by Following the news of the departures of Johnny Herbert and Paul Di Resta, who are the people making up the Sky F1 broadcast team for 2023?
Sky Sports F1 has confirmed changes to the presentation line-up for the 2023 Formula 1 season are underway, with former F1 drivers Johnny Herbert and Paul Di Resta leaving the team.
Herbert took to Instagram earlier this week to tweet a photo of the 2022 lineup and to say he’d “miss” working with them, while a Sky spokesperson confirmed to PlanetF1.com that Di Resta would also be leaving the place.
Sky has confirmed its broadcast and presentation line-up for the 2023 season, with many familiar names set to appear throughout the season as the British broadcaster rotates its crew throughout the 23-race calendar. Who will appear in Sky F1 coverage this season?
Jenson Button
The Formula 1 race winner and 2009 World Champion first appeared on Sky F1’s coverage of the 2018 British Grand Prix, with his tongue-in-cheek humor and relevant recent insights proving popular with the viewers.
Button joined the team in 2019, with the 15-time Grand Prix winner teaming up once again in 2023.
Nico Rosberg
2016 F1 World Champion Nico Rosberg has proved a hugely popular broadcaster and interviewer on Sky F1, thanks to his willingness to ask awkward questions and point out inconvenient truths.
The German’s participation in paddock activities was notably successful last year, due to Rosberg’s decision not to be vaccinated against COVID-19, a strict requirement set by F1 and the FIA to enter the paddock.
With the 2023 vaccine mandate lifted, Rosberg will be able to rejoin Sky’s coverage by leaving the confines of his spare room/broadcast studio at home and once again competing in select races on the field.
David Croft
Former BBC F1 radio commentator David Croft was appointed lead commentator for Sky F1 when the broadcaster took over the UK rights ahead of the 2012 season.
Since then, Croft has become the modern voice of F1, with his infectious enthusiasm, ability to excite and occasional willingness to divide his opinions, winning the hearts of fans around the world.
Martin Brundle
Having learned from the late, great Murray Walker following his F1 career, Brundle has carved out an enviable position since 1997 as one of the most beloved commentators in the world.
Brundle and Croft make a team of commentators of enormous warmth, knowledge and humour. In recent years, Brundle has chosen to step away from multiple races each year following a health scare, but expects him to be right at the front for most of the 2023 season.
Naomi Schiff
Schiff is a Rwandan-Belgian professional racing driver and stuntman, who appeared on the W series before being named an ambassador for diversity and inclusion.
Hosting the launch of the Mercedes F1 Team alongside Natalie Pinkham in 2022, Schiff was brought in as a regular contributor to Sky F1’s coverage where she quickly carved out a name for herself as a professional and insightful broadcaster as well as an expert interviewer.
Anthony Davidson
Former Super Aguri F1 driver Anthony Davidson has featured on BBC Radio 5’s Formula 1 coverage, working closely with David Croft, following his racing days in the sport.
Whilst Davidson has carved out a hugely successful career as a sports car driver in the WEC, he has also been added to the Sky line-up for the 2012 season and has been associated primarily with the ‘Sky Pad’, the channel’s famous paddock screen which allows it to query drivers about accidents while still having access to tools like zoom or slow motion, just to add to the driver’s discomfort!
Simone Lazenby
Experienced broadcaster Simon Lazenby has been Sky F1’s main presenter since acquiring the UK rights over a decade ago.
While Lazenby got off to a shaky start with UK audiences, his predecessor at the BBC being the immensely popular Jake Humphrey, Lazenby has since assumed a position of quiet authority due to his affable and friendly demeanor when speaking to F1’s most important drivers and team bosses.
Damon hill
1996 F1 World Champion Damon Hill was brought in by Sky F1 as an expert analyst during the 2012 season, an obvious decision given Hill’s prominence in the British motorsport history books.
Over the past decade, Hill has become increasingly popular with a whole new generation of fans, including those too young to ever see his famous championship win with Williams.
Hill is known for being able to offer insight into his days as a pilot or compare how modern pilots face completely different challenges than what existed during his career.
Karun Chandhok
Former HRT pilot Karun Chandhok first appeared on Sky in 2012, adding to their broadcast in a supplementary role over the next three seasons.
Subsequently, Chandhok took on a position with Channel 4 to become their lead pitlane reporter between 2016 and 2018. But, with Channel 4’s free-to-air offer fading for 2019, Chandhok was brought back to sheepfold on Sky team.
Like Davidson, Chandhok is known for his Sky Pad segments as he puts drivers on the spot, while also offering a balanced and informed opinion when called upon.
Natalie Pinkham
Pinkham enjoyed an industrious pre-F1 career as a broadcaster, presenting and hosting a plethora of different shows – one of his key roles being as the face of The Poker Channel.
Following her successful coverage of the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2009 alongside Steve Rider, Pinkham became BBC Radio 5’s pitlane reporter for the 2011 season, a role which dovetailed with her day to day and news reporting roles.
Pinkham has progressively stepped up Sky F1’s coverage and has gradually become an increasingly integral part of the team. Forging close bonds with many of the drivers, Pinkham is well known for her no-nonsense approach to small talk with F1 staff.
In 2021, Pinkham became the first female lead commentator for a Formula 1 session in the UK, taking the lead for the first practice session at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Rachel Brookes
Former radio presenter Rachel Brookes is a professional journalist and broadcaster who appears on Sky F1 through her role working with Sky Sports News.
She is notable for her contributions as a pit reporter and has occasionally filled in for Simon Lazenby as the channel’s main presenter.
Ted Kravitz
Long-serving broadcaster Ted Kravitz has been around since ITV’s first coverage of the sport, starting out as a producer before becoming the channel’s pit lane reporter following the promotion of James Allen to commentary.
He worked in his pit lane role until 2011, including through the move to the BBC from ITV, before taking a position with Sky for the 2012 season.
Thanks to his quirky presentation style and ability to explain complicated concepts in easy-to-digest snippets, Kravitz has become best known for his ‘Ted’s Notebook’ segment on Grand Prix weekends, as he reflects and analyzes each team’s performance in track, while he is also the long-term presenter of the F1 Show during the week.
Danica Patrick
American racing legend Danica Patrick joined the Sky line-up as pundit for the 2021 United States Grand Prix, proving instantly popular as her laconic style contrasted with the regular broadcast team.
Appearing on race coverage in the United States and Mexico in 2022, Patrick will reprise his role for 2023.
