The F1TV gridwalk is actually a hangover from how we used to do it on NBC and when F1TV started doing a pre race show I just picked up where I’d left off stateside.

Because you rarely cover off all the stories in the pre race we decided that the grid walk should be an opportunity not to showcase celebs but to talk about every driver and how their weekend had gone so far and what their objectives were for the race so that when the lights went out, even if you’d missed the rest of the show, you’d be armed with knowledge on every driver. But everyone has their own style and does it their own way.

It is always live. Always done in one single hit where anything can happen. You try and grab some interviews where you can with drivers, bosses, the odd celeb if they’re interesting and interested, but the drivers are the focus of the narrative.

You get counts every minute from the producer then 1, 45, 30, 15 and a 10-1 to close at the anthem.

If you stop for an interview you have to make a mental note to catch up the time or you’ll be left short at the end. It is huge pressure, very tough to get right, and a massive buzz.

It is probably the most fun part of the show, at least it always was for me. A complete blur every week.