Martin Brundle has praised Sir Jackie Stewart after the Formula 1 icon risked getting chucked out the Miami Grand Prix to help him interview Roger Federer.
The bizarre incident unfolded when Stewart ignored security to get tennis hero Federer's attention for the Sky Sports interviewer. Federer's bodyguards then manhandled Stewart, leaving Brundle worried the three-time world champion would be shown the door.
Thankfully, calmer minds prevailed and everything was OK. Ex-driver Brundle, who is known for his legendary grid walks before GPs, has called Stewart a "true mate" for his selfless favour but criticised the Miami International Autodrome's "weird" grid set up.
As Brundle approached Federer, he bumped into Stewart and said hello. Brundle then tried to get Federer's attention but to no avail, which promoted Stewart to offer his services. The F1 hero kindly asked: "I'll get him for you, if you want?"
If anyone could've got Federer's attention, it was Stewart. The Scot is a legend of the sport after winning the drivers' championship in 1969, 1971 and 1973. As security tried to stop Stewart, Brundle told them: "You can't beat up Sir Jackie Stewart! You really can't!"
Brundle then muttered: "Jackie, don't get yourself in trouble for me, for goodness sake!" Mercedes driver George Russell spotted what was happening and rushed over to help before Federer eventually made his way to a relieved Brundle for a chat.
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Brundle has since recalled the remarkable episode on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast. He said: "What a legend, 83 years old! I happened [to come] across him at the front of that rope. It was like trying to get into a dodgy nightclub, wasn't it?
"The pair of us, we had no chance, we had the wrong dress code or something. find that whole procedure a little bit weird on the grid. There were so many people around."
Brundle laughed: "He jumps under the rope, and now there's three people running after him. And I'm like, 'Oh my God, I've just got Jackie Stewart thrown out of this place'. We have both been thrown out of better places than that! It was hilarious, really.
"Then I started to panic a little bit, if I'm honest. He's 83, I don't need him over there risking himself just for an interview. He was great. That's a true mate, isn't it, when they go the extra mile for you like that."
Brundle added: "I'm watching security guards, Roger Federer, then George Russell gets involved trying to explain what's going on. And it's Sir Jackie Stewart! I see this negotiation going on over there. Literally, my count [time] in my ear just finishes as Federer turns around and walks over, escorted by Sir Jackie, so I think I've got to talk to him now.
"I think we got away with it somehow. But huge amounts of anxiety, that's why I never watched the damn things [grid walks]. And I haven't watched it for 26 years. I've seen it on social media, that bit, but I never watch the grid walk back ever. I don't know who that bloke is running around being cheeky and rude, my sort of alter ego!"
