March 2nd 2024.
During the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix, it seemed like Jeremy Clarkson was having a great time. That is, until Martin Brundle approached him for an interview on the grid. The former Top Gear presenter, who is usually confident and composed, appeared a bit uncertain as Martin started the live TV chat.
Before each race, Martin takes a stroll around the grid, looking for famous faces to interview. It's quite a chaotic scene with drivers preparing, teams making last-minute adjustments, and celebrities mingling about. These interviews often make headlines when VIPs with special passes decline to speak to Martin, not realizing that he is a legend in the world of Formula One. We saw this happen at Silverstone last year when model Cara Delevingne refused an interview and again in 2021 when Megan Thee Stallion brushed him off with her bodyguards in tow.
But this time, it wasn't because Clarkson knew little about F1. It was because he seemed a bit tipsy. The Clarkson's Farm star even admitted to having a few beers before the interview. With a slightly amused expression, he assured Brundle that he was doing well when asked about his condition. Despite clearly being in a jolly mood, Clarkson's speech was a bit slurred, and he appeared a little hesitant as Brundle started asking him questions.
"You declared your love for Formula One on this grid last year, and I saw you last night still engrossed in the sport even an hour after qualifying," Martin said. Clarkson, with a touch of drunkenness, began his response, "I've spent most of today looking at the lap times - that's how boring I am - from last year to this year and wondering what they've all been doing over the winter because the gaps, for the most part, are the same."
As Clarkson spoke, the camera panned away from them, showing viewers a wide shot of the race track. Perhaps the producers had noticed his beer consumption. Martin was not entirely convinced by Clarkson's response and commented, "Good stuff. You're right, you're right." To which a baffled Clarkson replied, "You weren't listening to me, were you?"
"No, not really. You lost me somewhere in there," Martin admitted. The Grand Tour host continued to discuss the strange season with Brundle, saying, "People at home who are watching the sport will get what I'm saying. It's a weird year this year, I think." Martin agreed, adding that the car designs for this year will carry over to the next. He then asked Clarkson, "But who's your money on?" in an attempt to get a positive reply from the TV personality.
Instead, Clarkson delivered a deadpan response, not mentioning any specific driver but simply saying, "Adrian Newey." Martin quickly moved on, saying, "Alright, good to see you Jeremy," before cutting to the next segment. Red Bull's chief technology officer, Newey, has been a dominant force in the sport, with Red Bull winning the championship for the past three years and Verstappen being crowned the world champion.
One fan on social media noticed Clarkson's behavior and commented, "@JeremyClarkson had a few beers while on the grid walk." To which Clarkson replied, "Yup," confirming their suspicions. Another fan wrote, "I suspect Jeremy may have been in the champagne tent for a couple of hours before this!" While another commented, "He sounds weird. Doesn't sound like his normal self," with many others agreeing that Clarkson seemed a bit off on the show.
Clarkson's TV appearance was not the only one that day. He also got to wave the chequered flag for Dutch world champion Max Verstappen, who won the race. However, the victory was marred by controversy surrounding Red Bull's team principal, Christian Horner. A female employee of the team had accused him of inappropriate and controlling behavior, and Horner had been under investigation for the past three weeks.
On Wednesday, Red Bull announced that Horner had been cleared of all allegations following an internal investigation conducted by an external lawyer. However, just 24 hours later, messages between Horner and the complainant were leaked to the media, F1 teams, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, and F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali.
When asked about the leaked messages, Horner said, "I won't comment on anonymous speculation, but to reiterate, I have always denied the allegations. I respected the integrity of the independent investigation and fully cooperated with it every step of the way. It was a thorough and fair investigation conducted by an independent specialist barrister, and it has concluded by dismissing the complaint made. I remain fully focused on the start of the season."
Despite the allegations, Horner and his wife, Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, were seen together at the race, putting on a united front. It was reported that Geri was stunned and had been struggling to sleep or eat after the allegations resurfaced. But the couple seemed to have put on a brave face as they held hands at the event.
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