Martin Brundle reveals harsh end to F1 career

Martin Brundle has revealed that his Formula 1 career ended without warning, after he arrived at the Birmingham motor show believing he would still be driving for Jordan in 1997 and discovered Eddie Jordan had already announced Ralf Schumacher and Giancarlo Fisichella instead.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 presenter Natalie Pinkham, Brundle said he had "no" idea that 1996 would be his final season. "Long story, actually, I thought I was driving for Eddie in '97," he said. Brundle recalled being at what he called "the racing car show in Birmingham" when he asked how much longer he was needed. He said the response was blunt: "It might be better if you're not here," because Jordan had named Schumacher and Fisichella as his two drivers.

"And that's how I found out I was no longer a Formula 1 driver that day," Brundle said. "When I see drivers getting farewell tours and all sorts, I'm slightly envious."

The moment closed a 158-start F1 career without any formal send-off. Brundle said his final Grand Prix was the 1996 Japanese Grand Prix, where he finished fifth, matching the result from his debut. "I finished fifth in my final F1 race as I finished fifth in my first F1 race," he said.

Even so, he accepted why Jordan moved on. Brundle said the situation "got a little bit murky," but added that he would probably have made the same call. "Honestly, if I was Eddie, I would have done the same thing, because I was at the end of my shelf life and he got two young chargers in there," he said. "But it was still a pretty harsh way to find out."

That abrupt end pushed Brundle into the next phase of his career sooner than he wanted. He said he was forced "against all my instincts and my will, into the commentary box with Murray Walker," and added: "And this is now my 30th year of doing that."

Brundle said the switch away from racing was difficult because the competitive intensity had not disappeared. He said he still had "so much adrenaline, so much work rate and competitive energy" when the 1997 season started, a sign of how suddenly his career on the grid had been cut off.

Any suggestion that he is now stepping back from broadcasting was also rejected by Brundle last week. Responding on social media to speculation over his Sky Sports role, he wrote: "Utter clickbait nonsense. I've done 16 races per year for a good while now and continue to do so."