Martin Brundle forced to cut F1 grid interview short after guest breaks Sky Sports rule

Another Grand Prix, another awkward moment for Martin Brundle.

There was plenty of action going on in Saudi Arabia over the weekend, with Red Bull racer Max Verstappen getting slapped with a five-second penalty and McLaren ace Oscar Piastri securing a win.

But before all that stuff, Formula 1 commentator Brundle had an interesting encounter during his routine grid walk on Sunday (20 April).

The former racing driver and legendary broadcaster, 65, bumped into ex-NFL star Russell Okung, who seemed keen for a bit of airtime.

The 36-year-old, from Texas, was seen sporting a t-shirt with a very recognisable logo on it.

After spotting Brundle, he shouted out 'my man' to get his attention before the pair began chatting away, with the Sky News correspondent saying: "Russell! How are you?"

The former Seattle Seahawks star responded: "I'm very well! Hey...I've got something better for Lando Norris to play for."

Clearly keen to find out what Okung was offering up, Brundle humoured him and asked what he was referring to.

The US athlete then said: "If he wins... full Bitcoin ready for him! Full Bitcoin."

Brundle appeared to be caught completely of guard by him throwing cryptocurrency into the conversation - and he then quickly terminated the chat.

But it's not because the racing commentator isn't a fan of Bitcoin, but rather due to the fact that Sky have a strict guidelines surrounding advertising.

Brundle awkwardly told Okung: "Ah... well we can't... we don't do advertising."

He then wrapped up the conversation by adding: "Alright, Russell, good to see you."

Okung was seen laughing about the exchange as he strolled away from Brundle, who then informed viewers they had seen one another in the paddock an hour earlier.

The former NFL player is a big fan of Bitcoin and has never been shy about it, seeing him launch a Bitcoin brand and a sports league, Bitball, due to his adoration of the cryptocurrency.

Back in 2020, Okung even asked for half of his $13 million salary from the Carolina Panthers to be converted into Bitcoin.

At the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix yesterday, ex NFL star Russell Okung tries to get the word out about Bitcoin with reporter and ex driver Martin Brundle! Okung... What a legend! 👏 #f1 #bitcoin @RussellOkung #nfl #btc pic.twitter.com/GC3k26837O

— The Bitcoin Mindset Newsletter (@_BitcoinMindset) April 21, 2025

Speaking of why he made the decision, he told CNBC at the time: "Money is more than currency; it’s power. The way money is handled from creation to dissemination is part of that power.

"Getting paid in Bitcoin is the first step of opting out of the corrupt, manipulated economy we all inhabit."

And it seems the bold move paid off, as reports last year suggested that the value of his $6.5 million Bitcoin had shot up to the equivalent of around $20 million.