Martin Brundle endures ‘really odd’ moment on F1 grid walk in Las Vegas

The Sky Sports F1 broadcaster was struggling to find famous faces at the start of his pre-race grid segment

Kieran Jackson
Formula 1 Correspondent
Sunday 24 November 2024 08:52 GMT
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Martin Brundle endured a “really odd” moment at the start of his F1 grid walk at the Las Vegas Grand Prix as he was unable to find anyone to interview.

The Sky Sports broadcaster and former F1 driver progressed to the front of the grid which was unusually empty with 10 minutes left of his grid segment.

Looking around in vain for someone to talk to, Brundle said: “This is really odd. No drivers, no celebrities, no team bosses.”

Brundle did eventually find some famous faces, including Olympic gold medalist Noah Lyles and Gladiator II star Paul Mescal.

He also enjoyed a touching conversation with A-list actor Sylvester Stallone, recalling their last encounter on the F1 grid, 25 years ago in Hungary.

“I couldn’t be better,” Stallone said. “I was going to race tonight but my ankle!

“You’re doing a fantastic job. I’m conflicted [about how to support], I love champions but love underdogs, that’s my thing.”

Brundle is known for his amusing and sometimes awkward encounters with drivers and celebrities on the grid before races.

Brundle told Kylian Mbappe’s bodyguard this year in Monaco, “I’m in charge here”, when trying to conduct an interview with the France and Real Madrid star in May.

In Brazil last November, Brundle bumped into American rapper Machine Gun Kelly and an odd interview occurred, in which the American rapper fiddled with Brundle’s poppy, asked him to play the air guitar and put his thumb down to the camera at the end.

Brundle also briefly encountered Shaquille O’Neal in Las Vegas, with the NBA legend simply saying “Lewis Hamilton baby”.

Brundle also endured hilarious encounters with DJ Khaled and Pharrell Williams in Miami in 2022, as well as a slightly frosty exchange with Cara Delevingne at Silverstone last year, in which the model refused to talk to the broadcaster.

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