SKY SPORTS host Rachel Brookes missed the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after being rushed to hospital for emergency surgery.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri won as Lando Norris came fourth and closed the gap on Max Verstappen at the top of the standings.

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Brookes, 47, was set to be part of the team covering the race in Baku – but she was surprisingly absent from coverage.

With fans wondering where the broadcaster was, she took to social media to explain that she had gone under the knife due to appendicitis.

Brookes said on Instagram: “So I landed here Tuesday night and felt poorly. Thought it was just nasty food poisoning but yesterday found out that I had appendicitis and needed surgery.

“I’ve had the appendectomy and all good. Just want to say a massive thanks to all my colleagues at Sky Sports F1 for stepping up, stepping in to cover and sending me so many messages. We really do have the best team.

“And also to Sky as a company for pulling out all the stops to get me the best care and flying out my sister for support. So, basically, that’s why I wasn’t on the coverage this weekend… see you all in Texas.”

Brookes also thanked the medics for the care she received, saying: “And the hugest of thank yous to the amazing staff at Liv Bona Dea hospital in Baku. I could not have felt in safer hands.

“From my surgeon, Elgun, to my anaesthetist, Madina, to all the nurses who downloaded Google Translate so we could communicate.

“To Ayshan, Yazgul, Shovgia, Humay and Osman – you were more than any patient could wish for. Also to Formula Medicine and all the medical staff at the Baku Circuit, you were fantastic.”

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F1 drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon have both missed races this year due to appendicitis, leading to Brookes joking: “What do I have in common with them?”

She was not the only famous face missing from Sky Sports’ coverage in Baku over the weekend as commentator David Croft was also not there.

His absence was due to him being on his honeymoon after recently tying the knot to Laura Bradley.

Savage sackings in F1

THE world of F1 can be savage, with employees discarded like used tea bags.

Danish driver Kevin Magnussen was a rising star of the McLaren team when he made his debut in 2014 alongside Jensen Button.

But when he finished the season trailing in eleventh place, he was swiftly replaced by two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso.

Instead of breaking the bad news to him in a face-to-face meeting, boss Ron Dennis got his assistant to send Magnussen a short and impersonal email.

Worst still, the curt message landed in Kevin’s inbox on his 23rd birthday.

Read more tales of F1’s brutal world including one boss who was labelled an ‘executioner’ and a driver dumped by a brisk TEXT.