Natalie Pinkham

Natalie Pinkham didn’t race Formula One cars—she got closer than most by becoming one of the sport’s most recognizable voices, breaking barriers as Sky Sports F1’s pitlane reporter and making history as the first woman to commentate on a Formula One session.

EARLY YEARS

Born September 20, 1977, in Buckinghamshire, England, Natalie Jane Pinkham grew up in a household where ambition wasn’t optional. Her mother, Joy, was a barrister who managed a full-time legal career while raising a family—a balancing act that would profoundly influence Natalie’s own approach to work and motherhood. Her father worked as a property developer, and she has a brother, Sam Pinkham, who went on to become a radio and television presenter himself.

Pinkham attended Queenswood School, an independent boarding school, alongside fellow presenter and lifelong friend Georgie Thompson. She later transferred to Rugby School as a day student before heading to the University of Nottingham, where she studied politics. It was an education built for debate and sharp thinking—skills that would serve her well in the fast-talking, high-pressure world of motorsports broadcasting.

OTHER INTERESTS

Beyond the pitlane, Pinkham has shown she’s not afraid to step outside her comfort zone. In 2008, she competed on Dancing on Ice, where she was partnered with Andrei Lipanov and eliminated second. She’s also a passionate mental health advocate, co-founding the Flackstock music festival in 2022 with friends to celebrate the life of her close friend, television presenter Caroline Flack. The festival has raised nearly £170,000 for Samaritans across its first three years. In 2024, she took on the London Marathon for the first time, running on behalf of Samaritans during their year as the event’s official charity. She was awarded an OBE in 2024 for her services to business, broadcasting, and charity.

She’s also lent her voice to campaigns against orphanage tourism, speaking on BBC Radio alongside orphanage survivor and child psychologist Rukhiya Budden about the harmful impact of voluntourism on vulnerable children.

EARLY SUCCESS

After graduating from Nottingham, Pinkham started her media career as a researcher for the BBC show Ready, Steady, Cook. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was a foot in the door. From there, she worked her way into sports broadcasting, hosting the Isle of Man TT races for Men and Motors and covering the Tennis Masters Cup. She also spent time as a soccer reporter, including a stint covering soccer in the United States—a job she’s candidly admitted paid terribly but taught her how to hustle.

Her first taste of Formula One came at the 2011 Australian Grand Prix, working for BBC Radio 5 Live. Her very first interview? Michael Schumacher. She was terrified. “I cannot tell you how scared I was of interviewing him—it was a joke,” she later recalled. But she survived it, and the experience set the tone for a career that would see her go head-to-head with some of the sport’s biggest personalities.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2011: Joined BBC Radio 5 Live as a Formula One pitlane reporter[1].
• 2012: Became pitlane reporter for Sky Sports F1, cementing her role as one of the sport’s leading voices[2].
• 2013: Became a host of The F1 Show on Sky Sports[3].
• 2021: Led Sky’s commentary of the Bahrain Grand Prix, becoming the first woman to commentate on a Formula One session[4].
• 2022: Co-founded Flackstock, a music festival in memory of Caroline Flack, raising nearly £170,000 for Samaritans over three years[5].
• 2024: Awarded an OBE for services to business, broadcasting, and charity[6].
• 2024: Completed her first London Marathon for Samaritans[7].

INSPIRATIONS

Pinkham has repeatedly cited her mother as her biggest inspiration. Joy Pinkham’s ability to excel as a barrister while raising her children showed Natalie that juggling a demanding career and family life wasn’t just possible—it was worth it. “Nothing is easy in life,” she’s said, echoing her mother’s example. That philosophy has guided her through her own experiences balancing motherhood with a career that requires constant travel and unpredictable hours.

She’s also an ambassador for Dare to be Different, the motorsport initiative founded by former F1 driver Susie Wolff to encourage young girls aged eight to fourteen to pursue careers in motorsport. The cause is personal for Pinkham, who has spoken openly about wanting a world where her daughter, Willow, knows she has the same opportunities as her older brother, Wilf.

REPUTATION

Pinkham is known for bringing warmth, wit, and credibility to a sport that doesn’t always make room for women. She’s popular with fans and drivers alike—Daniel Ricciardo is the godfather to her daughter, a testament to the genuine relationships she’s built in the paddock. Over her 13-plus years in Formula One broadcasting, she’s become a fixture, respected for her ability to ask the right questions and navigate the chaos of race weekends with style and substance.

She’s also been vocal about the challenges women face in motorsport media, advocating for greater accessibility and visibility for women in the industry. Her willingness to speak candidly about balancing motherhood, mental health advocacy, and a high-profile career has made her a role model beyond the pitlane.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

As of 2025, Pinkham continues her role with Sky Sports F1, delivering comprehensive coverage of the Formula One season. Her work with mental health initiatives and her commitment to advocacy through Flackstock and her ambassadorship with Dare to be Different suggest she’ll continue using her platform to push for meaningful change both inside and outside motorsport.

REFERENCES

Natalie Pinkham – Wikipedia
Natalie Pinkham – A Pioneer for Women in Motorsports Journalism
Natalie Pinkham reveals Michael Schumacher was her “ridiculous” first F1 interview
Natalie Pinkham – an inspirational woman in motorsport
Natalie Pinkham on balancing motherhood and working in Formula 1
Natalie Pinkham – F1 Pitlane Reporter Sky Sports F1
Natalie Pinkham | Supporter – Samaritans
Natalie Pinkham: “I want a world where my little girl knows she has all the same opportunities as her big brother”
“I didn’t care”: Natalie Pinkham on her rise from Soccer USA reporter to prime F1 anchor
Natalie Pinkham: ‘Why I’m running the London Marathon in memory of Caroline Flack’