There are few people in Formula 1 quite like Martin Brundle. The former driver is one of the sport’s finest and well-loved pundits, and his pre-race grid walks for Sky Sports have become something of a ritual for fans. They’re chaotic, candid, and always entertaining. It’s part analysis, part ambush journalism, and they’ve produced some of the most memorable moments in F1 broadcasting.

The latest came at the Monaco Grand Prix, where Brundle was shoved aside by Kim Kardashian’s security entourage.

Kardashian has reportedly been dating Lewis Hamilton since late 2025, so you’d have expected her to have been well briefed on what goes on during the grid walk. That wasn’t to be. Brundle foreshadowed the incident himself:

As it happens, just about everything. Brundle was completely ignored, as he had to insist to the Kardashians’ security guards not to push him. As much as the incident reads like a rather tense affair, Brundle handled it with characteristic wit and good grace. But it just shows what the F1 grid has now become. Less about the racing, and far more about the peacocking from A-list celebrities.

Martin Brundle’s F1 Grid Walk Isn’t What it Used to be

Evan Buhler via Reuters

Brundle’s first grid walk came at the 1997 British Grand Prix, where he roamed freely with a single camera and an open grid. Drivers stopped to chat, and there was far more space to breathe. He even managed to corner Michael Schumacher and Gerhard Berger.

That world’s long gone. The grid these days resembles a red-carpet event. Celebrities, security guards, PR handlers, all that have little-to-no interest in the race at all, simply jostling for position and status.

Brundle has described finding a driver to speak to as “near impossible.” But that doesn’t put him off on race-day. You’ll always find him meandering around the starting grid, trying to get a chat with whoever he can get to.

He claimed drivers don’t want to be bothered on the grid while getting ready, saying: “A lot of them, like Lewis and George, go back to the stations in the garage and do a debrief, I mean, on headphones.

“And a lot of the drivers do. They get off the grid if it’s hot, especially. They need to go and drink. They need to go to the bathroom. And they don’t want to be bothered on the grid.”

Lewis Hamilton is Part of the Problem for Martin Brundle

The Kardashian episode is rather telling, because Hamilton himself has long since stopped making himself available on the grid. Rather than linger before lights out, he retreats to the garage for a debrief through his headphones, something that dates back to his days at Mercedes.

According to The Mirror, Brundle has been open about the frustration. He’s spoken about how some drivers will simply never engage with him these days, and Hamilton now falls into that bracket despite once being a regular and willing presence:

The trust was there at one point, but somewhere along the way, with Hamilton at least, it appears to have gone. It’s a shame, but on this evidence, his latest A-list girlfriend is following his lead perfectly.

Former Premier League manager Harry Redknapp has tried his hand at predicting England’s starting 11 for the upcoming World Cup this summer.

The Three Lions kick off their campaign in North America with a clash against Croatia on June 17, as Thomas Tuchel looks to add a second star to the national team shirt.

After spending over a year assessing his options, the manager has now selected a 26-man squad that includes some surprise omissions, with Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Maguire among those to be left out for the tournament.

With England now going through their paces in the American heat, having beaten New Zealand 1-0 in the first of two friendlies, attention is quickly turning towards how far the team can truly go this summer.

Speaking to GMS, Redknapp has tried to put himself in the shoes of Tuchel to predict exactly how the team may look come the first World Cup match of the group in one week.

Goalkeepers and Defenders

Jordan Pickford; Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Reece James

England’s backline looks relatively set, as Jordan Pickford will almost certainly keep his position as number one heading into the tournament, a belief backed up by Redknapp.

In the defence, Redknapp would pick Manchester City pair Nico O’Reilly and Marc Guehi, but there’s no place for their outgoing teammate John Stones, as Aston Villa ace Ezri Konsa is chosen ahead of him.

At right-back, the fitness of Reece James will be key to his selection, with the hope that the Chelsea captain will be available at his full capacity.

Midfielders

Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham

The midfield setup for England looks set to be a double pivot, with a number ten in a slightly more advanced position to get involved in the final third.

Redknapp has opted for a trio of Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, and Jude Bellingham for those roles, as they look to control the game in the middle of the pitch.

Rice and Anderson have partnered one another at the base of midfield under Tuchel for the past year, likely cementing the duo to feature alongside one another.

As for Bellingham, he has starred for the manager, but faces competition from Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze, but Redknapp believes the Real Madrid ace will get the nod instead.

Forwards

Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka

Redknapp has stuck with the obvious choice of Harry Kane up front, as the England captain looks to cement his place in history with another World Cup outing.

On the left, Marcus Rashford has been chosen over Anthony Gordon, while Bukayo Saka retains his place on the right flank for the tournament.

It remains to be seen how close the team will be to Tuchel’s final selection, as he ponders his options for what could be a long month ahead.

London Heritage Quarter’s city-wide lion trail, unveiled by Harry Redknapp and Fara Williams MBE to celebrate England’s summer of international football, will run until 10th August 2026. Visit www.london-hq.co.uk for more information.

Aston Villa are eyeing up a move for one of the Premier League’s best players this summer to strengthen their squad for the Champions League, according to Sports Boom.

The Villans secured a spot in the top club competition on the continent by winning the Europa League, ending a 30-year trophy drought, while they also finished fourth in the Premier League.

Unai Emery is now looking to refresh his squad with options to make the team competitive once again, and a move for a top forward has been eyed as a top priority heading into the summer transfer window.

Aston Villa Eyeing Gibbs-White Deal

According to a report, Aston Villa have made a move to sign Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White their top priority in this window.

Gibbs-White enjoyed a spectacular campaign in 2025/26, netting 18 goals and registering seven assists in all competitions as the team avoided relegation and reached the Europa League semi-finals, losing to Villa. But as he enters the final two years of his contract, the 26-year-old is now attracting major interest.

Emery is understood to be very keen on bringing in a profile like Gibbs-White to his squad this summer, and views the transfer as a priority as he looks to ensure the squad can compete on all fronts.

Forest don’t want to lose their star man but are aware of his desire to play in the Champions League, and his contract situation means that they may be forced to sell in order to retain his value.

Last year the club fought back against a release clause and handed him a new contract, which removed the clause, meaning they can now demand whatever fee they like for the influential playmaker.

Gibbs-White to Replace Rogers?

While Villa are keen to strengthen their squad, they are facing major interest in key man Morgan Rogers, and part of their thought process for this deal may well be replacing him.

Stylistically, both players are very similar. They like to play in the pockets between midfield and attack, have a great ability to carry the ball and beat a man, while they also have an excellent eye for goal and a pass. Gibbs-White was highly unfortunate to miss out on a place at the World Cup, such is his quality.

They could easily play together, with both players capable of filling in on the left if necessary. Emery is likely envisioning that likelihood within his planning, but the fact he could also be a replacement for Rogers would make it an even more perfect siging for the club.