At the inaugural Miami GP in 2022, Martin Brundle encountered one of his most awkward moments when he confused NBA star Paolo Banchero for Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. This season, however, the former F1 driver didn’t make the same mistake.
Banchero looked positively stunned when Brundle confused him for the NFL starlet last season but was present during the Brit’s grid walk again this year. When Brundle approached Banchero, the Orlando Magic forward thanked him for remembering his name.
“I’m honored that you know my name this year!” said Banchero to Brundle as per Sky Sports.
Thankfully, Brundle learned from the mistake he made last year and didn’t mistake Banchero for Mahomes.
What happened between Patrick Mahomes and Martin Brundle?
Brundle is famous for his grid walks ahead of F1 races. The ex-F1 star-turned-pundit carries a microphone around the F1 track, talking to drivers, athletes, actors, and other celebrities who are out on the tarmac before the start of the Grand Prix.
Last year, both Paolo Banchero and Patrick Mahomes were in attendance for the first-ever F1 outing at the Miami International Autodrome. Brundle was probably looking for the two-time Super Bowl winner when he saw Banchero standing.
As he approached him, the similarities between the way they looked convinced Brundle that he was talking to Mahomes. After beginning to interview him thinking he was an NFL athlete, Brundle realized that he was actually talking to the 2022/23 NBA Rookie of the Year!
Mahomes meets Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez
This season too, both Banchero and Mahomes are present at the Miami International Autodrome for the Grand Prix. Mahomes paid a visit to the Red Bull garage, where he posed next to two-time world champion Max Verstappen’s car.
Mahomes also met Mexican driver Sergio Perez at the Red Bull garage, and presented both him and Verstappen with a Kansas City Chiefs jersey.
Verstappen, who started the race from P9, managed to comfortably find his way up the grid, charging through the field as he looked for his third win of the 2023 season.
