"I didn't want to speak too much": Franco Colapinto on why he seemingly ignored Martin Brundle's grid walk during F1 US GP

Williams driver Franco Colapinto claimed that former F1 driver and pundit Martin Brundle caught him at the wrong time during the latter's 'Grid Walk' segment at the 2024 US Grand Prix last weekend. The Argentine driver was caught in a tricky situation before the start of the race at the grid as he was asked by Brundle for a quick chat but he chose to ignore the veteran and walked past him quickly.

Martin Brundle's 'Grid Walk' segment is amongst the most popular segments being broadcasted before the start of the race as it often leads to chaotic and memorable features, F1 personnel, and celebrities.

While talking about why he seemingly ignored Martin Brundle in Austin, Texas, Franco Colapinto told Crash.net that he was getting late for the national anthem and skipped giving the interview, saying:

“He never did any interview [with] 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," Colapinto said.

The young Argentine clarified that while he loved media interactions when he was out of the car, he would prefer to focus on the race and avoid any external distractions.

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Franco Colapinto comments on avoiding pre-race media interaction

Williams F1 driver Franco Colapinto said that he did not have "experience" doing the pre-race activities including interviews, given his limited time in the sport. As quoted by the aforementioned source, the 21-year-old spoke about restricting doing any media activity before the race and said:

“I spoke with Williams many times and I don't have much experience on this, of having first going 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," Colapinto said.

“And I have been quite focused before the races, you know. And Connor [Bean, Williams press officer], he has been really helping me not do interviews on the grid, not on the grid, but in the paddock and all those things and being focused on what I have to do, that is driving, of course," he added.

Franco Colapinto has impressed everyone with his performances in F1 in such a short time, as the 21-year-old has managed to push his much-established teammate Alex Albon in both the races and qualifying.

He has already amassed five points in the four races that he has competed in and sits in P18 in the driver's championship. The Argentine has the same amount of points as Alpine's Esteban Ocon but is ahead of him due to finishing in higher positions.