Sky Sports F1 presenter to miss season opener and speaks out on long-term absence

Natalie Pinkham opened up about her health struggles in a video posted on social media

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Natalie Pinkham is set for a return to her Formula One duties(Image: Formula 1 via Getty Images)

Natalie Pinkham has revealed she’s poised for a comeback to the Sky Sports F1 punditry team, after being compelled to step back due to neck surgery. Pinkham had to withdraw from her presenting responsibilities after being warned of potential permanent nerve damage caused by a disc pressing on her spinal cord.

Consequently, Pinkham needed surgery and has been sidelined ever since, but has disclosed that she is ready to return when the new season kicks off, although she will miss Sunday’s opener in Australia.

Sharing her latest health update on social media, Pinkham expressed her excitement to return following a “difficult” recovery period. She stated on Instagram: “Hi friends. So, it has been a long, and if I’m completely honest, quite difficult five months of rehab since my neck surgery.

“But I’m really happy to say that I have been given the all clear to do long hauls again. My first [race] that I will be presenting for Sky F1 this year is Japan. And I am really happy about that because I bloody love Suzuka, so very excited to see you then.

“And it will be the first time that the ‘Karen cage’, the bit of metal work at the back of my neck, is going to the other side of the world – [it’s] called Karen because she moans a lot.”

Pinkham continued to say that she’s planning to name the neck scar ‘Scarlos Sainz’, with Williams driver Carlos Sainz providing his own social media clip to announce it. Pinkham also posted several progress photographs of the scar, beginning from the early stages of her recovery through to five months later.

The presenter is scheduled to return to our screens for the Japan Grand Prix, which commences the weekend beginning March 27. At the time of her withdrawal from Sky Sports duties, she wrote: “Hello friends… I had hoped to be on a flight to Brazil yesterday.

“But the last couple of months have been trickier than I expected following neck surgery; and I am not there just yet. Huge thanks to the Sky F1 team and the wider company for their incredible support.

“Here’s to family, friends, good food and fresh air for their combined healing qualities. Now the hard work really starts.” Lando Norris will enter the season as the reigning world champion and will hope to become only the second British driver ever to win win back-to-back titles, after Lewis Hamilton.