Formula One bosses have introduced a so-called ‘Brundle clause’ that ensures celebrities must carry out TV interviews if approached during the gridwalk, according to Sky Sports reporter Martin Brundle.
Brundle has become synonymous within the sport for getting in and around the action on race day, and parading through the grid in search of a word or two from some of the sport's biggest stars and celebrity names.
The gridwalk had been put on hold over previous months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but returned at last month’s United States Grand Prix where Brundle himself had an awkward run-in with rapper Megan Thee Stallion.
As a result the former Williams driver spotted the rap star parading down the Austin track prior to the race beginning, and approached her for a comment on the upcoming race.
However, the Sky reporter was quickly shunned by a member of her security team, who told him: “You can’t do that.” to which Brundle quickly replied: “I can because I just did.”
This led to the former driver asking celebrities who attend Formula One races to show more respect and better manners when approached by the press, in a post on his social media.
Brundle said: “I have felt under pressure on the grid before but by people called Senna, Prost, Schumacher, Mansell, Piquet and so on.
“Bodyguards visiting the grid for the first time don’t bother me, everyone’s got a job to do, but they could maybe learn some manners and respect on our patch.”
And it seems the 62-year-old has now got his way as he told Sky Sports F1 that a new rule means VIP’s must now leave behind their bodyguards if they want to venture onto the grid.
Brundle said: “There have been new rules introduced, that any celebrities on the grid must not have bodyguards any longer.
"It must be the 'Brundle clause', and they're obliged to talk to me. I sort of like it if they ignore me, to be honest.”
He went on to add that he believes celebrities who appear on the grids are ‘using it’, and don’t seem to have a passion for the sport like regular F1 fans.
He added: “I like to call out some of the celebs that I think are just using the grid a little bit if I'm honest. They don't really have a passion.
Should celebrities have to stop for interviews when on the grid? Let us know in the comments section below.
"I know there are millions of fans at home going 'I should be on that grid. I'm a massive Formula 1 fan, not them'.”
Brundle also discussed his sticky situation he encountered with the American rapper, describing it as his ‘claim to fame’.
The former driver continued: “But my claim to fame at last. I get ignored by Megan Thee Stallion, I get biffed out of the way by a man mountain and then told off by a Malfoy lookalike who doubtless was on his first-ever time to a Formula 1 grid.
"I put out a simple tweet about it and got five million impressions. I don't understand any of that, to be honest."
