During an interview at Silverstone ahead of the British Grand Prix, Formula 1 icon Lewis Hamilton and veteran commentator Martin Brundle shared a noticeably strained exchange, generating significant attention. The interaction occurred as Brundle discussed Hamilton’s recent move from Mercedes to Ferrari, a transition highlighted by a widely circulated photo of Hamilton at Ferrari’s Fiorano base.
The image, which showed Hamilton standing before a Ferrari F40 in the Schumacher square, was praised by Brundle as one of the sport’s most iconic. However, Hamilton responded in a pointed manner, creating an uncomfortable moment between the two.
Commentator and Driver Clash Over Past and Present Views
Brundle opened the interview with high praise for the photograph and Hamilton’s career move, saying,
“One of the most iconic photographs ever in Formula 1 and what a shot that was.”
—Martin Brundle
Hamilton then interrupted, remarking,
“Thanks man, that means a lot coming from you, you don’t have too many positive things to say always.”
—Lewis Hamilton
Brundle responded awkwardly, “Well that’s not true…”, as the tension lingered between them.
Earlier in the season, Brundle expressed strong optimism about Hamilton’s chances, stating he had “no doubt” the seven-time world champion could secure an eighth title with Ferrari and recognized Hamilton’s value in the multi-million-dollar transfer.
Yet Brundle’s sentiments appear to have cooled as the season progressed. He recently critiqued Hamilton’s current struggles, noting,
“The pace is in there somewhere but it’s a very hard watch when Lewis is doing post-race interviews at the moment.”
—Martin Brundle
He pointed out that unlike Hamilton, younger drivers such as Ollie Bearman and Kimi Antonelli adapted quickly to their cars, emphasizing Hamilton’s apparent difficulty in settling into Ferrari’s machinery.
Brundle said,
“So something’s not working. Something’s not gelling there.”
—Martin Brundle
Long-Standing Relationship Tempered by Honest Criticism
Despite the tense exchange, Hamilton and Brundle share a history extending back before Hamilton’s Formula 2 days. Brundle was instrumental during a challenging period early in Hamilton’s career when legal and contract issues threatened his progression.
Reflecting on that time in 2020, Brundle recalled,
“I’ve got all those contracts at home, when everything started to go wrong your dad asked me to help him and faxed them to me.”
—Martin Brundle
Hamilton has acknowledged Brundle’s support over the years and recently advocated for his inclusion in the new Formula 1 movie. Co-commentator David Croft revealed,
“He [Hamilton] said, ‘If you want to make it authentic commentary, you need Martin and Crofty’. I really appreciated that.”
—David Croft
Implications for Hamilton’s Season and the Silverstone Race
This uneasy interaction highlights the mounting pressure on Hamilton as he adapts to Ferrari and strives to meet high expectations set by both fans and experts like Brundle. Their public exchange underscores the challenges Hamilton faces in harnessing his potential within a new team environment this season at Silverstone and beyond.
With the British Grand Prix fast approaching, all eyes will be on Hamilton to see if he can turn around his performance and silence growing doubts. Meanwhile, the candid nature of Brundle’s critiques reflects the heightened scrutiny on one of Formula 1’s most celebrated drivers during a pivotal phase of his career.