Martin Brundle explains what ‘annoys’ him most about Formula 1 grid walks

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Martin Brundle’s grid walk has become one of the staples of Formula 1 television coverage since he first started doing it at the British Grand Prix in 1997.

The former F1 driver has become known for his amusing and awkward encounters with celebrities on the grid before a race, where there is often a hive of activity as mechanics prepare the cars and guests flood the parts in between.

Brundle was caught between Kylian Mbappe and his bodyguard at the Monaco Grand Prix, where he exclaimed: “I’m in charge here!” when trying to conduct an interview with the football star.

At the 2007 Chinese GP he was thrown off the grid by an official due to the timings when trying to interview Jenson Button.

He has also been at the receiving end of some bizarre encounters, including DJ Khalid and Pharrell Williams at last year’s Miami GP and a rather frosty encounter with Cara Delevingne in which the model refused to talk to him.

Brundle has always said it was “car crash television” in previous interviews but admits there is one thing that frustrates him about it when speaking on the latest Sky Sports F1 podcast.

Martin Brundle annoyed by being known for grid walk blunders

The former F1 driver turned broadcaster has taken a step back from presenting at every F1 race in a season given the expanded calendar in recent years.

Alongside his duties on the grid, he also acts as the co-commentator to Sky Sports F1’s lead David Croft and offers analysis whenever there are incidents on track.

Brundle has also made some insightful features when presenting on Sky Sports but admits there is one thing that he is annoyed with about the grid walk feature.

“It annoys me a bit because I’d rather be well known and appreciated for calling a race and some good races and being a sports commentator or being kicked about by a security guard or ignored by somebody,” said Brundle.

“It has taken on a life of its own and grown over the years, but the grid has about 2,000 people on it from what I can work out.”

Why Martin Brundle can’t talk to Lewis Hamilton on F1 grid walks

Brundle usually tries to catch a driver as they make their last bits of preparation before getting into the car.

F1 is unique in allowing broadcast media to have access to drivers in the minutes before they take to the track, something you do not normally see in other sports such as football or tennis.

There is one driver that Brundle rarely talks to on the grid having only done so in the early stages of his F1 career, and that’s Lewis Hamilton.

According to Brundle, the seven-time World Champion likes to get out of his car after completing the reconnaissance lap and go back into his garage for their debrief.