Ex-Formula 1 driver Martin Brundle has heaped praise onto three-time F1 World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart, who grabbed tennis legend Roger Federer prior to the Miami Grand Prix.
Whilst completing his traditional grid walk for Sky Sports F1, Brundle spotted Federer being whisked away by security off the grid; however, the driver turned pundit was keen to chat to the 20-time Grand Slam Champion.
Due to the amount of security around him, Brundle opted not to chase after the Swiss player; however, Stewart was on hand to help.
“I’ll get him for you, if you want?” Stewart asked Brundle on the grid, before suddenly going after the tennis icon.
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“You can’t beat up Sir Jackie Stewart! You really can’t!” Brundle shouted, as Stewart darted between security guards.
“Jackie, don’t get yourself in trouble for me, for goodness sake!” added Brundle.
Stewart remarkably did grab hold of Federer for Brundle after fighting off the security guards, despite being 83 years old.
Brundle recalled the hilarious incident on the Sky Sports F1 podcast following the weekend, where he labelled the Scot as a “true mate”.
Brundle also noted how the grid in Miami was “a little bit weird”, with the Briton having shared that he “had the wrong dress code”.
“What a legend, 83 years old! I happened [to come] across him at the front of that rope. It was like trying to get into a dodgy nightclub, wasn’t it?
“The pair of us, we had no chance, we had the wrong dress code or something. find that whole procedure a little bit weird on the grid. There were so many people around.
“He jumps under the rope, and now there’s three people running after him. And I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I’ve just got Jackie Stewart thrown out of this place’. We have both been thrown out of better places than that! It was hilarious, really.
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“Then I started to panic a little bit, if I’m honest. He’s 83, I don’t need him over there risking himself just for an interview. He was great. That’s a true mate, isn’t it, when they go the extra mile for you like that.
Brundle added: “I’m watching security guards, Roger Federer, then George Russell gets involved trying to explain what’s going on. And it’s Sir Jackie Stewart! I see this negotiation going on over there. Literally, my count [time] in my ear just finishes as Federer turns around and walks over, escorted by Sir Jackie, so I think I’ve got to talk to him now.
“I think we got away with it somehow. But huge amounts of anxiety, that’s why I never watched the damn things [grid walks]. And I haven’t watched it for 26 years. I’ve seen it on social media, that bit, but I never watch the grid walk back ever. I don’t know who that bloke is running around being cheeky and rude, my sort of alter ego!”