Sky F1 pundit Martin Brundle experienced a dramatic turn during his Monaco Grand Prix grid walk when Kim Kardashian declined to be interviewed, leading to a tense moment with security staff. Brundle was heard warning a bodyguard, 'don't push me, mate,' after being jostled while attempting to speak with the reality TV star.
Kardashian's Grid Appearance
Kim Kardashian made her first appearance on the grid since beginning a romance with Lewis Hamilton. She had been spotted on Saturday watching from the balcony above the Ferrari garage, and by Sunday she had descended to the grid alongside numerous other celebrities. However, when Brundle approached her during his pre-race segment, hoping for a quick chat, he was given short shrift.
'Kim, Martin Brundle from Sky F1, how are you today?' he asked politely. Kardashian glanced at him with a brief smile before turning away, clearly unwilling to engage. Brundle extended his microphone in hopes of a response, but to no avail.
Kardashian then leaned toward one of her bodyguards, who whispered in her ear. Off-camera, Brundle cautioned another security member: 'No, you don't need to push me, mate.' He made one final attempt to draw a comment from Kim and her sister Khloe, but was unsuccessful.
Chaotic Grid Walk
The grid walk proved extraordinarily frantic, as is customary in Monaco. The narrow start-finish straight is notoriously congested, and the race's prestige attracts a remarkable collection of celebrities. This year was no different.
Earlier, Brundle approached Hollywood star Cynthia Erivo, who was posing for photos in front of Max Verstappen's Red Bull car. Initially, she gave a cool reception, indicating she wasn't giving interviews. However, her demeanour softened as she answered a couple of questions about being in Monaco. Before Brundle could probe further, a Red Bull photographer ushered him away, claiming the Sky crew was blocking his shot.
Brundle also failed to reach Premier League star Morgan Gibbs-White. He walked straight past Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones to get to Gibbs-White, who was positioned in front of Verstappen's car. However, he couldn't get close enough to exchange words. Gibbs-White was soaking up the Monaco atmosphere after missing out on Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the World Cup.
Brundle did find solace in a conversation with the Crown Prince of Bahrain. Mumtalakat, the Bahraini sovereign wealth fund, holds a partial stake in the McLaren F1 team, and this weekend marks the outfit's 1,000th appearance in Formula 1.
