How Good Was Martin Brundle in F1? 

That was a wonderful piece, it pains me to see "celebrities, plastic fans" disregard him as a nobody. The man is an F1 Legend.

In interviews, Martin has said that Dallas crash affected the nerves in his feet, and he could never brake with any sort of finesse after that. He cites this injury as the primary reason for a drop in his pace. He also credits Dr. Sid Watkins with saving his foot by convincing the Dallas area doctors to perform the surgeries.

The crash aspect of his career reminds me of Massa and Kubica

That Crash in Dallas really derailed his career. Had the potential to challenge for a championship.

One of the best drivers without a win imo

"Had the Dallas crash not happened" feels like one of the more underrated, big what-ifs of F1.

Martin Is Fernando . I really liked him because he was brutally honest. I clearly remember Martin saying ' these three man can conquer the world if they wanted to" after seb dominated 2013.

I actually love him for saying that Horner wasn't quick enough for F1 LMAOOOO that man woke up feeling dangerous

Look at how Michael did after being Martin's team mate. Imagine how Ralf might have done if he had Martin's example to follow instead of being Giancarlo Fisichella's team mate. Or how well Giancarlo could've been with Martin as a mentor! There may even have been race wins if the experience of Barrichello and Brundle were racing that '97 Jordan.

I’ve watched f1 for 30 years (since I was 6!) and honestly Martin brundle story completely slipped me by. Fantastic video, thanks for this.

I mean, his knowledge mid race, to break down aspects of the race, and explain it in a way that makes sense for anyone, shows just how smart he is, which translates to a great driver. Glad he is still around, being part of our entertainment each weekend.

Bless you man, for this video. These new F1 fans need to understand why Martin is so damn beloved by every driver, every crew, every fan of this sport. And what an excellent and comprehensive video you’ve made.

Between him and Johnny Herbert, there are two underachieving drivers because of mangled feet. It's also a shame that he never got any luck when it came to driving. I remember Canada - it broke my heart. I'll also never forget that crash in Australia when he damned near took off and rolled it, there was a red flag so he ran back to the pits to get the T car. Sadly that car also broke down when he was running well. Every time he broke down, I'd well up! And when he got the podiums!

Beautiful way to look back on it all. Hindsight always gives a different view than the harsh real-time reality of the moment itself. Somehow the Briatore quote at the end gave a great signal on just what he had as a potential, despite the crash in '84. That and the results outside of F1...that already says a lot.

Apparently he was in the prime position to take Michaels win in spa 92, his tires were ready for him in the pit when it started raining, he could’ve pitted, but chose to stay out, Michael was behind and pit that lap and won the race. If only Martin pitted.

Awesome stuff! When he shared a seat with Suzuki...Aguri was mauled by Panis, but Brundle edged the Frenchman.

This is awesome. Ex-racer with experience that got him a commentator spot. I just love the technical details and his expertise about the circuit. Well made video!

There is actually an academic paper that reported a mathematical modeling study that assessed the relative influence of driver and machine, Brundle was ranked the 30th best Formula One driver of all time

This is the type of content that really brings out the best in you. Unreal 🙌🏼🔥

You forgot that due to his success at the 1989 Camel GT, he was rewarded with an invite to compete in IROC 1990 - in which he became the front runner, despite his lace of oval experience, until he was beaten by Dale Earnhardt

Awesome video Aldas. Martin is so well know for his work behind the mic it’s sometimes easy to forget his time behind the wheel. He was so unlucky to not get a win in F1. Exactly as you said, he was consistently in the right place but at totally the wrong time. Just goes to show that in F1 (and life too I guess) you can be an amazing driver, do everything in your control right and still come up short. Just shows how precious even 1 win in F1 is.

Brundle, Herbert and Bellof are probably the three biggest ‘what if’s’ of 80’s formula one…all injured horribly and were never the same again, or killed before they landed a top drive…

Unfortunately apart from 92 Martin never had a car a driver of his talent deserved. Although not a great qualifier his actual race pace was a very good standard. I think without a doubt in a good car he could have won a world championship in f1 as he did so superbly in sports car racing. Its like Johnny Herbert really if he hadn't had his crash at Brands Hatch he could of been a multiple world champion but struggled through his career trying to break and i read Johnnys book he was saying sometimes the pain was so severe he was crying in the car during the race. I just think that Martin and johnny were two exceptional drivers that never really had the opportunity to deliver on their undoubted outstanding natural ability. Actually if any of you guys haven't read Johnnys book its a brilliant read its called what doesn't kill you. And also Martin has a brilliant book out called working the wheel where he takes you around the circuits he raced in the past and tells you in depth what it was like. 😊😊😊

I met Martin at Silverstone when he drove for the Jaguar group c sports car. I was a 10 year old racing fanatic and my grandad worked for Jaguar so we had pit passes. Martin was a thoroughly nice guy who had the patience to answer my many, many questions let me look in the car signed my program even gave me one of the Jaguar racing caps. It's a shame that he never really made it in F1 he had that awful crash and was just never in the right car at the right time I believe he felt safer and therefore drove better in sportscars, we'll never know. He's a very insightful and knowledgeable commentator/pundit and has made a good career out of it..

Murray and Martin calling the races , how great was that? I think he deserved a second season at Benetton, McLaren and Jordan . It’s to bad ,but that’s racing I guess. Bloody quick and quick witted as well That comeback on Christian Horner was bloody quick wasn’t it !

Met Martin a few times at F1 races. He is such a great guy, very humble, friendly and down to earth. All round top guy.

Maybe your next video could be covering Nigel Mansell's 1993 season in IndyCar/CART when he won the championship that season.

Brilliant, much needed video, really nice to see everything he’s done - we are fortunate to have such professional F1 race commentators!

Great video man, its great to see this great personality's career highlighted

I can remember his crash at Melbourne still to this day, me and my grandad thought he was gonna be dead. Such a great personality and I'm glad to see him still involved with f1 today.

Martin was a very talented race driver. It was a shame that the damage to the nerves in his braking foot was so serious. However, even with that disability, he still had some remarkable achievements in all forms of motor racing.

Great retrospective on his career. I was at the Melbourne race and afterward put my fingers into the gouge that the roll hoop made in the track as he slid off upside down.

It's such a shame that he never got a good drive. As you said, great teams in Benetton and McLaren, but not when they were at their prime. I feel like Nico Hülkenberg has had a similar career. The guy has driven his socks off at every race, in midfield cars, getting praise across the board, but still not even a podium to show for it. Had either of them have been in a top tier team, multiple victories, if not a championship could have been a real possibility. It's been great to see Martin have such a fantastic career commentating and presenting. He's such a natural at it, and I love the way he doesn't take any crap from anyone.

Driving career was only slightly above average but for me he is the commentary GOAT. He will go down as a legend of the sport

While Martin Brundle was one of the best drivers never to win a world championship Grand Prix, you need to consider Chris Amon. He was with Ferrari from 1967 to 1969 and lost a number of races through car failures in 1968 when in the lead. He left Ferrari of his own volition and unfortunately cor him, all came good for them in 1970 when they won 4 Grand Prix with Ickx and Regazzoni. He was the most unlucky driver and probably his failure to win was down to poor decision making on his part. Mario Andretti famously joked that if Amon became an undertaker, people would stop dying! In the times, he raced, there were non championship F1 races and he did manage to win 2 of those, one of which was the 1971 Argentine Grand Prix. This race only had 10 starters as neither Jackie Stewart or any of the Ferraris were present. Chris Amon is really worth you doing a video on.

Awesome video, love it when Martin is in the booth and its great to appreciate his driving career.

Absolute legend in my eyes. I wasn't born when he was at the peak of his racing career, but I have plenty of happy childhood memories that involve Martin and Murray Walker as commentators on ITV. It's very noticeable, to me at least, when I'm watching a race in the modern era and Martin isn't part of the commentary team. His humble inisightfulness as a commentator for more than 20 years is very much backed up by his impressive and for the most part underrated career as a racer.

Very fine video Aldas- good to review Martin’s fine and long career in the cockpit. Thanks.

I remember a story told to me by a McLaren mechanic who worked with them at the time. when McLaren were trying to find the 2nd driver for 94, Peugeot requested that they selected Philip Alliot, they had a shoot out only a month before season start between him and Brundle. They selected Brundle because even though he was very slightly slower than Alliot, Brundle was the one that Hakkinen wanted, and the engineers wanted as he gave the superior feedback and had far more nous. Benneton should have never got rid of Brundle, Patrese was a disaster, and I shit my pants laughing when Martin was kicking his arse in races driving a Passive suspensioned Ligier. I think he would have partnered Schumacher definitely through the 94 and 95 season, and would have got his win.

As a fairly new F1 fan (picked up DTS during quarantine and loved the sport since) I never really knew that brundle was a driver, this was a great video to watch !!

Love Martin Brundle, a zero bullshit guy who doesnt waste time pandering to a target audience. The only one from the sky crew I can stand tbh. Its a shame people remember him more as a presenter than a successful formula 1 driver in his era.

Probably your best video to date mate! Keep it up 💪

Brundle was a fantastic driver. He actually out pointed Senna in the 2nd half of the 1983 British F3 championship that Senna would win. Martin closed the gap and finished second. Martin won the 1988 IMSA Del Mar GP in a Jaguar with an unbelievable drive. It had to be one of the very best drives in IMSA history. There might be footage of it out there. With a good car early in F1 and not having the crash he had, I think he would have won championships.

This video was great, always really interesting to know the past, so you have a deeper knowledge of F1 and its legends. Thank you for your hard work.

lovely production thanks mate

That was very insightful and well structured, thank you!

Great video man ! Keep them coming

i never comment on videos but mate. This was so well put together. Thank You.

Great video! I have some "DTS" friends who just started enjoying F1. When Martin came on TV once, one of them asked: "Does he really know anything about F1?"😁😁 He is a true legend, and the knowledge he has acquired through the years is enormous. Well done Aldas👍👍

I remember him as the 'teamtrotter' - every year something else, somewhere else. Though there was a period in the 1993 Ligier that he really wrung every little single thing out of that car, much like he did out of the Brabham's before. And that's how it often went: he was impressive in a lesser car, but then played second fiddle to a (future) top driver. Top in the Brabham, second to Schumacher. Then top in the Ligier, then in the shadows of Häkkinen. Showing them how it's done at Ligier again, then nowhere compared to the up and coming Barrichello. As consistent as he was as a driver, so unstable was his career path in F1. And I suppose that's not just luck, you need to have a feel for that too. Alonso is another one of those who always happens to be in the wrong team for the last decade and a half.

A great tribute to a fantastic Driver, followed his career from the start, met him at BH when hi son was racing against a friend of ours, such a polite and nice guy to talk too 👏👏👏👏

Didn’t know any of this, but really glad I do now! Awesome video

I still think Nick Heidfeld is the best driver to never win a Grand Prix. 13 podiums, eight 2nd places and five 3rd place finishes. Stefan Johansson and Chris Amon (the unluckiest driver ever) probably are ranked better than Brundle in this category, but he still was very competent considering the equipment he had.

This is probably my fave video you have ever created. Top job mate! So happy a spotlight is being shone on Martins career. He easily could have been a champion if things had gone a little differently.

about time someone did a video about brundle however there's 2 points that arent strictly true, tyrell were disqualified for having an "auxiliary fuel tank" it wasnt completely illegal what they did they just exploited a loophole in the rulebook it was just a quick way to get them outed because ken wouldnt sign the concorde agreement. Secondly the main win that got away was the 92 spa grandprix, he made the error of not pitting for fresh tires because unaware to him that his were blistered... in his own words "i decided to stay out and michael got the hot tyres meant for me and he wins his first race instead" not a critiscism by anymeans just a nit pick, great video as always mate :)

What was really infuriating was that connected stiffs like Johnny Dumfries and Andrea de Cesaris got rides over Martin Brrrundle.

Really really good video. So interesting, I learn a lot here.

Glad you made this video! Thank you bro

Watching this I am thinking how after 20-30 years we will see Daniel Ricardo from a similar lens

A true racer and great commentator . TXS for the entertainment.

Damn. Right in the feels. This was great. thank you.

Fantastic video keep it up your doing amazing job

Definitely one of my favourite commentator. Legend!

Great video been a fan not just of his racing also his commentary

Great vid. Brundle is a fantastic driver and a very nice guy. Met him on a few occasions. Very grounded and humble.

Love the Brindle! So knowledgeable and informative.

My dad met him at the 24 hours of Daytona when he won with Jaguar, and still his a picture of the car he drove signed by him. I’ll always love Martin for his commentating and it’s cool to know my dad met him

I just got into F1 as Martin's career was coming to a close. I remember at the time rating him highly but probably on that level just below the ultimate championship level guys in F1. In other categories I had no doubt he could win plenty given competitive machinery. He's a great commentator too, probably the best after Murray and he does come across a thoroughly likeable person.

His fight for position with Lizzo down the pit straight in Miami was vintage F1 if you ask me

Excellent video! Thanks!👏❤️

EXCELLENT VIDEO! 14:16 that's a good shot of a young(ish) Martin/Marty

Great video. I never knew. It's about time.

Indeed, that was truly enjoyable and informative. I'm old enough to remember him on the grid from the mid 80s until he stopped racing F1 and went into broadcasting. His knowledge and wit are rue treasure on Sky Sports and I've missed hearing his observations this year as I've been watching F1TV instead. Great racer....great man. Thank you for chronicling that.

Respect for you for showing me why Martin deserves to be respected for his place (then and now) as serious racer.

0:42 Yo, that one there was a violation, personally I wouldn't have it.

I remember Martin as a driver and my memories of him are mainly him crashing retiring and being lost in the midfield he had a few life threatening crashes

Wow I didn‘t know anything about his racing career thanks for the video, amazing guy

Martin's racing career is often overlooked by his legendary career in commentary, which I think is absolutely bizarre. He is one of the very few drivers we can get close to about Senna and Schumacher, and he was always right behind if not alongside with them pace-wise. Martin's story is just another 'what could've been', and I am always sad to think it that way. Martin Brundle is a bloody fast driver, and still is with this day and age.

I never knew Martin Brundle was such a POG champ.

Huge respect as a driver and my favourite pundit/commentator.

The come back to Horner ........ perfect!

great doco . cheers

Really love this heartfelt homage to Martin, he certainly is a legend. Got job matey.

bro going through the whole skysportsf1 team this is crazy

I'm glad you made this video

Good one, Aldas!

The thing that I remember the most with Martin was the crash in Australia 1996. I was in hospital watching the race. From then on, I had so much respect for him.

There's a great interview on the F1 podcast with Brundle where they ask if he thinks his FQ career was a failure. Gives a brilliant answer going through his wins and what F1 means in the wider racing world

great video, thank you

I have 2 F1 races on VHS tape, 1992 Italian GP and 1993 Belgium GP. I love the Monza race cause the Benetton 192 had a manual gearbox and onboard cameras. And a sweet win for Senna, David Hobbs was commentator. The best of times

Awesome Video!! Thanks

What a nice guy. Funny, blunt. He got to f1 so was clearly good enough. 5 stars from me.

If he didn't have that crash in Dallas, I think he would've won a bunch of races and if he wasn't let go in 92, he would've given Michael a run for his money in the championship.

You're making me feel old 😂 I was around to watch him when he was racing alongside Michael and Mika onwards. I always liked him as a driver even though he wasn't quite at that very top level when compared to those guys. He was always a solid, reliable and dedicated driver to have on your squad and tough as nails. He's one of my favourite things on sky's coverage and I like the fact he is trusted to drive relatively current machines to give us an insight into how the modern cars compare to previous generations. They don't just let anybody take those things out for spin. So he's obviously well respected up and down the paddock.

I would recommend his book Working the Wheel. It is as good a description of the skills of an f1 driver as anywhere. Plus, I never realised just how many serious accidents he’s been in.

This video should be mandatory watching for celebrities who get grid passes.

Very good driver with a self-confessed weakness: qualifying pace. In '92 on Sundays, he often matched Schumacher, that's a fact.

The mention of Calvin Fish is funny, because he's a racing commentator here in the USA.

Good guy Aldas not including "Is that Glock going slowly?"

Brundle was always my favorite driver to pick in the GP2 and GPM/GPM2 games