The F1 world has been blown away as Sky Sports activities commentator Martin Brundle delivered one in all his grid stroll interviews on the Canadian Grand Prix.
The grid stroll section can so typically be a trainwreck, from celebrities who don’t know who Brundle is to over zealous safety guards to celebrities who’re too huge for his or her britches.
However Brundle discovered an ideal interview in Montreal.
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Strolling the grid, Brundle got here throughout the 87-year-old Mary McGee, who was being pushed on the grid in a wheelchair.
McGee isn’t simply any octogenarian although. She is a motorsport pioneer, beginning in automobile racing in 1957, earlier than changing into the primary American girl to compete in bike highway racing and motocross occasions.
She was additionally the primary particular person to experience the Baja 500 desert race in Mexico solo on a bike in 1975.
“I first began racing automobiles in 1957 after which I switched to bikes in 1960 and I stop in 2012,” McGee mentioned.
Brundle replied: “Superb — clearly I received’t ask you the way previous you’re. However that’s an unbelievable story. So even (racing) as much as a dozen years in the past. Is that this your first time on a System 1 grid?”
McGee: “I like System 1 racing. I used to be at Riverside (US Grand Prix venue) a few years in the past for the primary System 1 race, met Jimmy Clark (two-time F1 world champion) for god sake.”
Brundle: “I’d have cherished to have met Jimmy Clark. Oh my goodness, properly performed. So who’re you cheering for immediately? Anybody particularly you want?”
McGee: “Mr Hamilton, in fact.”
McGee and seven-time F1 world champion have a historical past as Hamilton is an govt producer on the ESPN 30 For 30 documentary brief on McGee.
The movie will quickly change into a part of the 30 For 30 Shorts catalog and inform the motorsport pioneer’s story.
Brundle went to wrap up the interview, thanking McGee for her time.
“Thanks very a lot for speaking to me, I recognize it,” she mentioned.
Brundle: “What an interesting profession you’ve had.”
McGee: It’s been great — so damned thrilling. There’s lots of years and lots of races — I did Baja, you recognize.”
Brundle: “I do know you probably did Baja — did you break any bones?”
McGee: “I broke an ankle bone and a wrist bone however nothing huge. Nothing vital. It’s lots of enjoyable. A variety of years however lots of enjoyable.”
The pair then shook palms as Brundle continued the stroll.
And whereas it’s often the snubs or weird moments, followers had been loving what McGee delivered to the grid.
P1 with Matt and Tommy’s Matt Gallagher tweeted: “Martin Brundle with probably the most healthful grid interview with Mary McGee.”
Williams Esports ambassador Meraki posted: “Interviews with Mary McGee will ALWAYS be higher than ones with celebrities that assume they’re too vital to be spoken to. Bravo @MBrundleF1. Most healthful interview ever.”
“What a lovely interview! Unbelievable girl,” one fan wrote.
“We’d like extra Mary McGee at Grands Prix,” one other mentioned.
One other fan commented: “She would put a smile on anybody’s face, that’s the kind of interview we need to see, not celebrities turning up understanding nothing concerning the sport trying down their noses.”
One other wrote: “Oh wow, I️ (coronary heart) this. What a completely heartwarming interview this was with Mary McGee, @MBrundleF1. Nicely performed!”
One other added: “Mary McGee is likely to be the most effective folks Martin Brundle has ever interviewed on his grid stroll.”
And that was simply the tip of the iceberg as followers raved concerning the sensible interview and studying a few legend they might not have recognized of earlier than.
McGee additionally had an opportunity to satisfy Hamilton after the race.
Brundle’s grid walks typically make headlines for all of the fallacious causes.
The final race earlier than the Canadian Grand Prix noticed a safety guard attempt to maintain Brundle from soccer famous person Kylian Mbappe, with the veteran commentator replying: “It’s alright mate, I’m in cost round right here.”
Whereas the incidents have been few and much between to date in 2024, the moments piled up all through the 2023 season.
Followers had been left in stitches on the US Grand Prix after he was pressured to awkwardly wait his flip to talk to British boxer Anthony Joshua.
Forward of the Singapore Grand Prix, Aussie rookie Oscar Piastri was dealt a brutal burn when the Sky Sports activities presenter bailed on him mid-answer.
In Miami it was three-time F1 champ Jackie Stewart who stole the limelight after he was virtually manhandled through the grid stroll shenanigans.
Hollywood energy couple Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones received followers over with their stylish interview forward of the Spanish Grand Prix.
On the British Grand Prix it was musician Sam Ryder who drew widespread reward for his infectious banter whereas talking with Brundle.
However probably the most well-known incident of all additionally got here on the British Grand Prix when Cara Delevingne was brutally roasted after snubbing Brundle.
