‘Not my finest moment’: Icon apologises over grid walk snub

Formula 1 icon Martin Brundle issued a public apology after delivering an ice-cold move to a driver in the lead up to Sunday’s race.

Martin Brundle talking to Oscar Piastri

Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle has offered up an apology to Oscar Piastri after delivering a brutal snub ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix.

The F1 icon was in the middle of his grid walk interviews when he pinched the rising Aussie star for a quick word.

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Instead of hearing some insight from the McLaren driver however, Brundle shafted him midway through his response as he sought out Alpine’s Esteban Ocon.

“Esteban, Esteban … happy birthday,” Brundle shouted.

The look on Piastri’s face said it all as he quickly exited stage left and made his way through the crowd to his car for the race.

Fans watching on were quick to call out Brundle for the brutal burn and for disrespecting Piastri.

One user wrote: “Brundle just straight disrespected Piastri on the grid walk. Mid conversation and just cut Piastri off to wish Ocon a happy birthday.”

Martin Brundle brutally burns Oscar Piastri

Piastri put the moment behind him once he got behind the wheel as he picked his way through the field around the street circuit.

After starting from 17th on the grid, the rookie driver crossed the line in seventh place to score his 42nd point on the season.

But it was following the race when Piastri turned the spotlight back on the commentator and his awkward shun.

Piastri took to his personal X (formerly Twitter) account where he questioned Brundle about finishing off the interview.

“Shall we finish that interview in Suzuka @MBrundleF1?” he wrote.

Brundle quickly responded where he issued an apology for the incident, one which he said wasn’t his finest moment behind the microphone.

“Um, yes sorry about that Oscar, wasn’t my finest gridwalk moment in 26 years. Just wanted to wish Esteban happy birthday as he strode past, but you were DRS open and full battery and quite rightly dropped me like an Aussie Rules rookie,” he wrote.

Um, yes sorry about that Oscar, wasn’t my finest gridwalk moment in 26 years 😳. Just wanted to wish Esteban happy birthday as he strode past, but you were DRS open and full battery and quite rightly dropped me like an Aussie Rules rookie 😁 https://t.co/FOLQv9WyXE

— Martin Brundle (@MBrundleF1) September 17, 2023

The incident joins a growing list of moments that have taken place throughout the 2023 Formula 1 season.

Ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix Brundle found himself on the receiving end of a fiery rant from a Red Bull crew member.

In Miami it was three-time F1 champ Jackie Stewart who stole the limelight after he was almost manhandled during Brundle’s grid walk shenanigans.

Hollywood power couple Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones won fans over with their classy interview ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix.

At the British Grand Prix it was musician Sam Ryder who drew widespread praise for his infectious banter while speaking with Brundle.

But the most famous incident of all also came at the British Grand Prix when Cara Delevingne was brutally roasted after snubbing Brundle.

Originally published as ‘Not my finest moment’: Icon apologises over grid walk snub