Martin Brundle says it annoys him that he is known for his F1 grid walk (Image: Getty)
Martin Brundle admits it “annoys” him that he is now better known for his grid walk. had a respectable racing career in F1 between 1984 and 1996, where he secured nine podium finishes.
Yet, he has become known to an entire generation of new racing fans for his , initially with ITV and and, since 2012, Sky Sports’ F1 coverage. The 65-year-old racing icon works as a pundit and commentator during Grand Prix weekends, but it’s the 15 minutes before a race starts – during his – which has catapulted him into the consciousness of the generation.
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During the grid walk, the Brit paces around trying to interview A-listers, from Kylian Mbappe and to Stormzy and DJ Khaled. That often brings up bizarre and painfully awkward interactions, such as those with Cara Delevingne and Megan Thee Stallion – but Brundle insists he still loves doing it.
“The grid walk actually really annoys me because that’s what I’m known for now,” Brundle told . “The whole thing is still a mystery. I won a lot of races as a driver and was on the F1 podium. I was World Sportscar Champion, winner at Le Mans, beat Ayrton Senna a lot of times in F3.
“I was a reasonably handy racing driver and I’m a reasonably handy commentator but all I’m going to be remembered for is getting ignored on the grid by the Megan Thee Stallion and other people I’d never heard of until that moment.
Brundle’s grid walk sees him try and sometimes fail to interview celebrities (Image: Getty)
“It’s quite a funny thing but I can’t knock it – heading towards 66, I’m lucky to still be in live sport and that’s why I was pleased with the OBE because it wasn’t an OBE just for gridwalking.”
Brundle’s incident with American musician Megan Thee Stallion went viral after her entourage physically prevented him from interviewing her, while actress Delevigne outright refused to speak to him. Luckily for Brundle, 28 years on from his first rodeo, he refuses to watch the interviews back.
He added: “It’s not my natural habitat to interrupt people, and be cheeky and rude because that’s what it’s become. I know when I’ve done a decent job or embarrassed myself in front of millions of people. I can’t bear to watch it even though I really should. But in my heart of hearts, I know when I’ve done well.”
Brundle was awarded an OBE in the King’s 2025 New Years honours for services to motor racing and sports broadcasting. He admits he was delighted that the award was not just a recognition of the second part of his F1 career.