Martin Brundle speaks out after landing honour from King in New Year ceremony | F1 | Sport
Formula One icon Martin Brundle has spoken of his pride after being recognised in the King’s New Year’s Honours list for 2025.
On New Year’s Eve, Brundle was awarded Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by King Charles for his “services to motor racing and sports broadcasting.”
The 65-year-old has been a leading voice behind the microphone since joining ITV’s coverage in 1997, before switching to BBC for three seasons in 2009. He then joined Sky Sports in 2012 when they secured F1’s UK broadcasting rights for live races.
Reacting to the honour, Brundle wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Thank you for so many lovely messages, they mean as much to me as the OBE, which is a great deal to say the least.
“My eternal and sincere thanks to family, friends, motorsport and broadcasting teammates, and motorsport folk and fans, for the help and support since I first grass-tracked a Ford Anglia 53 years ago. It’s been a blast, I’m a very lucky man.”
Sky F1 presenter and commentator Natalie Pinkham reacted by posting a heartwarming tribute to her esteemed colleague Brundle on Instagram.
“MARTIN BRUNDLE OBE. Congratulations @martinbrundle [applause emoji, heart emoji],” Pinkham wrote in the post.
“Fitting recognition for the ultimate team mate: kind, fair, generous, wise and a lot of fun.
“Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for #skyf1 and #f1 … including your quiet work supporting those who have fallen on hard times with the #grandprixtrust. We have had some real laughs together, here’s to many more in 2025 and beyond.”
While Brundle has chosen to reduce his travelling since the F1 season was expanded to 24 races, he remains a cherished figure in the paddock.
With 158 race starts as a driver and an encyclopaedic knowledge as a pundit, he is arguably the most authoritative analytical voice in motorsport.
In particular, his iconic gridwalks – where he is tasked with interviewing stars and celebrities on the grid minutes before the race – have gone viral on social media after incidents involving Cara Delevingne and Megan Thee Stallion.
In gaining his OBE, Brundle joins other revered British figures from F1 in receiving recognition from the Royal Family. He is the second F1 broadcaster to pick up the award, following in the footsteps of the great Murray Walker, who died in 2021.
His former Sky Sports colleague Damon Hill also has an OBE to his name after winning the world championship in 1996. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner took home a CBE in 2023 after guiding the team to a record-breaking season.
Last year, ex-McLaren chairman and CEO Ron Dennis joined Sirs Lewis Hamilton, Patrick Head, Jackie Stewart, Stirling Moos, Frank Williams and Jack Brabham in being knighted.
