F1 News: Calls To Remove Danica Patrick From Sky F1 After "Awful" Appearances
Racer-turned Sky Sports F1 commentator, Danica Patrick has come under fire lately for her insensitive remarks undermining the female community and since then, F1 fans have not been taking her lightly, while many ask for her removal from the existing role. In addition, she also hosted a climate change denier on her podcast as Formula One gears toward a sustainable future.
Ironically, Patrick is the most successful woman in American open-wheel racing as she spent nearly two decades in open-wheel car racing. She is also the only woman to have won an IndyCar race in 2008 when she brought home the winning trophy of the Indy Japan 300. She is also a former NASCAR driver in her racing career.
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F1 commentators like Simon Lazenby, Natalie Pinkham, and Martin Brundle bring more flavor and excitement to the sport on race days, thus making it an interactive viewing experience for the viewers. Over the years, they've become a part and a face of the sport and without them, it would be difficult to imagine Formula 1.
However, viewers and fans are of the opinion that they won't miss Patrick if she is removed from her role after she expressed her views at the Hungarian GP which led the first-ever kid-led broadcast.
A child broadcaster asked the former racer if she would like to see a female F1 driver race in the future, to which, Patrick gave a reply that was not only shocking but, also undermined the capabilities and strength of women. She said:
“I think that the nature of the sport is masculine. It’s aggressive. You have to handle the car—not only just the car because that’s skill, but the mindset that it takes to be really good is something that’s not normal in a feminine mind, a female mind.”
Not only that, she recently spoke against a cause that Formula 1 has been working towards- to become carbon neutral by 2030. On a recent episode of her podcast 'Pretty Intense,' she hosted a guest who was a climate change denier. Fans have been questioning her move of hosting such guests when drivers like Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, and Formula 1 as a whole have been advocating the need to fight climate change.
While many might be of the opinion that open views should be advocated, regardless of whether they go, or don't go with the organization you work for. But, here are a few reactions from fans who haven't been liking it.