Former Sky Sports F1 pundit Danica Patrick has officially made her return to television screens, joining the FOX Sports broadcasting team ahead of this weekend’s legendary Indianapolis 500. Despite fans favourite Patrick suggesting she initiated the parting of ways, many believe in fact – this was not the case.
The fastest race in global motorsport sees the drivers in their single-seater, open-cockpit cars hit an average speed of over 230 mph in qualifying, and Danica Patrick was one woman in a field of men during her time in the sport.
She remains the most recognizable of all female racing drivers of the modern era, having forged a historic career across both IndyCar and NASCAR prior to her retirement from professional racing at the end of 2018. The 44-year-old initially joined the Sky Sports F1 team in 2021, making regular appearances on the global feed until the conclusion of last year. Shortly before the start of the current F1 season, it was confirmed that Patrick had officially parted ways with the British broadcaster.
The ‘Masculine Mind’ Controversy
For many, Patrick is an iconic female role model, although throughout her career she has made controversial claims, such as top-flight motor racing requiring a ‘male philosophy.’ During a Sky F1 broadcast at the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix, a young female fan asked if we would see women racing in Formula 1 soon. Patrick gave her “masculine mind” response, which immediately sparked widespread criticism across social media and motorsport publications for being discouraging to young girls looking to enter the sport.
“The nature of the sport is masculine. It’s aggressive. You have to handle the car—not only just the car, because that’s a skill, but the mindset that it takes to be really good is something that’s not normal in a feminine mind, in a female mind.
“You have to be, like, for me, I know if somebody tries to bow up or make it difficult on me, I would go into like an aggressive kill mode, right? You just want to go after them, and that’s just not a natural feminine thought,” said the former IndyCar racer.
She went on to suggest it was improbable for a female to make it through to F1 because it was a numbers game, noting that in the junior categories women are outnumbered by men at 100-to-1. For many, her comments were a blend of realism, although the more woke in the media attacked her for making such suggestions.
The Physical Realities of Junior Formulas
Yet it is the same in all sports where physical strength is of significant importance, which is why, for example, in boxing, women and men compete in different categories. This is the same in all the athletics events at the biggest sporting event of all—The Olympics.
The road to Formula One is through F3 and F2, and unlike the pinnacle of motorsport, the steering is not power-assisted. This requires immense strength and endurance, meaning only the strongest will succeed.
Paddock Censorship vs. Broadcaster Ideology
There was some mystery over Patrick disappearing this year from the Sky F1 lineup. Some believe the producers felt they could no longer give her a platform for her ‘alternative opinions.’ Away from the racetrack, Danica had expressed what some would call ‘right-wing views’ and promoted events like the ‘Turning Point USA AmericaFest conference.’
Bizarrely, broadcasters like Sky pride themselves on inclusiveness, yet exclude someone who represents the views of vast swathes of the USA and other Western segments of society. Patrick does explore some fringe conspiracy theories on her independent podcast, “Pretty Intense,” hosting controversial guests who openly discuss fringe theories. Topics include the existence of lizard people / reptilian shapeshifters controlling human society, along with the theory that aliens built the Egyptian pyramids.
Mainstream sports networks thrive on broad corporate sponsorships and family-friendly appeal. When an analyst transitions from being a respected sporting trailblazer to a polarizing figure associated with political divisiveness and internet conspiracy theories, they become a liability.
The Broadcast Double Standard: Hamilton and BLM
Yet, Sky F1 supported the “Black Lives Matter” movement when Lewis Hamilton obsessively promoted it within the circle of F1 drivers. This was an organization that demanded the police be defunded and promoted property destruction and riots. Many of their senior figures were convicted of wire fraud as the donations came flooding in, all while Hamilton demanded F1 drivers take the knee.
While Patrick maintained that it was her personal choice to “move on” at the end of 2025, the corporate reality was a decision made to protect their image, meaning one of the greatest ever female racers is no longer on TV representing her gender.
Scheduling Wars: Indy 500 vs. Canadian Grand Prix
Danica Patrick will return to US TV screens this weekend for FOX’s coverage of the Indy 500, the crown jewel in the IndyCar calendar. The race is scheduled to start just hours before the Canadian Grand Prix—a clash many motorsport fans believe is unnecessary.
The Indy 500 has for over 100 years been held on the US Memorial Day holiday weekend, so it is not difficult for the FIA and FOM to avoid this particular weekend. The reality is that the Canadian Grand Prix viewership in the US will be dwarfed by fans tuning in to watch the fastest racing cars on earth.
Signing off on her F1 punditry career, Patrick was as gracious as ever, posting: “I had such a blast! 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.” She claimed magnanimously it was her decision to “move on” and expressed her gratitude “for the opportunity and experience I was given!”
Conclusion: A Tale of Two Realities
With F1 mired in controversy over its nonsensical new power units, there will be many motorsport fans who watch the Indy 500 live and the Canadian Grand Prix on catch-up. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway can host up to 350,000 fans—a number most F1 Grands Prix can only dream of achieving across an entire weekend.
FOX inherited the live IndyCar broadcast rights from rival network NBC ahead of the 2025 season. In a bid to revamp their coverage, the station has assembled a high-profile commentary team, recruiting Drive to Survive star Will Buxton as lead commentator alongside popular F1 TV pundit and former IndyCar ace James Hinchcliffe.
Championship leader Alex Palou is set to lead the field to green on Sunday. The former F1 reserve driver secured pole position after storming around the oval at a blistering fastest average speed of 232.248 mph.
Would you like to see more TJ13 Formula 1 coverage? Add us to your favourites list on Google to receive trusted F1 news.
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
A.J. Hunt is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Andrew oversees editorial standards and contributes to the site’s Formula 1 coverage. A career journalist with experience in both print and digital sports media, Andrew trained in investigative journalism and has written for a range of European sports outlets.
At TJ13, Andrew plays a central role in shaping the site’s output, working across breaking news, analysis, and long-form features. Andrew’s responsibilities include fact-checking, refining editorial structure, and ensuring consistency in reporting across a fast-moving news cycle.
Andrew’s work focuses particularly on the intersection of Formula 1 politics, regulation, and team strategy. Andrew closely follows developments involving the FIA, team leadership, and driver market dynamics, helping to provide context behind the sport’s biggest stories.
With experience covering multiple seasons of Formula 1’s modern hybrid era, Andrew has developed a detailed understanding of how regulatory changes and competitive shifts influence the grid. Andrew’s editorial approach prioritises clarity and context, aiming to help readers navigate complex developments within the sport.
In addition to editorial duties, Andrew is particularly interested in how media narratives shape fan perception of Formula 1, and how reporting can balance speed with accuracy in an increasingly digital news environment.
