Brundle's comments re: Alonso

[Derek Smith]

Brundle is a better commentator and columnist than he was ever a driver - read that as you may - so why did he make the comment about Alonso being a miserable so and so?

There has to be a reason but what?

[Rouleur]

What was the context of the comment? Perhaps Brundle was referring to Alonso's reputation for wanting to have as little as possible to do with his fans and the outside world in general.

[EDLT]

He said Alonso was a miserable so-and-so to interview, which makes more sense.

[_Batty_]

didn't he say he'd just done an interview with him?
perhaps he'd just not answered any questions?

[Big Al.]

I personally think Brundle doesn’t pull his punches, and a far as Telflonso is concerned IMHO Brundle is spot on with that comment. Flonso is a miserable little so and so.

[Jasandjules]

EDLT said:

He said Alonso was a miserable so-and-so to interview, which makes more sense.

Yes, that is my recollection as well. He said when interviewed he's a miserable so and so...

[Jasandjules]

I think Brundle is superb. I just love the way he gets in the way of other reporters etc. and doorstops anyone he wants to.

I also have noticed recently that more and more drivers seem to be willing to speak to him - is it just a new breed of driver coming in or what? I also thought (perhaps quite wrongly) that the BBC have a lot more coverage in garage and with team principals etc too which I rather like..

[Park'O]

Brundle is not Alonso's kinda guy

Edited by Park'O on Tuesday 1st June 20:50

[Kinky]

Jasandjules said:

I also have noticed recently that more and more drivers seem to be willing to speak to him - is it just a new breed of driver coming in or what?

I'd heard that for the benefit of the sport the drivers had been requested to be more accessible. Note: that's unqualified; as I can't recall who told me

[Jasandjules]

Kinky said:

Jasandjules said:

I also have noticed recently that more and more drivers seem to be willing to speak to him - is it just a new breed of driver coming in or what?

I'd heard that for the benefit of the sport the drivers had been requested to be more accessible. Note: that's unqualified; as I can't recall who told me

Well, that is interesting.

I was going to say as well that it seems to be the non-British drivers who are happier to talk to Brundle on the grid........

[Kinky]

It's really bugging me now. It was a while ago - can't even recall when.

I didn't dream it, did I?

[Ponk]

Jasandjules said:

I think Brundle is superb. I just love the way he gets in the way of other reporters etc. and doorstops anyone he wants to.

I also have noticed recently that more and more drivers seem to be willing to speak to him - is it just a new breed of driver coming in or what? I also thought (perhaps quite wrongly) that the BBC have a lot more coverage in garage and with team principals etc too which I rather like..

He manages a fair few of them doesn't he? I imagine that must help.

Agreed though, he's fantastic. The ongoing rivalry with Tanya from Sky Germany is hilarious.

[aeropilot]

Park'O said:

Brundle is not Alonso's kinda guy

[Jasandjules]

Ponk said:

The ongoing rivalry with Tanya from Sky Germany is hilarious.

Ah yes, did I hear him say she's kicking his legs?!!?!?

Kinky, not to worry, it'll come to you when you least expect it..

[seansverige]

Ponk said:

Jasandjules said:

I think Brundle is superb. I just love the way he gets in the way of other reporters etc. and doorstops anyone he wants to.

I also have noticed recently that more and more drivers seem to be willing to speak to him - is it just a new breed of driver coming in or what? I also thought (perhaps quite wrongly) that the BBC have a lot more coverage in garage and with team principals etc too which I rather like..

He manages a fair few of them doesn't he? I imagine that must help.

Agreed though, he's fantastic. The ongoing rivalry with Tanya from Sky Germany is hilarious.

+1 Brundle's the reason I put up with Legard. IIRC the comment was made in the context of BBC visit to Maranello and it sounds like Alonso fulfilled the letter of his contractual obligation but not the spirit.

Favourite Brundle comment (after Schumi's Monaco qualie shenanigans?): 'Michael, michael, michael - just because your name's shoe-maker you can't talk cobblers'

Slightly O/T: is it me, or can Jake Humphreys be a bit tw*ttish? When they interviewed Martin Whitmarsh after the race and discussed RBR crash I thought DC finished the discussing the topic perfectly only for JH to come crashing in with something crass to the effect of: "You heard it here first - Martin Whitmarsh thinks crash is Vettels fault"
Still, not as bad as him slagging of Badoer big style before turning to interview... Stefano Domenicale, standing right beside him. Toe curling.

[garycat]

Ponk said:

Agreed though, he's fantastic. The ongoing rivalry with Tanya from Sky Germany is hilarious.

The Sky Germany interviews are recorded, wheres MB goes out live so he has priority. Still good fun to watch though.

[Derek Smith]

Jasandjules said:

EDLT said:

He said Alonso was a miserable so-and-so to interview, which makes more sense.

Yes, that is my recollection as well. He said when interviewed he's a miserable so and so...

Brundle's not the type to say something damaging off the cuff. He's well respected, as shown by the support he received when Mosley threatened to sue him for comments in his Times column.

I am told that that hurt him. He'll have insurance against such actions but the threat from someone like Mosley, with the power of the FIA behind him which have funded his actions before, will make The Times nervous as well as those who would be liable.

So my feeling is that the phrase he used to describe Alonso would have been well judged, but why say it? It won't make Alonso pick Brudle or the BBC as his favourite broadcaster.

Is it a little dig to show that he won't take any 'manure' from him? Or is Brundle sick of being a sycophant to prima donnas? I don't know. But it was said for a reason, and I would imagine it would get a response.

Ferrari are no longer protected by those in power - no names of course - so maybe it is payback time?

Brundle is no Hunt, shooting from the hip and giving into prejudice, so my feeling is that he had a good - to him - reason for the outburst. But despite giving it some thought, I've got no idea what that reason might be.

Irritating.

[35secToNuvolari]

Brundle recently wrote in F1 Racing (I think) contrasting his own approach towards journalists and some other drivers' approaches, including Alonso's. He wrote that Alonso never gave any effort to interviews and had a bad attitude. But then Brundle went on to say that Alonso didn't see the need to spend time on things that didn't make him or the team faster, and concluded that Alonso's approach was correct, and that he should've done similarly during his own career. That's what I remember, at least. Anyone else see the article?

[llewop]

Kinky said:

I'd heard that for the benefit of the sport the drivers had been requested to be more accessible. Note: that's unqualified; as I can't recall who told me

it is in the FIA regulations (to a point - doesn't specify who they have to talk to!)

FIA Sporting Regs said:

35.3 Second Day of Practice :

All drivers eliminated in Q1 or Q2 must make themselves available for media interviews immediately after the end of each session. In addition, all drivers who participated in Q3, and who are not required to take part in the post-qualifying press conference, must make themselves available for media interviews immediately after Q3.

Immediately after the qualifying practice session the first three drivers in the session will be required to make themselves available for television interviews in the unilateral room and then attend a press conference in the media centre for a maximum period of 30 minutes.

35.4 Race day :

One and a half hours before the race all drivers must attend a drivers parade. Competitors will be given details of the parade by the FIA press delegate.

Any driver retiring before the end of the race must make himself available for media interviews after his return to the paddock.

All drivers who finish the race outside the top three must make themselves available immediately after the end of the race for media interviews.

During the race every team must make at least one senior spokesperson available for interviews by officially accredited TV crews.

the accessibility bit got screwed up at the start of the year if you recall by the limitation on pit lane passes for physios etc - hence drivers disappearing back to the pitlane until the last minute, but that seems to have been resolved now.

[F i F]

Brundle looked very uncomfortable in the pit lane walk with DC, definitely seemed to me he felt upstaged.

In one way the MB/DC combo worked but in other ways it didn't.