Martin Brundle has announced that he has received a message from Brad Pitt explaining why he did not want to speak on the grid at last weekend’s United States Grand Prix.
The Sky Sports broadcaster did its usual grid walk and wanted to talk to the big and good before the race.
Hollywood star Pitt was present at the Circuit of The Americas all weekend while conducting research for his role in an upcoming Formula 1 film and was spotted in most teams’ garages and mingling throughout the three days drivers and teams action.
Brundle wanted to speak to the actor as he made his way forward, but gave several blunt answers as he seemed unwilling to allow the former driver to follow him and ask him questions about his weekend, and Brundle patted the body’s shoulder several times as he tried to walk free.
Pitt’s refusal to speak to Brundle after receiving a similar rejection in Austin last year immediately sparked widespread conversation on social media.
But the nine-time Formula 1 podium finisher has since received mail from Pitt – which the Sky Sports analyst described as a nice touch.
Brundle continued to write Twitter: “I received a message from Brad Pitt explaining what happened to our near miss on the Austin grid. Unnecessary but nice of him.
“Absolutely no one on the starting lineup is required to speak to me, but as I strive to do 10/12 minutes of unscripted live sports television I have to at least ask.”
Pitt’s snub in Austin followed last year’s grid walk with Brundle when he went to interview American rapper Megan Thee Stallion.
When a member of her team blocked his path and said he couldn’t, it led to the now-famous response, “I can, because I just did.”
That particular clash, which later went viral online, led to the sport banning celebrity bodyguards from Formula 1 starting grids, but the stars themselves are not required to conduct interviews while on the grid.
