Martin Brundle awarded OBE in New Year’s Honours
Former F1 driver recognised for “services to Motor Racing and Sports Broadcasting”
Martin Brundle is a household name in the UK. Although it’s safe to say that the 65-year-old is now more widely known for his role as a pundit and co-commentator on F1 coverage than for his exploits on the track earlier in his career. Nonetheless, his efforts in motorsport have now gained Royal recognition, with Brundle being given an OBE in the 2025 New Year Honours list.
Driving career
After a runner-up finish in the final race of the 1983 Formula Three season to Ayrton Senna, Brundle worked his way up to the big leagues, securing a drive in Formula One with Tyrrell the following year.
Brundle raced in Formula One for 12 years in total, getting behind the wheel for Tyrrell, Zakspeed, Brabham, Benetton, Liglier and McLaren before retiring after the 1996 season at Jordan. He counted Michael Schumacher as a teammate during his time at Benetton in 1992, where he achieved five podium finishes and finished a career-best sixth in the World Drivers’ Championship. Across his 12 years in F1, Brundle secured nine podium finishes and is widely regarded as one of the best drivers to never win a race.
That’s not to say he wasn’t successful in other motorsport formats. In his year out of F1 in 1988, he won the World Sportscar Championship for Silk Cut Jaguar with five wins from eleven races. There was also the small matter of a victory in a Jaguar XJR-12 at the 1990 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Switch to broadcasting
In 1997, Brundle moved into the broadcasting world, working as an analyst for ITV Sport’s Formula One coverage for eleven years before switching to BBC after it acquired the rights in 2009. Since 2012, he has been a key player in Sky Sports’ coverage, with his in-depth knowledge commanding respect from drivers and fans alike. The pre-race grid walks, where Brundle squirrels between drivers, pit crew and celebrity attendees to grab short interviews, have become as much of an event as the races themselves and have had a fair share of memorable moments.
words: Mike Booth
picture: Goodwood