Many Formula 1 fans watching Sky Sports coverage of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix were left surprised and disappointed about Martin Brundle's absence from the pre-race grid walk. The iconic segment is usually hosted by Brundle when he is on site and, given his presence in the Barcelona paddock this weekend, it was expected that he would be in charge of the grid walk as usual.
Brundle Misses Grid Walk
Instead, Brundle got the chance to head up to the commentary box early as Sky colleagues Karun Chandhok and Nico Rosberg took charge of the grid walk. Especially as it turned out to be a particularly unmemorable segment, fans took to social media in their droves, many of them asking the same question.
"Where's Martin Brundle?" many asked, while several used disapproving emojis and GIFs while asking: "No Brundle grid walk?" For many, the Sky veteran's absence was most keenly felt toward the end of the grid walk as, when drivers were taking their positions for the national anthem, Rosberg tried to speak to his former Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
Rosberg Breaks Unwritten Rule
The Ferrari racer was wearing headphones as he strode towards the platform, and simply turned to say he wouldn't be speaking before carrying on. The result would almost certainly have been the same if Brundle were in charge of the grid walk, except for one key difference: Brundle knows that Hamilton does not like to speak to anyone on the grid other than his colleagues.
Many fans pointed that out as they expressed their disapproval at Rosberg's attempt to try to get his former team-mate to talk. "Why would Rosberg try to talk to Hamilton on the grid when Martin Brundle has known since 2007 that LH will not talk on the grid?" asked one fan, who hypothesised that the German might have been "trying to put him off."
Another unhappy fan said: "Nico knows Lewis won't answer questions on the grid before the race, he's got an agreement with Sky that they wont do it and Nico knows this and still he sticks the mic under his nose as he walks to his spot." And a third said: "Come on, Rosberg, you know Lewis doesn't do pre-race interviews on the grid."
Fan Reactions
The backlash was swift and widespread, with many calling for Brundle to return to his usual role. Some speculated that the change might have been a one-off, while others expressed hope that the veteran broadcaster would be back for the next race. The incident has sparked debate about the unwritten rules of the grid walk and the importance of respecting drivers' preferences.
