Sky Sports F1 broadcast team at the 2025 Miami Grand Prix has sent shockwaves through the fan community, many of whom immediately expressed intense frustration online. The former NASCAR and IndyCar driver, now stepping back into her familiar pundit role, was re-announced by Sky Sports ahead of the new season, but the decision has clearly not sat well with a large segment of Formula 1 fans, particularly as she made her first on-air Miami appearance.
This is not the first time Danica Patrick has stirred debate within the paddock or among viewers. Known for her outspoken views on topics both within and outside motorsport, Patrick retired from full-time racing in 2017 after a high-profile career but remained active through sporadic racing appearances, such as in the 24 Hours of Daytona. Her status as both an American racing icon and polarizing commentator has only fueled further debate about her ongoing involvement in F1 coverage.
Social media, especially X, was immediately abuzz with critical reactions to Danica Patrick’s Miami arrival, with some fans openly questioning Sky Sports’ reasoning for retaining her as part of their regular team. Many referenced her controversial statements, including her claim that Formula 1 may never see a female driver due to physical demands. In response, former McLaren and Red Bull driver David Coulthard told the Daily Mail he remains confident that a female driver will eventually compete in F1, directly challenging Patrick’s comments about the sport’s barriers for women.
Going forward, Danica Patrick is expected to continue her coverage of the North American races for Sky Sports, with Montreal slated as her next appearance. While her presence adds a distinct perspective to the broadcast, it has also reignited fierce debates within F1 circles about representation, expert analysis, and the responsibilities of sports broadcasters to address fan sentiment.
I think Danica Patrick’s got a very interesting inside into Formula 1 racing just because she’s not an expert on valve timing and the engines that they run as far as technical problems she is the days of thunderstyle driver who just gets in the car and runs as hard as it’ll go in her day and didn’t quite well in Indy cars and pretty well in NASCAR I respect her greatly as a female driver and entrepreneur as having the ability to stay afloat in many other occupations