Damon Hill update after Sky F1 ‘return’ sends comeback rumours into overdrive

Damon Hill, the 1996 world champion, fuelled rumours that he could return to Sky F1 this week by appearing on the broadcaster’s F1 Show podcast following the Brazilian Grand Prix.

However, PlanetF1.com understands that it was a one-off appearance, with no plans in place for the 66-year-old to rejoin Sky F1’s punditry lineup.

Damon Hill not in line for full-time Sky F1 return despite podcast appearance

Hill parted ways with Sky at the end of the 2024 season after 12 years with the broadcaster, having been a Sky F1 pundit since it inherited the live Formula 1 broadcast rights in 2012.

The former Williams and Jordan driver’s departure was announced just weeks after Hill’s criticism of Red Bull driver Max Verstappen sparked a fierce response online.

Hill went on to join BBC Radio 5 Live as a commentator and pundit ahead of the 2025 season, as well as serving as an ambassador for both Formula 1 and the Williams team.

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Following last weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos, Hill appeared on Sky F1’s in-house podcast alongside lead presenter Simon Lazenby and pundit Anthony Davidson.

Sources have told PlanetF1.com that Hill’s appearance was a one-off, with the 1996 world champion not in line to rejoin Sky F1’s punditry team on a permanent basis.

Lazenby alluded to Hill’s appearance at the start of the podcast, remarking: “I’m delighted to say that, alongside myself and Anthony Davidson, it’s the return of the champ. At some point we had to have you back, Damon, to talk about all things Formula 1.”

The presenter added when concluding the podcast: “Thank you to Damon for a rare appearance, one to treasure, on the F1 Show podcast.”

Hill’s departure was announced by Sky F1 in November 2024, a matter of weeks after he had likened Verstappen to Dick Dastardly, the villain of the children’s cartoon series Wacky Races, due to the Red Bull driver’s aggressive style of racing.

In an interview with the Telegraph newspaper in February last year, Hill said that he “would like to think” his criticism of Verstappen had no influence on his exit.

The Sky F1 presentation team has seen further changes over the course of 2026, with PlanetF1.com reporting in February that former IndyCar and NASCAR driver Danica Patrick had parted ways with the broadcaster.

Patrick’s exit was followed by that of long-serving reporter Rachel Brookes ahead of June’s Austrian Grand Prix.

A Sky Sports spokesman told PlanetF1.com at the time: “Rachel has moved on from the Sky Sports F1 team to take on new challenges as we evolve our coverage.

“Rachel has been an asset for the team and we wish her well in her new endeavours.”

Brookes has remained involved in Formula 1 since cutting ties with Sky F1, hosting the Aston Martin team’s in-house The Lawn VIP event during the British Grand Prix weekend in July.

The presenter also hosted the official FIA press conferences during the Spanish and Bahrain grand prix weekends.

Sky F1 added a new face to its lineup ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix in the form of Alexa Rendell.

Rendell joins Sky after a spell with Formula E having also worked in the World Endurance Championship, F1 Academy and Extreme E.

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