F1: Beyond The Grid

Fernando Alonso is 'here to stay' in Formula 1 with Aston Martin. What made the double World Champion decide to continue racing with his current team?

In a special episode of the F1 Nation podcast, Aston Martin Ambassador Pedro de la Rosa and 1996 World Champion Damon Hill join Tom Clarkson to analyse Alonso's announcement, what it means for him, the team and the rest of the drivers searching for a 2025 race seat.

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Seven-time Grand Prix winner Juan Pablo Montoya joins Tom Clarkson for the first episode of F1 Beyond The Grid’s LEGENDS episodes.

Going into the final two races of 2003, Montoya was only three points behind World Championship leader Michael Schumacher in a three-way fight for the title, with Kimi Raikkonen just behind them.

But by the season finale, the Colombian was out of contention – so where did it all go wrong? Juan Pablo reflects on the highs of his wins at Monaco and Hockenheim that year, the lows of his championship-ending collision with Rubens Barrichello, and whether there was anything he could have done differently to become World Champion.

Montoya also discusses whether he treated Michael differently to other drivers on track and addresses their famous incident at Imola in 2004. He explains how he got the better of teammate Ralf Schumacher, why he couldn’t be friends with his rivals, and much more.

Plus, Juan’s son Sebastian drops by to talk about his Formula 3 ambitions this year, what it’s like having an ex-F1 driver as his dad, and the best piece of advice JPM has given him.

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The journey that has taken Ayao Komatsu from a teenager in Tokyo, dreaming of working in Formula 1, to the new Haas Team Principal is a gripping tale.

Featuring fascinating anecdotes of his father’s experiences as a political prisoner, the challenges Ayao faced when he left Japan for England, and how he engineered his way through university to a career in F1, this is a compelling conversation between Komatsu and Tom Clarkson.

Ayao talks about his relationship with his family, the influence Japanese F1 hero Takuma Sato has had on his career, why he once wanted to be a journalist, how he’s transforming Haas, and much more.

Related Episodes
Nico Hulkenberg 
Kevin Magnussen 
Takuma Sato

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He’s a World Championship-winning engineer with nearly 50 years in Formula 1, but Pat Symonds’ focus is new innovation and F1’s next generation.  

Pat scored title wins with Michael Schumacher in the 90s and Fernando Alonso in the 2000s. In the 80s, he helped a rookie Ayrton Senna get up to speed and take a stunning Monaco podium. Today, as Formula 1’s Chief Technical Officer, his task is producing spectacular racing - now and for years to come.

Pat tells Tom Clarkson about his past successes, his memories of working with great drivers and his future projects, including the sustainable fuel which will power a new breed of F1 car from 2026.

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A Formula 1 winner in his first season, Oscar Piastri has his sights set on more success. At McLaren, alongside Lando Norris, guided by Team Principal Andrea Stella and manager Mark Webber, he’s right where he needs to be.

Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Oscar reflects on his rookie year in F1, his Sprint victory ahead of Max Verstappen, on-track clashes and off-track discussions with Lewis Hamilton, and why at his home race in Melbourne he’ll be fuelled by his Grandma’s baking as well as the Australian crowd.

You can now watch full episodes of F1 Beyond The Grid on the F1 YouTube channel.
 
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For more Oscar, listen to the next episode of F1 Explains – the podcast which answers your questions about Formula 1. Oscar explains how his time in Formula 3 and Formula 2 prepared him for the pinnacle of motorsport.

Listen to F1 Nation's preview of Oscar's home race 

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What does 2025 hold for Alex Albon? How has golf changed his approach to Formula 1? Would he like more competition from his teammate?

The Williams driver answers all those questions and more in his first proper catch-up with Tom Clarkson on F1 Beyond The Grid since 2022.

Albon explains the mindset of being a number two driver at Red Bull Racing compared to being team leader at Williams, how his fitness varies so much throughout the season, and why self-care is the most important part of his preparation.

Plus, Alex explains why he has 13 cats and who the most competitive Padel player in the paddock is.

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Brand new name. Brand new leader. Brand new ambition?

As RB enter the next era of their Formula 1 venture, is their purpose still to develop young drivers for Red Bull Racing?

Outlining his vision to Tom Clarkson, new Team Principal Laurent Mekies talks about making RB more competitive in all areas, transforming the team’s culture and mentality, and how the combination of Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda will drive them further up the grid.

Mekies also discusses how much the team has changed since he was an engineer in the Toro Rosso days, how he helped persuade drivers to introduce the life-saving halo during his time with the FIA, and what working for Ferrari meant to him.

Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this podcast using #F1BeyondTheGrid.

Related Episodes
Daniel Ricciardo 
Yuki Tsunoda 
Liam Lawson 
Franz Tost, RB’s previous Team Principal

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F1 Explains - your questions answered by the experts

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Sergio Perez secured a career-best P2 in the Drivers’ World Championship in 2023. But in one of the most dominant Formula 1 cars in history, Checo spent much of the year stuck in the shadow of his unstoppable teammate Max Verstappen.

Despite one of Sergio’s most mentally challenging seasons, in which he faced serious questions about his future at Red Bull Racing, the Mexican is in fighting spirits for 2024.

Chatting to Tom Clarkson during pre-season testing, Perez talks about where it all went wrong last year, why it’s so difficult to beat Max, how he switched off during the off-season, what he’s changing in his approach for the new campaign, and much more.

Plus, hear how Checo Jr could be following in Sergio’s footsteps - and which F1 driver he’d want to be stuck in a lift with!

Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid.

Check out F1 Nation’s 2024 season preview with Tom Clarkson, Damon Hill, Natalie Pinkham and Pedro de la Rosa.

Related Episodes

Adrian Newey, Red Bull Racing’s legendary designer

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F1 Nation - race previews and reviews from the F1 Paddock
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F1 is full of extraordinary humans, but who is Tom Clarkson's first guest in 2024? Find out here, then join F1 Beyond The Grid for in-depth conversations with the sport's fastest stars every Wednesday.

Discover new official F1 podcasts in 2024:
F1 Nation - 2024 Season Preview out now
F1 Explains - your questions about F1, answered by the experts

Mercedes Technical Director, James Allison, is Tom Clarkson’s pick for the penultimate day of our countdown to the new series of F1 Beyond The Grid.

James tells the very funny and emotional story of how his rather awkward first interaction with Lewis Hamilton formed the foundations of a strong and successful relationship between them.

For James’ full conversation with Tom from 2019, listen here.

On 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Day 28, Zhou Guanyu tells Tom Clarkson why Fernando Alonso is his idol, what it means to be the first Formula 1 driver from China, and how excited he’ll be to race in front of his home fans at the Chinese Grand Prix.

For Zhou’s full conversation with Tom from 2022, listen here.

Martin Brundle is best known today for his infamous pre-race gridwalks and his expert analysis on television.

But did you know he had a very impressive and dramatic racing career before moving into the commentary box?

On Day 27 of our countdown to the new season, Martin tells Tom Clarkson about beating the likes of Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and Mika Häkkinen, before they all went on to become multiple Formula 1 World Champions. 

For Martin’s full interview with Tom in 2018, listen here.

Six-time Grand Prix winner Ralf Schumacher joins Tom Clarkson on 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Day 26. 

Ralf explains why he never became friendly with teammates and also tells Tom whether he would have made it to Formula 1 without his seven-time World Champion brother, Michael Schumacher.

For Ralf’s full interview with Tom in 2019, listen here.

On 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Day 25, Alex Albon talks about the impact of being dropped by Red Bull at the end of 2020 and how he fought his way back into Formula 1 with Williams.

Listen to Alex’s full chat with Tom Clarkson in 2022 here.

In 2019, Tom Clarkson sat down with Ross Brawn to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Brawn GP becoming the first team to win both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships in their debut year.

On Day 24 of our countdown to the new season, listen to their conversation in full - as Ross shares fascinating insight into how the team emerged from Honda’s ashes and went on to dominate the 2009 season.

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On Day 23 of our pre-season countdown, World Champion designer Neil Oatley shares what it was like to have a front row seat for the fierce rivalry between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost at McLaren in the late 1980’s.

For Neil’s full chat with Tom in 2023, listen here.

Damon Hill is Tom Clarkson’s guest for 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Day 22.

The 1996 World Champion explains why his fellow title-winning teammates - Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, and Ayrton Senna - were in a class of their own.

And Damon also shares his perspective on losing the 1994 championship to Michael Schumacher in controversial circumstances.

Listen to Damon’s full interview with Tom from 2019 here. 

He's a three-time podium finisher and a regular points-scorer, with a fantastic pole position to his name, but Lance Stroll's place in Formula 1 is sometimes still questioned.

His father, Lawrence, owns the Aston Martin team he drives for - the latest stage in what he calls a 'father-son journey' to the top of motorsport. 

On 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Day 21, Lance tells Tom Clarkson why he deserves to be in F1, the sacrifices he’s made and what his relationship with Lawrence is like.

For Lance’s full conversation with Tom in 2020, listen here.

On Day 20 of our countdown to the new season, former Toro Rosso driver Scott Speed tells Tom Clarkson how his ego and a fiery clash with team boss Franz Tost cut his Formula 1 career short.

For Scott’s full conversation with Tom last year, listen here.

Juan Pablo Montoya is Tom Clarkson’s pick for 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Day 19. 

Speaking in 2018, Montoya tells Tom why he left Formula 1 halfway through the 2006 season and how he reflects on his five and a half years in the sport. 

For the full interview with Juan Pablo, listen here. 

On Day 18 of our pre-season countdown, an emotional Paul Stoddart tells the story of what he calls ‘the most famous two points in Formula 1 history’ - as his Minardi team secured a shock result at the Australian Grand Prix in 2002.

For Paul’s full conversation with Tom Clarkson in 2023, listen here.

Tom Clarkson has chosen his full chat with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri from last season for Day 17 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid. 

Oscar talks to Tom about leaving home at a young age, how his career in motorsport began with remote control racing, looking up to fellow Australians Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo, and much more.

On Day 16 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Carlos Sainz Jr tells Tom Clarkson about his incredible connection with two-time World Rally Champion father, Carlos Sainz Sr.

For Sainz Jr's first BTG interview with Tom in full, tap here

Aston Martin reveal their challenger for the 2024 season today.

So, on Day 15 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, their Team Principal, Mike Krack, tells Tom Clarkson what it’s like to be in charge of a Constructor and how he works with team owner Lawrence Stroll.

Listen to Mike’s full conversation with Tom in 2022 here. 

Formula 1 will break new ground this year, with 24 races on the calendar. That’s more than any other season in the sport’s history.

On Day 14 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali, tells Tom Clarkson why 24 Grands Prix makes sense.

To learn more about F1’s future, listen to Stefano’s full conversation with Tom here. 

On Day 13 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, F1 talent guru Gwen Lagrue, the man in charge of Mercedes’ junior driver programme, reveals what he looks for in potential F1 drivers and future World Champions.

Listen to Gwen’s full conversation with Tom Clarkson from 2023 here. 

Franz Tost retired from Formula 1 at the end of 2023, after 18 years as Team Principal of Toro Rosso and AlphaTauri.

On Day 12 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Franz tells Tom Clarkson why he ignored naysayers and made a 17-year-old Max Verstappen the youngest debutant in F1 history.

To hear Franz reflect on his remarkable career in full, tap here. 

On Day 11 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Tom Clarkson asks nine-time Grand Prix winner, Mark Webber, whether he was too intense during his career and how he’s changed since leaving F1.

Listen to Mark’s full chat with Tom from 2018 here

Tom Clarkson has chosen his full chat with Susie Wolff in 2022 for Day 10 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid.

Susie talks about her thrilling racing career, the experience of driving an F1 car for Williams, competing with and against her husband Toto, and her ambitions to create more opportunities for women in motorsport.

Susie is now Managing Director of F1 Academy. The 2024 championship starts in Jeddah this March. Follow @f1academy on social media to find out more.

Heikki Kovalainen was Lewis Hamilton’s teammate at McLaren when he became World Champion for the first time in 2008.

On Day 9 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Heikki tells Tom Clarkson how Lewis tried to spice up their rivalry and what it was like to win the 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, his first and only win in Formula 1.

For Heikki’s full conversation with Tom, listen here.

Romain Grosjean escaped from a fiery crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2020.

It proved to be his last action in Formula 1 but, on Day 8 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Romain tells Tom Clarkson why he wasn’t going to let that be the end of his career in motorsport.

To hear Romain’s chat with Tom from 2021 in full, tap here. 

20 years on from his first and only victory in Formula 1, Jarno Trulli shares his memories of winning the 2004 Monaco Grand Prix with Tom Clarkson, on Day 7 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid.

F1 Beyond The Grid returns with another stellar guest from the world of Formula 1 on Wednesday 28th February. Every day until then, you can hear the best bits from the last five years, so make sure you follow the podcast to join our countdown.

To hear Jarno’s full conversation with Tom from 2021, tap here. 

Aston Martin’s former Head of Race Strategy, Bernie Collins, is the featured guest on Day 6 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid.

Bernie tells Tom Clarkson how and why the strategy she chose guided Sergio Perez to his first Formula 1 win at a very entertaining Sakhir Grand Prix in 2020.

Follow F1 Beyond The Grid to join our countdown to the new series, starting on Wednesday 28th February.

To hear Bernie’s chat with Tom from the last series in full, tap here. 

A special episode of the F1 Nation podcast on the biggest driver move in F1 history. Lewis Hamilton will wear Ferrari red from 2025. How did it happen, and what does Lewis' move mean for Mercedes, Ferrari and the driver market?

Tom Clarkson gets the inside story of Ferrari's long pursuit of Hamilton from F1 Correspondent and Presenter Lawrence Barretto, who explains why the Scuderia succeeded this time. Journalist Roberto Chinchero gives us reaction from Italy. Former Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley explains what awaits the 7-time World Champion when he arrives in Maranello.

F1 Nation is the official F1 podcast which takes you inside the Paddock. Race previews and reviews featuring interviews with drivers, Team Principals and F1 experts from around the world. Search your podcast app for F1 Nation for new episodes on Mondays.

Head to F1.com for more features and analysis of Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari

30 Days of Beyond The Grid continues with a Brazilian Formula 1 legend in the shape of Rubens Barrichello.

In this clip, Rubens tells Tom why he followed Ferrari team orders to let Michael Schumacher take victory from him at the Austrian Grand Prix in 2002.

Follow F1 Beyond The Grid and check in again on Day 5 to hear from another special guest in our countdown to the new series, which starts Wednesday 28th February.

For Rubens’ full conversation with Tom back in 2019, listen here. 

30 Days of Beyond The Grid continues with a Brazilian Formula 1 legend in the shape of Rubens Barrichello.

In this clip, Rubens tells Tom why he followed Ferrari team orders to let Michael Schumacher take victory from him at the Austrian Grand Prix in 2002.

Follow F1 Beyond The Grid and check in again on Day 5 to hear from another special guest in our countdown to the new series, which starts Wednesday 28th February.

For Rubens’ full conversation with Tom back in 2019, listen here. 

On Day 3 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, listen to Tom Clarkson’s full conversation with four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel from 2022, when the German said goodbye to Formula 1.

Hear Vettel reflect candidly on his glory years with Red Bull, the impact his wife Hanna had on his F1 career, why he didn’t win a title with Ferrari, his relationships with Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher, and much more.

Follow F1 Beyond The Grid to continue our countdown to the first episode of the new season on Wednesday 28th February.

Tom Clarkson is counting down to the new season of F1 Beyond The Grid by bringing you the best bits from our extensive archive of interviews with Formula 1 icons.

On Day 2 of 30 Days of BTG, Williams driver Logan Sargeant looks back at his nomadic karting career and explains why the biggest hurdle to success is himself, not his fellow competitors.

Follow the podcast to join Tom’s countdown to the new series, which starts Wednesday 28th February.

To hear the full interview with Logan Sargeant from 2023, tap here. 

The 2024 Formula 1 season will soon be upon us, which means we’re bringing you a brand new series of F1 Beyond The Grid. Season 7 starts Wednesday 28th February so get ready for more in-depth conversations with Formula 1’s biggest stars.

In the build-up, Tom Clarkson takes you on a tour of the best bits of his huge BTG archive in 30 Days of Beyond The Grid.

On Day 1, we’re taking you back to Christian Horner’s first interview on the podcast in 2018, when he told Tom how buying a trailer from Helmut Marko in the mid-nineties led to him becoming Team Principal of Red Bull Racing in 2005.

Follow F1 Beyond The Grid and check back tomorrow for Day 2.

Click here to hear Christian’s first BTG interview in full. 

And for the highlights of our 2023 series, including Charles Leclerc, Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris, listen here. 

Red Bull’s revolutionary race car, McLaren’s miraculous transformation and Aston Martin’s sensational rise.

On F1 Beyond The Grid in 2023, the stars behind the biggest stories of the season have sat down with Tom Clarkson to reveal the secrets behind their success and share fascinating insight into what life is like as a Formula 1 driver, Team Principal, engineer, designer, and more. In this end-of year special, Tom picks his favourite moments from a long list of stellar guests.

Oscar Piastri underlined his credentials as a future Grand Prix winner with arguably the most impressive rookie season since Lewis Hamilton in 2007, but did you know the Australian’s route to F1 began in the same way as Lewis? Hear how Adrian Newey, the genius behind Red Bull’s record-breaking RB19, began designing at the age of 11. And listen to Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur explain how he handles the pressure of making the most successful Constructor in the sport’s history champions again.

Also featured are some F1 heroes from the past – including multiple World Champions Alain Prost and Sir Jackie Stewart. The clips in this episode come from the full episodes listed below.

Thank you for listening in 2023. F1 Beyond The Grid will return in 2024.

Adrian Newey, legendary F1 designer 
Andrea Stella, transforming McLaren 
Lando Norris, driving McLaren’s revival 
Oscar Piastri, remote control racing to F1 rookie
Daniel Ricciardo, dreaming of a ‘perfect’ Red Bull return 
Liam Lawson, thrilled but ‘unfulfilled’ by F1 debut
Pierre Gasly, wanting to win again in 2024
Sir Jackie Stewart, 50 years a triple World Champion 
Alain Prost, 30 years since the ‘most difficult’ season 
Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Germany’s F1 cult hero
Sam Michael, engineering his rise to the top of F1
James Vowles, aiming to win with Williams 
Fred Vasseur, pursuing the ‘pinnacle’ with Ferrari 
Charles Leclerc, 2nd isn’t enough 
Giancarlo Fisichella, history with Ferrari, Force India and Fernando Alonso
Dan Fallows, directing Aston’s rise 
George Russell, happier, hungrier + ‘holding his own’ with Hamilton 

The 2022 Formula 1 season pushed Daniel Ricciardo to the limit. Under immense pressure at McLaren, he failed to reach the performance levels that had made him an eight-time Grand Prix winner. Left without a seat on the grid for 2023, the Australian’s future in the sport was questioned.

Ricciardo took some much-needed time away to enjoy life as a normal person, but he’s far more suited to life in the fast lane. Now he’s back to revive his F1 career at AlphaTauri and prove he can still compete with the very best.

Daniel tells Tom Clarkson what he got up to during his sabbatical and why a trip to the Super Bowl ignited a desire to get back in the cockpit. The Honey Badger talks about a change in mentality, the crash that broke his hand at Zandvoort, his Formula 1 endgame, and much more.

Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid.

Related episodes:

Franz Tost, Daniel’s Team Principal at AlphaTauri in 2023

Liam Lawson 

Yuki Tsunoda 


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It’s been a crazy year for this week’s F1 Beyond The Grid guest, so what does his future hold now?

Hear a preview of their chat with Tom Clarkson here and listen to the conversation in full on Wednesday 6th December.

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She didn’t set out to be a Grand Prix-winning Formula 1 strategist, but Bernie Collins raced to the very top. She pulled the strategy strings at Force India, Racing Point and Aston Martin, masterminded an emotional race win with Sergio Perez, and guided Sebastian Vettel to his final F1 podium. 

Bernie tells Tom Clarkson how she and her fellow strategists prepared for races, reacted to the on-track action, and balanced risk and reward to get the best result possible. Bernie remembers her deep-end debut as a race strategist, how competing at the front of the field brings extra pressure, why working at one of F1’s smaller teams ‘made her career’ and what she learned working with Perez, Vettel and Jenson Button. Bernie also explains how an interest in maths and physics led her to study mechanical engineering at university, then to move into motorsport and, ultimately, reach Formula 1

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He’s the second longest-serving Team Principal in the 2023 Formula 1 paddock, but after 18 years in charge of AlphaTauri and Toro Rosso, Franz Tost is hanging up his pitwall headphones.

Ahead of his final race in Abu Dhabi, Tost sits down with Tom Clarkson to talk about the highs and lows of leading the team from its inception.

Hear about Franz’s sometimes challenging relationship with senior team Red Bull Racing, his team's sensational Grand Prix wins at Monza in 2008 and 2020, and how he helped launch the careers of multiple World Champions, Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.

Franz gives his views on what's next for current AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda and 2023's stand-in star, Liam Lawson. Plus, the Austrian tells Tom which of the 17 drivers he’s worked with have impressed him the most and his five stages of development for rookies.

Sebastian Vettel 
Pierre Gasly 
Yuki Tsunoda 
Liam Lawson 
Daniel Ricciardo 
Carlos Sainz 
Adrian Newey 
Mario Theissen

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In 1978, racing against some of the best drivers in Formula 1 history, Mario Andretti became World Champion. His victory was a long-held dream, but it was darkened by the death of his teammate. Looking back 45 years, Mario remembers a season of intense emotions.

He tells Tom Clarkson about his preparations for racing in Europe, his relationship with his visionary team boss, Colin Chapman, and how he made changes to the set-up of his Lotus to gain a crucial advantage over his rivals. Mario shares his memories of battling brake problems to win the championship at Monza, then learning that his teammate and close friend Ronnie Peterson had lost his life after a crash. Plus, Mario picks out the current F1 drivers who impress him most and remembers F1’s previous races in Las Vegas in the early 1980s.

Few drivers on the current F1 grid have experienced highs and lows like Pierre Gasly. The Frenchman returns to F1 Beyond The Grid for the first time since 2018, and there's plenty for him and Tom Clarkson to catch up on.  

Pierre reflects on losing his seat at Red Bull, the passing of his close friend Anthoine Hubert, and the day he became a Grand Prix winner. 

Now embracing a new challenge with Alpine, Pierre also discusses the ups and downs of his first season, his relationship with teammate Esteban Ocon, and his targets for 2024.

Plus, hear what it was like to have dinner with all the drivers for Sebastian Vettel’s retirement in Abu Dhabi, and much more.

Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid.

Related Episodes

Esteban Ocon 
Yuki Tsunoda 
Charles Leclerc

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So much has happened since this week's F1 Beyond The Grid guest last sat down with Tom Clarkson for an in-depth interview. Get a preview of the episode here and listen to the full-length conversation on Wednesday 8th November.

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For race previews and reviews listen to F1 Nation. To hear F1 experts answer your questions about the sport, check out F1 Explains.

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With no World Championship points from 28 Grand Prix starts, it’s fair to say Enrique Bernoldi’s Formula 1 career took a very different path to Fernando Alonso, Kimi Räikkönen and Juan Pablo Montoya – his fellow rookies in 2001.

But the Brazilian still grabbed plenty of headlines during his brief stint in the fast lane with Arrows. Hear why Enrique was at the centre of a decision that changed the course of Red Bull’s F1 existence, and the gripping tale of his heated encounter with Ron Dennis at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2001.

Plus, Bernoldi tells Tom Clarkson why he didn’t succeed in F1, what led to his fallout with teammate Jos Verstappen, and much more.

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Heinz-Harald Frentzen, one of Enrique’s teammates at Arrows 

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Liam Lawson passed his first Formula 1 exam with flying colours in 2023. His performances in Daniel Ricciardo’s absence vindicated Red Bull’s faith in the New Zealander and suggests we’ve not seen the last of him in an F1 car.

‘Frustrated’ at not having a seat on the grid for 2024, Lawson is clearly very determined to return to the pinnacle of motorsport as soon as possible.

He tells Tom Clarkson how he felt when receiving the call-up at Zandvoort, what he’s learned from the five Grands Prix he raced in, why he wants to inspire young racers in New Zealand, his hopes for 2024, and much more.

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Andrea Stella’s first season as McLaren Team Principal has been pretty phenomenal when you compare their start to the season to where they are now. 

After finishing outside of the points in five of the first eight races, both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are now fighting for podiums almost every week.

So how have they produced such an incredible turnaround in performance? Stella provides Tom Clarkson with a revealing insight into the culture he’s creating at McLaren, and how his experience of winning World Championships with Michael Schumacher at Ferrari can help him make the team a winning machine. 

Hear why he describes Schumacher as the ‘emotional engine’ during their time together, what made Ferrari so dominant back then, and why they weren’t able to repeat that success with Fernando Alonso later on.

Plus, Stella tells us Norris and Piastri’s greatest strengths, what fans can expect from the Papaya outfit in 2024, and much more.

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Red Bull were midfield minnows in the early years of their F1 mission to becoming the serial World Champions they are today. But during those humble beginnings, the team was renowned for nurturing young talent like Vitantonio Liuzzi.

The Italian drove for Red Bull and their sister outfit, Toro Rosso, among others in a Formula 1 career spanning 12 years. Liuzzi was unable to replicate the success he had at junior level, but looks back at his time in the sport with fond memories when speaking to Tom Clarkson.

He talks about Red Bull’s party reputation, politics within the team, his sour exit from Toro Rosso in 2007 and a number of missed opportunities to finish on the podium. Plus, hear Liuzzi relive his famous victory over Michael Schumacher in the Karting World Championship finals.

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David Coulthard, Vitantonio’s teammate at Red Bull 

Christian Klein, Red Bull’s first F1 prodigy

Scott Speed, Red Bull’s American prodigy 

Sebastian Vettel, Vitantonio’s teammate at Toro Rosso 

Adrian Newey, the genius behind Red Bull’s transformation into World Champions 

George Russell’s first two seasons at Mercedes have certainly had their ups and downs. He’s become a Grand Prix winner and enjoyed a few bottles of champagne on the podium in that time, but the team are far away from fighting for World Championships.

George says he can see a ‘light at the end of the tunnel,’ though. He’s proven his worth to the eight-time Constructor Champions and is fully confident he’ll be ready to capitalise when their car becomes competitive again.

Speaking to Tom Clarkson, George says he’s in a much happier place now, after embracing a new attitude towards Formula 1 over the summer break.

George also talks about taking up freediving in his spare time, how invested his family are in his F1 career, why teammate Lewis Hamilton has pushed him to new levels, and much more.

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Gwen Lagrue, the man who found George Russell, on finding F1’s future stars 
Toto Wolff 

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Off-track happiness often leads to on-track success, and Tom Clarkson's guest this week says they're enjoying life in F1 more than ever.  Check out a preview, then catch the full in-depth interview on Wednesday 4th October.

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Adrian Newey is one of the greatest Formula 1 designers of all time.

During his time at Williams, McLaren and Red Bull Racing, Newey’s cars have won 12 Constructors’ titles and seven different drivers have become World Champion in his masterpieces.

More than 40 years on from the start of his career, he’s created the championship-winning Red Bull that has completely obliterated its opposition and ripped up the history books in 2023.

Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Adrian explains why they’ve been so dominant this year and the thought-processes he goes through when designing an F1 car. He reflects on how and when his passion for designing began, where his competitiveness comes from, why he’s had so much success over a long period of time, and much more.

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An all-time F1 great is Tom Clarkson's next guest on F1 Beyond The Grid. Listen here for a preview. Hear the full conversation on Wednesday 27th September.

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From 1994 to 1998, Mick Doohan transcended motorbike racing as he won the 500cc World Championship five years in a row.

Like Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen in modern times, Mick was often invincible on the racetrack and dominated his class. 

The Australian also knows Formula 1 inside out. He’s spent more than 30 years in the paddock and, with his son Jack looking to climb from F2 to F1, he’s still ever-present today. 

Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Mick discusses how his winning mentality compares to some of F1’s greatest champions. He talks about his very close friendship with Michael Schumacher, what it was like to test a Williams car in 1998, Jack's development with Alpine, how two wheels compares to four, and much more.

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Ever wondered how your Formula 1 heroes are found in the first place?

Well, George Russell, Esteban Ocon and Alex Albon may not be on the grid today if it wasn’t for the keen eye of F1 talent guru Gwen Lagrue.

He’s the Frenchman in charge of Mercedes’ junior driver programme, with a track record of uncovering hidden gems and helping them fulfil their potential in the pinnacle of motorsport.

Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Gwen talks about the traits that separated Russell, Ocon and Albon from others in their early karting years, what qualities he’s looking for when scouting young drivers, how regularly a future World Champion comes along, and some of the protégés currently on Mercedes’ radar.

Plus, you’ll hear the thoughts of Mercedes Team Principal, Toto Wolff, on their recruitment strategy and whether Max Verstappen could have ended up at the team in different circumstances.

Alex Albon 

Esteban Ocon 

Toto Wolff


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Nico Hulkenberg will be on the grid again in 2024 after securing another year with Haas.

At the 2023 Mexican Grand Prix, the German will reach a landmark 200 Grand Prix starts – accumulated from his time at Williams, Force India (now Aston Martin), Sauber, Renault and Haas.

So how is ‘The Hulk’ that races today different to the 22-year-old that made his debut in 2010?

Nico tells Tom Clarkson how family life and his recent break from F1 have given him a completely different outlook on the sport, what his relationship with teammate Kevin Magnussen is like, whether Team Principal Guenther Steiner is just like the man we see on TV, and much more.

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Which Formula 1 veteran is joining Tom Clarkson for this week's episode of F1 Beyond The Grid?

Find out here and then listen to the full episode on Wednesday 6th September. 

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Ferrari’s wait for a record 32nd World Championship is set to continue in 2023. But are the most successful team in Formula 1 history at least heading in the right direction?

Ahead of their home race at Monza, who better to answer that question than Ferrari Team Principal, Fred Vasseur?

Cracking jokes throughout, Fred tells Tom Clarkson how the culture at Ferrari is like no other he’s experienced in F1 and why this job is the ‘biggest challenge’ of his career. He talks about the development of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, the team’s strengths and weaknesses, and he sends a message to the Tifosi.

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Does this person have the most scrutinised job in Formula 1? 

Judge for yourself when the full episode comes out on Wednesday 30th August.

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F1 Beyond The Grid is back after the summer break with German fan favourite and three-time Grand Prix winner Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

He tells Tom Clarkson some very intriguing tales from an eventful decade in Formula 1 - which saw him drive for Sauber, Williams, Jordan, Prost and Arrows from 1994 to 2003.

Highlights include Heinz-Harald’s sacking by Eddie Jordan halfway through the 2001 season, how telling Ron Dennis a bad joke cost him a move to McLaren, why his 1999 Championship challenge collapsed, the friendship he forged with seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher, and much more.

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Eddie Jordan, Heinz-Harald’s boss at Jordan 
Alain Prost, four-time World Champion and owner of Prost Racing 
Jacques Villeneuve, Heinz-Harald’s teammate 
Sam Michael, race engineer for Heinz-Harald at Jordan 

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A three-time F1 winner gives F1 Beyond The Grid his first in-depth interview for 20 years, but who is it? 

Find out here, then listen to the full episode on Wednesday 23rd August.

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To stay in the paddock for more than half a century, you simply must adore Formula 1. The sport might have changed a lot in that time, but what has always stayed the same is Herbie Blash’s enthusiasm for F1. Now the FIA’s permanent senior advisor to the Race Director, Blash’s career began as a race mechanic at Rob Walker Racing and Lotus in the 1960’s.

30 years later, having won two World Championships as team manager of Brabham Racing in the 1980’s, Herbie switched the pit wall for Race Control – where he spent more than two decades as deputy to the late, legendary FIA Race Director Charlie Whiting.

Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Herbie relives some of the most intriguing tales of his long career; from pushing the regulations to the absolute limit with Brabham, working with World Champions like Niki Lauda, dealing with driver fatalities, becoming best mates with Charlie, his passion for motorbikes, and much more.

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From rural Romania to F1 Team Principal, Otmar Szafnauer’s story is as inspiring as it is unlikely. Life as Alpine boss - coping with pressure from boards of directors, dealing with drivers and leading a team of 950 people - was a world away from his early childhood in a house with no running water, in a village with only two cars.

In a conversation with Tom Clarkson recorded before Otmar left the team, he talks about what those early years taught him, the highs and lows of his decades in Formula 1, his views on the leadership of Alpine, the relationship between Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, the 2023 success of Alpine’s former drivers and the challenge of turning the team into regular race winners.

Engineer or artist? Mario Illien is both.  The Swiss engine designer powered McLaren to glory in the 1990s, and helped make F1’s current hybrid engines the most efficient in the world. Working in isolation for up to 18 hours a day, Mario has spent decades using exotic materials to make light, efficient and powerful engines for F1 and IndyCar legends. He tells Tom Clarkson the secrets of a great F1 power unit, which drivers were able to get the most out of an engine, and how he and his company Ilmor powered teams to Indy 500 victories and F1 World Championships. Plus, tales of 1000 horsepower engines, top secret projects and racing from Paris to Beijing.

Invite a friend to listen using the share button and #F1BeyondTheGrid. Check out F1 Nation’s preview of the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix, and Formula Why’s latest episode for answers to your F1 questions. 

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Multiple World Champions and now a dominant force in Formula 1, it’s easy to forget Red Bull Racing’s humble beginnings back in 2005.

They’ve produced F1 stars like Max Verstappen, Sebastian Vettel, Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly, but the first man to graduate from Red Bull’s junior programme and race for the team was Christian Klien. His time in the sport was shorter than hoped, reduced to test driver roles after just three years on the grid. But in faster cars, his talent may have been far more obvious.

Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Christian reflects on his F1 venture - explaining why it didn’t last longer and how he knew it was time to leave the sport in 2010. He also talks about his former teammates, Mark Webber and David Coulthard, why Red Bull was renowned for being a party team, his thoughts on the 2023 season, and much more.

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2023 has been one of Lando Norris’ most challenging Formula 1 seasons so far. McLaren have simply not had the race pace to challenge their rivals for podiums. But Lando’s impressive P4 at the Austrian Grand Prix may be a sign of better things to come during the rest of the year.

In a candid conversation with Tom Clarkson, it’s clear how committed Lando is to winning with McLaren in the future. He talks about the extra pressure and responsibility of being the team’s senior driver and how his fans make a huge difference to his performance at the British Grand Prix.

Lando also discusses coping with fame, dealing with criticism, and even what kind of dad he hopes to be one day. Plus, hear how new teammate Oscar Piastri compares to his predecessor Daniel Ricciardo.

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Williams haven’t won a Formula 1 title since 1997. In recent years, they’ve become all too familiar with the back of the grid. But after Alex Albon’s mighty P7 in Canada, is Team Principal James Vowles starting to turn things around? He arrived at Williams with a wealth of experience and a winning mentality – having played a huge role in Mercedes’ unprecedented eight Constructor Championships in a row. Speaking to Tom Clarkson at the team’s base in Grove, James outlines what success looks like for Williams in the near future. He talks about where the team is lacking compared to others, how Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant are working together, and the lessons he’s learned from Mercedes. Plus, hear how Lewis Hamilton compares to other World Champions James has worked with, and much more.

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His 14 F1 seasons were filled with drama, shocks and history. Three-time Grand Prix winner Giancarlo Fisichella is rightly very proud to have stayed at the top for so long, fulfilling his dreams of becoming a Formula 1 driver and racing for Ferrari. 

From his dramatic first win with the Jordan team at Brazil in 2003, to the unlikely pole he took for underdogs Force India at Belgium in 2009, Giancarlo has experienced the most emotional highs F1 has to offer and he relives those iconic memories with Tom Clarkson. 

He talks about helping Renault teammate Fernando Alonso become a two-time World Champion, the ‘pressure and power’ he felt as an Italian driving for Ferrari, whether his F1 journey would have continued had he not joined the Scuderia, and much more.

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A race-winning fan favourite is TC's guest on this week's F1 Beyond The Grid. Hit play to find out who it is, then hit follow so you get the episode as soon as it's released on Wednesday 21st of June. Use the share button and #F1BeyondTheGrid to tell other F1 fans about the podcast.

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What does the future hold for Formula 1? New races? New teams? New rules? F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali answers all these questions and many more in an intriguing chat with Tom Clarkson. 

Domenicali knows what success tastes like. He won multiple World Championships as a leader at Ferrari. Now he plans to harness those experiences and continue evolving the sport, amidst a huge boom in popularity worldwide. Stefano explains his approach to the presidency since taking over from Chase Carey in 2021 and why he’s not afraid to make big decisions for the good of Formula 1. 

He also tells Tom about the relationship between F1 and the FIA, what he’s expecting from the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix and whether he thinks Max Verstappen is one of the greatest drivers of all time.

Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid.
 
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McLaren’s prestige in Formula 1 is built on the foundations of legendary success. The team has won eight Constructor titles and produced some of the most distinguished World Champions to grace the sport. That history wouldn’t exist without the genius of people like Neil Oatley. 

Neil first made a name for himself as a race engineer at Williams in the late 1970’s, but it was as McLaren’s chief designer when Neil really certified his status as one of the most influential engineers of all time. From 1989 to 1999, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Mika Hakkinen all won World Championships in cars designed by Oatley. 

In a fascinating conversation with Tom Clarkson, Neil relives some of the most iconic memories from his extraordinary career. He reveals what it was like to work with some of the greatest drivers and to have a front-row seat for Senna and Prost’s fierce rivalry. 

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Lando Norris
Oscar Piastri 
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Mika Hakkinen, two-time World Champion with McLaren 
Alain Prost, won three titles at McLaren 
Alan Jones, 1980 World Champion at Williams
Frank Dernie, legendary F1 engineer 
Sir Patrick Head, former Williams Technical Director 
Steve Nichols, Head Car Designer in McLaren’s title-winning 1988 season 


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Timing is everything in Formula 1 and Logan Sargeant has timed his debut perfectly. F1 is booming in the US, and with three Grands Prix in the States, fans will have plenty of opportunities to cheer their new home favourite on. 

Sargeant is one of three rookies in 2023, after finishing fourth in last year’s Formula 2 championship to secure his Super License and a seat at Williams. He tells Tom Clarkson how the reality of F1 compares to the dream of F1, and what he’s learned so far. 

Logan reflects on his journey to this point; from leaving the US at the age of 12, to competing with fellow rookie Oscar Piastri for the Formula 3 title in 2020. 

He talks about his relationships with Piastri and current teammate Alex Albon, why his mentality will have to be stronger than ever to succeed, how it feels to be racing some of his idols, and much more.

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Listen to the latest F1 Nation for reaction and analysis after the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix from former F1 stars Pedro de la Rosa and Alex Wurz. Plus, to hear why street circuits are the ultimate test, check out F1’s new Formula Why podcast 

“You just think there’s no way I could be good enough.” When Sam Michael arrived in F1, he worried he wouldn’t be able to keep up. But he became an influential and experienced leader at two of the sport’s biggest teams. From a race engineer at Jordan in the late 1990s, to senior director roles at both Williams and McLaren in the 2000s, Sam enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top before leaving F1 in 2014. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, he reflects on more than two decades in the pinnacle of motorsport and reveals the people who influenced his life the most. Sam shares fascinating insight into some of the big names he’s worked with; Lewis Hamilton, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Rubens Barrichello to name a few. He explains the characteristics that separate the greatest racers from the rest, how he made drivers take a test to understand their knowledge of cars, what he misses about F1 and much more.

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‘I was a super cocky, arrogant kid’. Fast by name, fast by nature. Scott Speed was born to be a racer. He had natural talent and raw pace. But he didn’t need telling. After being discovered by Red Bull as America’s next star, Speed arrived in Formula 1 with a ‘massive ego’. Debuting for Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2006, he lasted just 18 months. With no World Championship points to his name, Speed was replaced by Sebastian Vettel after the 2007 European Grand Prix. Rallycross is the epicentre of his most notable achievements since then – he’s a four-time champion and three-time X-Games gold medallist – but Speed has also raced in NASCAR and IndyCar among other competitions. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Scott relives an exciting journey into motorsport that begins with his father’s infectious passion for racing. He explains very openly how a bad attitude, a lack of motivation, and a struggle to adapt to life in Europe cost him more time in Formula 1. Plus, Scott reveals how he’s helping today’s generation of drivers avoid the same mistakes he made.

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BMW have been in and out of Formula 1 since the inaugural Drivers’ World Championship in 1950. As BMW’s Motorsport Director, Mario Theissen oversaw their most recent return at the start of the 21st century. Firstly with Williams and then with Sauber, the following 10 seasons provided plenty of ups and downs before the company decided to pull out of F1 altogether at the end of 2009.  Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Mario shares his memories of an unforgettable decade in the sport. Williams enjoyed a couple of years as ‘best of the rest’ during an era of Ferrari and Michael Schumacher dominance in the early 2000’s, but relationships within the team started to falter and the partnership ended in 2005.  BMW bought Sauber and Theissen became team principal from 2006 onwards. He recalls the emotions he felt when Robert Kubica suffered a horrifying crash at the Canadian Grand Prix in 2007, before leading a 1-2 at the same track a year later. Mario reveals why he and Kubica had a dispute as he challenged for the drivers’ title in 2008, why BMW’s decision to leave came as a surprise and how the introduction of the double diffuser played a part in their destiny. 

Plus, hear why Sebastian Vettel showed wisdom beyond his years at the very beginning of his career.

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Cooler, calmer and now rocking a new hairstyle, Valtteri Bottas seems a completely different man to the one that left Mercedes at the end of 2021. The 10-time Grand Prix winner still has a burning desire to reach the top step of the podium again, but his approach to Formula 1 has changed a lot since joining Alfa Romeo. He’s less sensitive to criticism, he doesn’t care what others think of him and he’s enjoying everything that makes him happy outside of the sport. Valtteri tells Tom Clarkson the inspiration behind his mullet, how he’s adapted to a team not fighting at the front and why he’s got no plans to leave F1 anytime soon. Plus, the Finn explains why he thinks Lewis Hamilton is still the fastest driver on the grid.
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Related episodes:
Valtteri Bottas’ first Beyond The Grid interview 
Zhou Guanyu, Valtteri’s Alfa Romeo teammate 

Listen to F1 Nation's review of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Plus, check out F1's new podcast, Formula Why, to learn more about how F1 works. Search and listen to both right here on your podcast app.

Who’s Tom’s F1 Beyond The Grid guest this week? Hit play to find out, then share using #F1BeyondTheGrid

Coming soon, the latest F1 Nation for reaction and analysis from the 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Plus, check out F1’s brand-new podcast Formula Why to hear why F1 Sprint is such a challenge.

In 2023, Aston Martin took a leap to the front of Formula 1. They went from midfield battlers to podium finishers, ahead of Mercedes and Ferrari. How? 

As the engineer who led the creation of the team's car, Technical Director Dan Fallows, is one of many possible answers to that question. Dan began his F1 career in 2002, as an aerodynamic engineer for Jaguar. Four years later, he joined Red Bull – where he learnt from one of the sport’s greatest car designers in the form of Adrian Newey and played a part in the team’s most successful period. 

His first two seasons at Aston Martin were difficult, but it seems to be third time lucky for Dan and the team. He tells Tom Clarkson why the 2023 car is far superior to its predecessor and how the talent of the team’s workforce surpassed his expectations. He explains where his passion for aerodynamics comes from, how playing guitar keeps him occupied outside of F1, and why Fernando Alonso has had such a big impact on the team.

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Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin team owner 


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Japan has had plenty of Formula 1 heroes to worship over the years. But does Yuki Tsunoda have what it takes to become the country’s first World Champion? If he can drive as fast as he reached F1 then he’s in with a chance. The 22-year-old went from Japanese F4 to his drive at Alpha Tauri in the space of just three years. Since his points-scoring debut in 2021, Yuki has certainly caught the eye of many. But 2023 is a huge year. With Pierre Gasly leaving for Alpine, Tsunoda is now the team leader. How he performs this season will have a huge impact on his future in the sport. Is he ready for the challenge? Yuki tells Tom Clarkson what he's learned from his idol Fernando Alonso, why Daniel Ricciardo’s old trainer has made him fitter than ever before, and how he’s trying to be calmer on team radio. Plus, Yuki reveals why he loves being famous.

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Nyck de Vries, Yuki's AlphaTauri teammate 


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He didn’t come from a racing family. He followed in the footsteps of his father and qualified as a doctor. How Jonathan Palmer ended up driving in Formula 1 is an intriguing tale of passion for racing, intuition and plenty of graft. Palmer initially competed in Formula Ford but after qualifying as a doctor, he decided to focus on racing professionally. He became British Formula 3 champion in 1981 and European Formula 3 champion in 1983. That year, Williams gave him his F1 debut at the European Grand Prix. He would go on to race for RAM, Zakspeed and Tyrrell over the next six years – scoring 14 championship points along the way. Palmer takes Tom Clarkson through his unique journey from studying medicine to competing in Formula 1. He reflects on some memorable drives in Monaco and we hear wonderful insight into what it was like working with Ayrton Senna as a test driver for McLaren in 1990. Palmer, whose son Jolyon also raced in F1 for Renault in 2016 and 2017, became part of the BBC’s Formula 1 coverage after retiring. He recalls working the day Senna lost his life at Imola in May 1994.

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He’s one of the greatest drivers in the history of Formula 1. Sir Jackie Stewart became World Champion in 1969, 1971 and 1973. 50 years since he retired after that final title, Sir Jackie is still in the top 10 for all-time F1 race wins - with 27 victories to his name. He started out with the BRM team in 1965, before joining Tyrell Racing three years later. They enjoyed five years of success, in which Jackie cemented his status as a legend of the sport. The Flying Scot, as he was also known, tells Tom Clarkson that winning was all that mattered. But for all the highs, there were also dreadful lows. Formula 1 was an extremely dangerous sport in Jackie’s era. Three of his close friends were killed in F1 races – Piers Courage, Jochen Rindt and his Tyrrell teammate, Francois Cevert. Jackie explains how he became almost desensitised to death and how he removed all emotion from his racing to succeed. The hectic lifestyle of a Formula 1 World Champion eventually caught up with Jackie and proved to be a huge factor in his decision to retire. Much of his life after F1 was dedicated to improving the safety of the sport and many of the changes to protect the drivers today are thanks to him. Jackie opens up about the relationship with his wife, Helen, and sons, Paul and Mark. He reveals why he didn’t stop racing as Roger Williamson lost his life at the Dutch Grand Prix in 1973, and why Formula 1 still means so much to him now.

Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid.

To hear more of Sir Jackie Stewart’s F1 story, listen to his first BTG interview here.

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Oscar Piastri came into Formula 1 with plenty of expectation. But it seems he has the potential to match the pressure. In three consecutive years, he became Formula Renault, Formula 3 and Formula 2 champion. After winning the F2 championship, there was no space on the grid for the 2022 F1 season and Piastri had to take a year out from racing. But now his chance has arrived. McLaren have given him the opportunity to prove himself at the top and he’s keen to emulate the success of fellow Australians, Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo. Piastri tells Tom Clarkson about leaving home at a young age and how his career in motorsport began with remote control racing. Although last season’s battle for Piastri’s signature between McLaren and Alpine is behind them, there’s now more attention on him than most F1 debutants are used to. But alongside Lando Norris, he’s confident of bringing back the glory days to McLaren.

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Formula 1 loves a feel-good story and the Minardi fairy-tale is no exception. They wrote one of the most heart-warming chapters in the sport’s history. Mark Webber’s fifth-place finish on his debut at the Australian Grand Prix in 2002 is one of many fond memories cherished by former team boss Paul Stoddart. A year earlier, Paul wasn’t even sure they’d be quick enough to qualify for the first race. But his confidence in a 19 year-old Fernando Alonso was rewarded and the team started life in F1 much better than expected. Paul tells Tom Clarkson the moment he realised Alonso had what it takes to become a World Champion, why the Spaniard still has that burning desire to compete at the very top and how to be his best at Aston Martin. Paul also remembers Michael Schumacher’s manners and the eye-opening time he lapped Ferrari’s test track with the seven-time champion. Plus, how Max Verstappen’s winning mentality was clear to see at a young age, when he raced his father Jos in a simulator.

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A returning champion. A legendary rival. A chance to rise above the rest. 1993 was the year Alain Prost set himself apart from his competitors and became a four-time F1 World Champion. At the time, he was only the second driver to win more than three titles. But his fourth triumph was far from easy. Prost was racing against his long-term foe, McLaren’s Ayrton Senna. He had to get used to a brand-new car, with technology he had never experienced before. There were behind-the-scenes issues at his Williams team. Prost was also considering his future, and life after Formula 1. 30 years on, Alain tells Tom Clarkson his memories of his final F1 title, the end of his F1 career, and how close he came to a final chapter as Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari teammate.

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Win races. Catch F1’s ‘big three’ teams. Turn ‘beasts’ into team players. Laurent Rossi’s to-do list is intimidating. The Alpine CEO runs the French road car company and the F1 operation, which is split between France and the UK. He grew up in a racing heartland. He studied at leading universities and worked at top-tier companies. All that experience helped him handle clashing teammates Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso in 2022. Alpine’s 2023 line-up, Ocon and Pierre Gasly, have been rivals since they were 6 years old. Now, Rossi needs them to work together to help the team ‘climb the mountain’, and close the gap to Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull. Laurent tells Tom Clarkson how he and Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer plan to make Alpine winners. He also explains what the team learned from the 2022 departure of junior driver Oscar Piastri, who now races with McLaren.

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A dream start. A disappointing finish. 2022 was Charles Leclerc’s best F1 season so far. But for him and for Ferrari, only the World Championship is enough. Now, a fresh challenge. Ahead of a new campaign, Charles is determined to take the trophy for himself. In the first new episode of 2023, Charles tells Tom Clarkson why missing out on the title in 2022 has made him the best he’s ever been. He reveals the soul-searching and changes at Ferrari since last season, and explains why new Team Principal Fred Vasseur is the right person to lead the famous red team to success. Plus, how going ice climbing, learning to fly and playing the piano helps Charles escape from the constant pressure of F1. The piano Tom brought to the interview isn’t very good, but Charles’ playing certainly is…

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F1 is no ordinary sport. These are no ordinary interviews. Join Tom Clarkson for a new season of in-depth conversations with the sport’s biggest stars and brightest minds. New episodes begin Wednesday March 1st.

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21 drivers are getting ready for the first race of 2023 – the 20 F1 racers and Bernd Maylander, driver of the F1 Safety Car. When Bernd hits the track, in bad weather or after a crash, his job is to keep the F1 field to a safe speed until they can go racing again. He’s often criticised for driving too slowly, but as he told Tom Clarkson in 2020, that’s simply not true.

For more Safety Car secrets from Bernd, check out the full conversation here 

Drive to Survive Season 5 is out now on Netflix, which means more behind-the-scenes moments with Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner. He’s become an F1 paddock rockstar, but he’s still a boss who takes big decisions. In 2022, Guenther told Tom Clarkson about his celebrity status and his style of management.

Hear a different side of Steiner in the full BTG interview here 

A winner from the World Championship’s first decade, the 1950s, Tony Brooks took F1 victories for Vanwall and Ferrari. Amazingly he’d studied to be a dentist before becoming a full-time racing driver. On what would have been Tony’s 91st birthday, Tom Clarkson revisits a 2019 conversation about the daring deeds of the first F1 stars.

Listen to the full interview with Tony Brooks here for more stories from the early years of the F1 World Championship.

New weekly episodes of F1 Beyond The Grid start Wednesday March 1st.

F1 test sessions can reveal technical problems with cars, or unlock extra performance. They can also reveal stars of the future. Pedro de la Rosa, one of F1’s most experienced test drivers, was there to witness Lewis Hamilton’s first drive in an F1 car in September 2006. The Spaniard was stunned by Hamilton’s speed and what a ‘massive problem’ he’d cause anyone trying to beat him. On Beyond The Grid, Pedro told Tom Clarkson his memories of the test and his own magical F1 debut.

Pedro’s full interview from 2020 is right here.

F1 Beyond The Grid’s new season begins on Wednesday March 1st.

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On the eve of the 2009 F1 season, Jenson Button and Brawn GP shocked the sport. The team, which barely survived the previous winter after the withdrawal of owners Honda, arrived at the final pre-season test with a car that had never been driven at full racing speed before. Immediately, it was fastest of all. Jenson Button told Tom Clarkson about that test day, and why dominating the early stages of the 2009 season felt far from easy.

You can listen to the full BTG interview with Jenson Button here. 

New episodes of F1 Beyond The Grid start Wednesday March 1st.

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24 years ago, the original “Flying Finn” became a two-time F1 World Champion. That puts Mika Hakkinen in an exclusive club of just 11 drivers who have won F1 titles in consecutive years, which also includes Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. In this feature-length interview from the BTG archive, Mika tells Tom Clarkson about recovering from a serious crash to take on Michael Schumacher and win back-to-back championships with McLaren in 1998 and 1999.

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Who has won more F1 world titles than Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher combined? Aldo Costa. The Italian engineer’s work has helped Ferrari, Mercedes and their drivers win a total of 26 World Championships. That makes him a good person to talk to about winning, dealing with pressure and why it’s important to allow engineers to try, fail, and try again. Tom Clarkson is picking archive highlights in the build-up up to the new season of F1 Beyond The Grid. Follow the podcast and look out for a brand new episode on Wednesday March 1st.

To hear more winning secrets and stories from Aldo Costa, tap here 

F1 loves Japan: the passionate fans, the stunning racetracks, and the exciting drivers. Yuki Tsunoda wants to be his country’s first F1 winner. In this clip, recorded during Yuki’s rookie season in 2021, he told Tom Clarkson about his love of Tokyo and how former Japanese racers have helped him in his career.

Yuki talks food, swearing and friendships in the full interview. Listen right here. 

A straight-talking, no nonsense, modern F1 legend Kimi Raikkonen became World Champion doing things his way. Before his final Grand Prix in 2021, Kimi told Tom Clarkson about his first drive in a Formula 1 car and whether age slowed him down.

Look out for another archive highlight tomorrow. A brand-new episode of F1 Beyond The Grid will be with you on Wednesday March 1st.

Kimi’s full, rare, in-depth interview is a must-listen. Hear it here. 

By age 2, Kevin Magnussen was already driving. What else do you expect from the child of an F1 driver? In this clip from 2019, Kevin tells Tom Clarkson how his racing career was inspired by his father Jan – a former McLaren driver – and encouraged by his mother, Britt.

Follow F1 Beyond The Grid for daily archive clips in the build up to a brand-new episode on Wednesday March 1st.

Want more Magnussen? Kevin’s 2019 BTG appearance is here.  His 2022 interview can be heard here 

The Hulk is back in Formula 1, and he’s hunting a first podium finish. Revisit Nico’s 2019 interview on times a top three finish narrowly eluded him and his love of classic road cars. Tom Clarkson is choosing 30 highlights from the BTG archive in the run-up to brand new episodes, starting Wednesday March 1st.

To get to know Nico before his F1 return, listen to his full BTG interview here 

As Alpine unveil their car for the 2023 F1 season, enjoy an all-time favourite Beyond The Grid story from Esteban Ocon. In 2018 he told Tom Clarkson how his family sold their property to help his race towards Formula 1. 30 Days of BTG is building up to the first new episode of 2023 on Wednesday March 1st.

To hear the full 2018 interview with Esteban, listen here.

You can listen to his second BTG appearance from 2022 here. 

He seemed destined to drive for Mercedes, but first George Russell had to prove himself at Williams. This is an in-depth conversation recorded in 2020, Russell’s second F1 season. He told Tom Clarkson how he first caught the eye of the Mercedes Young Driver Programme and how he introduced himself to Team Principal Toto Wolff. Plus, racing against friends, karting memories and how sim-racing kept him sharp when Covid 19 delayed the start of the season.  F1 Beyond The Grid’s 30 Day pre-season series continues tomorrow. Follow the podcast so you don’t miss our next highlight from the archive. New weekly episodes start on Wednesday March 1st.

George made a second appearance on F1 Beyond The Grid in 2022. You can listen to that here 

On the day Ferrari launch their 2023 F1 car, hear how Charles Leclerc followed his father into motorsport.  Charles told Tom Clarkson about racing and winning in Formula 2 on the weekend his father died, and how he races on to honour him.

For the full 2018 interview with Charles, recorded before he joined Ferrari, head here 

30 Days of BTG continues tomorrow with a full episode from the archive. Season 6 starts on Wednesday March 1st.

Is 2023 the year Aston Martin make their mark? Lawrence Stroll, Executive Chairman, wants to challenge for wins and championships. In 2021 he told Tom Clarkson about his Aston masterplan and his collection of classic cars.

Thanks for listening to 30 Days of Beyond The Grid so far. We’re halfway through our pre-season series of archive highlights. Season 6 begins on March 1st.

Head to F1.com and our social media accounts for the first pictures of Aston Martin’s 2023 car, plus news and images of the new McLaren.

Did you know Lawrence Stroll’s first F1 involvement was as clothing sponsor to Michael Schumacher? Listen to his full BTG interview for that story and many more.

14 seasons without a championship. Fred Vasseur needs to end that run. Ferrari’s new Team Principal has been working in elite motorsport for decades. A supreme talent-spotter, Vasseur hired Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and many more for his teams in junior formulas. Back in 2020, when he was Team Principal at Alfa Romeo, he told Tom Clarkson about working with a young Leclerc and his life outside racing.

For the inside line on Ferrari’s new boss, listen to the full BTG interview here 

Follow F1 on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook for all the pictures, video and news from Ferrari’s 2023 launch on Tuesday February 14th.

He’s Williams' most recent F1 winner. In 2012, Pastor Maldonado took an historic, epic F1 P1. The Venezuelan vividly relived his victory on BTG in 2019. Tom Clarkson is steering you through the huge BTG archive in the build-up to our new series on March 1st. Follow, rate and review the podcast and join us for 30 Days of BTG.

‘Sometimes I went over the limit. No more than others, but my mistakes were always on the front page’. Hear the full conversation with Pastor Maldonado here 

A difficult season. Just 12 points on the board. Now, a chance to rebuild. Mick Schumacher’s out at Haas and in at Mercedes as their reserve driver. He’s following in his famous father’s footsteps, but Mick’s been doing that for years. For Day 12 of BTG’s 30 Day pre-season warm-up, Mick tells Tom Clarkson what he learned from his parents. 30 Days of Beyond The Grid continues tomorrow and every day until the start of Season 6 on March 1st.

Listen to the full interview from Mick Schumacher’s rookie F1 season here 

‘I never knew when I was going to go back’. With no return ticket, but with a dream of racing in F1, Sergio Perez left Mexico aged 14 and travelled to Europe alone. On Day 11 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Sergio tells Tom Clarkson about that journey and his determination to succeed.

Want more? Hear the full 2019 interview with Sergio Perez here 

Before his first F1 win, before he raced alongside Verstappen, Pierre Gasly told Tom Clarkson the first chapter of his F1 story. Enjoy a full in-depth interview recorded in 2018, when Pierre was a breakout star about to be promoted to Red Bull. The Frenchman told Tom Clarkson about his rise to Formula 1, his rivalry with Verstappen, his love of football and much more. Listen back to 30 Days of Beyond The Grid so far, and follow us so you’re ready for BTG Season 6 on March 1st.

As Alfa Romeo launch their 2023 F1 challenger, listen to their driver Valtteri Bottas talking teammates, titles and tasting coffee. Tom Clarkson is choosing 30 of his favourite Beyond The Grid moments in the build-up to Season 6 on March 1st. To join our race through the BTG archive, hit the follow button.

You can hear Valtteri’s full BTG interview here or listen to his Alfa Romeo teammate Zhou Guanyu here  

He’s an 8-time F1 winner who won’t be racing in 2023. Daniel Ricciardo is back with Red Bull as their Third Driver. For Day 8 of BTG’s pre-season series, Tom Clarkson introduces Ricciardo’s 2019 account of his move from Red Bull to Renault.

Enjoy 30 days of specially-chosen archive highlights in the build-up to BTG Season 6, starting March 1st.

Daniel Ricciardo has been on BTG three times. You can listen to those interviews below:

2019 – On Red Bull, Renault and teaching his nephew bad words 
2021 – On winning with McLaren
2022 – Why he’s not done with F1 

She was by Michael Schumacher’s side as he dominated F1. Sabine Kehm, Schumacher’s manager, shared her unique perspective on the 7-time World Champion with F1 Beyond The Grid in 2019. Tom Clarkson is choosing highlights from the BTG archive for 30 days in the build up to F1 Beyond The Grid Season 6. Follow the podcast to join in and check back tomorrow for Day 8.

You can listen to the full interview with Sabine Kehm here 

From his sleep cycle to the design of his driving gloves, Nico Rosberg worked on improving every detail as he fought Lewis Hamilton for the 2016 F1 World Championship. For 30 Days of BTG, Day 6, hear Nico tell Tom Clarkson how those small changes made a big difference. Join us for 30 Days of BTG by following the podcast and sharing your favourite clip with #F1BeyondTheGrid

Nico Rosberg’s full BTG interview from 2018 is ready for your ears here 

She’s a winner with Ferrari. A strategist who now makes race-changing calls under huge pressure at Alfa Romeo. Ruth Buscombe’s job is all about big data and big decisions. For Day 5 of BTG’s pre-season series, hear Ruth remember how she and Sebastian Vettel scored their first win for Ferrari. You’ll hear lots more great F1 stories as 30 Days of Beyond The Grid continues. Follow the podcast and share your favourite episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid.

For more strategy secrets and stories from Ruth Buscombe, listen to the full episode here 

On the eve of his retirement, four-time F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel gave Tom an in-depth look back at his career on F1 Beyond The Grid. Listen to their full conversation here 

For Day 4 of our pre-season build-up, the origins of a current F1 star. Lando Norris, driver of car number 4, takes Tom Clarkson back to the childhood moment he decided to race cars instead of bikes. In the clip from 2019 Lando also remembers admiring a young driver named George who he used to race in go-karts. Whatever happened to him? Tom’s choosing his favourite clips from the BTG archive ahead of Season 6 on March 1st. Hit the follow button to join in.

For Lando’s first Beyond The Grid interview from 2019, head here

Or listen here for his second appearance when he talked about his fans and hunting his first F1 win 

For Day 3 of Beyond The Grid’s pre-season warm-up, Tom Clarkson introduces a full-length archive episode with a veteran of F1’s most dangerous period. Sir Jackie Stewart is a triple F1 World Champion, who battled some of the greatest drivers of all time in the 1960s and 70s. Sir Jackie remembers the races, the rivals and risks he faced at a time when F1 was very different. 
 
30 Days of Beyond The Grid continues tomorrow. For the latest F1 pre-season news, visit F1.com, download the F1 app and follow F1 on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok

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Before Season 6 of F1 Beyond The Grid, Tom Clarkson is racing through the best bits of the archive in 30 Days of Beyond The Grid. On Day 2, two-time F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso talks about his successes, failures and the legacy he wants to leave behind. 

Hit the follow button to join Tom for 30 Days of Beyond The Grid. Season 6 starts March 1st

To hear the full 2021 interview with Fernando Alonso, tap here 

For the best bits of BTG in 2022, including Susie Wolff, Carlos Sainz and Kevin Magnussen, listen here 

Get ready for more in-depth conversations with Formula 1’s biggest stars. Season 6 of F1 Beyond The Grid starts Wednesday 1st March. In the build-up, Tom Clarkson is guiding you through the best bits of BTG’s huge interview archive in 30 Days of Beyond The Grid. On Day 1, listen to Lewis Hamilton from our first ever episode back in 2018. He remembers his childhood desire to be an F1 driver and explains how hard it is to win the World Championship. Follow F1 Beyond The Grid, share the podcast with a friend, and check back tomorrow for Day 2.

To hear the full 2018 interview with Lewis Hamilton, head right here 

For the best bits of BTG in 2022, including Lando Norris, Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo, listen here 

Reflections from Ricciardo. Stories from Susie Wolff. Memories from Mansell. On F1 Beyond The Grid, the sport’s fastest stars slow down and open up in feature-length conversations with Tom Clarkson. In this end-of-year special, Tom chooses his highlights from 2022. Daniel Ricciardo lifted the lid on his McLaren struggles. Legendary designer Steve Nichols remembered triple World Champion Ayrton Senna’s first drive in his 1980s McLaren ‘wonder car’. Sebastian Vettel talked about his strongest ally and his most talented teammate. The clips in this episode come from the full episodes listed below. Thank you for listening in 2022. F1 Beyond The Grid will return in 2023.

Carlos Sainz: ready to win with Ferrari 

Nigel Mansell: World Champion, through the pain 

Kevin Magnussen: a no-fear F1 comeback with Haas

Steve Nichols: engineering domination for McLaren

Mike Elliott: how Mercedes’ ‘mistake’ is making them stronger 

George Russell: rising with Mercedes

Lando Norris: working on winning with McLaren

Gilles Villeneuve Remembered 

Susie Wolff: racer, role model, risk taker 

Nicholas Latifi: limits, lessons + leaving F1 

Nyck De Vries: seizing his F1 chance 

Christian Horner: putting Red Bull back on top 

Daniel Ricciardo: not done with F1 

Sebastian Vettel: around the next corner 


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He’s led Mercedes to 115 race wins in Formula 1, but Toto Wolff is only focused on the next victory. The Silver Arrows stumbled in 2022. They learned lessons while they were down and scored a late-season win to fire them up for 2023. Toto tells Tom Clarkson how a difficult year will benefit the team in future. He explains how the performance of George Russell, the leadership of Lewis Hamilton, the legacy of Niki Lauda and Toto’s own influence will be key ingredients in Mercedes recovery. ‘The days we lose are the days our competitors will regret, because we learn the most’, says Toto. It sounds like he’s already racing for that next win…

Related episodes:

Christian Horner, Toto’s Red Bull rival 
Mattia Binotto, Ferrari’s outgoing Team Principal 
Daniel Ricciardo
George Russell 


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He won’t be racing in 2023, but Daniel Ricciardo is thinking further ahead. Why is returning to Red Bull as Third Driver the best thing for a driver with 8 Grand Prix wins to his name? In this in-depth interview with Tom Clarkson, Daniel explores his decision to spend a season off the track and how he hopes it will boost his career and life outside racing. ‘I don’t feel completely done’, he says of his future in F1. ‘I think I’ll want to get back on the grid, but time will tell’. Daniel reflects on why he left Red Bull in 2018, details his struggles at McLaren and explains how age, pressure, confidence and rest affect his performance. He also lays out his to-do list for his year time from racing, including a very big ride on a very small motorbike…


Related episodes:

Daniel Ricciardo on his McLaren win in 2021 
Daniel’s first Beyond The Grid interview in 2019
Lando Norris on racing Daniel at McLaren


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You’ll hear the 60 minute interview right here on Wednesday 30th of November. Hit the follow button and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid

 ‘I do this with passion. I like to work hard’. Guenther Steiner, Haas’ straight-talking Team Principal, has had plenty of hard work to do this year. From finding a new driver on the eve of the 2022 season, to replacing Mick Schumacher with Nico Hulkenberg for 2023, Steiner has made big calls to help Haas make big moves. In great detail, he talks Tom Clarkson through his decisions, and how they’ll drive the team towards its goals. Guenther also gives his views on his fame, management style and even his merchandise. Plus insight into how F1’s smallest team go about their business, memories of an historic pole position in Brazil and reflections on Romain Grosjean’s Bahrain crash.

Related episodes:

Kevin Magnussen 
Mick Schumacher 
Nico Hulkenberg
Guenther’s first BTG interview 


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‘I’ve thought about this so much, and it feels so right’. Sebastian Vettel is ready to say farewell to Formula 1. In a final in-depth interview with Tom Clarkson, Sebastian looks back at his entire F1 career: how he dealt with winning and losing, his rivalries and friendships with champions and teammates, and the races and moments that shaped him. He explains how ‘feeling loved’ fuelled his success, and what he’ll miss about life in F1. Sebastian also looks ahead – beyond his final chequered flag in Abu Dhabi - to what’s around the next corner.

Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid on your podcast app. Share your thoughts on this episode and your memories of Sebastian Vettel’s F1 career using #F1BeyondTheGrid. Scroll through the BTG back catalogue for more interviews with stars from every era of Formula 1.

Related episodes:

Sebastian Vettel on Ferrari 
Charles Leclerc 
Kimi Raikkonen 
Fernando Alonso 
Mick Schumacher
Mark Webber
Lewis Hamilton


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Listen right here on Wednesday 16th November. Follow the podcast and share it with your fellow F1 fans using #F1BeyondTheGrid

F1 was her ‘goal’ once upon a time, but she made history in IndyCar and NASCAR. Danica Patrick’s early racing career followed the course of so many F1 stars: karting championships, a teenage move to Europe, an impressive result at the prestigious Formula Ford Festival, and meetings with former F1 champions and team bosses. But it was back in the US that made her mark on motorsport, winning in IndyCar and leading the Indy500. Was racing in F1 ever a possibility? Danica tells Tom Clarkson about her life in racing: why oval racing differs from road course driving, how team orders may have denied her more success, and how she feels about Formula 1 today.

Related episodes:

Bobby Rahal – IndyCar + F1 driver, Danica’s former team boss
NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon
Susie Wolff


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 A chapter is closing, but Nicholas Latifi is ready to open up. In three difficult F1 seasons, the Canadian has dealt with defeats, disappointment and being dropped by Williams. As he prepares to leave the sport at the end of 2022, Nicholas tells Tom Clarkson about the challenges and frustrations he continues to face.  In deep detail, he explains why he struggles to show his speed on the racetrack, how his ‘weaknesses’ behind the wheel have been ‘exposed’, and why he’s often unable to match the achievements of his teammates. He’s quick to praise George Russell, Alex Albon and Nyck De Vries, his one-time teammate and former F2 championship rival, as well as his Williams team for supporting him. He points to performances he’s proud of which sometimes passed unnoticed and remembers times he came close to impressive results. Now, Nicholas is looking to his future. He reveals what’s driving his decision on where to continue his race.

Related episodes:

Alex Albon 
George Russell
Nyck De Vries
Jost Capito, Williams CEO


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His time in F1 was brief and ‘brutal’, but he learned lessons he’s passing on to his son. Jan Magnussen, father of Haas driver Kevin, arrived in Formula 1 in the mid-1990s feeling unbeatable. His confidence came from a stunning championship-winning season in British Formula 3, in which he broke records set by the great Ayrton Senna. F1 broke that confidence. ‘I don’t think I understood the enormity of the task’ Jan tells Tom Clarkson as he honestly looks back on a difficult time with McLaren and Stewart Grand Prix. Did the early success which launched him into F1 have a downside? Did a ‘driving lesson’ from triple World Champion team boss Jackie Stewart do more harm than good? Jan remembers his sudden F1 exit, and how he rediscovered his love of racing. Today, he shares that love and the wisdom of his experience with Kevin as his father, sportscar teammate and mentor.

Related episodes:

Kevin Magnussen on his ‘no fear’ F1 comeback.

In September 2022, Nyck De Vries got a golden opportunity. A surprise F1 debut. He knew it was a chance to change his life. His remarkable top 10 finish was just step one of his mission. In an exclusive in-depth interview, Nyck tells Tom Clarkson what he did next: the phone calls, flights, meetings and deals which have made him a 2023 AlphaTauri Formula 1 driver. He explains how advice from his friend Max Verstappen, dinners with an F1 star-maker, a personal approach to negotiations and a decision to move away from Mercedes were so important. With championship-winning speed developed in Formula 2 and Formula E, experience driving several F1 cars and a wealth of racing knowledge to draw on, F1’s newest driver is ready for his next big opportunity.

Nyck’s 2023 AlphaTauri teammate, Yuki Tsunoda 

AlphaTauri Team Principal, Franz Tost 

Nyck’s fellow Formula 2 champions:

George Russell 
Charles Leclerc
Mick Schumacher


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Whether he’s behind the wheel of an F1 car or analysing the action for millions on TV, Karun Chandhok is driven by his passion for racing. His love for the sport grew during his childhood in India, and it remains strong despite his frustrating time in F1, where he repeatedly defied the odds. With little money to rely on and few racing opportunities at home, Karun set out on a path which took him to Europe. GP2 wins led to a Red Bull test and a spot on the F1 grid with a brand new team in 2010.  Karun tells Tom Clarkson the astonishing story of his Grand Prix debut and the struggle to even start his first race. He reflects on the deals and behind-the-scenes events at Hispania and Lotus which changed the course of his career. He sums up the experience of driving some of F1’s most legendary cars, including the ‘scary’ one, and the one that he feels is ‘a bit too perfect’. Plus, Karun explains how his love for F1 is fuelling his current work as a broadcaster, racetrack design consultant and grassroots motorsport advocate.


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As soon as the 2022 Mercedes F1 car hit the racetrack, the man who oversaw its creation realised it had problems. ‘We made a mistake’, admits Technical Director Mike Elliot. In finding fixes, Mike and his team of engineers have improved Mercedes’ results and learned a lot about themselves. Mike tells Tom Clarkson how they traced the car’s problems to a single design decision, how a year of not winning has helped the people at  Mercedes develop, and how he craves a return to the team’s championship-winning form. Looking back, Mike remembers why he chose a career in F1, and the remarkable day two top teams offered him a role. That led him to work in aerodynamics for McLaren, and he recalls a surprising early conversation he had with the team’s young test driver, Lewis Hamilton. McLaren’s former leader Ron Dennis, legendary car designer Adrian Newey, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and drivers Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg and George Russell also feature in Mike’s story. He explains how F1 engineering has become ‘more specialised’ and has advice for anyone who aspires to work in F1 car design.

More BTG interviews with F1 Technical Directors:

James Allison, former Mercedes TD


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He’s a survivor, who fought back from a crash which could have broken his spirit. Martin Donnelly’s racing career was cut short at the 1990 Spanish Grand Prix, when his Lotus left the track and hit a barrier at 160 miles per hour, throwing him from the car. Martin tells Tom Clarkson his memories of that fateful weekend, and the great lengths he went to as he tried to return to racing – including treatment from the doctor who had helped Niki Lauda after the Austrian’s life-changing crash. He reflects on his close friendship with Ayrton Senna, who rushed to the scene that day in Spain, and on his brotherhood with fellow racing drivers like Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert, alongside whom he rose to Formula 1. Support from his father and deals with shrewd team owner Eddie Jordan shaped his career. His time at the top of motorsport was short-lived, his potential never fully realised, but Martin never stopped racing.


Related episodes:

Eddie Jordan
Damon Hill 
Tommy Byrne
Johnny Herbert 
Derek Warwick


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It’s been a dramatic year for Red Bull Racing, from the titanic battle Max Verstappen fought with Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes for the 2021 title, to setting up their own power unit arm, before taking a commanding lead in both championships this season – with a flirtation with Porsche thrown in for good measure. Team boss Christian Horner tells host Tom Clarkson all about that incredible 2021 title fight from Red Bull’s perspective, including his thoughts on rival team boss Toto Wolff, and that intense Abu Dhabi season finale. He also reflects on whether Verstappen approaches racing Charles Leclerc differently to how he takes on Hamilton, what he makes of Daniel Ricciardo’s early McLaren exit, and why Red Bull decided now was the right time to set up their own engine division. Plus he reveals what happened to the proposed Porsche partnership, touches on some of the company’s non-F1 projects – including designing a submarine – as well as how it feels to have led the team back to the brink of championship glory once again.

Related episodes:

Christian Horner in 2021 and 2018

Sergio Perez

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He was part of one of F1’s most dramatic finales, but there’s so much more to Timo Glock’s story than that rain-soaked lap in Brazil. A relative late-comer to racing, he quickly showed speed, made smart sponsorship deals and caught the attention of F1 teams. Timo tells Tom Clarkson about the surprise phone call which led to his points-scoring Grand Prix debut, the disappointment of dropping out of the sport, the moment he felt it was ‘game over’ for his racing career, and an all-or-nothing season which gave him a second chance at F1. With Toyota in 2008 and 2009, Timo scored podiums which proved he was worthy of a race-winning car. He reveals how agonisingly close he came to a career-transforming move in a pivotal period at the end of 2009, only to find himself racing at the back of the grid in 2010. Plus, his friendship with the Schumachers, the moment lawyers decided his F1 future and that final lap in Brazil in 2008: the ‘impossible’ action, the crazy reaction and an unlikely friendship that followed, ten years in the making.  


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He’s a Zandvoort ‘beach boy’, who became a local hero in F1. Racing in the Dutch Grand Prix was a dream come true for Jan Lammers, but he struggled to show his speed in Formula 1 and dropped out of the sport after 4 difficult seasons. He was always determined to return to motorsport’s pinnacle and waited a record 10 years for his chance. Jan tells Tom Clarkson about his rise from junior European champion to F1, the impact impatience had on his career, how bad luck repeatedly ruined his best chances of a life changing F1 result, and how a change in attitude and focus on learning helped him take Le Mans victory in 1988 and return to F1 after his decade away. Today, Jan is Sporting Director of his hometown racetrack, Zandvoort, and is working to make the Dutch Grand Prix a spectacular and sustainable event.


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He fought one of F1’s all-time greatest duels, was often untouchable in qualifying, and his victories were celebrated by entire nations. René Arnoux spent a decade racing the likes of Gilles Villeneuve, Alain Prost and Niki Lauda. He raced and won for both Renault and Ferrari, leading the Scuderia to a world title in 1983. René passionately and vividly talks Tom Clarkson through his remarkable career, remembering his epic wheel-to-wheel battle with his great friend Villeneuve in 1979, negotiations with Enzo Ferrari, his lost chance to become World Champion and his rivalry with Renault teammate Prost. Arnoux also picks the 2022 F1 driver he thinks is most like himself

Related episodes

Gilles Villeneuve Remembered 

Racing for Enzo Ferrari 

René’s pick of 2022: Lando Norris 


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He’s an F1 star, and he’s still getting brighter. Lando Norris is on a mission with McLaren, determined to deliver trophies and titles. He’s twice come agonisingly close to his first F1 victory. That is just fuel for his fire. Lando opens up to Tom Clarkson about the races he feels he should have already won, his moments of self-doubt, his ambitions, his attitude to life and work, and how he’s seen by the public and his fans. Lando reveals he sometimes dwells on past frustrations, but his focus is fixed on future glory. He’s honest and illuminating about things he and his team can improve. One day soon, he says, ‘there won’t be any excuses’. Working on winning will ‘make things sweeter… a much cooler story’. As you’ll hear, the hard work has already begun…

Have a listen to Lando’s first F1 Beyond The Grid appearance in March 2020

Plus other related interviews from the BTG archive

McLaren CEO (and Lando’s golf buddy) Zak Brown 


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Since South Africa 1993, Beat Zehnder has not missed a Formula 1 Grand Prix. Hungary 2022 was his 538th race weekend, and he’s spent them all with the same team. Once it was known as Sauber, today it’s Alfa Romeo. Before joining Sauber, Beat was a ship engine mechanic. He was kicked out of his first job interview with the Swiss racing team because he had no interest in motorsport. How and why, then, has he spent so long in Formula 1? Beat tells Tom Clarkson incredible stories of the tiny Sauber team’s amazing entry into F1, and its repeated struggles for survival. Schumacher, Frentzen, Raikkonen, Kubica, Vettel and Leclerc are just some of the drivers Beat has worked with, but who does he call ‘the most complete’ of them all? Beat’s love for the sport was shaken at times of tragedy, but his loyalty and love of teamwork have never faltered.


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He’s the newest member of ‘The Piranha Club’ – the nickname for the ruthlessly competitive group of F1 Team Principals. Aston Martin’s Mike Krack is not a newcomer to F1, however. A former European go-kart racer, Mike earned his engineering stripes with Sauber in the early 2000s, where he moulded and mentored a young Felipe Massa. He witnessed the supreme strength and skill of Robert Kubica, and steered Sebastian Vettel through his Grand Prix debut at BMW in 2007. Vettel and Krack are now back together at Aston Martin, and Mike has illuminating insight into how the four-time champion has developed as a person and as a racing driver.  Mike tells Tom Clarkson about his life leading major manufacturers’ racing programs, including the reason he previously walked away from Formula 1. He explains how he’s ‘finding his way’ as boss of the sport’s most ambitious team, charged with fulfilling owner Lawrence Stroll’s aims of challenging for the World Championship.

Related episodes from the F1 Beyond The Grid archive:

Sebastian Vettel 

Robert Kubica

Lance Stroll 

Lawrence Stroll 

Felipe Massa


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When Marc Surer reached Formula 1 in 1979, he was a rising star: the reigning Formula 2 champion from the mountains of Switzerland, surely destined for the summit of F1 success. But two leg-breaking crashes made Marc’s climb steeper and harder. He relives those crashes with Tom Clarkson and remembers his remarkable recovery and return to racing. Amazingly, he scored points for Arrows, and almost made the switch to Ferrari after the death of Gilles Villeneuve. Marc also came close to racing for McLaren after a secret meeting with boss Ron Dennis. Later, he survived a fiery rally crash in which his co-driver was killed. Marc shares stories of racing up mountains as a child in a country where motorsport was banned, working with F1 design genius Gordon Murray, driving brutal turbocharged F1 cars armed with more than 1000 horsepower and wrestling Group B rally cars on snow and ice.


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Before he started, as he puts it, ‘playing with racing cars’, Jody Egginton trained as a schoolteacher. His love of motorsport led him to Formula 1, and he worked his way up from Tyrell during the early years of computer-aided design (CAD) to Technical Director at AlphaTauri today. Along the way he helped Force India achieve a stunning result in 2009, fought to keep the brand-new Caterham team afloat in the 2010s and worked with Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz at the very start of their F1 careers. He’s now driving AlphaTauri’s car development, pushing a team of engineers flat out to give Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda a car which can challenge for 5th in the F1 Constructors’ Championship. Jody tells Tom Clarkson about his approach to learning, communication, problem-solving and leadership, and shares advice for aspiring F1 engineers.

Related episodes from the Beyond The Grid archive

Yuki Tsunoda 

John Barnard, legendary F1 technical genius


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Jenson Button. Jacques Villeneuve. Colin McRae. Sebastian Loeb. The list of elite racing drivers David Richards has led is long and legendary. As an F1 Team Principal in the 2000s, he, Button and the BAR team challenged Ferrari for race wins. David tasted podium champagne, but the bottle never had ‘1st’ printed on it. Not so in the World Rally Championship and at Le Mans, where his teams and drivers have won a multitude of titles. David tells Tom Clarkson the story of his incredible life in motorsport: success in rallying, decades in F1 with Benetton, BAR and Honda, and he remembers the behind the scenes negotiations to bring his own company, Prodrive, onto the grid. Plus, desert racing with Sebastian Loeb, Extreme E with Lewis Hamilton’s team and his ongoing work to make motorsport more inclusive and sustainable as chair of Motorsport UK.


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‘It’s a huge step… but the peak is miles away’. That’s how George Russell sums up racing for Mercedes. Since George joined the team’s young driver programme in 2017 he knew he could rise to the seat of a Silver Arrow Formula 1 car. How did he get there, and how high will he rise in the future? George tells Tom Clarkson about emotive highs with his former team, Williams, a bitter disappointment on his Mercedes debut in Sakhir and a learning moment in Italy which helped shaped him into the driver and the man he is today. Hear about the pressure George races under at Mercedes, his relationships with his colleagues, his view of his place in the sport, his principles and his ambitions in this in-depth conversation.

Related episodes: 

George Russell’s first BTG interview from July 2020


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Zhou Guanyu’s route to F1 was epic. As a child he watched the Chinese Grand Prix from the grandstands and dreamed of joining his racing heroes. But with no footsteps to follow in, he had to plot his own path. Before he was even a teenager he moved from his home city of Shanghai to the other side of the world to test his talent behind the wheel. Fighting homesickness and intimidation from his racing rivals, he proved himself. Zhou tells Tom Clarkson about the sacrifices, key decisions, victories and personal loss he experienced along the way. Now he’s racing his childhood heroes as the first Chinese driver to compete in Formula 1.  Zhou has already made history for his country and, as he says himself, he’s only just getting started.


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During his ten year career, Belgian driver Thierry Boutsen delivered consistently. He stacked up 164 races, 15 podiums and 3 Grand Prix wins; even beating the legendary Ayrton Senna to the top of the podium when driving for Williams at the Hungaroring in 1990. Thierry has always been driven by his passions, his love of speed began racing motorbikes in rainy Belgian woodland where he would develop the skills that would eventually help him take his first victory in difficult conditions at the 1989 Canadian Grand Prix. His Formula One debut was with Arrows at his home race in Spa in 1983, the same track it would end on a decade later when he briefly joined the Jordan team. Thierry tells Tom Clarkson all about his journey to F1, the race wins that define his career, his deep interest in engineering and his close bond with good friend Ayrton Senna.

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With a career spanning four decades, Frank Dernie knows a thing or two about how to make a car fast. After joining Williams in the late 70's as Patrick Head's aerodynamic assistant, helping design the successful FW08 chassis, he went on to work with some of Formula One's biggest stars, greatest teams and the fastest cars on the grid. A pioneer in his field, Frank was the first person in the sport to use computer aided design and is the man to thank for bringing the Williams team's active suspension to life. His analytical and data driven mind was in hot demand in the paddock from teams and drivers alike as he developed his race winning cars. In this episode Frank lets us take a peek inside his brilliant mind as he takes us back to those early days at Williams working with Sir Frank Williams, Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet, testing with Alain Prost and all that fell in between.

Related episodes:

Nigel Mansell


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As a young racer growing up in America in the 60s, Bobby Rahal idolised people like Phil Hill, Dan Gurney and Mario Andretti - drivers who had made it across the Atlantic to drive in Formula 1. He dreamt of doing the same; of travelling to Europe to race at the circuits he'd read about in magazines and going wheel to wheel with his racing heroes. After making a name for himself on US road circuits and putting in some stand-out performances in Formula 3, that F1 opportunity came in 1978 when Walter Wolf offered Bobby a seat alongside Jody Scheckter at the US and Canadian Grand Prix. They were the last two races of the season and, sadly, they would be the first and last races that Bobby would contest in Formula 1. Although his time at the top was brief, Bobby’s legacy lives on as one of a handful of American drivers to have made it to F1. In this episode, Bobby addresses the need for more US drivers on the grid and he winds back the decades to reveal the passions that fuelled his love of European motorsport, his journey to F1 and what really happened at those two races back in 1978. 


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McLaren technical director James Key is one of the youngest tech chiefs in Formula One. He’s very bright, he’s super-organised and he’s ultra-competitive, all attributes that he’s using to drive the team back to the top of the sport. In this episode, James opens up to Tom Clarkson about McLaren’s difficult start to the 2022 season, when their cars finished 14th and 15th in the Bahrain Grand Prix, and how the team pulled together in the days that followed to improve the MCL36. Only three races later Lando Norris finished third at Imola. James also gives a fascinating insight into what it’s like to work with McLaren drivers Norris and Daniel Ricciardo, and how they're adjusting to the new 2022-spec cars, and he hints at what we can expect from them as the season unfolds. We also hear about James'  journey to F1, the technological advances he's been a part of, the highs, the lows and most importantly: what the future holds for McLaren.

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Related episodes from the BTG archive:

Lando Norris 

Zak Brown, McLaren CEO
Steve Nichols, Engineer 

Alain Prost
Mika Hakkinen


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From frustration which drove him to tears in 2019, to an incredible F1 victory in 2021, Esteban Ocon has felt the extreme lows and highs of a racing driver’s life. After losing his race seat at Force India, Ocon spent a season as reserve driver for Mercedes in 2019. A year of ‘low moments’ opened his eyes to what he jokingly calls ‘the dark side’ of F1 – the off-track negotiations which can determine a driver’s future just as much on-track results. Wiser and more determined, Esteban returned to racing with Renault in 2020, scored his first podium and became a Grand Prix winner with Alpine. On his return to F1 Beyond The Grid, the Frenchman tells Tom Clarkson all about that chapter of his life, and looks ahead to the story he’s determined to write with Alpine. Plus, F1 friendships, the importance of clean racing, and why he sees the Spanish Grand Prix as a home race.

Related episodes from the BTG archive

Esteban Ocon’s first appearance 

Fernando Alonso, Esteban’s Alpine teammate 

Otmar Szafnauer on Force India’s administration 

Mick Schumacher

Lance Stroll


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40 years ago, in May 1982, Formula 1 lost a marvellous maverick. No-one else drove a car quite like Gilles Villeneuve. He lost his life in a crash while at the very peak of his racing powers. In this special episode, those who knew Gilles share their memories and stories with Tom Clarkson. F1 World Champions Mario Andretti and Jody Scheckter and 7-time Grand Prix winner Rene Arnoux raced alongside Villeneuve and were close to him as friends. Jonathan Giacobazzi idolised Gilles; his family’s name appeared as a sponsor on the Canadian’s race suit, and their families travelled the racetracks of Europe together. Jochen Mass was also a good friend of Villeneuve – a fact that makes his blameless involvement in the crash which claimed his life even more tragic. They remember Gilles as a person, a teammate, a rival and a friend, and consider why he is still so adored, 40 years after his death.


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Growing up in Northern California, a young Alexander Rossi dreamed of racing in Formula 1. His route was not an easy one. Along the way he experienced false starts, unfulfilled promises, behind the scenes power moves and the tragic loss of his friend and teammate Jules Bianchi. Alex tells Tom Clarkson everything that led to his 5 Grands Prix in 2015 and just how close he was to staying in the sport for a longer time. Today, Alex is pushing to add the IndyCar Championship to his Indy 500 win,  supported by team boss Michael Andretti, and challenged by teammate Colton Herta. Alex also has tales of racing at Indy with Fernando Alonso, and competing in Mexico’s extreme truck race, the Baja 1000.

Related episodes from the BTG archive

The USA’s first F1 World Champion, Phil Hill, remembered 

Mario Andretti – 1978 F1 World Champion 

Eddie Cheever – the USA’s most experienced F1 driver 

Danny Sullivan – from NY taxi driver to F1 

NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon on his F1 drive 

F1 driver and IndyCar star, Juan Pablo Montoya


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 He says it himself, Alex Albon is back in F1 wanting to prove a point. After a 2020 season in which he scored his first podiums, but ultimately failed to match Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen, he lost his race drive and spent 2012 on the side lines. ‘It killed me’, he says, ‘but the hunger never went away’. Alex tells Tom Clarkson how hard he worked behind the scenes to help Verstappen win the Drivers’ Championship, and to fight for his F1 return with Williams in 2022. Now Alex is revitalised. He feels smarter and more at peace with himself. He’s certainly lost none of his skill behind the wheel -  in Australia he drove 57/58 laps on a single set of tyres to score his first point for Williams in only his third race – and his friendship with rivals Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz is as strong as ever. A round of golf with those guys sounds like a lot of fun…

Related episodes from the BTG archive:

Nicholas Latifi, Alex’s Williams teammate

Jost Capito, Williams CEO and Team Principal

Christian Horner, Red Bull Team Principal

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Creator of an iconic F1 car, with an inside view of a ferocious racing rivalry: Steve Nichols has witnessed some extraordinary things. The American engineer designed the McLaren MP4/4, the car which stormed to 15 wins in 16 races in 1988. He tells Tom Clarkson the story of the MP4/4’s creation and what made it so fast. Working closely with Ayrton Senna as his race engineer, Steve felt the tension between the Brazilian and his teammate Alain Prost as they fought for the title in the car Steve had designed for them. He also tells the story of how and why he left McLaren and followed Prost to Ferrari, a difficult period which included another famous clash with Senna.

Related episodes from the BTG archive:
Alain Prost
Mika Hakkinen
David Coulthard
Julian Jakobi - on managing Senna and Prost

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A year out of F1 changed Kevin Magnussen’s world. He became a father, he moved back to his native Denmark with his family and he tasted US sportscars and the Le Mans 24 hours. When the chance to return to F1 with Haas suddenly came along, KMag said yes immediately. No fear. No doubt that it’s where he belongs. Kevin tells Tom Clarkson how it felt to lose his place in F1, why his second stint in the sport feels different, what it’s like racing as a dad, and his goals now he’s back in F1. 

Related episodes from the BTG archive:
Mick Schumacher
Guenter Steiner
Romain Grosjean

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‘I risked a lot more than people know’. In 1992, Nigel Mansell – a three-time runner-up – finally achieved his lifelong ambition. To win the Formula 1 World Championship, he fought through physical injury and psychological challenges. In this 30th anniversary special episode, Nigel tells Tom Clarkson the story of his championship winning year. He relives his dominant race victories, a Monaco battle for the ages with Ayrton Senna, the incredible celebrations that year at the British Grand Prix, and his crowning moment in Hungary. Mansell also remembers the stunning revelation, less than 24 hours after he won the title. which changed the course of his life.

Related episodes from the BTG archive
Riccardo Patrese, Mansell's 92 teammate
Sir Patrick Head, Williams co-founder
Mansell, Prost, Vettel and Leclerc on racing for Ferrari

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From the age of 8, Susie Wolff dreamed of making it in motorsport. Formula 1 was her goal. In 2014 she got her chance – driving for Williams in Free Practice at the British Grand Prix, becoming the first woman to drive in an official F1 session for more than two decades. She tells Tom Clarkson how she earned her F1 opportunity through making life-changing decisions and dedication to her dream. She proved her speed in karting, where she raced Lewis Hamilton, in Germany’s DTM touring car championship with Mercedes and in several F1 runs with Williams. Today, Susie is pushing to create opportunities for women who want to follow her path, and has valuable insight and advice to share. She’s also a leader, as CEO of the front-running Venturi Formula E team, and she lives the highs and lows of the Mercedes Formula 1 team through husband Toto.

Related episodes from the BTG archive
Toto Wolff
Lewis Hamilton
George Russell
Claire Williams

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Name a top F1 team or driver – Pat Fry is probably a big part of their success. He’s spent 35 years winning with Benetton, McLaren, Ferrari and Alpine, racing with world champion drivers Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. In that time he’s seen F1 change massively, and played a big role in developing game-changing racing technology. Pat tells Tom Clarkson about the challenges of F1’s new 2022 rules, his favourite drivers, his toughest bosses and how to build a winning team. Pat’s still racing as hard as ever as Alpine’s Chief Technical Officer. Today he’s chasing the performance gains he hopes will make the French team F1 world championship contenders in the future.

Related episodes from the BTG archive
Fernando Alonso
Esteban Ocon
Flavio Briatore
Mika Hakkinen

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Will 2022 be a life-changing year for Carlos Sainz? He sits in a Ferrari which looked fast and reliable in pre-season testing. He’s proved he has what it takes to win in Formula 1. Can he make that final step to top of the podium? As Carlos tells Tom Clarkson, he still looks back with frustration on races he feels he could have won. You’ll hear how his seasons at McLaren shaped Carlos into the driver he is today, and how he offered reassurance to Daniel Ricciardo during the Australian’s tough times at the team. Plus his rivalries and friendships with Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris, how contract security changed his approach to racing, the physical and mental gains he’s made during early morning gym sessions and why F1’s Smooth Operator is not actually smooth at all…­

Related episodes from the BTG archive
Charles Leclerc
Lando Norris
Mattia Binotto, Ferrari Team Principal
Kimi Raikkonen - 2007 World Champion with Ferrari
Sebastian Vettel
SPECIAL: Racing for Ferrari

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Season 5 of F1 Beyond The Grid launches on Wednesday 16th March, but who’s our first guest? Tom Clarkson has the answer and an exclusive preview…

Season 5 of F1: Beyond The Grid starts with a brand-new episode on Wednesday 16th March.

With just days to go before we see the new 2022 cars go wheel to wheel, we revisit an episode from 2020 when Martin Brundle joined Tom to discuss the best F1 cars he’s ever driven. The Briton doesn’t just boast 158 race starts and nine podiums in F1 – he’s also one of the only people on the planet to have driven Grand Prix machinery from every decade of the sport, so he’s perfectly placed to describe how the unique challenge of driving flat out has evolved over time…


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F1 is back and so is F1 Nation! Tom Clarkson, Damon Hill and Natalie Pinkham chat about the news, views and pre-season clues from three days of running in Barcelona. Which teams have made strong starts, and which still have work to do? Plus, rumours of ‘brand new cars’ being prepared for the Bahrain test, exciting early signs for close wheel-to-wheel racing in 2022, and expert insight on the new generation of cars from Aston Martin’s Performance Director, Tom McCullough. We also breakdown F1’s porpoising problem, hear tales of Damon’s worst pre-season sessions, and learn that we’ve all been pronouncing his name incorrectly (according to his mother, anyway).

Send your F1 question to the 1996 World Champion for our first Ask Damon of 2022. Record it as a voice note and email it to [email protected]

Don't forget to search for F1 Nation in your podcast app and follow the show so you don't miss out new episodes, weekly throughout the 2022 season. 

Season 5 of F1 Beyond The Grid starts with a brand-new episode on Wednesday 16th March.

Alain Prost is a four-time Formula 1 World Champion, star of one of the sport’s most thrilling eras, and Ayrton Senna’s great rival. In this 2018 interview from the Beyond The Grid archive, Alain tells Tom Clarkson the story of his rise to the top of the sport, the championships he missed out on, the titles he won, and the dazzling drivers he raced along the way. Prost v Senna was the duel which dominated F1 in the late 1980s and early 90s. You’ll hear Alain’s take on their relationship, and memories of their heart-to-heart phone conversations which finally helped him understand Senna as a driver and as a person.

Season 5 of F1 Beyond The Grid starts with a brand-new episode on Wednesday 16th March.

Before another year of in-depth conversations with Formula 1’s biggest stars, we’re revisiting some of our favourite episodes from the past four seasons.

In October 2020, Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff told Tom Clarkson about his love of competition, what breaking records means to him, the challenge of managing the warring Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, and how much he misses his friend and colleague, the late, great Niki Lauda.


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Season 5 of F1 Beyond The Grid starts with a brand new episode on Wednesday 16th March.

Before another year of in-depth conversations with F1’s biggest stars, we’re revisiting some of our favourite episodes from the past four seasons.

When Lando Norris chatted to Tom Clarkson in March 2020, he was just about to start his second F1 season. He’d driven brilliantly in his rookie year, but podium finishes and his first pole position were still in his future.  Lando talked about his late-night lifestyle, social media, gaming, his housework routine, and relationships with his fellow drivers. Plus tales of getting in trouble with McLaren and a slightly awkward pre-F1 meeting with Red Bull’s driver programme boss, Helmut Marko.


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2021 gave us amazing action on the racetrack, and captivating conversations on F1 Beyond The Grid.

For this special episode, Tom Clarkson has picked his favourite moments from the past year. Red Bull’s Christian Horner explained how Max Verstappen evolved from teenage sensation to World Champion, Charles Leclerc remembered his emotional race victories for Ferrari and showed off his musical talents, Monza winner Daniel Ricciardo explained why that victory meant so much to him, and Valtteri Bottas revealed the pressure he was under during his time at Mercedes, plus his favourite type of coffee. All that plus Fernando Alonso, race strategist Ruth Buscombe, Aston Martin CEO Lawrence Stroll and many more. To listen to these interviews in full, scroll through the F1 Beyond The Grid back catalogue. There are more than 150 episodes for you to enjoy over the winter break, including conversations with Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg and Alain Prost. F1 Beyond The Grid will be back in 2022 with more in-depth conversations with F1’s biggest stars. Thank you for listening.



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After 348 Grand Prix starts, just one remains. Ahead of his final race in Formula 1, Kimi Raikkonen joins Tom Clarkson to look back at his 20 year career: the races, the teammates, the bosses, the championship he clinched in 2007 and those he missed out on. ‘Everything comes to an end sometime’, says the most experienced driver in F1 history, who remembers his very first time in an F1 car and his debut in 2001. Kimi explains what makes him so fast, and picks his favourite race victories. What will he miss about Formula 1, and what will he love about retirement? Plus, Kimi’s long-time therapist and trainer, Mark Arnall, shares his insight and memories from 20 years by Kimi’s side. The final chequered flag is almost flying, but Kimi will always be a racer.


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Fear is something F1 drivers don’t often admit to feeling. Pedro Diniz does. In his 98 Grands Prix during the 1990s and into 2000, the Brazilian experienced the highs of hard earned top-six points finishes and, on his day, was a match for teammates Jean Alesi and Damon Hill. But, as he tells Tom Clarkson in a rare interview, lucky escapes from a fireball in Argentina and an upside-down car in Germany left a deep impression. ‘The biggest challenge was really the challenge of my mind’, Pedro says. How do fear and the immense pressure of racing in Formula 1 affect a driver's performance? How can meditation and yoga help a racer go faster? Pedro tells all. He also remembers first encounters with Kimi Raikkonen and Rubens Barrichello at the very start of their racing careers, and explains his post-racing passion for producing organic food. Sebastian Vettel is among the people who are very interested in what Pedro’s doing today on his farm in Brazil.

In 2021 he returned to the F1 podium with Alpine, but he still wants so much more. Fernando Alonso has his sights set on silverware in 2022 and beyond. In this exclusive episode, the double world champion opens up on his past, present and future with Tom Clarkson. He explains why racing Michael Schumacher was so special, why he ‘wasn’t ready’ for their fierce championship fights in 2005 and 2006, and what he learned from his ‘magic’ Ferrari opponent. Alonso reflects on his rivalry with Lewis Hamilton at McLaren and the world titles he missed out on in 2007, 2010 and 2012. Does he feel his talent deserves more? Did he fall out of love with F1 when he walked away in 2018? How long is he planning to stay in the sport this time? One thing is certain, Fernando is still pushing for wins, for championships and to create a sporting ‘legacy’ he can truly be proud of.


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How does a young man from Kentucky go from driving a New York taxi to racing in Formula 1 and winning the Indy 500? Danny Sullivan’s extraordinary story starts with a childhood obsession with F1 books. It sparked a dream of becoming a racing driver, and he moved to Europe to make it come true. Incredibly, Danny lived with the legendary team boss Ken Tyrrell, who gave him an F1 drive in 1983. Danny tells Tom Clarkson about his best moments in Formula 1: how an inspired but risky strategy call helped earn him a 5th place at Monaco, and the time he battled wheel-to-wheel with world champion Keke Rosberg in a thrilling race finish. After a short stint in F1, Danny returned to America and wrote a dramatic new chapter with victory at the 1985 Indy 500. Even now his story continues, helping to make big calls as a FIA Driver Steward - all part of a whirlwind career that he recounts in vivid detail.

Five seasons, one unfulfilled dream. Valtteri Bottas will leave Mercedes as a race winner whose brilliant performances contributed to a Constructors Championship quadruple. Yet, as he tells Tom Clarkson, he’ll look back on his years in silver and black with some dissatisfaction. How did Valtteri’s determination to prove himself, the constant uncertainty about his F1 future, and the need to support the team and his teammate Lewis Hamilton combine to make his life difficult? What would he do differently if he could go back, and why will things be different at Alfa Romeo from 2022? Plus, the Finn explains his love of coffee and cycling, and hints at an F1 grand plan which could see him in a red race suit one day…


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Tommy Byrne’s talent in a racing car was likened to that of Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. To those who watched him closely, he was a champion in the making. Why, then, did his Formula 1 career last just five races in an uncompetitive car? Tommy tells Tom Clarkson the story of the impressive wins in junior categories – including one in Ayrton Senna’s car – which got him to F1 in 1982. He explains why his straight-talking personality and party lifestyle upset the F1 establishment and why he never got the opportunity to race for a front-running team. Tommy also remembers the McLaren test that could have changed his life and the shock, decades later, when he learned what was really going on behind-the-scenes that day at Silverstone.

Matching Daniel Ricciardo in the same car and twice finishing 6th in a Grand Prix is a Formula 1 record to be proud of. But looking back at his three seasons driving for midfield team Scuderia Toro Rosso, Jean-Eric Vergne thinks he could – and should – have done better. In an honest and unflinchingly self-critical interview, Vergne tells Tom Clarkson how his mentality and even his physical size negatively affected his F1 career, and recalls the many things he wishes had turned out differently. He tells the astonishing inside story of his 2014 F1 exit, and reveals the unfortunate timing, bad luck and driver moves which edged him out of the sport. JEV also explains how Lewis Hamilton inspired him to kickstart his own racing career to win championships in Formula E and why he wants to face new challenges at Le Mans.


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New team, new trophies, new targets: a lot’s changed in Daniel Ricciardo’s mind since his first Beyond The Grid interview in 2019. But one thing has stayed the same: his will to win. Daniel relives the ‘relief and happiness’ brought by his Monza victory and explains why it meant so much to him and his McLaren teammates. The ‘bitter’ feelings of the past are gone, he says, and his mindset has shifted; he’s now driving for much more than just World Championship points. He’s also determined to enjoy himself away from the track, and tells Tom Clarkson why he loves dirt biking, surfing (despite a fear of sharks), the Buffalo Bills NFL team and life on his farm in Australia. 

Related episodes from the BTG archive
Lando Norris
Zak Brown, McLaren CEO
Andreas Seidl, McLaren Team Principal

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Aston Martin is ‘the next big thing to happen in Formula 1’. So says Lawrence Stroll, who’s brought the historic brand back into the sport. Stroll first entered the F1 world as a clothing sponsor for Lotus in the 90s before teaming up with Ferrari and Michael Schumacher. A life-long lover of beautiful cars, he tells Tom Clarkson what two things convinced him to buy the Force India team and transform it into Aston Martin. Now – with son Lance and Sebastian Vettel at the wheel of the dark green cars - Stroll’s aiming to win in Formula 1. He explains his masterplan for a talented team and a state-of-the-art factory that he believes will change the face of Grand Prix racing.

In his long career, Emanuele Pirro has experienced everything motorsport can throw at a driver. In the 1980s, the Italian raced for Benetton while simultaneously helping to develop Prost and Senna’s mighty McLaren Honda MP4/4. Later, he battled soaking conditions at the infamous 1991 Australian GP and won Le Mans five times. Emanuele has enjoyed an incredible career, and has great stories to tell. Why did he reject Ferrari? Why did Riccardo Patrese hit him on the helmet after his final Grand Prix? Emanuele also tells Tom Clarkson about his current role as an FIA Driver Steward.

Sebastian Vettel's first Ferrari victory, Haas' points-scoring debut, the race that saved Sauber - all masterminded by race strategist, Ruth Buscombe. Today, as Alfa Romeo's Head of Race Strategy, she's the unseen hand that helps guide the teams race fortunes. Ruth dissects how race strategists operate, how they use data to plan for and react to wild races, what a race-winning strategy call feels like and the rivalry between strategists. Plus, Ruth remembers her route to F1, and talks about the importance of championing diversity and opportunities for all in motorsport. 

 
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Nikita Mazepin has spent his first year in Formula 1 fighting at the back of the field. He has big ambitions, and is determined to get to the front. Ahead of the 2021 Russian Grand Prix, he tells Tom Clarkson how he’s finding the ‘huge step’ from Formula 2 to Formula 1, and what he’s learning on and off track. Plus, Mazepin explains his long competitive relationship with Haas teammate Mick Schumacher, and remembers how he left Russia to pursue his driving career, with his father by his side since his very first race.


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This week’s guest is that rarest of creatures: a man who was both a Formula One driver and a team owner. Jackie Oliver’s F1 journey started in the worst possible circumstances when he had the unenviable task of replacing Jim Clark at Lotus in 1968, after the Scotsman had been killed at Hockenheim. He went on to start 50 GPs for Lotus, BRM, McLaren and Shadow, scoring two podiums, before hanging up his helmet to start his own team: Arrows. He gives a fascinating insight into life as a driver in the 60s, what he learnt from Colin Chapman that he would apply to life as a team boss, the incredible dramas that beset Arrows in the early days, and that ‘almost victory’ with Damon Hill in 1997…


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In 1961, Phil Hill became the first American to win the Formula 1 World Championship after triumphing for Ferrari in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. But that moment of monumental personal achievement was extraordinarily bittersweet, with team mate and title rival Wolfgang von Trips losing his life, along with scores of spectators, in the very same race. In this special episode of Beyond The Grid, Phil’s son Derek Hill tells Tom Clarkson how his father coped with both the win and the loss. He also describes in vivid detail his father’s beginnings as a mechanic and hot rod enthusiast in California, and how that led, via sportscar racing in the US, to an invitation to race in Europe for Enzo Ferrari. With fascinating insights into his father’s unique character, struggles with self-esteem and driving style, this is Phil Hill’s extraordinary F1 story.

His father is a tough act to follow, but Mick Schumacher is loving writing his own Formula 1 story. In his debut season he’s often out of the spotlight at the back of the grid, but he’s proving he’s got what it takes to compete with the front-runners. Mick tells Tom Clarkson about adjusting to life in F1, the lessons he’s still learning from his father’s career, and drops some hints about his future. Plus he takes us inside his F1 support system: he’s got Haas, Ferrari Driver Academy, Sebastian Vettel, his family - and his dog, Angie - cheering him on every lap of the way.

Related episodes from the BTG archive
Sabine Kehm, Michael and Mick Schumacher's manager
Kevin Magnussen
Bertrand Gachot - the driver whose prison sentence gave Michael Schumacher his F1 debut
Ross Brawn on racing with Michael Schumacher

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The story of how Michael Schumacher made his debut, 30 years ago this week in Belgium, could have been lifted from a Hollywood movie. The German rookie got his chance when Jordan’s regular driver Bertrand Gachot was dramatically sent to prison on the eve of the race – the rest, as they say, is history. But what of Gachot himself? This week the Luxembourg-born racer joins Tom to tell his incredible story – including the full, incredible story of how he ended up in prison, what life was like for an F1 driver behind bars, how he feels about Schumacher now, and how he got his career back on track after his release.


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This week we welcome F1 royalty onto the show: Sir Patrick Head, co-founder of Williams and an engineering legend. After going into business with Frank Williams in the late 70s, Patrick helped build one of the greatest teams in history, his engineering acumen leading to world championships aplenty. He speaks about that journey, including what it was like to work with Frank, how he responded to Frank’s life-changing car accident, what he looked for in the drivers that shaped Williams and much more. And as you might expect, there are plenty of brilliant anecdotes!



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This week’s guest has spent 30 years in F1, working with some of the sport’s greatest drivers. As Driver Coach of Ferrari’s vaunted academy, Jock Clear’s job is to help the likes of Charles Leclerc and Mick Schumacher perform to the best of their ability – a role he’s performed with others before. Clear became widely known to many F1 fans as race engineer to Jacques Villeneuve at Williams in the late Nineties and then – surprisingly – as engineer to the man who famously ran into the Canadian in 1997, Michael Schumacher, when the German ace was at Mercedes. He also worked with and alongside the likes Rubens Barrichello, Nico Rosberg, and Jenson Button – and as a result has great stories and insight to offer about all of them!

Nicholas Latifi always thought he’d follow his father into the world of business – but childhood karting and trips to the Canadian Grand Prix made him dream of racing in Formula 1. Chasing that dream meant leaving home to compete in Europe, and it’s a home he still misses at times. He earned his stripes in Formula 2 alongside Esteban Ocon and Alex Albon. His second season of Formula 1 has brought improved performances and his first World Championship points. He’s also closing in on Williams teammate George Russell in qualifying. Nicholas tells Tom Clarkson about his journey to F1, the importance of good team radio communication and why he can’t eat too much of his favourite chocolate spread…

This episode is sponsored by: 

Babbel.com/play promo code GRID for 6 months free with a purchase of a 6 month subscription 

Calm.com/GRID for 40% off unlimited access to Calm’s entire library. 

Daniele Audetto was a key figure in arguably one of the most tumultuous and exciting seasons in F1 history: 1976. As team manager at Ferrari, he reported directly back to Enzo Ferrari from each race – and that included giving him the bad news when Niki Lauda was critically injured at the German Grand Prix. In this week’s show, 45 years on from that dreadful moment, Audetto recounts that weekend in detail, as well as Lauda’s heroic comeback and that tense title finale with James Hunt in Fuji. He also discusses life after Ferrari, and in particular his stints at Lamborghini – when Senna tested and nearly raced a Lambo-powered McLaren – and everyone’s favourite minnows, Super Aguri.

This week’s guest may not be a household name, but for 20 years he was at the epicentre of Formula 1. Between the late 70s to early 90s, Peter Collins worked for Lotus under Colin Chapman, then Williams under Sir Frank, then Benetton alongside Flavio Briatore, before returning to run Lotus. In various managerial roles during that period he worked with some great drivers too: Keke Rosberg, Nigel Mansell, Gerhard Berger, Mika Hakkinen and Johnny Herbert. And the great news for us is that Peter has great anecdotes about all of them! So settle in for fabulous insight into a golden era of the sport – including the time he dispatched Hakkinen to do the school run…


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