Martin Brundle's grid walk escapades

IMO he does it to prove a point to the organizers and those inviting clueless people that clearly have no interest in the sport, just there to create awareness that they exist.

F1 needs more people like Keanu Reeves there who showed genuine interest in the sport and fewer Cardi B's and her goons.

 

Or maybe just stop the grid walks all together
Wannabe celebrities don't won't to talk to him
Drivers don't
Maybe 1 out of 10 "interviews" have value
Waste of time IMO

 

When they denied Sir Jackie Stewart to pass a security guard so Brundle can talk to Roger Federer and then Jackie went "around" (he tussled with the security guard) to get to Federer, something is very wrong with celebrities and F1 icons getting access to just about anywhere.

 

I think if F-1 is going to have the clebs on the grid, then they have to be told and agree to a potential interview... . if you want to be anonymous... going to the grid at an F-1 race is not a good idea. just hang out in the garage etc... but still you have to move through the paddock, where you could be approached by the media. I think if you are there in the middle of F-1 you have to be ok with being interviewed.

For Martin Brundle... and his grid walk.. I think he needs to do more homework or someone has to have some pre selected folks one or two, and then maybe catch someone on the move. some of them are so haphazard its not good TV. OR he should stand in the middle of row 1 & 2, and just be a magnet to those coming by. I've been on the grid once... and it is a very hectic place, and the mechanics dont have a lot of time for you to be in the way... given all the equipment and stuff they cart out there... there is a ton going on.

I think the other homework Brundle needs is to know who these folks are.... or someone talking to him know... because sometimes he's just talking to a non celeb...or perhaps just a super wealthy guy, who is a sponsor or someone.. if you are on the grid before an F-1 race... you are either work for the team, sponsor the team, or have very important and powerful friends with lots of $$$$$$$$$$$... I was lucky that we were a sponsor...

 

To your point about agreeing to an interview, there must be something in place. At Silverstone I’m sure Brundle said to the unknown (to me) celebritard who was being guarded by Alfa Romeo crew rolleyes “You have to talk to us.” He was emphatic and he repeated it at least once. Maybe there’s an agreement that being allowed access to the grid requires submitting to interviews by the major broadcasters.

 

I doubt Brundle likes the current grid set-up. Back in the day he got to talk to several of the drivers and/or team managers. Now apart from Whinger Spice he can't get close to anyone qualified to comment. Plus I think Sky/Liberty likes the 'celeb' stuff, look at the number of cut-aways to gurning actors/singers that interrupt the actual race.

 

I am not sure all the drivers like to be disturbed when they are concentrating before a race.
I am no F1 driver, but I wouldn't welcome it. I never watch the grid walk on TV; I find it off-putting ...
Actually, my ideal GP attendance would be to get to my seat during the warm-up lap, and skip all the nonsense and razzmatazz that occurs before, including presentation, parade, interviews, celebrities, national anthem, fly-pass, grid walk, etc ...
I have ever been only interested in racing, the rest is of no interest to me.

 

You are going to have to get used to it, I'm afraid.
'Come for the fun, stay for the race.' -- Road America and Liberty Media is far 'worse'. Wait til Vegas...

 

I think I’m going to skip everything but the racing when Vegas comes around. I might even skip the podium, since they’ll likely make the drivers wear slot machines on their heads.

 

That's why I couldn't be bothered to attend a GP anymore; too much BS !
I am perfectly OK watching them on TV.

 

Brundles comment as he walked away from that stupid woman was priceless. It was the highlight of the grid walk for me. His ability to make people who think they are important look stupid is fabulous.

 

I enjoy the grid walk and all the aspects of it. If that includes a "snobby celeb" that is part of the show for me. I wouldn't change it at all! We laugh at those people together and also enjoy the odd stranger who eagerly opens his arms to Brundle to give a speech about him and the sport.

 

They treat him like a reporter from a high school newspaper because they have no clue who Martin Brundle is, and no clue that sky sports is actually broadcasting the race.

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He's a car guy:

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Honestly I fear the worse for this race ..

 

Miami must have been a rehearsal for what will happen at Las Vegas probably.

The word tacky comes to mind: ostentatious and vulgar.

 

I read a piece from Karun Chandock and I think as part of getting a Grid tab on your paddock pass, you have agreed to any interview at any time. Apparently the person he tried to interview as "told" to say no? so to me either someone is lying OR its a way to get controversy and exposure in the press.... remember there is no bad press ... so here we are talking about it....

 

I think the drivers are pretty much in their zone before the race, so yes, I get it ... but also they are highly-paid stars, so they have to play along... but to that point, I dont see football players or any other stick and ball players being interviewed just before they go play... same as tennis etc... so Racing is kind of different. But it also is much more complex to casual TV viewers so i get why the broadcasters want the interview.

 

Tacky -yes, it's Vegas. Ostentatious... certainly. Vulgar without exception. Obscene is what I would use. The Vegas GP will bring out all the worst in people... classism, economic disparity, etc... pretty much for nothing. it will be the ne plus ultra of F1. I think all that is missing is a Prince or King to give the trophy at the end.... I'm sure some Middle east country will send one over if asked.

 

I don't deny that some people like that kind on "over-the-top" atmosphere, and good luck to them.
But it's so far from my comfort zone that I would never consider attending, even if you paid me.
This shouldn't be taken as a broad criticism of everything American, BTW.
There are many things that I like and admire in the States, but this wouldn't be one of them.

 

As an American I take no offense ... we are a tacky people to a large extent. There is a lot to critique... but also a lot that is right. Sadly F-1 in the USA has gone from a specialty to the main stream... which means casual/ passing fans... so you have to have something other than racing to keep the attention.

 

Well, they do interview tennis players as they are coming out to the court at majors. And national broadcast baseball games include interviewing players while they are playing!.

I do enjoy the grid walk; just because it’s so obvious that Brundle hates doing them even more than we hate watching.

 

Celebs should not be on the grid at all. They are not affiliated with racing at all. Put them in the stands. 1st they take away grid girls then they put useless people on the grid. F1 racing as so boring I have not stayed awake during a single race this season! I fell asleep at some point during every race. I was too excited about F1 for 2023 and bought the overpriced tix to VegasF1. If I could do over I would just wait for TV.

 

F1 and its bosses decided they want to reach the masses....not the "connoseurs" of motor sport. The masses are in the millions. The " connoseurs" .... in the thousands?
So how can they reach millions and millions?? Easy ... the masses are getting stupider and dumber every day... so dumb down the show and the masses will follow. Bring drivers out of tunnels with fireworks, open the pit lane to celebs , actors , trend setters, influencers , force passes artificialy via DRS, create havoc via tire regulations .... and voi-la !! Increase in revenues.... whilst destroying the real competition .