From being snubbed by Pep Guardiola to Terry Crews flexing his pecs and Kimi Raikkonen revealing he missed Pele’s presentation because he was ‘having a s**t, here are Martin Brundle’s ten BEST grid walk chats

• Martin Brundle’s grid walks have produced some iconic moments over the years
• Sky Sports’ presenter has had to navigate some excruciatingly awkward chats
• He has also forged bonds with some of the best personalities to grace the grid

Martin Brundle’s grid walks are where Formula 1 and celebrity meet. 

The Sky Sports presenter trots through the mass of bodies at each GP, nabbing stars of stage and screen for interviews, adding to the sense of occasion around the sport.

While you might think being the resident broadcaster with a camera crew in tow would guarantee Brundle unfettered access to guests, not everybody seems to get the memo. 

Indeed, security at the Abu Dhabi GP over the weekend twice denied Brundle access to the grid, ushering him away and almost jeopardising his chances of another legendary walk. 

‘This guy keeps trying to get a hold of me. You have to let go my friend. We’ve got a job to do,’ the 64-year-old bag of laughs protested, eventually getting his way.

With that in mind, MailOnline looks at ten of the most iconic and infamous grid walks Brundle has done in recent years, all complete with his affable personality. 

Martin Brundle has enjoyed his fair share of legendary grid walk interviews, from the hilarious to the awkward to the plain bizarre 

Megan Thee Stallion 

Brundle came across Megan Thee Stallion at the United States GP in 2021 and while the rapper was friendly enough, waving at the presenter, the same couldn’t be said for some of her entourage. 

Two crew members, with at least one being part of her security detail, made it extremely difficult for Brundle to get an interview.

To start with, a masked bodyguard held him off with an arm and shook his head as Brundle introduced himself while the singer smiled. 

‘Okay boss,’ Brundle says to the bodyguard, before directing his attention back to Megan.

‘You’re a freestyle rapper; have you got any rap for us today on Formula 1?

Brundle had a run-in with Megan Thee Stallion’s entourage at 2021 United States GP

One of Megan’s bodyguards, leading the group, pushed Brundle away when he tried to ask Megan a few questions

Megan laughed and responded: ‘I have no rap today, sorry.’

As he asked the multi-Grammy Award winner who she would be supporting in the race, another chap of liberally unbuttoned shirt steamed in and put his body between the journalist and the star. 

He pushed Brundle away and told him he couldn’t speak with her, but the F1 presenter had the coldest response at the ready: ‘I can do that because I did.’

Paolo Banchero 

Brundle had a comical moment in 2022 when he confused NBA prospect Paolo Banchero with American football quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Calling for ‘Patrick’, Brundle sighed ‘I don’t think he can hear me up there’ as he pursued the 6’10” giant.

Eventually Banchero turned away and gave a civil interview with Brundle, calling the event a ‘spectacular’ setting. 

At the end of the interview. Brundle realised that he hadn’t actually been speaking to Mahomes and understood ‘that’s why he ignored me in the beginning’, asking Banchero for his actual name. 

‘There’s a reason why I’ve never watched back an F1 gridwalk in a quarter of a century of doing them. You have no idea how much I dislike doing them but somehow those crazy moments have defined my professional career,’ Brundle later tweeted. ‘Oh well, that’s the way it is.’

Brundle mistook NBA top-three draft prospect Pablo Banchero for NFL Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes at the Miami GP 

Little did he know that a year later the two would reunite on another grid walk at the Miami GP, where Banchero smiled as Brundle recounted his gaffe. 

‘It’s been a hell of a year and I’m honoured that you know my name, now, man,’ Banchero joked. ‘It’s been a hell of a year and you’re great at what you do.’  

Brad Pitt 

While in the early stages of making an F1 movie, Brad Pitt snubbed Brundle’s interview overtures on the grid, perhaps not realising who the former driver was. 

Late in 2021 it was announced that Pitt would be starring as the lead actor in an F1 film produced by Joseph Bruckheimer and directed by Joseph Kosinski. 

However, last year, Pitt skirted around his interview duties with Brundle and left the presenter wondering what had happened. 

Brundle worked his way through the crowd to get to Pitt – including a man who thought he was trying to shake his hand – but was swiftly shut down when he attempted to speak about the blockbuster movie.  

 Brad Pitt snubbed Sky Sports’ Brundle on the presenter’s infamous paddock walks

Pitt claimed it was top secret as he started to turn his back on Bundle and continued walking.

Brundle then continued to add that he had seen Pitt around quite a bit throughout the week and asked if he had enjoyed his time at the Grand Prix, to which the A-lister simply responded, ‘thank you, man,’ and continued walking away.

The Sky Sports pundit then joked: ‘Obviously they’re known as Pitt stops, if they don’t want you to talk to Brad Pitt.’

Terry Crews

There have been few grid walk chats as wholesome as when Brundle met Terry Crews.

The American footballer-turned actor and TV host was a bundle of warmth and humour when the two met in July at the Hungarian GP, where Crews was a guest of Red Bull. 

Often celebrities are slammed for their unwillingness to be interviewed by Brundle, but that couldn’t have been further from the truth with Crews as he appeared incredibly excited to be on the grid.

‘They told me I’d recognise you because you’re bricked,’ started Brundle.  

Terry Crews flexed his pecs for Martin Brundle during a hilarious grid walk in Hungary

Crews was a guest of Red Bull for the race and his enthusiasm and humour were endearing

‘Oh hey, how you doing?’ Crews began, before the Brooklyn Nine-Nine actor exclaimed ‘I’m revving up right now’ while hilariously flexing his pecs for the camera. 

The former Rams, Chargers and Redskins linebacker then added: ‘This is my first F1 (race). And at Oracle Red Bull Racing, they’ve been so amazing to me. Taking me around. Showing me what’s all about science and technology.

‘You literally have a spaceship here on this track now. Oh my God, I’m looking at the future.’

It was a hugely refreshing moment, with fans calling his energy and kindness ‘brilliant’. 

Cara Delevingne

If you need a contrast to the positivity and openness exuded by Crews, look no further than Cara Delevingne’s ‘interview’ with Brundle. 

She and her team left the UK racing legend high and dry at Silverstone in July, leaving fans watching at home outraged.

When told that the model didn’t want to talk, Brundle protested: ‘That’s the deal now, everybody talks on the grid.

‘Can we have a quick chat, Sky F1, good to see you on the grid,’ said Brundle as he leant towards Delevingne.

Brundle approached model Cara Delevingne with a Sky Sports F1 microphone but was quickly told by an apparent security aide that ‘she doesn’t want to talk’

The presenter hilariously concluded: ‘I’m sure it would have been extremely interesting’

But the celebrity smiled and replied: ‘I can’t hear anything, sorry,’ as the Red Arrows roared overhead’.

‘The deal is everybody has to speak on the grid,’ insisted Brundle, but Delevingne didn’t have much time for him, listening to a member of her team before repeating that she couldn’t hear. 

Unimpressed, Brundle replied with more than a hint of sarcasm, telling viewers: ‘Okay, well, I’m sure it would have been extremely interesting,’ at which point the model offered a thumbs-up to the camera.

Later that day, Delevingne took to X, formerly Twitter, to offer a further response to the interaction.

She reposted a tweet which read: ‘At this point, Martin Brundle is just doing it to manufacture the moment for the controversy of it all.

‘You can clearly see the PR rep tell him “no” and shake his head when he goes up towards Cara Delevingne.

‘He had an out and he chose not to take it to make a statement.’

Cara added: ‘I was told to say no so I did. Thank you for seeing both sides xxx.’

Machine Gun Kelly  

Rapper Machine Gun Kelly left fans cringing after storming away from Brundle after  an excruciatingly awkward interview at the Brazilian Grand Prix in November. 

The pair did not gel from the start, as the singer gave some hesitant replies, but things took a turn for the worse after MGK initiated a live ‘air guitar and piano’ session.

The first hints of awkwardness came when he reached over to fiddle with the broadcaster’s pin, with Brundle explaining: ‘… That’s a poppy.’

They soon hit another hurdle when Brundle asked: ‘What’s going on with your career at the moment?’

Machine Gun Kelly unhelpfully responded with: ‘My career… I don’t think about my career. I don’t think about it,’ effectively ending the line of conversation.

Clearly stumped, Brundle responded: ‘Well good luck with it, whatever you do.’

Machine Gun Kelly left fans cringing after storming away from Brundle during an excruciatingly awkward interview at the Brazilian Grand Prix

The pair did not gel from the start, but things took a turn for the worse after MGK encouraged a ‘live air guitar and piano’ session with the straight-laced broadcaster

After picking up the pace a little with some chat about F1 and music, the worst was yet to come after MGK initiated a live ‘air guitar and piano’ session with the former driver.

He said: ‘Can you give me your best air guitar?’

But his interviewer was clearly embarrassed and said: ‘No there’s millions [of people watching]. You do it!

‘Uh no, I can’t. I learnt the piano once and I learnt the middle C and that was about it.’

Kelly, however, was determined not to give up. He continued: ‘Give me your best air piano!

‘Let’s do an air guitar and air piano collaboration right no! Come on! 3, 2, 1… I need keys I need keys!’

But a flustered and panicked Brundle made his excuses: ‘I can’t do it! I probably need to get on as there’s some people I need to see.’

Left furious by his lack of participation, MGK gave the camera a thumbs down and stormed away, shaking his head.

Martin scurried off in the other direction, telling the camera: ‘Something tells me I won’t be on his Christmas card list this year.’

Pep Guardiola

Ahead of the last race of the 2022 season in Abu Dhabi, Brundle wanted to have a word with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.

The Manchester City manager tried to get out of the interview by claiming he has already spoken twice with Sky already, with Brundle saying: ‘Well, three times lucky then.’

Brundle asked him about City’s season, but Guardiola shut down that line of questioning, saying said: ‘Don’t talk about football today.’

Guardiola walked away from Brundle at the 2022 Abu Dhabi GP after already speaking twice with Sky Sports 

‘Oh, well talk about F1, tell me about some F1,’ Brundle chirped, but already the Spaniard was walking away and bodies were intervening.

After their short exchange, Brundle concluded: ‘It’s okay, I’ve been thrown out of better places than this.’

In truth, Guardiola had already spoken with Brundle, with the presenter suggested a grid walk-style paddock at the Etihad. ‘That would be crazy, it’s crazy for the drivers before driving at these speeds, to be here with so many people, but it’s part of the show,’ Guardiola replied. 

Also present were stars such as Thiago Silva, Reece James, and Ivan Toney, while Guardiola spent some of the day with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. 

Sam Ryder

Not many celebrities have displayed as much passion for F1 as Sam Ryder in his grid walk interview at this year’s British GP. 

It was clear that the Eurovision star, who came second with the United Kingdom in 2022, was genuinely appreciative to be there and have the chance to talk about the sport. 

The two hugged and greeted each other as ‘legends’, with Ryder exclaiming: ‘It’s so lovely to see you!’

‘My microphone got lost in the man-hug,’ joked Brundle. The camaraderie was clear to see. 

Ryder couldn’t contain his smile, beaming down the camera and waving at the viewers at home, saying: ‘Hello everyone!’ 

He continued: ‘Those Mclarens are going to have a good start today, man. Oscar [Piastri], rookie season, he could be leading a lap depending on pit strategy. I’m stoked. Anyway, I’m talking your ear off!’

But Brundle lapped up the enthusiasm and wanted to hear more of his thoughts, which Ryder was happy to share. 

There was lots of love between Brundle and Sam Ryder, as the two shared a hug and compliments

Ryder’s enthusiasm for the sport was clear for all to see as he got behind McLaren

He added: ‘I think it’s a wicked start. After the start of the season they’ve had, to develop the car to this point, it’s amazing!’

Brundle’s appreciation was evident as he finished: ‘You can take my job if you wanted to!’

The reason their brief exchange resonated with fans so much was because supporters are often irritated when celebrities are just there for show with no interest in the sport, taking up room that could be occupied by a genuine enthusiast. 

Ryder’s gushing chat about the sport proved his keenness for it and let viewers know he was just one of them.  

Kimi Raikkonen 

You’d be hard-pressed to find a sportsperson more blunt than Kimi Raikkonen.

The Finnish speedster was always known for his matter-of-fact, straight-talking speech – and his mannerisms split fans’ sides for many years. 

One of his most infamous moments came in 2006 in Brazil, when Brundle approached the then-McLaren about Pele presenting Michael Schumacher with a lifetime achievement award. 

Schumacher had won seven Drivers’ Championships and was going to be replaced by Raikkonen for the next season after his retirement, but Raikkonen was conspicuously missing from Pele’s presentation. 

When Brundle said he had missed the iconic moment, Raikkonen replied: ‘ Yeah.’

‘Will you get over it?’ Brundle pressed, tongue-in-cheek. 

‘I was having a s**t’, the future F1 champion responded, causing Brundle to laugh.

‘Obviously you’ll have a nice light car on the grid, then!’ the presenter quipped.  

Kimi Raikkonen seemed nonplussed by missing out on Pele’s presentation for Michael Schumacher, declaring: ‘I was having a s**t’

https://youtube.com/watch?v=uPLetR8TPW8%3Frel%3D0

Ozzy Osborne 

Back in 2003, Brundle bumped into Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osborne, who embarked on one of the more incoherent interviews the presenter has had. 

When quizzed about Sharon osborne’s good news, he wasn’t able to string together much of a sentence, mumbling his way through a reply. 

At some point he referenced writing a musical about Rasputin – which he did – but other than the word ‘Broadway’, most of it was unintelligible. 

‘Alright, I’ll try and think of a question for that answer,’ said a bemused Brundle. 

He came up with ‘did you bring the dogs with you?’ and might have regretted it. 

‘No, they’re all at home shi***ng, retorted the singer in a deadpan tone. 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=8m2nfk5jCOI%3Frel%3D0

Brundle quickly fled and has since spoken about it.

‘He wasn’t fully with it, shall we say. I asked him a question and he gave me a very long, incomprehensible answer,’ said Brundle.

‘I said to him ‘I’ll try and think of a question to that, but in the meantime how are the dogs?’ And he said ‘they are at home s******g on the carpets’.

‘It went out live to millions of people and I got in trouble because I was supposed to have known he would swear if I asked that question.”

Source: Read Full Article