Martin Brundle leaves F1 fans divided with US GP grid walk change and special guest

Formula 1 fans were divided as Martin Brundle made a major change to his usual pre-race grid walk at the United States Grand Prix. The Sky Sports favourite is loved for his usual live segment and the US GP in Texas usually throws up some memorable moments as a swathe of celebrities descend upon the grid.

But he mixed up the format on this occasion has he invited one of those famous faces to present with him. Hollywood actor Glen Powell, a star of Top Gun: Maverick and upcoming movie The Running Man, among other credits, was by Brundle's side, armed with a Sky Sports microphone and earpiece.

Naturally, as only a casual F1 fan, he could not offer the sharp level of insight brought to the table by Brundle. And, instead of interviewing other famous faces, the unlikely duo spent the first half of the grid walk talking to each other as the former F1 driver explained some basic elements of the sport to Austin native Powell.

Fans on social media offered vastly differing opinions on the departure from the usual format. One fan who clearly enjoyed it wrote: "Glen Powell is being awesome on the pitwalk with Martin Brundle, great questions!" And another said: "Really enjoying this Brundle and Glen Powell chit chat."

But many others were not impressed. One fan complained: "Well done Sky Sports F1 for taking the hugely popular Martin Brundle grid walk and completely ruining it by forcing a dry personality passenger." And another critic wrote: "If Martin Brundle just gets rid of that random guy, he can stop mansplaining what everyone already knows."

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One fan noted an apparent lack of chemistry on screen between the two men which they found jarring. They wrote: "Glen Powell asking all these questions on the grid and Martin Brundle giving them no time of day? A very odd segment - it's like they've been told to do complete opposite things?"

Powell left part-way through the segment as he had other obligations to fulfil, leaving Brundle to go about his work solo as is the usual case. But he did not speak with any other non-F1 celebrities during the remainder of his grid walk, instead making a beeling for Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies and also stopping for chats with drivers Liam Lawson and Esteban Ocon.

It was an underwhelming segment for fans who tuned in hoping for another memorable encounter with a celebrity, like the ones he has had in Austin in the past - such as when he was completely snubbed by musician Megan Thee Stallion. But there will be many more opportunities in the future after it was announced that the US GP will remain on the F1 calendar until at least 2034.