Brundle Slams 'Pathetic and Dangerous' BA and Heathrow After Nine-Hour Spanish GP Travel Nightmare

Martin Brundle has hit out at British Airways and Heathrow after a nightmare journey to Madrid for this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, describing a nine-hour delay on the tarmac as a 'pathetic and dangerous lack of corporate contingency and responsibility.'

Why it matters:

The Spanish GP marks a historic moment for F1 as the new Madring street circuit hosts its first race, the first new venue added to the calendar since Las Vegas in 2023. It is also F1's return to the Spanish capital for the first time since Jarama in 1981, and the second Spanish round of the 2026 season after the renamed Barcelona-Catalunya GP in June. For Brundle, a key part of Sky F1's coverage, getting to Madrid is essential — but his travel ordeal has become a story of its own.

The details:

• Brundle posted on social media that his flight had been stuck at a remote parking bay for nine hours without moving, with no food, blocked toilets, and no steps or buses in sight.
• He wrote: 'Great work BA and Heathrow. Nine hours and counting sitting on a plane which has travelled nowhere... Pathetic and dangerous lack of corporate contingency and responsibility.'
• He also highlighted a mother and baby and a person with a medical condition desperate to get off the aircraft.
• The post has drawn over one million views, with fans sympathizing. One wrote: 'That's not a travel day, that's being held captive.' Another joked he could do a practice grid walk up and down the aisle.
• Brundle, 67, was awarded an OBE last year for services to motor racing and broadcasting. He is scheduled to attend 15 races in F1 2026 as part of Sky F1's rotation policy, down from the usual 16 after the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs were cancelled.

What's next:

Brundle is expected to be on site at Madring for the Spanish GP weekend, assuming his travel eventually gets sorted. The incident is a reminder of the logistical pressures facing F1 personnel as the calendar expands to new venues — and of how much can go wrong before the racing even begins.