Rachel Brookes says online abuse after Verstappen interview

Sky Sports Formula 1 presenter Rachel Brookes has revealed she was subjected to a torrent of horrific online abuse after asking Max Verstappen a pointed question about a controversial on-track incident a year ago. Brookes detailed the experience in a recent podcast appearance, describing the personal nature of the attacks and her decision to temporarily disable comments on her social media accounts.

The flashpoint occurred following the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, where Verstappen, then a four-time world champion, collided with Mercedes driver George Russell after being instructed to hand back a position. Race stewards handed Verstappen a 10-second penalty for the incident, and he later publicly admitted he had made a mistake. During the live broadcast, however, 2016 world champion and Sky pundit Nico Rosberg suggested the move looked deliberate.

Inspired by that commentary, Brookes approached Verstappen in the post-race media pen. She recounted asking him directly, "Was it deliberate?" to which Verstappen replied, "Does it matter?" Brookes pressed the point, telling him she believed it did matter to fans watching at home. She explained her motivation stemmed from frustration,...