Williams’ Franco Colapinto has cleared up why he did not talk to Martin Brundle on the grid before the 2024 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix.
The Williams driver impressed yet again with a 10th-placed finish in Austin after starting from 15th on the grid.
Colapinto made his debut in F1 at the Italian Grand Prix replacing the outgoing Logan Sargeant and at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, he finished ahead of Lewis Hamilton to score his first points in F1 after crossing the line in eighth place.
The Argentine has been very popular amongst the F1 fans, especially supporters from South America who have attended races in vast numbers.
However, fans on social media were confused as to why Colapinto ignored the legendary F1 pundit and former driver, Brundle, before the US GP.
“[I had to] go and introduce myself to Franco,” Brundle said in the Sky F1 commentary booth after the awkward encounter.
“He looked at me like I was trying to mug him or something. I think he thought I was trying to steal his umbrella, to be honest.”
In the build to the US GP on the grid, Colapinto walked past the Sky F1 pundit as Brundle said: “Hello, my name is Martin Brundle, Sky, we haven’t met, quick chat, oh well, ‘no’ I think is the answer to that.”
!['[Brundle] never did any interview to me' says Franco Colapinto](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Franco-Colapinto-US-GP-2024-1024x576.webp)
Colapinto says ‘there isn’t much of a story’
The rookie appeared in no mood to talk to Brundle as he continued towards the front of the grid for the national anthem but Colapinto explained his actions to the media, including Motorsport Week, before the Mexican Grand Prix.
He claimed: “No, there isn’t much of a story. He never did any interview to me and it was, at least for me, not a great moment to be speaking in the camera.
“I was going to the national anthem and I was very late and yeah, I was focused on the race, I was focused on driving and I was just fully into that.
“I didn’t want to speak too much, I love speaking now and when I jump out of the car, but when I am, you know, onto the racing mode, I try to be a bit more into my role and not to be giving interviews. That’s it.
“I spoke with Williams many times and I don’t have much experience on this, of having to go to the grid, then waiting there for 30 minutes, jumping out of the car, walking around the paddock and everyone wanted to make new interviews.
“And yeah, Martin [Brundle], of course, he’s been, you know, an extremely massive, mega, mega, mega driver and he left a legacy in the sport as well.”
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