It comes up almost every year now. Personally… This feels so easy to fix. Just send someone out in front of Brundle to gauge everyone’s interest, or just tell him to back off a bit when he meets legitimate resistance. Why manufacturer drama like this? The sport just doesn’t need it in my opinion. He had two opportunities to not do what he did this weekend, but he pressed on.

Sure, it’s historical and all. But it just feels a little greasy to essentially force an interview on someone. Who is to say that Brundle can demand someone interview with him? Why are we owed that? I like Brundle and his way of interviewing, but I feel like he needs to be more respectful of those that aren’t there to be interviewed. We don’t own celebrities and no one is owed an interview simply because a celebrity decided to attend a race.

Thoughts?

  • @PriorProjectEnglish
    17•1 year ago

    Who is to say that Brundle can demand someone interview with him?

    F1 and the event organizers could do that if they chose. They haven’t, and unless there is some grid access clause that hasn’t been reported, Brundle appears to have been mistaken when he said that everyone has to speak… what the 2021 Brundle clause really does is restrict bodyguards from the grid, not require interview participation.

    But the grid is a restricted area and F1 and the event organizers can attach conditions to its access. Celebrities get the access they get as a promotional arrangement, and I would have no problem at all with event organizers formally attaching media responsibilities to grid/paddock access and to eject and impose a future ban on anyone who fails to meet them.

    Why are we owed that?

    We’re not, but no one is owed access to the grid either. By leaving one’s private box to walk the grid you’re entering a live televised media pen and should expect that you’re likely to be approached by live media teams if you’re a figure of note (and sometimes even if you’re a nobody).

    • hypnotoadOPEnglish
      3•1 year ago

      Agreed. I’m not aware of a clause forcing an interview, which is what my view is predicated upon. If there is a clause, I’m simply wrong and there’s no argument to be had.

      • @PriorProjectEnglish
        16•1 year ago

        Even in the absence of an explicit rule, I think Martin is largely on the right side of norms here.

        • Cara is a guest of Alpha Romeo in a promotional capacity. She received the access she received BECAUSE of her celebrity status, and with the understanding (formal or informal) that her visit would be used to promote Alpha Romeo and F1 via association.
        • The grid is a restricted area where multiple live media crews have announced their presence in advance, and where it is known that opportunistic interviews are conducted. Martin isn’t showing up in somebody’s back-yard birthday party and avoiding him is the easiest thing in the world. This would be a different story if he was lurking in the parking lot, outside hotels, or sneaking into team hospitality suites. If you don’t want to talk to Martin, don’t go on the grid and he won’t bother you.
        • The nature of live media is such that, in snubbing the media crew, you’re transitively snubbing their audience as well. There’s no opportunity to not publish the story if the interview request doesn’t pan out, the story of the the interview request not panning out is published live as it happens. We’re riding on Martin’s shoulders while he gets rebuffed, and it’s happening to us too. Doing this to fans makes you a lousy promotional partner.

        Because of the above conditions, IMO… you know what you sign up for when you enter the grid. It’s no different than a red-carpet event or any other media/press event. If you don’t want to interact with the press, no one is forcing you to go. If you go, and then get huffy about media wanting access to you, you suck as a promotional partner and teams should not invite you back (and should have clarified this beforehand and not have invited you in the first place if that’s how you felt).

        As to Martin’s sass, I’m here for it. There’s one place in the world where he’s justified in shit-talking anyone who snubs him and I’d be disappointed if he didn’t.

        • hypnotoadOPEnglish
          3•1 year ago

          That’s a fair take. I’m not passionately on anyone’s side, I just don’t like the idea of forcing participation. But you make good points.