Jimmy Fallon Responds To Backlash Over His Formula 1 Interview

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - MAY 08: Belgian-Dutch driver Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing competes during the Formula One Grand Prix of Miami at the Miami International Autodrome on May 08, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eva Marie Uzcategui Trinkl/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Jimmy Fallon Responds To Backlash Over His Formula 1 Interview

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated May 5, 2026 11:13 AM ET

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Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon was one of many celebrities who spent time on the grid in the leadup to Sunday's Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix and had perhaps the most bizarre moment on it.

Formula One reporter Martin Brundle tried to get an impromptu interview with Fallon. The comedian decided to have some fun by chewing on the Sky Sports microphone sock, prompting Brundle to warn Fallon not to touch it again.

Brundle was mildly amused by Fallon's actions, but Fallon decided to have more fun with it later.

On Monday's edition of his show, Fallon called it "so exciting" to be at the race and joked that Brundle's microphone was "delicious."

"It was so exciting," Fallon said in his monologue. "They have a thing called 'the grid' or something, where they had you go out onto the track right before the race, and you do like 20 interviews with reporters all over the world. Just coming up to you, 'what do you think of the race?'

"Martin Brundle, by the way... your microphone tastes delicious!"

Jimmy got to take an @F1 hot lap in Miami over the weekend with @FordRacing! #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/GO1oKyQqNz
— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) May 5, 2026

Backlash from the F1 Fans

Fallon might have found it funny, but Formula 1 fans were pretty annoyed that he would disrespect their favorite sport with some of his antics.

"Complete knob. All this nonsense isn’t F1 and shouldn’t be anywhere near F1. It’s about motor racing, not celebrities. Making a complete mockery of the sport, but all his viewers will defend him and think he’s so cool," one fan wrote on X.

"Fallon was absolutely cringe on the grid walk with Martine Brundle. Trying way to hard to be funny," wrote another.

"Gosh.... what makes him think he's bigger than F1?" a third remarked.

"You bit a mic, you [expletive] moron... you're a national embarrassment..."

"What an embarrassment!"

The race saw yet another day of dominance from Mercedes as Kimi Antonelli notched his third straight win in the Formula One World Championship. Alongside his teammate George Russell, the Mercedes drivers have now reached the top of the podium in each of the first four races to start this season.

The duo's 180 combined points a full 70 more than Ferrari and nearly double that of third-place McLaren. No other team has more than 30 points right now.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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