F1 Fans Threaten to “Boycott SkySports” After Unpopular Danica Patrick Announcement

In recent times, Danica Patrick, for her contentious remarks concerning motorsports, has been the talk of the F1 community. Notwithstanding the heavy criticism she received, Sky Sports has announced Patrick will be joining their presentation team for the 2024 season. Patrick, an erstwhile NASCAR and IndyCar racer, controversially posited that women lacked the necessary mentality to succeed in motorsports.

Including Patrick in a predominantly well-received team may backfire on Sky Sports, given her unfavorable reputation in the F1 circuit. Her past squabbles both on and off the field may pose a hurdle for the network to secure entirely positive publicity for their 2024 analysis team. Some sports aficionados have expressed disappointment at the decision, particularly as Sky Sports is a major broadcaster of the sport.

Besides Patrick, Sky Sports will continue employing and as the chief analyst and commentator respectively, throughout the season. Simon Lazenby is slated to be the main trackside presenter. The rest of the team comprises Jenson Button, Nico Rosberg, Naomi Schiff, Anthony Davidson, Damon Hill, Karun Chandhok, Bernie Collins, Natalie Pinkham, Rachel Brookes, Ted Kravitz, and Craig Slater.

Upon the confirmation of Danica Patrick in Sky Sports' 2024 lineup, a section of the sport's die-hard fans expressed their dissatisfaction on the social media platform, 'X.' One fan even suggested a total boycott of Sky Sports, while another hinted at switching to F1TV's broadcast.

Another fan emphasized on Sky Sports heeding to the voices of paying subscribers. One fan also stated that they would no longer follow the Sky Sports broadcast if not for Jenson Button. Patrick's remarks about Daniel Ricciardo, women in motorsports, and even her political statements might have led Sky Sports to take a significant gamble, which may impact their ratings. Should their ratings drop, the broadcaster may be forced to reconsider their decision, potentially even midway through the 2024 season.