Danica Patrick is out of a TV job.
The 43-year-old former NASCAR and IndyCar driver, who retired from professional racing in 2018, has been staying involved in the sport, working as a TV analyst. She covers NASCAR and IndyCar for NBC while covering Formula 1 for Sky Sports. However, Patrick will not be part of the 2026 Formula 1 season coverage.
Sky Sports announced their TV broadcasting team for 2026 on Wednesday. Patrick was not included in the on-air talent announcement:
- Experts & analysts: Martin Brundle, Jenson Button, Nico Rosberg, Jacques Villeneuve, Naomi Schiff, Bernie Collins, Karun Chandhok, Jamie Chadwick and Anthony Davidson
- Presenters & reporters: Simon Lazenby, Natalie Pinkham, Ted Kravitz, Rachel Brookes and Craig Slater
- Commentators: David Croft and Harry Benjamin
It's unclear why Patrick will not be returning in 2026. However, her fans have already assigned blame.
Jenna Watson/IndyStar.
Patrick's fans are blaming her TV ousting on her political leanings. Patrick, who voted for President Trump in November 2024, has made it clear that she is "right leaning." She says she has been red-pilled.
"It was only a little over a year ago that I went to my first ever political event, which was AmFest here in Phoenix, Charlie Kirk's big event. I mean at that point in time, hopefully without people judging, I didn't know who Charlie was. Like I had never paid attention to politics, and in fact, quite specifically avoided the news and had since like 2018. So after going to that event, I posted some photos of my sister and I, and it just said that 'I love this country' and it was a divisive comment to so many and grabbed a lot of attention, which was ridiculous," she said.
"And then I finally met Tucker Carlson when he was there because he was one of the speakers and I quickly went on his show. And came back and Charlie reached out and then I went on Charlie's show and I was like, 'well, I guess I am in politics now.'"
Patrick's fans are blaming 'woke mob' on her ousting
Patrick's fans are accusing the "insufferable" mob of leading to her ousting from Sky Sports.
"That's right. They (complained) and moaned about Danica just enough to get her canned. The network announced its broadcasting team Wednesday for this season in a release, and Patrick was NOT on it. No mention of her whatsoever. It's like she never existed," Outkick wrote.
"And the liberals who watch that drivel all celebrated on social media like it was Christmas morning. They HATE Danica, and you can figure out why. I don't need to say it. But, they hate her, and now – she's gone."
To be fair, though, Patrick was not just hated because of her political views. She was often taunted on TV for her lack of Formula 1 knowledge.
Just last summer, she was roasted by a former Formula 1 champion for her opinion on the Montreal grand prix.
“Montreal is a fun track, but it’s not the most complicated,” Patrick said last summer. “As long as you get get the balance right, you get it to change directions, just be able to get on the throttle coming off, you can put it together here.”
Former F1 champion Nico Rosberg quickly disagreed.
“I have to disagree ever so slightly there, Danica,” Rosberg said. “Montreal is one of the hardest tracks of the year, because there’s so many bumps and at every curb you have to hit it so perfectly.”
Regardless of the reason, Patrick will not return in 2026.