Coulthard defends Kardashian after Brundle Monaco grid walk snub sparks online backlash

David Coulthard has pushed back against the online criticism directed at Kim Kardashian following her appearance at the Monaco Grand Prix, saying the reality television star was perfectly polite to him on the grid and that the backlash was unwarranted.

Kardashian became one of the most talked-about figures of the Monaco weekend after declining an interview with veteran broadcaster Martin Brundle during his grid walk, and was subsequently filmed picking up race winner Kimi Antonelli’s towel after the chequered flag — an act that drew further ridicule online.

Speaking on the Up To Speed podcast, the 13-time grand prix winner said Kardashian had no issue speaking with him when he approached her for his own broadcasting duties. “She spoke to me,” Coulthard said. “So it feels a little bit like it’s a set-up because Martin is as famous for people not talking to him as he is for people talking to him. So it actually helps perpetuate that.”

On the towel incident, Coulthard was more measured than most of Kardashian’s critics. “Taking a towel — that’s maybe a bit not correct — but does she actually understand that that’s for the driver? She might have just thought it was a Monaco freebie.”

Coulthard revealed his own exchange with Kardashian was brief but cordial. “I said, ‘Having a nice time in Monaco?’ to which she said, ‘yes.’ I wasn’t going to ask, ‘Who are you supporting?’ because that would be quite clear. It would be funny if she said Kimi.”

The Scot argued that the sport’s growing appeal among American celebrities should be handled carefully, warning against putting high-profile guests on the spot. “I think the worst thing you can do is put them on the spot,” he said. “Obviously, it would be easy for her to say she was supporting Lewis, but why would we assume just because we’re embedded in Formula 1 that this is anything other than just a new interest?”

The Monaco Grand Prix itself was won by Kimi Antonelli, whose victory added an extra layer of irony to the towel controversy that had already made Kardashian’s attendance the unlikely talking point of the race weekend.