Bukayo Saka has come under fire on social media after he declined a grid walk interview during the Spanish Grand Prix.
Thomas Tuchel‘s England squad enjoyed a day of motorsport on Sunday ahead of their World Cup qualifying clash with Andorra on Saturday.
However, while captain Harry Kane showed off his passion for Formula One, waxing lyrical about Lando Norris‘ chances to secure victory in the blazing Spanish sun, Saka proved to be decidedly less chatty.
Approached by veteran Sky Sports presenter Simon Lazenby the Arsenal star was asked who he was supporting.
However, Saka was uncharacteristically taciturn in his response, saying simply: ‘Not much to say.’
Lazenby repeated the comment back to the forward, but this time he offered no response, instead just shaking his head as the reporter moved on.
Bukayo Saka has generated controversy online following an awkward grid walk interview
The Arsenal star was joined by his England team-mates at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday
Thomas Tuchel also joined VIPs in attendance ahead of England’s clash with Andorra on Saturday
The awkward interaction quickly proved to be a significant talking point on social media, with some fans accusing him of being aloof.
One wrote: ‘If saka was a f1 fan he would know that people on the grid get interviewed and if you snub you look an arrogant celeb who shouldn’t be there.’
Another agreed: ‘Harry Kane, nice and polite and great chat with sky on the grid walk for the GP. Then they go to Saka and he doesn’t want to talk, just says ‘got nothing to say’. Attitude or what.’
A third fan added: ‘Dan Burn and Harry Kane both good sports being interviewed on the grid walk. Saka waved them off and Nico Rosberg said he wasn’t very friendly.’
Others defended Saka, insisting that he has every right to turn down an interview, particularly if he isn’t informed about the sport.
‘Don’t think there’s anything wrong with this. What happens is there’s players who are genuine F1 fans, like Harry Kane and Trent.
‘When Sky interview them at races they talk a lot, enjoy the sport. Then guys like Saka are using F1 for a holiday, like 90% of celebs at NBA games.’ An X user insisted.
Saka isn’t the first celebrity to draw the ire of F1 fans after refusing to conduct an interview on the grid.
The incident provoked a range of responses on social media from fans watching the event
Awkward grid interviews have long been a feature of F1, with an infamous encounter between Martin Brundle and Cara Delevingne going viral online
Several clips of Martin Brundle failing to engage A-list celebs have gained traction on social media, including an infamous encounter with actress and model Cara Delevingne in 2023.
In 2021 reports claimed that bodyguards had been banned from the grid, with officials confident that the environment is safe enough for them not to be required.
‘There have been new rules introduced, that any celebrities on the grid must not have bodyguards any longer,’ Brundle told The Sun at the time.
‘It must be the ‘Brundle clause’, and they’re obliged to talk to me. I sort of like it if they ignore me, to be honest.
‘I like to call out some of the celebs that I think are just using the grid a little bit if I’m honest. They don’t really have a passion.
‘I know there are millions of fans at home going “I should be on that grid. I’m a massive Formula 1 fan, not them.”‘