Sky Sports F1 presenter Rachel Brookes has revealed that she received what she described as “enormous amounts of vile abuse” following the Spanish Grand Prix. She’s now taken steps to prevent this by disabling comments on her social media platforms.
This is another example of a growing problem of online harassment targeting those involved with Formula 1, with the likes of Yuki Tsunoda and Jack Doohan both receiving hateful comments on their social sites only weeks ago.
While Brookes didn’t specify the subject of the abuse, it’s likely it stemmed from her challenging interviews following the Spanish Grand Prix. After Max Verstappen’s controversial collision with George Russell, Brookes conducted a number of interviews where she pushed for opinions on the subject from drivers, including the four-time champion himself.
Suggesting that kind of racing may “take some shine” away from his talent behind the wheel, Verstappen responded: “Okay well, that’s your opinion.” He appeared defensive throughout the interview.
The reporter also had a difficult interview with Lewis Hamilton after his difficult Spanish campaign – a day he described as “terrible”.
“What do you want me to say? I’ve just had a really bad day. I’ve got nothing to say,” he told her. He later apologised to her off-camera.
Ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, Brookes posted the following to her Instagram story.
“I will be posting on here as usual but comments/tags/mentions on here and on X have been disabled for the foreseeable future due to the enormous amounts of vile abuse I was sent after the Spanish GP.
“I may switch them back on at a later date but for now they will stay off. Time to go racing, it should be an exciting weekend!
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Ferrari
As a seasoned journalist, being with Sky Sports since 2013, Brookes is known for her direct and well articulated interviews. She has consistently handled her work professionally and to a high standard.
This trend also targeted her colleague Lee McKenzie, who admitted she received “horrific” abuse about her appearance following the same race weekend.
“Last month I went into hospital for an operation and I’ve been struggling with some health issues for a while now,” she posted to Instagram.
“As you see on here I’m a private person and I post about my work, not too much about life outside of work. I don’t need or want attention or validation. But the comments about my appearance and weight at the Spanish Grand Prix have been horrific. I’ve had to turn off comments on my social media. It’s worth saying they came from women and men alike.
“If you don’t like what someone wears or looks like on television, feel free to think about it but why send it to them? Why contact someone to be deliberately rude? I’m a journalist and I’m good at my job and I’m furious that this affects me. But it does and there will be people out there getting similar abuse that are not as strong as me. Don’t do it.
“The good news is that a larger operation that I thought I was going to get isn’t needed at the moment and things can be treated with medication. Many people have this. It’s not about being unwell. It’s about the vile comments from women and men commenting on my appearance.
“My health is improving and I’m back at the gym. For me. Not for anyone else. Think before you write to someone.”
Sky Sports presenter Natalie Pinkham also spoke out following the news via her own Instagram account.
“Online abuse needs to be regularly and rigorously called out. Our friend Caroline Flack paid the ultimate price, taking her own life after the most abhorrent and relentless online hate.
“As her friends, we vowed to stand up to the trolls. Today I learnt that my mate @leemckenzietv has been subjected to it, which makes me angry, sad, but most of all more determined than ever.
“At @flackstock we are partnering with the @fia.official through their United Against Online Abuse campaign to counter #onlineabuse with a research project, development of a safeguarding app and #mentalhealthsupport to those in need. More on all of that soon.
“In the meantime we would love you to join us on our mission to protect each other, our kids and ourselves online.”
