Overview
- Sky sent Karun Chandhok and Nico Rosberg to run the pre-race gridwalk at the Barcelona‑Catalunya Grand Prix while Martin Brundle stayed in the commentary box on Sunday.
- The lineup change followed a widely seen moment in Monaco when Kim Kardashian ignored Brundle’s attempt to interview her on the grid, which drew strong viewer reaction.
- During the Barcelona gridwalk Rosberg tried to speak to Lewis Hamilton and was politely rebuffed, prompting some fans to criticise Rosberg for pressing a driver who routinely avoids on-grid interviews.
- Brundle’s gridwalk has been a regular part of Sky’s F1 coverage since 1997 and he has said Hamilton has long declined to speak with him on the grid, a pattern dating back to Hamilton’s 2007 debut.
- Sky has not issued a public explanation for the switch and viewers’ complaints underscore the operational trade-offs broadcasters face when handling live celebrity moments and established driver–media norms.