Martin Brundle reveals why his iconic grid walk "annoys" him

Former Formula 1 driver Martin Brundle raced from 1984 to 1989 and again from 1991 until 1996 for some of the biggest teams in the history of the sport, including Williams, Brabham, McLaren, and Jordan. However, since leaving the driver's seat, he has become famous for his iconic grid walk, something that "annoys" the Briton.

As part of Brundle's presenting and commentating duties with Sky Sports F1, he kicks off the lead-up to the Grands Prix with what has become a fan-favourite: the grid walk. Fans have come to love the chaotic and unpredictable feature, which often ends up with a viral interaction. 

While speaking with Mail Online, Brundle revealed that he never actually wanted to get into broadcasting.

"I never wanted to be a broadcaster. I was so angry because I wanted to be on the grid in 1997 driving for Jordan and I ended up working with Murray Walker on TV. As the cars went to the grid, I was like 'Stop, you can’t go yet. I’m not ready!' Here we are, almost three decades later and weirdly, my entire motorsport career seems to be a fact-finding mission for my broadcasting career."

Although the grid walk has been incredibly successful, the 65-year-old claimed that it "annoys" him. He added:

"The grid walk actually really annoys me because that’s what I’m known for now.

"The whole thing is still a mystery. I won a lot of races as a driver and was on the F1 podium. I was World Sportscar Champion, winner at Le Mans, beat Ayrton Senna a lot of times in F3 - I was a reasonably handy racing driver and I’m a reasonably handy commentator but all I’m going to be remembered for is getting ignored on the grid by the Megan Thee Stallion and other people I’d never heard of until that moment.

Martin Brundle, Sky F1, chats with Carlos Sainz Jr

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images

"It’s quite a funny thing but I can’t knock it - heading towards 66, I’m lucky to still be in live sport and that’s why I was pleased with the OBE because it wasn’t an OBE just for grid walking."

The 2025 F1 season starts this weekend with the highly-anticipated Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.