On a rare occasion, F1 fans approved an actor’s presence in the Formula 1 grid as veteran American actor Michael Douglas won the hearts of fans for showing his love and support for commentator Martin Brundle.
The former F1 driver turned commentator’s pre-race grid walks are widely appreciated by fans. Brundle interacts with team bosses and stars as the cars align on the track before the lights are out.
However, in the past, the Sky F1 commentator has been disrespected by A-list celebrities like Brad Pitt and Megan Thee Stallion. The actions of these stars haven’t been forgotten by fans who are still enraged over the incident.
Michael Douglas shows his respect to Martin Brundle
Academy Award winner Michael Douglas was in the F1 paddock with his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones for the 2023 Spanish GP. The 78-year-old was stopped for a quick interview by Martin Brundle during his pre-race grid walk.
However, Douglas took a moment to share his appreciation towards Brundle, one of the modern voices of F1. He took off his cap and stated, “Can I just stop you for a second to say what an excellent job you do, week in and week out?”
He added, “I’m so impressed, both in the pits and your color commentary. You’re amazing!” Brundle was floored by the compliment and replied, “I really appreciate it, you’ve made my day.”
The gesture won the hearts of F1 fans who have had a bad experience with celebrities on the grid. During the 2022 US GP, Brad Pitt snubbed Brundle and walked away ridiculing the commentator.
Rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s bodyguard stepped in to defer Brundle from carrying his media duties during the grid walk. However, the outcry received after the incident prompted F1 to ban celebs from bringing their entourage during grid walks.
Why F1 is becoming popular amongst celebrities?
In recent years, we have seen more celebrities interacting with Martin Brundle during the grid walks. This is mainly due to F1’s exploding popularity across the world, mainly in the US.
Thanks to the sensation created by Netflix’s ‘Drive To Survive,’ the sport has seen a boom in the US. The docu-series has garnered the attention of not just the common folk but also some of the most well-known celebrities.
Recently Brazilian footballer Neymar was spotted in the Monaco GP along with Tom Holland, Orlando Bloom, and Michael Douglas. He returned for Spanish GP where he was joined by teammate Kylian Mbappe along with Mason Mount, Robert Lewandowski, and other stars.
With F1 racing in ultra-affluent cities like Las Vegas, Monaco, and Miami, spotting celebs on the grid is not a tough job. The image of F1 has received a big boost with the announcement of the upcoming movie. The untitled F1 movie is set to star Brad Pitt and will be produced by 7x world champion Lewis Hamilton. This means we might witness an upward trend in the sport’s approval amongst the elite in a few seasons.
