MARTIN Brundle is an ex-Formula One driver and one of the most legendary commentators motorsport has ever been blessed with.Here we take a look at the racing man’s life, gridwalk highlights and net worth.
Martin Brundle is a former racing driver and F1 commentator famed for his pre-race gridwalksCredit: Getty
Who is Martin Brundle?
Martin John Brundle was born on June 1, 1959 in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, England.
He began his racing career at the tender age of 12, competing in grass track racing, moving on to Hot Rod racing, touring cars and the British Saloon Car Championship before stepping up to Formula 3 in 1982.
The following season Martin competed against Ayrton Senna for the Formula Three Championship, which he lost to the Brazilian in the closing laps of the final race.
Brundle’s Formula One career started the next year with Tyrell, who he raced for between 1984 and 1986.
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In F1 he also raced for Zakspeed (1987), Williams (1988 — one grand prix), Brabham (1989, 1991) Benetton (1992), Ligier (1993, 1995), McLaren (1994), and Jordan (1996).
He is considered one of the best F1 drivers to to have never won a grand prix, achieving numerous podium finishes in inferior cars.
Martin was the World Sportscar champion in 1988 and won Le Mans 24 Hours in 1990, cementing his place in history as a racing driver.
Since hanging up his racing gloves, Brundle has commentated on F1 for ITV, the BBC and Sky Sports.
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He won the Royal Television Society programme award for best sports pundit in 1998, 1999, 2005 and 2006.
What are some of Martin Brundle’s most famous gridwalk moments?
The former McLaren ace has been walking the grid trying to get interviews with drivers and celebrities pre-race since 1997.
But the 62-year-old has admitted he doesn’t like doing the gridwalk at all.
He said on X, formerly Twitter: “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.
“Oh well, that’s the way it is.”
Here we take a look at some of his most memorable gridwalk moments:
US Grand Prix 2021
The Sky Sports reporter wanted to have a chat with special guest Megan Thee Stallion on the grid, but was initially confronted by a ‘man mountain’ — only for Megan to lightheartedly slap her security guard on the wrist.
Brundle muttered, “That’s a very big bloke in front of her,” before asking: “Megan, Martin Brundle from British television, how are you? Megan Thee Stallion, you’re a freestyle rapper, have you got any rap for us today on Formula One?”
The American star laughed as she admitted: “I have no rap today, I’m sorry.
But the interview swiftly concluded when ‘Draco Malfoy’ appeared — with the irritable blond shoving Brundle away.
The Malfoy lookalike scowled at the reporter as he led Megan away.
In his Sky Sports column, Brundle laughed off the incident.
He wrote: “I did chuckle on Monday.
“After all the blood, sweat, tears and broken bones, the glorious victories and dismal failures, the monstrous crashes, the quadruple stints on a treacherous rainy night in Le Mans, guiding a 1250 bhp flying bedsted through Monaco qualifying, along with 25 years of broadcasting, I’ve finally become mildly well known for being ignored by celebrities whilst simultaneously being swatted to one side by a man mountain and told off by a Malfoy lookalike doubtless attending his first F1 race.
“My gridwalk return after two years was probably a bit too cheeky in Austin but nonetheless a lot of fun.
“Actually, my real claim to fame is that I once played snooker with Mark Knopfler, and what a lovely bloke he was too.”
US Grand Prix 2022
The F1 pundit tried and failed to chat to the Hollywood actor during his traditional pre-race walk before lights out at the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.
But Pitt awkwardly rebuffed Brundle, much to the disappointment of F1 fans.
The 64-year-old revealed Pitt had been in contact with him since their run-in.
He tweeted: “Got a note from Brad Pitt explaining what happened with our near miss on the Austin grid.
“Unnecessary, but nice of him. Absolutely nobody is obliged to talk to me on the grid, but as I endeavour to make 10/12 minutes of live and unscripted sports TV I’m obliged to at least ask.”
Miami Grand Prix 2022
At the inaugural Miami GP, Brundle delivered one of the most chaotic gridwalks yet.
The popular F1 pundit brushed shoulders with the likes of DJ Khaled and Britain’s own David Beckham.
But Brundle struggled with some of the lesser names on the grid.
He mistook basketballer Paolo Banchero for NFL superstar Patrick Mahomes, which to viewers was both “incredibly awkward and hysterically funny”.
British Grand Prix 2023
Cara Delevingne appeared to be unaware of Brundle’s gridwalk authority and brutally snubbed the former F1 driver as he attempted to grab an interview.
He began by talking to a member of Delevingne’s entourage and said: “She doesn’t want to talk but everybody needs to talk on the grid.
“That’s the deal now, everybody talks on the grid.”
He then approached Delevingne and said: “Can we have a quick chat, [for] Sky F1? Good to see you on the grid.”
To which Delevingne replied: “No.” and looked awkwardly at her entourage.
Delevingne refused again and Brundle reiterated: “The deal is everybody has to speak on the grid.”
She then said: “I can’t hear anything, I’m so sorry.”
Brundle then said sarcastically as he walked away: “I’m sure it would have been extremely interesting.”
What is Martin Brundle’s net worth?
According to CelebrityNetWorth, Martin is worth a mouth-watering $100million (£82.3million).
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Brundle amassed his fortune as a successful racing driver, competing in multiple forms of motorsport.
He is also one of the top racing commentators and continues to cover F! for Sky Sports. More
