Martin Brundle explains Lewis Hamilton grid walk snub as Mercedes star hides

Martin Brundle has explained why he didn’t speak to Lewis Hamilton despite walking past the seven-time champion ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix. Brundle spotted the Mercedes star on his popular grid walk just minutes before the start of the race.

“It’s so hot here I absolutely fully understand why they wouldn’t want to be standing around here especially with everybody nipping their ears and all that sort of thing. I don’t want to interrupt.” However, Brundle still managed to secure chats with Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Kevin Magnussen ahead of the start.

He also shared words with football icons such as Mason Mount and Neymar as well as Hollywood stars Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Brundle has previously admitted holding Hamilton’s change in attitude to the grid walk in recent seasons.

The 38-year-old used to regularly feature in pre-race interviews but Brundle admits the Briton had decided to “stop” the chats. Last year, Brundle told Sky Sports: “A few of them will just shake their head and then even apologise later on.

 “Or some come up to me in the paddock and go, ‘You haven’t seen me on the grid for ages. Just come and talk to me on the grid. And then others will never talk. Lewis used to talk to me a lot and then stopped. So we take it as it comes.”

There is not believed to be any feud between the pair with Hamilton recently praising the Sky Sports commentator. In a video feature looking back at Brundle’s grid walks, Hamilton compared the host to the much-loved Murray Walker.

He commented: “Martin, I think has great history in the sport, his character, his energy. He’s got such a recognisable voice that people respect and admire. I hope that he stays around for a long time because I think he is today’s Murray Walker.”