Singer Lewis Capaldi and Formula 1 commentator Martin Brundle shared a warm embrace at the British Grand Prix on Sunday, effectively burying the hatchet after a memorable encounter last year.
Brundle, known for his pre-race grid walks, met Capaldi on the Silverstone circuit and initiated a "man hug." "Let's man hug. How are you, is your bro here on the grid again?" Brundle asked. Capaldi confirmed his brother was present, stating, "He's over there, he loves it."
Capaldi mentioned upcoming performances at Hyde Park and shared his experience of a hot lap around Silverstone with F1 driver Lando Norris, which he described to Brundle as "the most nerve-wracking thing I've ever done in my life."
Brundle later offered a second hug, remarking, "I'm not good at man-hugs, but I think that was a good one." The interaction aimed to resolve an incident from the Singapore Grand Prix last November, where Brundle mistakenly identified Capaldi's brother as the singer and then, without realizing, turned away from Capaldi when he attempted to shake his hand.
Following the Singapore event, Capaldi had humorously posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he was "b*tched by Brundle" after the handshake snub. The viral video of the mistaken identity and subsequent missed handshake amused many fans, with some joking that Capaldi "accepted the rejection like a true champion."
Ticket sales for the British Grand Prix have seen an increase, with purchases for Silverstone up 14% compared to the previous year. The popularity of Formula 1 has also grown, partly attributed to the Netflix series "Drive to Survive," which has led to a 17% rise in searches for race tickets following the release of its eighth season.