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Martin Brundle's pre-race grid walks are sheer box office entertainment – and his latest one at the inaugural Miami Grand Prix was no different.
The Formula 1 great suffered from a case of mistaken identity as he conducted an interview with who he thought was NFL megastar Patrick Mahomes.
It was, in fact, Duke basketball star Paolo Banchero who looked equally as confused as Brundle throughout the entire ordeal.
The hilarious exchange made for spectacularly-awkward viewing.
"Patrick! Martin Brundle, Formula 1 television in England," Brundle shouted as he tried to get his target's attention among the busy crowd of people.
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"I don't think he can hear me up there. Patrick, how are you? Good to see you on the grid here, what do you think of this atmosphere?"
Banchero, clearly caught off guard, then gave a really cringey answer in response to Brundle's question.
"This is crazy, I've never been to an F1 race, it's spectacular," he said.
When asked about being in the thick of the action on the grid, alongside the drivers, Banchero replied: "You ca see they're locked in, it reminds me of myself – the real focus."
During Banchero's waffling, Brundle either looked down at his name tag or got a message in his earpiece that he wasn't speaking to Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes.
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“It’s not Patrick, that’s why he ignored me,” Brundle added
“What is your name, sir?”
To which the towering NBA prospect replied: "Paolo Banchero."
There was an awkward silence as Brundle realised what he'd done.
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“Well I thought I was talking to somebody else, I’m sorry about that,” he concluded as the two shook hands.
"Whatever!"
What an absolute legend!
Incredibly, things didn't get any less painful for Brundle when he bumped into social media personality Gianluca Vacchi on the grid later on.
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"Sir, I don't know who you are, but I'd like to know who you are," Brundle said.
"I'm Martin Brundle from Sky Sports, you look a very interesting character."
Vacchi wasn't particularly welcoming, simply putting his hand on Brundle's shoulder and laughing awkwardly.
"Social media sensation," he replied.
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But the quick-witted Brundle responded brilliantly.
"And modest too," he muttered.
Genius.
He also mistook tennis player Venus Williams for her sister, calling her "Serena" at one point too.
When footage of Brundle's adventures on the grid emerged on Sky's broadcast, fans wasted no time in flocking to social media to have their say on it all.
Some called it a complete "train wreck" or "car crash" while others praised the former driver.
Either way, this isn't the first time Brundle exchanges with celebrities on the grid have gone viral.
His infamous run-in with rapper Megan Thee Stallion and her bodyguards back in 2021 will live long in the memories of sports fans.
Topics: Australia, Formula 1, Patrick Mahomes, NFL
Max Sherry