That’s not true’ – Lewis Hamilton and Martin Brundle in awkward exchange ahead of British Grand Prix
Formula 1 icons Lewis Hamilton and Martin Brundle were involved in a frosty exchange, but not in their cars.
The pair were instead conducting an interview ahead of the British Grand Prix when the Ferrari driver let out a passive aggressive comment about the famous pundit.
Grid walk legend Brundle was discussing Hamilton’s move to Italy from Mercedes with the first official image of the switch a shot of him at their Fiorano base in front of an F40 supercar.
The photo broke the internet for a day, at least in motorsport circles, and the moment certainly wasn’t lost on Brundle, who reflected: “That image of you in the black coat in the Schumacher square at Ferrari…
One of the most iconic photographs ever in Formula 1 and what a shot that was.”
Hamilton then interrupted to make things awkward, commenting: “Thanks man, that means a lot coming from you, you don’t have too many positive things to say always.”
An even more awkward Brundle then responded: “Well that’s not true…”
Brundle started the season by saying he had ‘no doubt’ Hamilton could win his record-breaking eighth title with Ferrari and saying he was ‘unquestionably’ worth the tens of millions the move cost.
Yet his expectations have since lowered, recently commenting: “The pace is in there somewhere but it’s a very hard watch when Lewis is doing post-race interviews at the moment.”
Adding on Hamilton’s take that he’s not gelling with the car, Brundle cited rookies who have done so straight away
[Ollie] Bearman, it took him in a day last year here, but then he wasn’t relearning a car. He was just getting in and learning a car.
“ [Kimi] Antonelli, he’s got used to working with [race engineer] Bono quite quickly in working with that car. He did a lot of testing last year.
“I’m struggling to buy into that, honestly, but we know Lewis is better. Lewis is faster than that.
“So something’s not working. Something’s not gelling there.”
Despite their minor flashpoint at Silverstone, Brundle and Hamilton go way back to before he was even in F2, let alone F1.
When the seven-time champion was going through contract challenges as a teenager, Brundle played his part in getting him back on the right path.
Speaking in 2020, he said to Hamilton: “I’m going to tell you something that might amaze you.
“I’ve got all those contracts at home. When things began to fall apart, your dad reached out and asked for my help—he faxed them over to me.”
Hamilton isn’t having the strongest season, currently sitting sixth in the standings and ranking as the third-best British driver ahead of his home Grand Prix.
However, he has shown some appreciation toward Brundle. It was recently revealed that Hamilton played a role in getting the 66-year-old included in the upcoming F1 movie.
Co-commentator David Croft shared: “Hamilton told them, ‘If you want the commentary to feel real, you need Martin and Crofty.’ I really valued that gesture.”
