After Martin Brundle's eventful encounter with rapper/singer Megan Thee Stallion's bodyguards on the gridwalk ahead of the United States Grand Prix, Formula 1 took no time to introduce new rules for future walks.
Formula 1 was quick to bring in a new rule that resulted in banning celebrity bodyguards on gridwalks that ensures celebrities must be available for interviews following an awkward run-in with Megan Thee Stallion at the US Grand Prix. The Sky F1 reporter was quick to hit the headlines when he attempted to interview the American rapper on the famous gridwalk.
Although Megan Thee Stallion was reasonably happy with Brundle's attempts to interview her, her entourage of bodyguards and assistants had other plans by completely dismissing Brundle. Footage shows that one of the rapper's bodyguards appeared and tried to force the iconic F1 reporter away from the artist. Another person also came out of the group - labelled as 'Draco Malfoy' lookalike - told the 62-year-old he wasn't allowed to follow them nor ask the rapper any questions.
Brundle, who has been an employee for ITV Sport and BBC in the past and is known for his iconic F1 gridwalks for over 20 years, replied to the recent incident, saying: "I can because I just did." After the incident went viral all over the internet, Brundle went on to Twitter to express his frustrations with the clip being shown repeatedly that has been dissected on American talk shows as-well-as on social media platforms.
“I have felt under pressure on the grid before but by people called Senna, Prost, Schumacher, Mansell, Piquet and so on,” Brundle wrote.
“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.”
At the Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday, Brundle confirmed new regulations had been introduced after Austin - his gridwalk since the pandemic delayed the start of the 2020 season.
“There have been new rules introduced, that any celebrities on the grid must not have bodyguards any longer,” Brundle revealed on Sky F1.
“It must be the ‘Brundle clause’ and they are obliged to talk to me. I sort of like it if they ignore me, to be honest.”
Brundle confessed that he would rather talk to celebrity guests who have a genuine interest in the sport rather than those who are simply there to promote themselves or their image.
“I like to call out some of the celebs I think are just using the grid a little bit, if I’m honest. They don’t really have a passion,” he added.
“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’.
“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.”
Earlier this year, Brundle mentioned he had not missed the gridwalks during their absence: "I like the challenge and it makes me nervous because it’s eight or nine minutes of live television, unscripted, unrehearsed, and just ‘go’.
“It makes me nervous mostly because it’s my alter ego. I’ve had some classically good moments on the grid and some classically bad ones.”
