Brundle reveals ‘most unpleasant time’ in F1 commentating career
For long-time F1 commentator Martin Brundle, the explosive 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix wasn't just a controversial ending to a dramatic season – it was the most trying time of his decades-long career as a pundit.
Grand Prix racing's 2021 season finale will forever be remembered for its dramatic and divisive conclusion.
Lewis Hamilton seemed destined to claim a record-breaking eighth World Championship until a late Safety Car intervention turned the tide.
In a controversial move, then-race director Michael Masi permitted only certain cars to unlap themselves before restarting the race.
This allowed Max Verstappen, on fresher tires, to overtake Hamilton on the final lap and clinch his first championship – an outcome that split the F1 world and left fans, teams, and commentators reeling.
A Season Finale Like No Other
In a candid reflection on the Sky F1 podcast, Brundle revealed the immense tension he and his colleagues faced during one of the most contentious moments – and seasons – in modern F1 history.
“The most unpleasant time I've known in all these years of commentating was Abu Dhabi 2021, and 2021 in general, because it became so feisty, so aggressive between Mercedes and Red Bull,” he recalled.
“And Sky kind of got caught up in the middle of that,” Brundle remembered.
Brundle recalled how the fierce rivalry between Mercedes and Red Bull seemed into every corner of the paddock, putting added strain on broadcasters trying to navigate the high-pressure environment.
“We got caught in the crossfire, basically,” he added. “And each team pretty much felt if you weren't with them, you had to be against them. And they both felt that.
“It was really uncomfortable, actually, that whole phase. But friendships remained, and we all moved on.”
Collecting Knowledge Behind the Scenes
The acrimonious battle wasn't just limited to the track; it extended into media narratives and team interactions.
Throughout the season, Brundle and his commentary partner, David Croft, had to read carefully.
The pair routinely attend pre-race briefings and maintain constant dialogue with team principals and other insiders to gather crucial context for their coverage.
But 2021's escalating tensions made their work uniquely challenging.
“Sunday morning we go to some briefings, Crofty and I, and get that sort of last-minute knowledge,” Brundle said.
“And teams are quite open at that point. “They're not going to give you their race strategy, but they give you a lot of information.”
Brundle's ability to extract valuable insights hinges on trust – a trust he's built over years of conversations with key figures in the paddock.
“I talk relentlessly to people. “I've got my touchstones in the paddock where we trade information, three or four people,” he explained.
“If something big is going up, I will go and talk to Zak [Brown], Christian [Horner], Toto [Wolff], go and talk to somebody. And they won't tell me lies. If they can't tell me, they won't tell me, or they'll tell me something.”
The Delicate Balance of Trust
Brundle estimated that “60 or 70 per cent of what I know I can never say on the TV,” due to the confidentiality required to maintain his relationships in the paddock.
However, he emphasized how this behind-the-scenes knowledge helps shape the narratives presented to fans.
“It does give me the other 30 per cent, and then it also means that it gives me a guidance, or I can give my Sky F1 colleagues guidance on if we're heading off in the wrong direction or something.”
Despite the immense stress of that turbulent season, Brundle's passion for the sport and commitment to delivering authentic, informed coverage has remained steady.
Still, for Brundle and F1 fans alike, the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will remain an unforgettable – and, for many, unsettling – chapter in the sport's history.
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