Former Red Bull mechanic, Callum Nicholas, has lashed out at Martin Brundle over "absurd" comments about the British former F1 driver regarding Fernando Alonso.
A tow, particularly around a track like Jeddah, is always welcome given the very long straight that feeds into Turn 1. It is therefore not unusual for drivers to slipstream off each other at the start of a push lap, be it in free practice or in qualifying.
Aston Martin driver and 2-time world champion Fernando Alonso did precisely that on Saturday evening as he attempted to make his way into Q2.
The Spaniard took Alpine's Jack Doohan's slipstream out of the final corner and into the start finish straight, something former F1 driver turned analyst seemed to be irked by during the Sky Sports F1 broadcast of the session.
"That was really canny from Fernando Alonso there, to help give him a bit more speed down the straight," said the British commentator, David Croft, of Alonso's maneuver, to which Brundle replied. "I think if I was a Jack there I'd have brake tested him."
"He (Doohan, ed.) could have done without Fernando loitering on the turn in to the straight."
Former Red Bull mechanic certainly expected better from Brundle, as he criticised the British commentator in a post on X.
I actually watched this and thought “what an absurd thing for an ex driver to say” :exploding_head:
— Calum Nicholas (@F1mech) April 20, 2025