Martin Brundle denounces F1 ‘procedure’ after Jackie Stewart gets manhandled by Miami GP security
While trying to approach Roger Federer so Martin Brundle could interview him, Sir Jackie Stewart was stopped and manhandled by security at the Miami GP.
Jackie Stewart (L) | Martin Brundle (R)
Martin Brundle is quite famous for his ‘grid walks’. Recently, at the Miami Grand Prix, while trying to interview Roger Federer, he and three-time F1 world champion Sir Jackie Stewart got into a bit of a kerfuffle. Stewart attempted to help Brundle in his task but was stopped by security, and the 83-year-old was even manhandled. Eventually, their efforts were successful, and Federer came over for a chat with Brundle.
The incident went somewhat like this: Brundle attempted to get Federer’s attention but was unsuccessful. Stewart asked him: “I’ll get him for you, if you want?” and then tried to make his way over to the Tennis legend, but was stopped, and as mentioned before, manhandled by the security. Looking at this, Brundle had said: “You can’t beat up Sir Jackie Stewart! You really can’t!” before adding: “Jackie, don’t get yourself in trouble for me, for goodness sake!”
George Russell had also made his way over, having seen the commotion. Speaking about this on the Sky Sports F1 podcast, Brundle said: “What a legend, 83 years old! I happened [to come] across him at the front of that rope. It was like trying to get into a dodgy nightclub, wasn’t it? The pair of us, we had no chance, we had the wrong dress code or something. [I] Find that whole procedure a little bit weird on the grid. There were so many people around.”
The former McLaren driver continued: “He jumps under the rope, and now there’s three people running after him. And I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I’ve just got Jackie Stewart thrown out of this place’. We have both been thrown out of better places than that! It was hilarious, really. Then I started to panic a little bit, if I’m honest. He’s 83, I don’t need him over there risking himself just for an interview. He was great. That’s a true mate, isn’t it, when they go the extra mile for you like that.”
Martin Brundle: I and Jackie Stewart “got away with it”
Sir Jackie Stewart is a very esteemed figure in F1, and he is 83 years old as well. Martin Brundle would certainly have felt uneasy with the situation. He said: “I’m watching security guards, Roger Federer, then George Russell gets involved trying to explain what’s going on. And it’s Sir Jackie Stewart! I see this negotiation going on over there. Literally, my count [time] in my ear just finishes as Federer turns around and walks over, escorted by Sir Jackie, so I think I’ve got to talk to him now.”
Such incidents are why Brundle does not play back his own grid walks. The Briton continued: “I think we got away with it somehow. But huge amounts of anxiety, that’s why I never watched the damn things [grid walks]. And I haven’t watched it for 26 years. I’ve seen it on social media, that bit, but I never watch the grid walk back ever. I don’t know who that bloke is running around being cheeky and rude, my sort of alter ego!”
The incident provoked quite a bit of outrage (but also laughs) on social media. The fact that Stewart, a legend of the sport, and a three-time world champion was ‘stopped’ by security did not sit well with many fans. This was also related to his rather advanced age. But many were also impressed that he took it in his stride, and succeeded in his goal of ‘courting’ Roger Federer over.
Others had also expressed dissatisfaction with the security, or ‘rules’ of the event. In particular, Ralf Schumacher had complained that the security ‘pushed him over so brutally’. Further, he demanded an apology for that. Schumacher, a six-time race winner, is also a well-known, and respected pundit. Something similar also happened to Jenson Button. This is definitely not ideal.
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Aniket Tripathi
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