Martin Brundle Admits He Feared Jos Verstappen Might Throw a Punch After Tense Gridwalk Encounter
As the 2025 Formula 1 season wrapped up under the evening lights of Abu Dhabi, the Sky Sports F1 crew took a moment to look back on a year filled with drama, humour, and the trademark unpredictability of Martin Brundle’s famous Grid Walks. The final round of the season wasn’t just about championship reflections—it also became a moment for the broadcast team to relive some of the most chaotic, entertaining, and awkward moments captured live on the grid.
The Abu Dhabi Grid Walk itself was no different from the usual spectacle. It delivered yet another mix of celebrity confusion, drivers brushing past interviews, and Brundle gamely trying to navigate the frenzy. But as the team gathered later to discuss the season’s standout moments, it was clear that one incident in particular continued to live rent-free in everyone’s mind.
Brundle, having conducted dozens of grid interactions this year, recalled his personal favourite from Singapore, where he accidentally mixed up Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi with his brother. The moment was cringeworthy yet hilarious, quickly becoming one of the most talked-about fumbles of the season. Brundle laughed at himself as he relived the moment, admitting that even decades into the job, mistakes still happen—and often in front of millions of viewers.
But for his colleague Ted Kravitz, a far more uncomfortable moment topped the year’s list of unforgettable grid incidents. Speaking on the Abu Dhabi grid, Kravitz turned to 2025 World Champion Nico Rosberg and jokingly praised him for what he called “Nico’s little bomb-lettes”—a funny way of describing the sudden, tension-filled questions Rosberg occasionally drops during his grid interviews.
Kravitz’s comment referenced what has now become one of the most infamous grid encounters of the season: Rosberg’s explosive interaction with Jos Verstappen at the Belgian Grand Prix.
The Rosberg–Verstappen Sr. Tension at Spa
During the Belgian GP weekend, Rosberg walked straight up to Max Verstappen’s father with bold confidence, wasting no time before asking him directly about Christian Horner’s departure from Red Bull. The moment instantly shifted the energy on the grid. Cameras captured Jos Verstappen’s expression turning icy as Rosberg reminded him of comments he allegedly made the previous year.
“Last year, you said Horner needs to go because it’s destroying the team,” Rosberg said.
Jos, clearly irritated, shut down the question almost immediately. “That was a year ago, so!” he snapped—offering nothing more.
At that point, Martin Brundle, seeing the tension rising, stepped in to assist. He leaned forward with his microphone, hoping that perhaps Verstappen Sr. would expand on the topic or soften his tone. Instead, Jos responded bluntly: “I have nothing to say!”
Rosberg, unwilling to retreat quietly, fired back with a sarcastic, “Now you’re quiet!” The rebuttal turned the already strained interaction into an awkward spectacle, with Brundle visibly trying to defuse the situation before it escalated.
Brundle’s Candid Admission
In Abu Dhabi, while reflecting on that Spa confrontation with the Sky Sports team, Brundle finally revealed what had been going through his mind during the intense exchange.
Laughing nervously, he said:
“I actually stood back because I thought he was going to punch him!”
The admission brought a wave of laughter from the team, though there was no denying the genuine discomfort felt during the incident. Jos Verstappen, known for his fiery temperament and protective nature over his son, has never shied away from confrontation, and the Spa moment only reinforced that reputation.
For Brundle—who has spent years navigating tense or unusual grid interactions—the moment stood out as one of the few times he genuinely anticipated a physical reaction. His instinct to step back showed just how unpredictable the gridwalk can be, especially when sensitive topics are raised minutes before the start of a race.
A Season Defined by Drama, Humour, and Unexpected Moments
As the Sky Sports F1 team wrapped up their reflections, it became clear that 2025 had been one of the most memorable seasons yet for behind-the-scenes antics. Whether it was celebrity mix-ups, tense interviews, or accidental confrontations, the gridwalk remained an essential—and often chaotic—part of the F1 entertainment landscape.
Martin Brundle’s mix of bravery, humour, and sometimes unavoidable awkwardness continues to make the segment beloved by fans. And as the team joked in Abu Dhabi, if Brundle could survive almost being caught in the crossfire of a Jos Verstappen confrontation, he could survive just about anything the paddock throws at him.
