Johnny Herbert and Paul di Resta will not be part of Sky Sports’ F1 coverage after the broadcaster opted to part ways with the duo.
Herbert took to Instagram Wednesday with a photo of the channel’s 2022 lineup with the caption “This team will be missed.”
Fellow Sky Sports employee Natalie Pinkham commented below “Johnny love you forever.”
In a statement to PlanetF1.com, a Sky Sports spokesperson confirmed that Herbert and Di Resta will not be part of their broadcast team for the upcoming season.
“Johnny has been an integral part of our Formula 1 team since the very first season on Sky Sports in 2012. We will miss his humor and great personality and thank him for his energy and enthusiasm over the past 11 years. Everyone wish him the best for the future.
Herbert was an F1 driver from 1989 to 2000, racing for a total of seven teams in 160 starts. His best career result was in 1995 when he finished 4th with Benetton after two wins that year.
After his racing career, Herbert embarked on a media career and joined Sky Sports in 2012 as an expert analyst. His most notable moment came in 2022 when he informed Max Verstappen that he had won his second world championship after some confusion after points at a shortened Japanese Grand Prix.
Herbet and Di Resta were one of eight former F1 drivers on the roster, including 1996 world champion Damon Hill, 2009 world champion Jenson Button, 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg, Martin Brundle, Anthony Davidson and Karun Chandhok.
Naomi Schiff and Danica Patrick also appeared on the broadcaster’s coverage in 2022.
Sky’s 2023 lineup includes Button, Rosberg, Schiff, Brundle, Damon Hill, Chandhok, Davidson, Natalie Pinkham, Ted Kravitz, Patrick, Simon Lazenby, David Croft and Rachel Brookes.
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Sky Sports is one of the biggest broadcasters of the sport and provides the feed in the UK, Ireland, Germany and Italy as well as the international feed.
They acquired the rights in 2012 and in September 2022, F1 have announced a new deal with Sky that would see them retain the rights until 2029.
The broadcaster found himself the center of attention in Mexico after Verstappen declined to speak to them following comments from Ted Kravtiz.
The Dutchman was reportedly annoyed by Kravitz’s ‘disrespectful’ comments, referring to a comment from the broadcaster in which he said Verstappen ‘stole’ Lewis Hamilton of the 2021 World Championship.
Verstappen ended the embargo at the following race in Brazil.
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