Lewis Hamilton Apologises to Sky Sports’ Rachel Brookes After T…read more
Lewis Hamilton has apologised to Sky Sports F1 presenter Rachel Brookes following a tense post-race interview at the Spanish Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion appeared frustrated and standoffish during the exchange after a challenging afternoon on track, but later expressed regret for his demeanour in an off-camera apology.
The Spanish Grand Prix proved to be another difficult outing for Hamilton in what has been a turbulent debut season with Ferrari. Despite a promising performance in qualifying, where he outpaced team-mate Charles Leclerc for only the second time since joining the Scuderia, Hamilton struggled to maintain his form during the race. After falling behind early, he was eventually overtaken by Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg near the end of the race and crossed the line in seventh. A late penalty for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen promoted him to sixth, but it was little consolation on a day filled with disappointment.
Hamilton’s post-race frustrations were immediately evident during his interview with Sky Sports’ Rachel Brookes, where he described his race as “terrible” and responded with clipped, terse answers. Many viewers noted the frosty nature of the exchange, but Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft has since come to Hamilton’s defence, revealing that the British driver later apologised for his behaviour.
Speaking on the Fast and the Curious podcast, Croft explained, “He was really down on himself and no one likes to see that. Because at the end of the day, whether you’re a fan or not, Lewis Hamilton is the greatest racing driver we’ve ever seen. Statistically, he is the greatest. I think he’s the greatest even without the stats. He wears his heart on his sleeve and should be applauded for that.”
Croft continued, “He did apologise to Rachel Brookes for being so down in the dumps. Off camera he said, ‘I’m really sorry about that, I’m just so down.’ That just shows the extent of how disappointed he was. He’s not putting it on for the cameras—trust me.”
The apology highlights Hamilton’s emotional investment in his performances and the mounting pressure he faces during his first season with Ferrari. The move to the iconic Italian team was seen as a bold step in the final chapter of his Formula 1 career, but the partnership has yet to yield consistent results. While he has shown glimpses of his old brilliance—most notably at the Imola Grand Prix where he climbed from 11th to finish fourth—his overall campaign has been plagued by inconsistency.
In Monaco, Hamilton finished fifth, over 50 seconds behind team-mate Leclerc, who secured a dominant home victory. At the Spanish Grand Prix, Ferrari implemented team orders early in the race, asking Hamilton to let Leclerc through after just 10 laps. Leclerc would go on to finish third, claiming his third podium of the season, while Hamilton was left struggling for pace and results.
These recent performances have left Hamilton sixth in the drivers’ championship, with 23 points separating him from both Leclerc ahead and Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli behind. Although his hopes of an eighth world title are still alive, the road ahead looks increasingly difficult unless Ferrari can unlock more consistent pace from their car.
For Hamilton, the apology to Brookes not only reflects his character but also the deep frustration he feels in a season that has not lived up to expectations. While fans remain hopeful that he will return to the top step of the podium soon, it’s clear that the road to redemption will require both patience and perseverance.
