F1 star reacts after Singapore GP grid walk snub from Martin Brundle on live TV

18 September 2023 , 09:54

1023     0

Martin Brundle interrupts his interview with Oscar Piastri after spotting Esteban Ocon (Image: Sky Sports)

Oscar Piastri has responded publicly after Martin Brundle interrupted his own interview with the McLaren driver moments before the start of the Singapore Grand Prix.

During his pre-race grid walk, Brundle collared Piastri to have a quick word before he got into his car. "Oscar, bad luck in qualifying, you've got some work to do in the race," he said.

And the Aussie was happy to chat, replying: "Yeah, we'll try out best and see if we can get..." but that was where he was cut off. He looked visibly surprised as Brundle looked away and began trying to capture the attention of another driver.

"Esteban! Esteban! Happy birthday!" he shouted at Esteban Ocon. He did manage to stop the Alpine driver who thanked him for his well-wishes.

However, by the time Brundle had turned back to where Piastri had been stood, the McLaren driver had walked off. But he revisited it on social media to poke fun at the Sky Sports stalwart.

Sebastian Vettel warns of looming F1 ban and is "very worried about the future"

"Shall we finish that interview in Suzuka @MBrundleF1?" he wrote with a winking face emoji, just to make it clear he had seen the funny side. And he added: "For what it's worth, I'd have done the same. Happy birthday @OconEsteban."

And Brundle replied: "Um, yes, sorry about that Oscar, wasn't my finest grid walk moment in 26 years. Just wanted to wish Esteban happy birthday as he strode past, but you were DRS open and full battery and quite rightly dropped me like an Aussie Rules rookie."

It was a tricky weekend for Piastri in a McLaren which did not have all the upgrades that team-mate Lando Norris was given. And he suffered from Lance Stroll's qualifying crash as it condemned him to 17th place on the grid.

But he did well to limit the damage, climbing to 14th on the first lap and stayed out of trouble to cross the line seventh. And after the race, visibly tired by one of the most physically demanding races on the F1 calendar, the rookie racer seemed more than satisfied.

"Starting 17th in Singapore is never the most exciting prospect, so to come away with P7 after all that is a fantastic result," he said. I don't think we could have done more than that, so I'm very happy. A great result for the team as well, great points."

Daniel Moxon