‘It was my fault’: Martin Brundle takes the blame over Franco Colapinto grid walk snub
F1 icon Martin Brundle has cleared the air with a young driver in Mexico after he was seemingly ignored on his grid walk in Austin.
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Martin Brundle has admitted a seemingly cold snub from young gun Franco Colapinto in Austin was his fault, clearing the air before the Mexican Grand Prix.
The former driver turned expert commentator’s famous grid walk is always a minefield for both Brundle and the interviewees, with the Williams driver caught on the wrong side of the equation.
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While snubs are not uncommon for Brundle, it’s very rare that a driver won’t at least share a word or two with the veteran broadcaster.
However, at the US Grand Prix, Colapinto walked past Brundle like he was a complete stranger, despite the 65-year-old chasing him almost to his car.
“Hello, my name’s Martin Brundle, Sky, we haven’t met. Quick chat?” Brundle said as the 21-year-old Colapinto fled like he was being chased.
Luckily for Brundle, he ran into celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey before catching a chat with Aussie McLaren star Oscar Piastri.
Colapinto, who took over from Logan Sargeant at Williams after the American was dumped mid-season, was roasted over the situation with fans called it “poor”, “disappointing” and even “blasphemy” for snubbing Brundle.
As Brundle returned to the commentary booth, he said: “He looked at me like I was trying to mug him or something.
“I think he thought I was trying to steal his umbrella, to be honest. I’ll go and say hello to him.”
On the track, the Argentinian’s performances have impressed fans and sparked calls to get him a permanent drive at F1 level at another team as Carlos Sainz is due to take his seat in 2025.
After the Mexican Grand Prix, Colapinto has had five races and earned five points.
It turns out it was because Brundle was a complete stranger, with the Sky Sports star taking the blame for the messy situation as the pair caught up before this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix.
“What happened in Austin, it was my fault,” Brundle said as the pair met face-to-face in much calmer scenes than on the grid.
“I should have come to you before and introduced myself.”
But Colapinto also apologised, explaining he was in the zone, having not had to deal with pre-race media coming out of Formula 2.
“It’s a pleasure to be talking to you,” Colapinto said.
“I’m very sorry for what happened. Before the race starts, I’m never used to speaking.
“Actually, before the race starts in F2, we are still sitting in the car and then suddenly here in F1, you go 30 minutes, we jump out of the car, everyone wants to interview you, and I am in a bubble still.
“It’s only my fourth race, and it’s tricky. But I am sorry for that.”
Colapinto’s fifth race in Mexico saw him start in 16th, but work his way up to 12th. It’s also seen him take a 3-2 (Albon leads 4-1 in qualifying) head-to-head lead against teammate Alexander Albon, although two of Colapinto’s wins came as a result of DNFs for Albon.
While the air was finally cleared, fans were left unhappy after Brundle, who was commentating for Sky Sports in Mexico, was kept off the grid walk as Karun Chandhok and Bernie Collins took the reins.
Fans hit out, with one writing: “No Brundle gridwalk? TV off until lights out.”
Another commented: “What the hell is this? Bring back Brundle!”
A third said: “He is literally the only reason why I start watching half an hour before the race starts.”
Another praised Chandhok and Collins for a “quality job” but added “there is no matching the chaos and second-hand embarrassment of a Brundle grid walk.”
Brundle’s grid walks often make headlines for all the wrong reasons.
In Monaco this season, a security guard tried to keep Brundle from football superstar Kylian Mbappe, with the veteran commentator replying: “It’s alright mate, I’m in charge around here.”
Queens guitarist Sir Brian May was also slammed after turning down a chat with Brundle at the British Grand Prix.
Brundle brushed off that snub but some fans had questions over the willingness to move on, particularly when the likes of Megan Thee Stallion and Cara Delevingne have been trolled after snubbing Brundle in the past.
Megan Thee Stallion’s snub even prompted a rule change where the FIA changed the rules, banning bodyguards from the grid.
Ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, Aussie rookie Oscar Piastri was dealt a brutal burn when the Sky Sports presenter bailed on him mid-answer.
In Miami it was three-time F1 champ Jackie Stewart who stole the limelight after he was almost manhandled during the grid walk shenanigans.
But it’s not always bad.
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.
At the Canadian Grand Prix, fans were blown away after motorsport pioneer Mary McGee had a heartwarming exchange with Brundle.
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