Martin Brundle has revealed that Michael Schumacher gave him the cold shoulder for half a decade following a misunderstanding. The 65-year-old former driver turned commentator, who moved to broadcasting with ITV in 1997, became an integral part of Sky Sports’ F1 coverage, renowned for his captivating walks around the grid.

However, before taking the mic, Brundle had his own stint in F1 from 1984 to 1996, during which time he teamed up with Schumacher at Benetton for the 1992 season.

Brundle has now spoken about his past relationship with Schumacher, including a notable rift that occurred between the two ex-teammates.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ F1 podcast, Brundle recounted the particular circumstances which led to their split: “Weirdly, we fell out because something I said was translated, taken out of context, translated in German and put in a headline in a newspaper, and Michael was very upset, I have no idea what it was to this day.

“We didn’t speak to each other, he didn’t speak to me for five years, it was really strange. Then we got drunk together in a nightclub in Valencia while he was on sabbatical between Mercedes And Ferrariand everything was fine after that!

“He was kind of hanging on my shoulders saying ‘My teammate, my teammate’ and it kind of broke the ice again. I really don’t know what the problem was, but it was a shame.”

As the trend of drivers moving into media roles in the latter stages of their careers continues, the likelihood of having to analyze former comrades-in-arms increases. Nonetheless, Brundle encourages other drivers who make the crossover, reports the mirror.

“I find it interesting to see Nico (Rosberg), DC (David Coulthard) and Mark Webber coming out of the paddock,” noted Brundle. “They usually come from the other side of the track – the TV speakers are a bit grimy, empty coffee cups everywhere – and I think how are they going to deal with that?

“Damon (Hill) is another one, but they all do really well because they’re just real people at the end of the day. They can be mega stars when they’re in a race car, but they are just real people.

“They come and engage, and they get stuck in. That impresses me. I don’t think it matters whether you’re on TV or still driving or whatever.”