In conversation with Natalie Pinkham: Addressing F1 rumours and revealing what Ricciardo needs for coveted comeback

Formula 1 presenter Natalie Pinkham has been a key factor of Sky Sports' coverage since 2012, having seen drivers come and go and witnessed the crowning of two new champions.

Ahead of the 2025 season opener next weekend, GPFans sat down with the Sky F1 star to discuss Daniel Ricciardo, Lewis Hamilton and the biggest issues facing the modern iteration of the sport.

Sky Sports is the exclusive home of Formula 1 in the UK & Ireland. Don't miss the start of the 2025 World Championship live from Melbourne, Australia, March 14-16th, only on Sky Sports and NOW.

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Since joining Sky, the experienced sports presenter has seen Red Bull go through two periods of domination in the constructors' standings, with two modern icons of the sport excelling in the drivers' championship- Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.

Sandwiched between the success of Christian Horner's outfit however is the rise of Lewis Hamilton and the record-breaking eight consecutive constructors' titles he helped bring to his former Mercedes team.

The biggest storyline in the sport right now is Hamilton's switch to Ferrari, so what does Pinkham think could be in store for the seven-time champion and the many rookie drivers who are joining him on the grid for this campaign?

READ MORE: Ricciardo delivers HEARTBREAKING news in Drive to Survive

What does 2025 hold for Hamilton?

Pinkham has seen the F1 legend race in the pinnacle of motorsport for 11 seasons, but ahead of his 12th, Hamilton will be hoping the change of environment can boost his chances of returning to the top of the order this year.

Discussing how Hamilton appears ahead of his competitive debut with Ferrari, Pinkham told GPFans: "Very natural, he seems immediately at home there not just culturally and in terms of stepping into this iconic brand and family but also in terms of the car.

"I feel like it already feels a better fit for him, this iteration of car, than the Mercedes. He's made no secret of the fact he had to grapple with last year's Mercedes."

"Time will tell, his performance in Australia will be key but I also think that he's really hit the ground running with them and it just feels like the right fit," she added.

"He's obviously had a year to think about it, well I think he’s had his whole life to think about it but the public have had a year to accept and understand that process so by the time he left Mercedes and went to Ferrari.

"I felt like ok finally, we’re going to see him in red and it just looked and felt right didn't it."

"It would be stranger had he never gone there."

This is a sentiment felt by many, that Hamilton was meant to follow in the footsteps of the legends before him who also drove for the Italian motorsport giant, the most notable of all names being Michael Schumacher, whose championship record Hamilton could be chasing if the Scuderia provide him with a championship contending car.

READ MORE: Hamilton summoned to Ferrari HQ over 'critical' factor

But what about Hamilton's replacement at the Silver Arrows? Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli was the chosen one to step up and fill the seat of the seven-time champion, although many are already questioning if the 18-year-old can handle the pressure.

The same question is being asked about the many other rookies entering the sport this year, including Australian racer Jack Doohan, who Pinkham believes will get on just fine thanks to the racing mentality instilled in him by his father, Mick Doohan, who achieved championship success on two wheels.

On Antonelli, Pinkham believes that for now, all the talk is exactly that, just talk.

"We’ve got to let Antonelli race, I think it might be too much on a young man's shoulders to put any other pressures on him, he's got enough of that," she declared.

Diversity- how it's changed and where there's room to grow

When Pinkham began as a presenter with Sky F1, grid girls were still a huge part of race weekend operations, but she recalls how one of her first impressions of the paddock was the lack of women.

In contrast, the British TV star will be joined once again on Sky this season by Naomi Schiff, Bernie Collins, Rachel Brookes and at some races, Danica Patrick, whilst elsewhere in the garage, Laura Mueller will be starting as F1's first female race engineer. But progress is still necessary for the sport to widen its net of inclusivity.

One of the most important issues facing the sport now is how the paddock will fare once Hamilton has retired. As the only black F1 driver in history, he has been instrumental in pushing for more women in F1 and better opportunities for drivers from a variety of backgrounds.

Discussing the future, Pinkham admitted: "I think that Formula 1 never rests on it’s laurels, it's a very progressive sport it never sits still and that's what I love about it, no one can have the time to become complacent."

"I think that it’s unlikely there'll be another Lewis."

"It's definitely something I’ve thought about a lot because ultimately Lewis will want to hang up his race suit at some point soon, but hopefully not yet, he’s still got a few more years in him."

So... will Daniel Ricciardo return to F1?

Finally, we touched on the topic of fan-favourite Ricciardo, who, after being dropped prematurely from the sport last season, has fans eagerly awaiting his next move.

Pinkham has spoken openly about her kinship to the Aussie star and how their entry to the sport at the same time led to a great friendship, with Ricciardo even putting in so much effort with her family outside of F1 that she made him Godfather to her son.

When posed the question over whether the 35-year-old could or should return to motorsport, Pinkham said: "I think only Daniel can answer that, I think we need to just give him a bit of time to have the space to consider his options but whatever he turns his hand to he'll bring joy to it and joy to those that follow him."

READ MORE: F1 2025 Driver Lineup: Big names on the move as full grid complete

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