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Martin Brundle’s F1 gridwalk with Shaq, Zlatan in Las Vegas goes viral

Martin Brundle’s pre-Formula 1 race gridwalks are already legendary, but they hit a whole new level in Las Vegas.

James DampneyJames Dampney
2 min read
November 19, 2023 - 5:04PM
Look to your left Martin Brundle, it’s Zlatan. Photo: Fox Sports
Look to your left Martin Brundle, it’s Zlatan. Photo: Fox Sports

In fabulous Las Vegas, Martin Brundle may have just pulled off the greatest Formula 1 gridwalk ever seen.

Renowned for his pre-race walks along the grid and sometimes cringe-worthy efforts to grab a quick chat with a star, former F1 racer Brundle and his microphone have become a staple of each race day.

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But it hit all new heights ahead of the Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix.

The galaxy of stars milling around the grid were hard to keep track of, excuse the pun, with celebrities from all walks of life enjoying the festivities.

Chef Gordon Ramsay, snowboarder Shaun White, DJ’s Steve Aoki and Tiesto and even Australia’s Kylie Minogue were among those having a quick chat with Brundle.

Look to your left Martin Brundle, it’s Zlatan. Photo: Fox Sports
Look to your left Martin Brundle, it’s Zlatan. Photo: Fox Sports

Two of the best - or perhaps worst - moments of the walk came via retired sportsmen Shaquille O’Neal and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Firstly, the 1.71m Brundle seemed to have no idea he was literally rubbing shoulders with the 1.95m Ibrahimovic as he tried to secure a chat with Aoki, who was at least at his eye level.

Following a race-focused chat with Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, Brundle may have had a quick note from a producer in his ear when he did indeed stop Zlatan at the second time of asking.

Well known for his interviews when he would often refer to himself in the third person, former Juventus, Barcelona and Manchester United superstar Ibrahimovic had a hilarious chat with Brundle - once the former driver realised or was told who he was.

“How are you, good to see you again, welcome to our wonderful grid. What do you think of this event?” Brundle asked.

“It looks good, it’s very, very exciting and I look forward to the race,” Ibrahimovic replied.

“And you’re cheering for Ferrari?” Brundle asked.

“Yeah, yeah, Ferrari is my team.”

“You drive a Ferrari? Several Ferraris would be my guess,” Brundle followed up.

“A couple of them, yeah. A couple of them.”

Brundle also had two efforts to speak to the gigantic 2.16m O’Neal.

“Quick word, good to see you on the grid,” was his first effort as O’Neal took a long, hard look at Brundle and promptly walked away.

As he made a U-turn and came back, Brundle had another crack.

“Sir, thank you for coming to have a chat with me, how are you doing?”

On the second effort, Shaq brushed past and only said three words with zero context: “Lewis Hamilton, baby.”

“OK, well that’s all you need to say. Lews Hamilton, baby. That’ll cover it,” Brundle dead-panned.

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Brundle has managed to reinvent himself in these walks from the staid, often critical commentator into the affable, self-deprecating interviewer and he was in vintage form right after his chat with Shaq.

“It’s OK,” he said. “I’ve had a great television career so honestly, it doesn’t really matter, does it, if it’s over this evening?”

Sensational stuff and only in Las Vegas.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/motorsport/formula-one/brundles-f1-gridwalk-with-shaq-zlatan-in-vegas-goes-viral/news-story/57862d9a99b02deda120c4e5d0ce5d23