Formula 1 legend Martin Brundle has been awarded an OBE in the United Kingdom’s New Year’s Honours list for “services to Motor Racing and Sports Broadcasting”.
Brundle, 65, spent 12 years as an F1 driver, beginning his career with Tyrrell in 1984 and ending with Jordan in 1996. Along the way he also raced for Brabham, McLaren, Ligier and Benetton, with whom he took five of his nine podium finishes.
A year before his F1 debut, Brundle famously battled with Ayrton Senna in the British Formula Three championship, narrowly losing-out to the Brazilian in the final race.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest F1 drivers to never win a Grand Prix, Brundle enjoyed successful stints in sportscar racing, winning the World Sportscar Championship and the Daytona 24 Hours in 1988, following it up with the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours in 1990.
To a younger generation, Brundle is a household name for his work in television, going straight from the cockpit to the commentary box in 1997, where he joined the legendary Murray Walker at ITV for its coverage of F1.
He followed F1 to every other platform on which it has been broadcast live, joining the BBC in 2009 and Sky in 2012, where he remains to this day, often commentating alongside David Croft.
Known for his forthright views, personable humour and vast knowledge, Brundle is also synonymous with the infamous grid walks, in which he doorsteps drivers, team personnel and invited celebrities in the moments leading-up to the start of a race. The segment has become part of F1 folklore in Britain and a staple of pre-race viewing.
His work in broadcasting has seen him recognised as either part of a team and as an individual, having been awarded the RTS Television Sports Award for Best Pundit on multiple occasions.
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