Respected Sky Sports pundit and former Formula 1 driver, Martin Brundle, expressed his immense joy and gratitude upon being appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). The honour was included in the King`s New Year Honours list, recognizing Brundle`s significant contributions to motor racing and sports broadcasting.
The presentation took place at Windsor Castle, where the Prince of Wales personally conferred the award to the 65-year-old on Tuesday. Brundle, who competed in 158 Grands Prix during his driving career, has been an integral part of Sky Sports F1`s coverage since the channel began broadcasting F1 in 2012.
Reflecting on the occasion, Brundle stated that the award made him feel “very lucky and very privileged.” He emphasized that such recognition is received “on behalf of an awful lot of other people,” acknowledging the teams who worked on his racing cars and his colleagues in the broadcasting industry.
Brundle highlighted his unique journey, noting, “You can`t do anything on your own at the level of Formula 1. I`ve been very lucky to have two careers in F1 as a driver and a broadcaster, which this award has been presented for.” He recalled his reaction upon hearing the news, saying, “When the letter came through just before Christmas, I was ecstatic.”
During the ceremony, Brundle and the Prince of Wales found “plenty to talk about.” Brundle reminisced about their first encounter at the 1992 British Grand Prix, where the Prince (then a child) attended with his mother and brother, meeting the drivers after their briefing.
Their shared connection to West Norfolk also provided conversation points. Brundle mentioned the Prince spent time there, contributing to their easy discussion. He noted the Prince shared other personal details which he considered private.
Congratulatory messages poured in from across the sport. Formula 1 President Stefano Domenicali sent his well wishes, stating: “Huge congratulations to Martin Brundle on receiving his OBE for services to motor racing and to sports broadcasting. He has been a tireless supporter of motorsport and constant presence and brilliant voice to all our fans over many years.”
Mercedes driver George Russell also offered praise via social media, writing: “Congrats Martin, well deserved. Best in the business!!”
The Enduring Appeal of the Grid Walk
Brundle is widely celebrated for his signature pre-race grid walks, a segment where he navigates the often-chaotic grid just minutes before the start, seeking impromptu interviews with drivers, team personnel, and celebrities.
He explained that the element of unpredictability is key to the segment`s popularity with viewers.
“We`re only there to tell the story, the stories about the cars and the drivers, and we`re there to explain what is a fast-moving and highly complex sport,” Brundle said.
“We get in amongst it, we`ve got access, we`ve got opportunities, we know everybody pretty well. But then the grid, it just gets busier… I can`t see anybody half the time, sometimes I can`t even see an F1 car.”
“We try to find people, we talk, and I think because it`s a bit edgy and sometimes it fails miserably, people are kind of living it with me, whether I`m having a good day or a bad day.”
Despite doing the grid walk for 27 years, Brundle admits he has “never watched one,” joking that “it`s not my natural habitat to run around being cheeky and interrupting people, but it`s sort of grown a life of its own.”
He concluded by explaining the original intent of the feature: “What it was put in for originally was to ramp up the excitement before the grand prix. The cars go to the grid, it calms down a bit, and then let`s get some energy going.” The opportunity to interact with a driver “literally before they pull their crash helmets on and zoom down to the first corner is unique in sport.”
