F1: Beyond The Grid

F1: Beyond The Grid

Formula 1

Formula 1's fastest stars slow down for in-depth interviews. Tom Clarkson brings you revealing, feature-length conversations with drivers, team bosses, engineering experts and F1 legends. Thanks for listening in 2024. F1 Beyond The Grid will return in 2025. Hit the follow button for the fastest way to get new episodes. Watch episodes exclusively on the F1 YouTube channel. An official Formula 1 podcast. For race reviews + previews, listen to F1 Nation. To learn more about how F1 works, listen to F1 Explains

McLaren’s Revival: Norris, Piastri, Brown + Stella from the BTG Archive

McLaren’s Revival: Norris, Piastri, Brown + Stella from the BTG Archive

2024 saw McLaren become Constructor World Champions for the first time since 1998. Will they defend their title in 2025? And will Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri become the team’s first Drivers’ World Champion since Lewis Hamilton in 2008? Tom Clarkson has been digging through the F1 Beyond The Grid archives to find out how McLaren have transformed into the fastest team in Formula 1 and whether their success will continue in the new season. Providing in-depth insight into the winning culture th

Feb 19, • 54:05

Racing for Ferrari: Vettel, Prost + Mansell from the BTG Archive

Racing for Ferrari: Vettel, Prost + Mansell from the BTG Archive

Lewis Hamilton is getting ready for his first season with Ferrari in 2025. He’s won seven World Championships and 105 races, but some of Formula 1’s most successful drivers have joined Ferrari in the past and missed out on the ultimate prize. So what lessons can Lewis take from those who came before him? How difficult is it to win titles with the Scuderia? And why is driving for Ferrari so different to any other team in the sport? Digging through the F1 Beyond The Grid archives, Tom Clarkson h

Feb 12, • 41:37

Liam Lawson's racing line, how Ferrari found Ollie Bearman + Oscar Piastri's F2 preparation - The Best of F1 Explains 2024

Liam Lawson's racing line, how Ferrari found Ollie Bearman + Oscar Piastri's F2 preparation - The Best of F1 Explains 2024

What really happens on the grid before a race? How do Formula 1 teams scout their future stars? How are drivers coached to go faster?  In 2024, F1 Explains answered these questions and many more sent in by F1 fans from all over the world. F1 Explains takes your questions and finds the experts to answer them. In this special episode, presenters Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne have picked the most fascinating moments from the podcast's second season: Liam Lawson on how drivers find the ra

Dec 27, 2024 • 47:18

Ageless Alonso, Carlos’s comeback + super sub Bearman – The Best of 2024

Ageless Alonso, Carlos’s comeback + super sub Bearman – The Best of 2024

A driver market for the ages, Verstappen at his very best, emotional race wins, new Constructor World Champions and the end of some iconic eras. The 2024 Formula 1 season was sensational. On F1 Beyond The Grid, the stars of this dramatic year of racing have sat down with Tom Clarkson, revealing what it’s like being at the centre of the biggest stories of the season and sharing fascinating insight into what life is like as a Formula 1 driver, Team Principal, engineer, designer, and more. In this

Dec 18, 2024 • 1:22:38

'One of a kind': Mercedes on Lewis Hamilton

'One of a kind': Mercedes on Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes: their names are together forever in the Formula 1 record books. As the most successful team and driver partnership in the sport's history comes to an end, some of Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes colleagues tell Tom Clarkson their stories of working with him:   Toto Wolff – Team Principal, on how Lewis got stronger every year of their partnership Andrew Shovlin – Trackside Engineering Director, who was on the pit wall for all of Lewis’ history-making races Clare Robertson

Dec 11, 2024 • 1:00:53

Carlos Sainz: pain, pride + potential

Carlos Sainz: pain, pride + potential

This episode is presented by Explora Journeys - redefining luxury ocean travel. 2024 has been a turbulent year for Carlos Sainz. It started with a shock: Lewis Hamilton would be replacing him at Ferrari in 2025. Then he missed a race with appendicitis. But the year is ending with multiple wins and podiums to look back on, and an exciting new challenge to look forward to with Williams next season.  Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Carlos talks about his feelings after finding out Hamilton was taking

Dec 4, 2024 • 1:01:18

'I was tested. It's made me better' - This week on F1 Beyond The Grid...

'I was tested. It's made me better' - This week on F1 Beyond The Grid...

2024 has been a rollercoaster for this week’s guest on F1 Beyond The Grid. While the end of the season provides a chance for reflection, he’s also looking forward to an exciting new venture in 2025.     Hear a preview of the episode with Tom Clarkson now and then you can listen to the conversation in full on your podcast app, or watch on the official F1 YouTube channel, from Wednesday 4th December. Listen to more official F1 podcasts F1 Beyond The Grid - exclusive interviews with F1's biggest s

Dec 2, 2024 • 1:21

Andy Stevenson: 600 races, 1 team

Andy Stevenson: 600 races, 1 team

This episode is brought to you by Salesforce, a Global Partner of Formula 1® Aston Martin Sporting Director Andy Stevenson reached a huge milestone in Las Vegas, working at his 600th Grand Prix. It’s a sensational achievement made even more remarkable by the fact that all 600 races have been with the same team. A driver winning with a broken leg, another going to jail halfway through the season, preparing a future seven-time World Champion for his debut… Andy has seen everything Formula 1 has

Nov 27, 2024 • 1:19:33

Oliver Oakes: the racer driving Alpine

Oliver Oakes: the racer driving Alpine

This episode is brought to you by T-Mobile, official 5G partner of F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix Why did Oliver Oakes become Alpine Team Principal? How does his background as a racing driver and team owner prepare him for this new challenge? And what are his priorities in 2025 and beyond? Speaking to Tom Clarkson at the team’s headquarters in Enstone, Oakes answers all the key questions around Alpine’s future with him at the helm. Oli discusses his mixed feelings after their double podium in Brazi

Nov 20, 2024 • 55:24

LEGENDS: Rubens Barrichello on following Senna and racing Schumacher

LEGENDS: Rubens Barrichello on following Senna and racing Schumacher

He’s one of the most experienced drivers in F1 history, who won races for championship teams Ferrari and Brawn GP.  During his long career, Rubens Barrichello had to cope with the loss of his legendary countryman, Ayrton Senna, and the challenge of carrying the hopes of Brazilian fans afterwards. At Ferrari, Rubens went up against a dominant Michael Schumacher, and while he never won a title, he proved he could match his teammate on his day.  Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Rubens reflects on some o

Nov 13, 2024 • 33:41

Christian Fittipaldi: racing in an F1 dynasty

Christian Fittipaldi: racing in an F1 dynasty

Nephew of two-time Formula 1 World Champion Emerson and son of Brazilian F1 team owner Wilson, Christian Fittipaldi was destined to follow in his family’s footsteps and race in the pinnacle of motorsport. Speaking to Tom Clarkson in his home city of Sao Paulo, Christian reflects on his three seasons on the grid with the Footwork and Minardi teams in the early 1990’s. He talks about what it was like growing up in such an iconic racing family and the pressure he experienced carrying the Fittipald

Nov 6, 2024 • 1:02:20

Christian Danner: how Senna came to his defence in Monaco

Christian Danner: how Senna came to his defence in Monaco

Despite being a hugely versatile racing driver, who competed in Formula 3000, IndyCar, Sports Cars and Touring Cars, Christian Danner was unable to showcase his full potential in Formula 1 in the mid-late 1980s. During an era characterised by poor reliability and pre-qualifying, he either failed to start many of the races he entered, or he failed to finish them. But that certainly doesn’t mean he’s short of some fascinating tales from his time in the sport. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Christian

Oct 30, 2024 • 55:41

Fernando at 400: why Alonso’s still fired up

Fernando at 400: why Alonso’s still fired up

This episode is brought to you by Salesforce, a Global Partner of Formula 1®. Fernando Alonso will become the first driver in Formula 1 history to compete in 400 Grands Prix when he races in Mexico this weekend. It’s a monumental milestone that even Alonso didn’t think he’d reach. Hear why the two-time World Champion thought he’d leave F1 at the end of 2009 and how changes in his relationship with the sport have prolonged his career. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Fernando reflects on the most po

Oct 22, 2024 • 41:45

A monumental milestone in Mexico. This week on F1 Beyond The Grid…

A monumental milestone in Mexico. This week on F1 Beyond The Grid…

This week’s guest on F1 Beyond The Grid will make history at the Mexico City Grand Prix – how did he get this far and what’s next? Hear a preview of the episode with Tom Clarkson now and then you can listen to the conversation in full on your podcast app, or watch on the official F1 YouTube channel from Wednesday 23rd October. More official F1 Podcasts F1 Nation - Grand Prix reviews and previews from inside the F1 paddock F1 Explains - drivers, engineers + experts answer your questions about

Oct 21, 2024 • 1:38

Tom Stallard: Piastri’s Olympic-medallist race engineer

Tom Stallard: Piastri’s Olympic-medallist race engineer

Tom Stallard, Oscar Piastri’s race engineer and McLaren’s Director of Human Performance, is a man of many talents. As a professional rower, he won an Olympic silver medal and became World Champion. As an engineer in Formula 1, he’s won races with some of the sport’s most talented drivers and has played a huge part in McLaren’s transformation into title contenders. So why did Tom make such a big career change and how does working in F1 compare to rowing? Speaking to Tom Clarkson at McLaren’s h

Oct 15, 2024 • 1:00:31

Guenther Steiner: life on the other side of F1

Guenther Steiner: life on the other side of F1

After a decade of highs and lows as Haas Team Principal, Guenther Steiner has changed lanes. Now he’s an author and broadcaster with a new perspective on the drivers, the teams and the bosses he previously saw as rivals. Talking to Tom Clarkson, Guenther looks back at his time at Haas, from their stunning points-scoring debut in 2016, through triumphs, frustrations and low moments, to his departure and what he’s doing today. He explains why he feels he stayed at Haas too long, picks the driver

Oct 8, 2024 • 40:04

James Vowles: on the right track with Albon + Sainz

James Vowles: on the right track with Albon + Sainz

‘For 2025, I think we have the best driver line-up on the grid’. Williams Team Principal James Vowles is confident. Race-winner Carlos Sainz joins proven performer Alex Albon next year – a combination of speed and experience Vowles believes will drive Williams forward. He tells Tom Clarkson his long-term vision for the historic team. 2024 has been a year of big decisions for Williams. Vowles explains asking Logan Sargeant to stand aside so Alex Albon could race in Australia, replacing Sargeant

Oct 1, 2024 • 49:41

F1 NATION: Christian Horner on Daniel Ricciardo's departure and Liam Lawson's return

F1 NATION: Christian Horner on Daniel Ricciardo's departure and Liam Lawson's return

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner gives Tom Clarkson and Damon Hill the inside story on the decision to replace Daniel Ricciardo with Liam Lawson at RB. Horner reveals the race when pressure began to mount on the Australian, and why Ricciardo was replaced with six races remaining. With one eye on 2025 and the future of the Red Bull driver line up, is this a chance for Liam Lawson to stake a claim for a permanent race seat? More official F1 Podcasts F1 Nation - Grand Prix reviews and p

Sep 30, 2024 • 35:50

Ollie Bearman: just getting started

Ollie Bearman: just getting started

Points on his surprise debut with Ferrari. Another top 10 with Haas. Ollie Bearman has made a flying start in Formula 1. In 2025 with Haas, he’s got the chance to show what he can do every race weekend. Ollie tells Tom Clarkson about stepping up from Formula 2, handling the pressure when he got the last-minute call to race for Ferrari in Saudi Arabia, the advice Charles Leclerc gave him, and how his race for Haas in Azerbaijan felt different. He remembers moving from the UK to go racing in It

Sep 24, 2024 • 50:24

Bernd Schneider: why Schumacher’s F1 debut nearly didn’t happen

Bernd Schneider: why Schumacher’s F1 debut nearly didn’t happen

For a driver who only qualified for nine Formula 1 races in three seasons, German racing legend Bernd Schneider sure has some epic stories from his short stint on the grid in the late 1980’s and early ‘90’s. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Schneider talks about how close he came to denying Michael Schumacher his F1 debut and the huge contract Eddie Jordan offered him to return to the sport. Bernd, who went on to become a five-time DTM champion with Mercedes-Benz after his F1 career finished, also re

Sep 17, 2024 • 56:54

Jolyon Palmer: 'career-killer' teammates + a sudden F1 exit

Jolyon Palmer: 'career-killer' teammates + a sudden F1 exit

Just 19 months after making his debut with Renault, Jolyon Palmer lost his seat with four races of the 2017 season still remaining and his Formula 1 career was over. So where did it all go wrong for the 2014 GP2 champion?  Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Palmer dissects all the ups and downs of his year and a half on the grid. He talks about facing unique challenges to prove his worth on track, why he describes former teammate Nico Hulkenberg as a ‘career-killer’, when he stopped enjoying racing and

Sep 10, 2024 • 53:25

Yuki Tsunoda: under pressure, aiming high

Yuki Tsunoda: under pressure, aiming high

Now in his fourth year as a Formula 1 driver, Yuki Tsunoda says he’s starting to show his ‘full potential’.  Frequently beating his VCARB teammate, eight-time Grand Prix winner Daniel Ricciardo, in qualifying and on race day, the Japanese star’s driving has attracted a lot of attention in 2024. So how and why has Yuki improved so much and what does his future hold? Is promotion to VCARB's senior team, Red Bull Racing, still his priority or will he have to find opportunities elsewhere? Speakin

Sep 3, 2024 • 46:13

Inside Michael Schumacher’s final, most dominant, World Championship

Inside Michael Schumacher’s final, most dominant, World Championship

With 13 wins from 18 races, Michael Schumacher’s seventh and final World Championship was his best season in Formula 1. Still to this day, Schumacher is the only driver to have won five titles in a row as he and Ferrari dominated F1 from 2000 to 2004.  So why was the German at his most ruthless during that last triumph in ‘04? 20 years on, Tom Clarkson speaks to McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella (Michael’s performance engineer in 2004), Sabine Kehm (Michael’s media and PR consultant in 200

Aug 27, 2024 • 53:32

Charles Leclerc: chasing the ultimate dream with Ferrari

Charles Leclerc: chasing the ultimate dream with Ferrari

After winning his home race for the first time in 2024, Charles Leclerc has just one more item to tick off his Formula 1 bucket list. But can the Monegasque and Ferrari still become World Champions together? Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Leclerc reflects on that special victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, the reasons behind Ferrari’s struggles since then and why he’s confident of future success with the team. Also on the agenda, Charles talks about having Lewis Hamilton as his teammate in 2025, wha

Aug 20, 2024 • 38:47

This week on F1 Beyond The Grid…

This week on F1 Beyond The Grid…

Tom Clarkson is back, speaking to a current F1 star ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix. Listen for a preview, then hear the full in-depth interview on Wednesday 21st August. Follow F1 Beyond The Grid to get the episode delivered to your podcast app as soon as it’s released

Aug 19, 2024 • 1:12

Bruno Famin: a year as Alpine Team Principal

Bruno Famin: a year as Alpine Team Principal

Change is on the horizon at Alpine, as boss Bruno Famin prepares to step down, and the Renault-owned team considers switching to another manufacturer's power units. Bruno tells Tom Clarkson why he is moving away from the F1 team to focus on operations at Renault's engine factory in Viry, just outside Paris. The factory has produced Renault F1 engines since the 1970s, but staff have been told this project will stop ahead of F1's new engine regulations in 2026. Bruno explains the thinking behind

Jul 30, 2024 • 37:52

F2 + F3 CEO Bruno Michel: steering young drivers to F1

F2 + F3 CEO Bruno Michel: steering young drivers to F1

Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri and George Russell are just a handful of the Formula 1 stars born in Bruno Michel’s racing series. Multiple F1 World Champions and Grand Prix-winners have risen from Formula 2 and Formula 3, previously known as GP2 and GP3. From the very first GP2 champion, Nico Rosberg, to Lando Norris, Nico Hulkenberg, Pierre Gasly, Valtteri Bottas and many more, Bruno has been supporting young drivers in their journey to the pinnacle of motorsport for two decade

Jul 23, 2024 • 1:06:09

Paul Monaghan: Red Bull's race for more records

Paul Monaghan: Red Bull's race for more records

Paul Monaghan, Red Bull Racing’s chief engineer, has been with the team from the very beginning of their Formula 1 venture in 2005. He’s experienced the highs and lows of the team’s evolution from racing rookies into serial winners.  How does the their first era of dominance with Sebastian Vettel compare to their current success with Max Verstappen? What’s the secret to the Dutchman’s speed? And, with the competition getting closer, Adrian Newey leaving and Red Bull making their own engines fo

Jul 16, 2024 • 1:00:46

LEGENDS: Why World Championships eluded David Coulthard

LEGENDS: Why World Championships eluded David Coulthard

What’s the difference between winning races and winning World Championships? David Coulthard enjoyed multiple Grand Prix wins and podiums, but titles were out of reach during his 15-year career in Formula 1. So why was he unable to achieve success that the likes of Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have all experienced? Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Coulthard analyses everything he tried to maximise his ability when competing against ‘exceptional’ drivers and why

Jul 9, 2024 • 59:25

Lando Norris: winning means more

Lando Norris: winning means more

This episode is brought to you by GetYourGuide – the app to discover and book unforgettable travel experiences. Choose from over 100,000 things to do in one app, including an exclusive tour of the McLaren Technology Centre. Discover, book and make memories this summer at GetYourGuide.co.uk Lando Norris’ first F1 victory has changed everything. Speaking to Tom Clarkson before the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix, the McLaren driver explains why winning means so much more, and why racing for the lead f

Jul 2, 2024 • 46:28

Luciano Burti: why Brazilian’s racing risks went unrewarded

Luciano Burti: why Brazilian’s racing risks went unrewarded

Just 14 races into his debut Formula 1 season in 2001, Luciano Burti suffered a huge crash at the Belgian Grand Prix. He walked away but it proved to be his last action as an F1 driver. Speaking to Tom Clarkson in his home city of Sao Paolo, Burti reflects vividly on the crash; what he was thinking about as it was happening, the physical injuries he suffered, why he wasn’t able to return to racing, and how the accident led to improved safety in the sport. The Brazilian also discusses why he c

Jun 25, 2024 • 1:08:38

James Allison: confident of a Mercedes comeback

James Allison: confident of a Mercedes comeback

From 2014 to 2021, Mercedes dominated Formula 1 with a record eight Constructor World Championships in a row. Since 2022 though, they have struggled to fully grasp the current ground effect cars and, as a result, have dramatically fallen down the pecking order, behind their rivals Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari. Merc’s struggles continued at the start of 2024, but they have made progress in the last few races. George Russell’s P3 and Lewis Hamilton’s P4 in Canada secured the team’s best result

Jun 18, 2024 • 46:16

Nikolas Tombazis: the championship-winner shaping F1’s next generation

Nikolas Tombazis: the championship-winner shaping F1’s next generation

He’s an engineer who won Formula 1 World Championships with Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen. Now he’s working on the rules of the sport for 2026 and beyond. Nikolas Tombazis is the Director of Single Seaters for the FIA. He is overseeing the regulations for the 2026 season, when F1 cars will be lighter, smaller and sustainably fuelled, with greater battery power and revolutionary active aerodynamics. He tells Tom Clarkson how the new rules have been designed to create close, competitive r

Jun 11, 2024 • 49:10

Greg Maffei: accelerating F1's future

Greg Maffei: accelerating F1's future

As President and CEO of Liberty Media, Formula 1's parent company, Greg Maffei is at the very top of the sport. Together, he and F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali, are setting the strategy for the sport’s future.   Since Liberty Media took ownership of the Formula 1 in 2017, we’ve seen thrilling races from the Las Vegas Strip to Silverstone, new fans around the world have fallen in love with the sport, and new stars have been given their chance to shine in F1 Academy.   Maffei tells Tom

Jun 4, 2024 • 35:52

Antti Kontsas: how to coach an F1 World Champion

Antti Kontsas: how to coach an F1 World Champion

At the end of his glittering career, four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel said he was in the ‘best shape possible’ thanks to his performance coach Antti Kontsas. So how do you physically and mentally prepare a Formula 1 driver for a season of racing around the world? With over 10 years of experience working in the paddock, coaching the likes of Sebastian Buemi, Jean Eric Vergne and Vettel, Kontsas tells Tom Clarkson his secrets to training these extraordinary humans for the pinnacle of mo

May 28, 2024 • 52:35

Karl Wendlinger: 30 years since career-defining Monaco GP

Karl Wendlinger: 30 years since career-defining Monaco GP

30 years ago, Karl Wendlinger’s Formula 1 career was just beginning to rise after a strong start to 1994 with Sauber. But that all changed in first practice for the Monaco Grand Prix, when the Austrian lost control of his car as he approached the Nouvelle chicane and crashed into the barriers. After a long recovery to regain racing fitness, Wendlinger returned a year later at the Spanish Grand Prix. He wasn’t the same driver though, and at the end of 1995, his time in F1 was up. Speaking to T

May 21, 2024 • 1:00:31

LEGENDS: Martin Brundle’s debut with Senna

LEGENDS: Martin Brundle’s debut with Senna

In 1984, Martin Brundle and Ayrton Senna made their Formula 1 debuts. They had just fought each other in an epic battle for the 1983 British Formula 3 title. But while there was little to separate the duo in junior racing, their F1 careers panned out very differently. As Senna went on to achieve hero status as a triple World Champion, Brundle’s 12-year career was significantly shaped by very serious injuries he suffered in just his ninth Grand Prix. Speaking to Tom Clarkson in the latest of F

May 14, 2024 • 40:16

Zak Brown: McLaren’s winning mastermind

Zak Brown: McLaren’s winning mastermind

McLaren are back on top of the Formula 1 podium, but their mission is far from accomplished yet. Since taking charge in 2018, CEO Zak Brown has overseen a huge transformation on and off the track and the team’s progress has accelerated astronomically over the last 12 months. Lando Norris’s long-awaited maiden Grand Prix victory in Miami is the culmination of an enormous amount of hard work to turn their fortunes around, after an awful start last season left them right at the back of the grid.

May 7, 2024 • 52:37

Ayrton Senna remembered by Bruno Senna

Ayrton Senna remembered by Bruno Senna

30 years since his death at Imola on 1st May 1994, Ayrton Senna’s legacy is still felt around the world. Brazil’s three-time Formula 1 World Champion continues to inspire today’s generation of racing drivers and fans. To Bruno Senna, Ayrton is still both his uncle and his hero. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Bruno shares his childhood memories of Ayrton away from the track, the ‘racing relationship’ they built together, how his life changed after Imola 1994, and the pressure Ayrton’s success put o

Apr 30, 2024 • 1:03:35

Stoffel Vandoorne: dramatic debut to 'tough' exit

Stoffel Vandoorne: dramatic debut to 'tough' exit

A multiple title winner at junior level and a point-scorer on his unexpected F1 debut in 2016, Stoffel Vandoorne seemed on track for a long and prosperous career in Formula 1. But his big break at McLaren in 2017 arrived during one of the team’s most challenging periods. They finished second-last in the standings during Vandoorne’s first season, endured a difficult transition from Honda to Renault engines the following year, and there was huge organisational change at the top as Zak Brown came

Apr 23, 2024 • 51:42

Zhou Guanyu: China’s F1 hero making history at home

Zhou Guanyu: China’s F1 hero making history at home

20 years since his infatuation with Formula 1 began at China’s first race in 2004, Zhou Guanyu will race in front of his home fans for the first time as an F1 driver at the Chinese Grand Prix. Zhou tells Tom Clarkson what racing in Shanghai will look like through his eyes; from his helmet design and sold-out grandstand, to the reaction he’s expecting on his first lap of the track and what it would mean to score his first points of the season in the city he was born in. The Sauber driver also t

Apr 16, 2024 • 53:41

F1 Nation: Why Alonso's staying at Aston

F1 Nation: Why Alonso's staying at Aston

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. Get in touch If you have a question for our F1 Nation experts, then send an emai

Apr 12, 2024 • 25:32

LEGENDS: Juan Pablo Montoya’s race for the 2003 championship

LEGENDS: Juan Pablo Montoya’s race for the 2003 championship

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 ye

Apr 9, 2024 • 44:47

Ayao Komatsu: from Tokyo to Team Principal

Ayao Komatsu: from Tokyo to Team Principal

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 Jap

Apr 2, 2024 • 1:02:47

Pat Symonds: spectacular, sustainable F1 tech

Pat Symonds: spectacular, sustainable F1 tech

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,

Mar 27, 2024 • 1:12:15

Oscar Piastri: building up to more wins with McLaren

Oscar Piastri: building up to more wins with McLaren

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 Austral

Mar 20, 2024 • 48:03

Alex Albon: thriving with Williams

Alex Albon: thriving with Williams

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 pr

Mar 13, 2024 • 42:43

Laurent Mekies: Ricciardo, Tsunoda + RB’s mission

Laurent Mekies: Ricciardo, Tsunoda + RB’s mission

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

Mar 6, 2024 • 1:09:50

Sergio Perez: stronger in 2024

Sergio Perez: stronger in 2024

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

Feb 28, 2024 • 57:17

30 Days of BTG: Day 30 – 2024's first guest revealed

30 Days of BTG: Day 30 – 2024's first guest revealed

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

Feb 27, 2024 • 2:07

30 Days of BTG: Day 29 – James Allison’s hilarious first encounter with Lewis Hamilton

30 Days of BTG: Day 29 – James Allison’s hilarious first encounter with Lewis Hamilton

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.

Feb 26, 2024 • 11:24

30 Days of BTG: Day 28 – Zhou Guanyu on idolising Alonso + Chinese Grand Prix dreams

30 Days of BTG: Day 28 – Zhou Guanyu on idolising Alonso + Chinese Grand Prix dreams

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.

Feb 25, 2024 • 11:10

30 Days of BTG: Day 27 – Martin Brundle’s iconic battles with Ayrton Senna

30 Days of BTG: Day 27 – Martin Brundle’s iconic battles with Ayrton Senna

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

Feb 24, 2024 • 13:41

30 Days of BTG: Day 26 – Ralf Schumacher talks teammate rivalries and making history with Michael

30 Days of BTG: Day 26 – Ralf Schumacher talks teammate rivalries and making history with Michael

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.

Feb 23, 2024 • 10:25

30 Days of BTG: Day 25 – How Alex Albon bounced back from Red Bull exit

30 Days of BTG: Day 25 – How Alex Albon bounced back from Red Bull exit

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.

Feb 22, 2024 • 12:38

30 Days of BTG: Day 24 – Ross Brawn tells the inside story of Brawn GP’s fairytale in 2009

30 Days of BTG: Day 24 – Ross Brawn tells the inside story of Brawn GP’s fairytale in 2009

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. This episode is sponsored by:  Indeed: get a seventy-five dollar sponsored job credit to g

Feb 21, 2024 • 48:10

30 Days of BTG: Day 23 – Inside Senna and Prost’s McLaren rivalry, with Neil Oatley

30 Days of BTG: Day 23 – Inside Senna and Prost’s McLaren rivalry, with Neil Oatley

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.

Feb 20, 2024 • 11:04

30 Days of BTG: Day 22 – Damon Hill recalls his World Champion teammates and 1994 title-decider drama

30 Days of BTG: Day 22 – Damon Hill recalls his World Champion teammates and 1994 title-decider drama

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.

Feb 19, 2024 • 9:37

30 Days of BTG: Day 21 – Has Lance Stroll had an ‘easy ride’ into Formula 1?

30 Days of BTG: Day 21 – Has Lance Stroll had an ‘easy ride’ into Formula 1?

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 L

Feb 18, 2024 • 10:11

30 Days of BTG: Day 20 – Why Scott Speed didn’t succeed

30 Days of BTG: Day 20 – Why Scott Speed didn’t succeed

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.

Feb 17, 2024 • 9:34

30 Days of BTG: Day 19 – Why Juan Pablo Montoya ‘didn’t fit in’

30 Days of BTG: Day 19 – Why Juan Pablo Montoya ‘didn’t fit in’

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.

Feb 16, 2024 • 9:29

30 Days of BTG: Day 18 – Paul Stoddart’s memories of Minardi’s miracle in 2002

30 Days of BTG: Day 18 – Paul Stoddart’s memories of Minardi’s miracle in 2002

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.

Feb 15, 2024 • 11:16

30 Days of BTG: Day 17 – Oscar Piastri’s journey to Formula 1

30 Days of BTG: Day 17 – Oscar Piastri’s journey to Formula 1

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.

Feb 14, 2024 • 48:47

30 Days of BTG: Day 16 - Carlos Sainz Jr's relationship with Carlos Sainz Sr

30 Days of BTG: Day 16 - Carlos Sainz Jr's relationship with Carlos Sainz Sr

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

Feb 13, 2024 • 10:12

30 Days of BTG: Day 15 – Mike Krack on taking charge of Aston + working for Lawrence Stroll

30 Days of BTG: Day 15 – Mike Krack on taking charge of Aston + working for Lawrence Stroll

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.

Feb 12, 2024 • 6:56

30 Days of BTG: Day 14 – Stefano Domenicali explains why 24 is the ‘right’ number of races

30 Days of BTG: Day 14 – Stefano Domenicali explains why 24 is the ‘right’ number of races

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.

Feb 11, 2024 • 5:48

30 Days of BTG: Day 13 – Finding F1’s future stars with Gwen Lagrue

30 Days of BTG: Day 13 – Finding F1’s future stars with Gwen Lagrue

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.

Feb 10, 2024 • 9:29

30 Days of BTG: Day 12 – Why Franz Tost defied doubters to launch Verstappen’s career

30 Days of BTG: Day 12 – Why Franz Tost defied doubters to launch Verstappen’s career

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.

Feb 9, 2024 • 6:50

30 Days of BTG: Day 11 – Did Mark Webber’s intensity hold him back?

30 Days of BTG: Day 11 – Did Mark Webber’s intensity hold him back?

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

Feb 8, 2024 • 9:09

30 Days of BTG: Day 10 – Susie Wolff on women in racing and the F1 dream

30 Days of BTG: Day 10 – Susie Wolff on women in racing and the F1 dream

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.

Feb 7, 2024 • 51:08

30 Days of BTG: Day 9 – Heikki Kovalainen on bets with Hamilton and winning in Hungary

30 Days of BTG: Day 9 – Heikki Kovalainen on bets with Hamilton and winning in Hungary

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.

Feb 6, 2024 • 9:44

30 Days of BTG: Day 8 – Why Romain Grosjean refused to quit racing after Bahrain crash

30 Days of BTG: Day 8 – Why Romain Grosjean refused to quit racing after Bahrain crash

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.

Feb 5, 2024 • 8:29

30 Days of BTG: Day 7 – Jarno Trulli’s memories of maiden Monaco win

30 Days of BTG: Day 7 – Jarno Trulli’s memories of maiden Monaco win

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.

Feb 4, 2024 • 8:55

30 Days of BTG: Day 6 – Bernie Collins on masterminding Perez’s first victory

30 Days of BTG: Day 6 – Bernie Collins on masterminding Perez’s first victory

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.

Feb 3, 2024 • 6:15

F1 Nation - Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari: the inside story

F1 Nation - Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari: the inside story

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

Feb 2, 2024 • 43:30

30 Days of BTG: Day 5 – Zak Brown’s dreams of becoming an F1 driver

30 Days of BTG: Day 5 – Zak Brown’s dreams of becoming an F1 driver

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.

Feb 2, 2024 • 9:55

30 Days of BTG: Day 4 – Why Rubens Barrichello let Schumacher win 2002 Austrian GP

30 Days of BTG: Day 4 – Why Rubens Barrichello let Schumacher win 2002 Austrian GP

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.

Feb 1, 2024 • 9:38

30 Days of BTG: Day 3 – Sebastian Vettel’s F1 farewell

30 Days of BTG: Day 3 – Sebastian Vettel’s F1 farewell

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 se

Jan 31, 2024 • 1:05:19

30 Days of BTG: Day 2 – Logan Sargeant on proving people wrong

30 Days of BTG: Day 2 – Logan Sargeant on proving people wrong

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

Jan 30, 2024 • 8:08

30 Days of BTG: Day 1 – How Christian Horner became Red Bull Team Principal

30 Days of BTG: Day 1 – How Christian Horner became Red Bull Team Principal

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 H

Jan 29, 2024 • 11:22

Piastri’s pathway, Leclerc’s piano passion, Pierre’s new perspective + more best bits of 2023

Piastri’s pathway, Leclerc’s piano passion, Pierre’s new perspective + more best bits of 2023

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

Dec 13, 2023 • 54:20

 Daniel Ricciardo: dreaming of a ‘perfect’ Red Bull return

Daniel Ricciardo: dreaming of a ‘perfect’ Red Bull return

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 wi

Dec 6, 2023 • 59:55

A new dream - this week on F1 BTG...

A new dream - this week on F1 BTG...

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. Know someone who’d love to listen to this? Use the share button and #F1BeyondTheGrid to tell them all about it.

Dec 5, 2023 • 1:48

Bernie Collins: strategy risks, racing rewards + the pressure of the pitwall

Bernie Collins: strategy risks, racing rewards + the pressure of the pitwall

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-en

Nov 29, 2023 • 1:00:58

Franz Tost: a leader who launched champions

Franz Tost: a leader who launched champions

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 hel

Nov 22, 2023 • 1:06:16

Mario Andretti: 45 years since 78’s glory and grief

Mario Andretti: 45 years since 78’s glory and grief

This episode is sponsored by Call of Duty, Modern Warfare® 3. 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

Nov 15, 2023 • 58:50

Pierre Gasly: wanting to win again in 2024

Pierre Gasly: wanting to win again in 2024

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

Nov 8, 2023 • 58:53

5 years since their last appearance... This week on BTG

5 years since their last appearance... This week on BTG

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. Know someone who'd love to listen to this? Use the share button and #F1BeyondTheGrid to tell them about it. For race previews and reviews listen to F1 Nation. To hear F1 experts answer your questions about the sport, check out F1 Explains.

Nov 6, 2023 • 1:28

Enrique Bernoldi: the unsung driver from one of F1’s greatest rookie classes

Enrique Bernoldi: the unsung driver from one of F1’s greatest rookie classes

This episode of F1 Beyond The Grid is brought to you by Salesforce, the Global Partner of Formula 1®. Visit Salesforce.com/F1 to learn more about how Formula 1 wows fans and grows its global fanbase with Salesforce. 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 d

Oct 31, 2023 • 1:02:39

Liam Lawson: thrilled but ‘unfulfilled’ by F1 debut

Liam Lawson: thrilled but ‘unfulfilled’ by F1 debut

This episode is brought to you by GetYourGuide – home of unforgettable travel experiences, including a behind-the-scenes tour of the McLaren Technology Centre. Go to GetYourGuide.com to book now. 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 v

Oct 24, 2023 • 48:35

'2023's surprise package' - This week on BTG

'2023's surprise package' - This week on BTG

Once you've had a taste of Formula 1, you just want more! This week's guest on F1 Beyond The Grid reflects on a surprising debut and tells us he's hungry to claim a full-time seat in the future. Enjoyed this preview? Hear the full episode on Wednesday 25th October. Share using #F1BeyondTheGrid For race reviews and previews, listen to F1 Nation. To hear F1 experts reveal the inner workings of the sport, listen to F1 Explains.

Oct 23, 2023 • 1:29

Andrea Stella: transforming McLaren

Andrea Stella: transforming McLaren

This episode of F1 Beyond The Grid is brought to you by Salesforce, the Global Partner of Formula 1®. Visit Salesforce.com/F1 to learn more about how Formula 1 wows fans and grows its global fanbase with Salesforce. 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 podi

Oct 17, 2023 • 54:22

Vitantonio Liuzzi: chasing a ‘life-changing’ F1 podium

Vitantonio Liuzzi: chasing a ‘life-changing’ F1 podium

This episode is brought to you by Bitdefender, Team partner of Ferrari. Visit Bitdefender.com to learn more about how Bitdefender supports Ferrari to stay ahead of cyber threats and how you can make your digital life safer. 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

Oct 10, 2023 • 1:04:07

George Russell: happier, hungrier + ‘holding his own’ with Hamilton

George Russell: happier, hungrier + ‘holding his own’ with Hamilton

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

Oct 3, 2023 • 46:16

'I'm in a much happier place' - This week on BTG

'I'm in a much happier place' - This week on BTG

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. Share using #F1BeyondTheGrid. Follow the podcast so you get the episode fast.

Oct 2, 2023 • 1:22

Adrian Newey: legendary F1 designer

Adrian Newey: legendary F1 designer

This episode of F1 Beyond The Grid is presented by Paramount+. Explore the full mountain of entertainment on offer at Paramount+ today and find your next favourite show at paramountplus.com 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

Sep 26, 2023 • 1:06:34

Inside the mind of an F1 genius - this week on BTG

Inside the mind of an F1 genius - this week on BTG

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. Share using #F1BeyondTheGrid. Follow the podcast to get the episode as soon as it's released. Listen to F1's other official podcasts: F1 Nation for race reviews and previews F1 Explains answers your questions about the sport and explores how F1 works

Sep 25, 2023 • 1:46

Mick Doohan: a five-time World Champion on two wheels

Mick Doohan: a five-time World Champion on two wheels

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 compa

Sep 19, 2023 • 52:23

Gwen Lagrue: finding F1's future stars

Gwen Lagrue: finding F1's future stars

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 other

Sep 12, 2023 • 59:13

Nico Hulkenberg: focusing on family and F1

Nico Hulkenberg: focusing on family and F1

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 spor

Sep 5, 2023 • 49:49

'The Incredible ____' - This week on F1 Beyond The Grid...

'The Incredible ____' - This week on F1 Beyond The Grid...

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

Sep 4, 2023 • 1:48

Fred Vasseur: pursuing the ‘pinnacle’ with Ferrari

Fred Vasseur: pursuing the ‘pinnacle’ with Ferrari

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

Aug 29, 2023 • 46:23

The man under most pressure in the paddock? This week on F1 Beyond The Grid...

The man under most pressure in the paddock? This week on F1 Beyond The Grid...

Does this person have the most scrutinised job in Formula 1?  Judge for yourself when the full episode comes out on Wednesday 30th August. Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid using #F1BeyondTheGrid.

Aug 28, 2023 • 1:48

Heinz-Harald Frentzen: Germany’s F1 cult hero

Heinz-Harald Frentzen: Germany’s F1 cult hero

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 col

Aug 22, 2023 • 1:24:47

F1 BTG returns with a 90's fan favourite...

F1 BTG returns with a 90's fan favourite...

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

Aug 22, 2023 • 1:34

Herbie Blash: race mechanic to Race Control

Herbie Blash: race mechanic to Race Control

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 Contro

Aug 1, 2023 • 1:15:28

Otmar Szafnauer on leading Alpine

Otmar Szafnauer on leading Alpine

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 Formu

Jul 25, 2023 • 48:34

 Mario Illien: powering F1 champions

Mario Illien: powering F1 champions

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 Il

Jul 18, 2023 • 54:43

Christian Klien: Red Bull’s first F1 prodigy

Christian Klien: Red Bull’s first F1 prodigy

This episode is brought to you by GetYourGuide — the leading online platform for travel experiences. Book your behind-the-scenes tour of McLaren HQ at getyourguide.com. 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 Kl

Jul 11, 2023 • 57:33

Lando Norris: driving McLaren’s revival

Lando Norris: driving McLaren’s revival

This episode is brought to you by Salesforce, Official CRM Technology Partner of Formula 1. Visit Salesforce.com/F1 to learn more about how Formula 1 wows fans and grows its global fanbase with Salesforce. 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

Jul 4, 2023 • 42:44

James Vowles: aiming to win with Williams

James Vowles: aiming to win with Williams

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 f

Jun 27, 2023 • 48:04

Giancarlo Fisichella: history with Ferrari, Force India + Fernando Alonso

Giancarlo Fisichella: history with Ferrari, Force India + Fernando Alonso

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 w

Jun 20, 2023 • 57:17

'Pressure and power' - this week on BTG...

'Pressure and power' - this week on BTG...

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. Check out other Official F1 Podcasts: F1 Nation - race reviews and previews recorded inside the F1 Paddock Formula Why - answering your questions about F1

Jun 19, 2023 • 1:50

Stefano Domenicali: leading F1 forward

Stefano Domenicali: leading F1 forward

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 Ca

Jun 13, 2023 • 55:29

Neil Oatley: designing World Championships with McLaren

Neil Oatley: designing World Championships with McLaren

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. Fr

Jun 6, 2023 • 1:16:28

Logan Sargeant: the USA's latest F1 star

Logan Sargeant: the USA's latest F1 star

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 refl

May 30, 2023 • 43:32

‘F1 is a mental game’ – this week on BTG

‘F1 is a mental game’ – this week on BTG

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

May 29, 2023 • 1:48

Sam Michael: engineering his rise to the top of F1

Sam Michael: engineering his rise to the top of F1

“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

May 23, 2023 • 1:17:18

Scott Speed: Red Bull’s American prodigy

Scott Speed: Red Bull’s American prodigy

‘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

May 16, 2023 • 1:04:57

Mario Theissen: the highs and lows of BMW’s F1 journey

Mario Theissen: the highs and lows of BMW’s F1 journey

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 co

May 9, 2023 • 1:09:19

Valtteri Bottas: a new attitude at Alfa Romeo

Valtteri Bottas: a new attitude at Alfa Romeo

This episode of F1 Beyond The Grid is presented by Salesforce, a global partner of Formula 1. To learn more about how F1 wows fans and grows its fanbase with Salesforce, visit Salesforce.com/F1 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 joi

May 2, 2023 • 41:04

‘I still want to win’: this week on BTG

‘I still want to win’: this week on BTG

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.

May 1, 2023 • 1:18

Dan Fallows: directing Aston Martin’s rise

Dan Fallows: directing Aston Martin’s rise

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 pla

Apr 26, 2023 • 55:47

COMING SOON: Formula Why - a new official F1 podcast

COMING SOON: Formula Why - a new official F1 podcast

Introducing Formula Why, a brand-new official F1 podcast about how F1 really works. Episodes weekly from Friday 28th April.  Search your podcast app for Formula Why and hit the follow button to get the first episode fast.

Apr 21, 2023 • 2:58

Yuki Tsunoda: fitter, faster, fired up

Yuki Tsunoda: fitter, faster, fired up

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

Apr 18, 2023 • 51:04

This week on F1 Beyond The Grid…

This week on F1 Beyond The Grid…

Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid using #F1BeyondTheGrid

Apr 17, 2023 • 1:35

Jonathan Palmer: doctor, driver, deal-maker

Jonathan Palmer: doctor, driver, deal-maker

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 G

Apr 11, 2023 • 57:21

Sir Jackie Stewart: 50 years a triple World Champion

Sir Jackie Stewart: 50 years a triple World Champion

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, tel

Apr 4, 2023 • 49:49

Oscar Piastri: remote control racing to F1 rookie

Oscar Piastri: remote control racing to F1 rookie

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 Australia

Mar 28, 2023 • 52:57

Australian GP week on F1 Beyond The Grid

Australian GP week on F1 Beyond The Grid

Tom’s heading to Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix, but who’s his guest on this week’s F1 Beyond The Grid?   Follow F1 Beyond The Grid for the fastest way to get the next episode.

Mar 27, 2023 • 1:10

Paul Stoddart: finding faith in Fernando Alonso and Minardi’s miracle

Paul Stoddart: finding faith in Fernando Alonso and Minardi’s miracle

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 mu

Mar 22, 2023 • 1:18:11

Alain Prost: 30 years since a ‘difficult’ 4th world title

Alain Prost: 30 years since a ‘difficult’ 4th world title

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

Mar 15, 2023 • 51:30

Laurent Rossi: ‘climbing the mountain’ with Alpine

Laurent Rossi: ‘climbing the mountain’ with Alpine

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

Mar 8, 2023 • 1:05:32

Charles Leclerc: 2nd is not enough at Ferrari

Charles Leclerc: 2nd is not enough at Ferrari

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 Princi

Mar 1, 2023 • 41:56

30 Days of BTG – Day 30: 2023’s first guest revealed

30 Days of BTG – Day 30: 2023’s first guest revealed

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. Follow the podcast for the fastest way to get new episodes. Share using #F1BeyondTheGrid

Feb 28, 2023 • 3:00

30 Days of BTG - Day 29: Bernd Maylander’s Safety Car secrets

30 Days of BTG - Day 29: Bernd Maylander’s Safety Car secrets

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

Feb 27, 2023 • 7:19

30 Days of BTG – Day 28: Guenther Steiner’s fame and fans

30 Days of BTG – Day 28: Guenther Steiner’s fame and fans

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

Feb 26, 2023 • 4:55

30 Days of BTG – Day 27: Tony Brooks’ tales from the 50s

30 Days of BTG – Day 27: Tony Brooks’ tales from the 50s

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 s

Feb 25, 2023 • 5:14

30 Days of BTG - Day 26: Pedro de la Rosa’s ‘massive problem’

30 Days of BTG - Day 26: Pedro de la Rosa’s ‘massive problem’

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 int

Feb 24, 2023 • 5:19

30 Days of BTG - Day 25: Jenson Button’s pre-season shockwave

30 Days of BTG - Day 25: Jenson Button’s pre-season shockwave

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 h

Feb 23, 2023 • 6:03

30 Days of BTG - Day 24: Mika Hakkinen’s double glory

30 Days of BTG - Day 24: Mika Hakkinen’s double glory

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. New episodes of F1 Beyond The Grid begin Wed

Feb 22, 2023 • 1:22:34

 30 Days of BTG - Day 23: Aldo Costa’s winning formula

30 Days of BTG - Day 23: Aldo Costa’s winning formula

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

Feb 21, 2023 • 4:59

30 Days of BTG – Day 22: Yuki Tsunoda’s Tokyo guide

30 Days of BTG – Day 22: Yuki Tsunoda’s Tokyo guide

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.

Feb 20, 2023 • 4:24

30 Days of BTG – Day 21: Kimi Raikkonen’s start and finish

30 Days of BTG – Day 21: Kimi Raikkonen’s start and finish

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.

Feb 19, 2023 • 4:46

30 Days of BTG – Day 20: Kevin Magnussen’s racing roots

30 Days of BTG – Day 20: Kevin Magnussen’s racing roots

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

Feb 18, 2023 • 6:09

30 Days of BTG – Day 19: Nico Hulkenberg’s podium push

30 Days of BTG – Day 19: Nico Hulkenberg’s podium push

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

Feb 17, 2023 • 6:03

30 Days of BTG – Day 18: Esteban Ocon’s family journey

30 Days of BTG – Day 18: Esteban Ocon’s family journey

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.

Feb 16, 2023 • 5:33

30 Days of BTG – Day 17: George Russell’s Williams era

30 Days of BTG – Day 17: George Russell’s Williams era

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 seri

Feb 15, 2023 • 1:01:05

30 Days of BTG – Day 16: Charles Leclerc’s inspiration

30 Days of BTG – Day 16: Charles Leclerc’s inspiration

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.

Feb 14, 2023 • 6:32

30 Days of BTG – Day 15: Lawrence Stroll’s Aston mission

30 Days of BTG – Day 15: Lawrence Stroll’s Aston mission

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

Feb 13, 2023 • 5:51

30 Days of BTG – Day 14: Fred Vasseur, Ferrari’s new boss

30 Days of BTG – Day 14: Fred Vasseur, Ferrari’s new boss

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  Follo

Feb 12, 2023 • 5:45

30 Days of BTG – Day 13: Pastor Maldonado’s moment of history

30 Days of BTG – Day 13: Pastor Maldonado’s moment of history

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

Feb 11, 2023 • 5:24

30 Days of BTG – Day 12: Mick Schumacher’s ‘fighter mentality’

30 Days of BTG – Day 12: Mick Schumacher’s ‘fighter mentality’

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 rook

Feb 10, 2023 • 5:33

30 Days of BTG – Day 11: Sergio Perez’s one-way ticket to F1

30 Days of BTG – Day 11: Sergio Perez’s one-way ticket to F1

‘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

Feb 9, 2023 • 5:28

30 Days of BTG – Day 10: Pierre Gasly’s first chapter

30 Days of BTG – Day 10: Pierre Gasly’s first chapter

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.

Feb 8, 2023 • 50:39

30 Days of BTG – Day 9: Valtteri Bottas on championships and coffee

30 Days of BTG – Day 9: Valtteri Bottas on championships and coffee

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

Feb 7, 2023 • 6:06

30 Days of BTG – Day 8: When Daniel Ricciardo left Red Bull

30 Days of BTG – Day 8: When Daniel Ricciardo left Red Bull

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

Feb 6, 2023 • 4:17

30 Days of BTG – Day 7: Michael Schumacher stories from Sabine Kehm

30 Days of BTG – Day 7: Michael Schumacher stories from Sabine Kehm

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

Feb 5, 2023 • 6:30

30 Days of BTG – Day 6: Nico Rosberg’s rise in 2016

30 Days of BTG – Day 6: Nico Rosberg’s rise in 2016

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

Feb 4, 2023 • 5:40

30 Days of BTG – Day 5: Ruth Buscombe, Ferrari winner

30 Days of BTG – Day 5: Ruth Buscombe, Ferrari winner

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 B

Feb 3, 2023 • 5:22

30 Days of BTG – Day 4: Lando Norris’ karting hero

30 Days of BTG – Day 4: Lando Norris’ karting hero

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 inte

Feb 2, 2023 • 5:55

30 Days of BTG – Day 3: Sir Jackie Stewart the survivor

30 Days of BTG – Day 3: Sir Jackie Stewart the survivor

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 f

Feb 1, 2023 • 1:10:41

30 Days of BTG – Day 2: Fernando Alonso’s ambition

30 Days of BTG – Day 2: Fernando Alonso’s ambition

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

Jan 31, 2023 • 6:44

30 Days of BTG – Day 1: Lewis Hamilton’s dreams

30 Days of BTG – Day 1: Lewis Hamilton’s dreams

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 wit

Jan 30, 2023 • 8:53

Seb’s biggest supporter, Lando’s lost win + Carlos’ dream – The Best Of 2022

Seb’s biggest supporter, Lando’s lost win + Carlos’ dream – The Best Of 2022

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

Dec 14, 2022 • 1:06:35

Toto Wolff: falling behind in 22, fighting back in 23

Toto Wolff: falling behind in 22, fighting back in 23

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 da

Dec 7, 2022 • 51:56

Daniel Ricciardo: not done with F1

Daniel Ricciardo: not done with F1

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

Nov 30, 2022 • 1:09:34

This week, in-depth, on F1 Beyond The Grid

This week, in-depth, on F1 Beyond The Grid

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

Nov 28, 2022 • 1:15

Guenther Steiner: maverick, making big moves at Haas

Guenther Steiner: maverick, making big moves at Haas

‘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 e

Nov 23, 2022 • 55:56

Sebastian Vettel: around the next corner

Sebastian Vettel: around the next corner

‘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 fla

Nov 16, 2022 • 1:05:36

This week: a very special episode…

This week: a very special episode…

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

Nov 14, 2022 • 1:00

Danica Patrick: winner, leader, competitor

Danica Patrick: winner, leader, competitor

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 he

Nov 9, 2022 • 55:18

Nicholas Latifi: limits, lessons + leaving F1

Nicholas Latifi: limits, lessons + leaving F1

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

Nov 2, 2022 • 1:01:52

Jan Magnussen: success, struggles + supporting Kevin

Jan Magnussen: success, struggles + supporting Kevin

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

Oct 26, 2022 • 57:11

Nyck De Vries: seizing his 2023 F1 chance

Nyck De Vries: seizing his 2023 F1 chance

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 decisi

Oct 19, 2022 • 49:16

This week, exclusively on F1 Beyond The Grid…

This week, exclusively on F1 Beyond The Grid…

Tom’s got news of this week’s in-depth interview. Hear it exclusively here on Wednesday 19th October

Oct 17, 2022 • 1:27

Karun Chandhok: dreams, deals + defying the odds

Karun Chandhok: dreams, deals + defying the odds

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.

Oct 12, 2022 • 58:11

Mike Elliott: the 2022 ‘mistake’ making Mercedes stronger

Mike Elliott: the 2022 ‘mistake’ making Mercedes stronger

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 championsh

Oct 5, 2022 • 54:57

Martin Donnelly: unbroken and unstoppable

Martin Donnelly: unbroken and unstoppable

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 refl

Sep 28, 2022 • 58:04

Christian Horner: putting Red Bull back on top

Christian Horner: putting Red Bull back on top

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 i

Sep 21, 2022 • 51:12

Timo Glock: ‘game over’, last-lap drama + F1 podiums

Timo Glock: ‘game over’, last-lap drama + F1 podiums

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 seaso

Sep 14, 2022 • 1:12:34

Jan Lammers: F1 record-holder, Dutch GP hero

Jan Lammers: F1 record-holder, Dutch GP hero

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 chan

Sep 7, 2022 • 1:01:29

René Arnoux: wheel-to-wheel 'war' with Villeneuve, Lauda + Prost

René Arnoux: wheel-to-wheel 'war' with Villeneuve, Lauda + Prost

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, negotiatio

Aug 31, 2022 • 1:03:18

Lando Norris: working on winning with McLaren

Lando Norris: working on winning with McLaren

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

Aug 24, 2022 • 47:57

Beat Zehnder: 30 seasons with 1 team, Leclerc, Vettel, Raikkonen + Kubica

Beat Zehnder: 30 seasons with 1 team, Leclerc, Vettel, Raikkonen + Kubica

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

Aug 3, 2022 • 1:04:40

Mike Krack: Vettel + Massa’s mentor, aiming high at Aston Martin

Mike Krack: Vettel + Massa’s mentor, aiming high at Aston Martin

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 t

Jul 27, 2022 • 50:26

Marc Surer: surviving tough breaks and tragedy

Marc Surer: surviving tough breaks and tragedy

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 M

Jul 20, 2022 • 1:03:53

Jody Egginton: a journey to AlphaTauri tech boss

Jody Egginton: a journey to AlphaTauri tech boss

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 caree

Jul 13, 2022 • 1:06:48

David Richards: a leader of legends

David Richards: a leader of legends

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 moto

Jul 6, 2022 • 44:46

George Russell: rising with Mercedes

George Russell: rising with Mercedes

‘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

Jun 29, 2022 • 57:35

 June 29th on F1 Beyond The Grid…

June 29th on F1 Beyond The Grid…

Who’s Tom’s guest this week? Hit play to find out. Then, spread the word using #F1BeyondTheGrid and follow the podcast for the fastest way to get the next episode

Jun 27, 2022 • 1:26

Zhou Guanyu: racing childhood F1 heroes for China

Zhou Guanyu: racing childhood F1 heroes for China

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

Jun 22, 2022 • 59:41

Thierry Boutsen: a trifecta of triumph for Belgium

Thierry Boutsen: a trifecta of triumph for Belgium

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

Jun 15, 2022 • 54:28

Frank Dernie: 40 years at the forefront of Formula 1

Frank Dernie: 40 years at the forefront of Formula 1

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 suspens

Jun 8, 2022 • 45:39

Bobby Rahal: flying the US flag in F1

Bobby Rahal: flying the US flag in F1

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 Walt

Jun 1, 2022 • 47:25

 James Key: McLaren's tech mastermind

James Key: McLaren's tech mastermind

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 la

May 25, 2022 • 1:02:12

Esteban Ocon: from tears to triumph with Alpine

Esteban Ocon: from tears to triumph with Alpine

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

May 18, 2022 • 40:47

Gilles Villeneuve Remembered

Gilles Villeneuve Remembered

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

May 11, 2022 • 45:50

Alexander Rossi: twists, turns and tragedy on the road to F1

Alexander Rossi: twists, turns and tragedy on the road to F1

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,  su

May 4, 2022 • 53:36

Alex Albon: a point to prove at Williams

Alex Albon: a point to prove at Williams

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.

Apr 27, 2022 • 56:28

Steve Nichols: engineering domination with McLaren

Steve Nichols: engineering domination with McLaren

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

Apr 20, 2022 • 1:31:21

Kevin Magnussen: a no-fear F1 comeback with Haas

Kevin Magnussen: a no-fear F1 comeback with Haas

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.  Relate

Apr 13, 2022 • 48:20

 A message from Tom’s next guest…

A message from Tom’s next guest…

Don’t miss this on Wednesday 13th of April! Follow F1 Beyond The Grid to get our next episode first

Apr 11, 2022 • 0:45

Nigel Mansell: 1992 World Champion, through the pain

Nigel Mansell: 1992 World Champion, through the pain

‘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, a

Apr 6, 2022 • 1:02:51

Susie Wolff: racer, role model, risk-taker

Susie Wolff: racer, role model, risk-taker

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 champions

Mar 30, 2022 • 57:36

Alpine tech boss Pat Fry: 35 years at the top of F1

Alpine tech boss Pat Fry: 35 years at the top of F1

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 winni

Mar 23, 2022 • 51:51

Carlos Sainz: ready to win with Ferrari

Carlos Sainz: ready to win with Ferrari

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 ti

Mar 16, 2022 • 44:22

 TEASER: First up on F1 Beyond The Grid Season 5…

TEASER: First up on F1 Beyond The Grid Season 5…

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…

Mar 14, 2022 • 1:40

REVISITED: Martin Brundle on the best F1 cars of each decade

REVISITED: Martin Brundle on the best F1 cars of each decade

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 th

Mar 9, 2022 • 1:06:37

BONUS: F1 Nation's Barcelona Breakdown

BONUS: F1 Nation's Barcelona Breakdown

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 p

Mar 2, 2022 • 50:14

REVISITED: Alain Prost on showdowns and phone calls with Senna

REVISITED: Alain Prost on showdowns and phone calls with Senna

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

Mar 2, 2022 • 51:49

REVISITED: Toto Wolff on F1 rivalries and records

REVISITED: Toto Wolff on F1 rivalries and records

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,

Feb 23, 2022 • 39:59

REVISITED: Lando Norris, before his podiums

REVISITED: Lando Norris, before his podiums

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 life

Feb 16, 2022 • 1:03:56

Leclerc, Alonso, Ricciardo + more in The Best of 2021

Leclerc, Alonso, Ricciardo + more in The Best of 2021

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 Bott

Dec 15, 2021 • 1:04:17

Kimi Raikkonen on retirement, being a world champion and 20 years in F1

Kimi Raikkonen on retirement, being a world champion and 20 years in F1

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 wi

Dec 8, 2021 • 1:06:47

Pedro Diniz on fear, his fiery escape, and F1 pressure

Pedro Diniz on fear, his fiery escape, and F1 pressure

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.

Dec 1, 2021 • 50:11

Fernando Alonso on chasing a third title, Schumacher + Hamilton

Fernando Alonso on chasing a third title, Schumacher + Hamilton

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 Ham

Nov 24, 2021 • 40:49

Danny Sullivan: from taxi driver to F1 points and Indy glory

Danny Sullivan: from taxi driver to F1 points and Indy glory

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 hel

Nov 17, 2021 • 51:38

Valtteri Bottas on Mercedes, Alfa Romeo goals, coffee and cycling

Valtteri Bottas on Mercedes, Alfa Romeo goals, coffee and cycling

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 diffe

Nov 10, 2021 • 46:37

Tommy Byrne: Senna’s early rival, a lost F1 champion?

Tommy Byrne: Senna’s early rival, a lost F1 champion?

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

Nov 3, 2021 • 1:03:48

Jean-Eric Vergne on learning from F1 regrets

Jean-Eric Vergne on learning from F1 regrets

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. H

Oct 27, 2021 • 57:25

Daniel Ricciardo on winning with McLaren

Daniel Ricciardo on winning with McLaren

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 enjo

Oct 20, 2021 • 54:57

Lawrence Stroll’s Aston Martin masterplan

Lawrence Stroll’s Aston Martin masterplan

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 ca

Oct 13, 2021 • 44:40

Emanuele Pirro on developing an iconic McLaren and being a Driver Steward

Emanuele Pirro on developing an iconic McLaren and being a Driver Steward

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 Pri

Oct 6, 2021 • 1:24:55

Race-winning strategist Ruth Buscombe on making the right calls

Race-winning strategist Ruth Buscombe on making the right calls

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

Sep 29, 2021 • 1:04:07

Nikita Mazepin on his debut F1 season, racing Mick Schumacher and learning with Haas

Nikita Mazepin on his debut F1 season, racing Mick Schumacher and learning with Haas

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 sinc

Sep 22, 2021 • 58:06

Jackie Oliver on going from F1 driver to F1 team boss with Arrows

Jackie Oliver on going from F1 driver to F1 team boss with Arrows

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 t

Sep 15, 2021 • 1:03:15

America’s first F1 champion Phil Hill, as remembered by his son

America’s first F1 champion Phil Hill, as remembered by his son

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 al

Sep 8, 2021 • 1:12:26

Mick Schumacher on learning from his father, his ambitions and F1 mentors

Mick Schumacher on learning from his father, his ambitions and F1 mentors

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

Sep 1, 2021 • 38:25

Bertrand Gachot – The driver whose prison sentence handed Schumacher his F1 debut

Bertrand Gachot – The driver whose prison sentence handed Schumacher his F1 debut

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 a

Aug 25, 2021 • 55:04

Sir Patrick Head looks back on a life at Williams

Sir Patrick Head looks back on a life at Williams

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 mor

Aug 18, 2021 • 1:31:44

Engineer Jock Clear on Villeneuve, Schumacher, Leclerc and Ferrari’s next generation

Engineer Jock Clear on Villeneuve, Schumacher, Leclerc and Ferrari’s next generation

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

Aug 11, 2021 • 1:11:34

Nicholas Latifi on racing Russell, Williams' future + chocolate spread

Nicholas Latifi on racing Russell, Williams' future + chocolate spread

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 team

Aug 4, 2021 • 58:05

Ex-Ferrari manager Daniele Audetto remembers Niki Lauda’s fiery crash and famous comeback

Ex-Ferrari manager Daniele Audetto remembers Niki Lauda’s fiery crash and famous comeback

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

Jul 28, 2021 • 1:23:45

Peter Collins on working under Colin Chapman, living with Hakkinen and running Benetton

Peter Collins on working under Colin Chapman, living with Hakkinen and running Benetton

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

Jul 21, 2021 • 1:08:47

Charles Leclerc on Ferrari wins, his future and love of piano

Charles Leclerc on Ferrari wins, his future and love of piano

Charles Leclerc returns to Beyond The Grid for a second time – and hasn’t a lot happened since his last visit? Charles last came on the show in 2018, when he was in his rookie season with Alfa Romeo Sauber but had just signed to race for Ferrari. Since then he’s become a superstar of the sport, winning races and taking brilliant poles, but also having to endure heart-breaking loss and team mate tension, amongst other things. He chats to Tom about all of the above and more, including what he like

Jul 14, 2021 • 43:20

Norbert Haug on bringing Mercedes back into F1, buying Brawn GP and more

Norbert Haug on bringing Mercedes back into F1, buying Brawn GP and more

This week’s guest, Norbert Haug, held one of the most influential jobs in motorsport for more than 20 years. As the boss of Mercedes-Benz motorsport, he oversaw all of the company’s racing activities – indeed it was him who decided to return the Silver Arrows to F1 as an engine supplier in 1993. Once back, Mercedes enjoyed great success in partnership with McLaren – and Haug has great anecdotes to tell about Mika Hakkinen, David Coulthard, Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton. He also opens up on h

Jul 7, 2021 • 1:02:18

Christian Horner on Verstappen's 2021, Red Bull's ambitions and Vettel v Webber

Christian Horner on Verstappen's 2021, Red Bull's ambitions and Vettel v Webber

F1 Beyond The Grid welcomes back Red Bull boss Christian Horner, who was one of Tom's first guests on the back in 2018. Since then the team have re-emerged as title protagonists, with a real chance of taking both titles in 2021. Horner discusses their turnaround in fortunes, plus the journey they’ve been on to reach this point. There’s talk about the key staff in the team, the new power unit department, the most influential drivers in squad’s history, and of course the team’s dynamic driver duo

Jun 30, 2021 • 47:00

Jacques Laffite on 12 years in F1, winning with Ligier and missed championship chances

Jacques Laffite on 12 years in F1, winning with Ligier and missed championship chances

Jacques Laffite was part of a wave of fast French F1 drivers who hit the grid in the 1970s and 80s. His 12-year F1 career brought six race victories and he had more than one shot at the World Championship. It’s a record he’s pleased with, but as he reveals, his career is tinged with regret. Jacques tells Tom Clarkson about his eye-opening debut at the original Nürburgring, his championship chances, and admits he wishes he’d worked harder. He tells great stories about turning up to practice in hi

Jun 23, 2021 • 1:12:07

Ivan Capelli on underdog podiums and his Ferrari nightmare

Ivan Capelli on underdog podiums and his Ferrari nightmare

Ivan Capelli is probably most familiar to F1 fans for driving that iconic ‘Miami blue’ Leyton House March car in the late 1980s. It was for that underdog team that he scored three podiums, worked with a young and innovative designer by the name of Adrian Newey and caught the eye of Ferrari. As an Italian, a move to Maranello was a dream come true, but it soon turned into a nightmare that lasted less than a year. In a feature-length and highly engaging conversation, Ivan discusses all of the abov

Jun 16, 2021 • 1:40:43

NASCAR icon Jeff Gordon on his famous F1 test and love of Grand Prix racing

NASCAR icon Jeff Gordon on his famous F1 test and love of Grand Prix racing

Our guest this week is a driver who never actually raced in F1 – but he did test an F1 car and very nearly raced one: Jeff Gordon. The Californian is a four-time NASCAR champion and global motorsport icon, who in 2003 enjoyed a life-changing F1 test with Williams. He tells us all about that outing, how close he came to a switch to F1 afterwards, why he loves Grand Prix racing, the differences between NASCAR and F1, his friendship with Lewis Hamilton, and whether an F1 driver would succeed in sto

Jun 9, 2021 • 1:05:34

Roberto Moreno's fight into F1, life as a super sub, and replacement by Schumacher

Roberto Moreno's fight into F1, life as a super sub, and replacement by Schumacher

Some drivers seem destined to race in F1. Others have to fight for it. Roberto Moreno was in the latter camp. He arrived in Europe from Brazil with no money, yet he managed to climb the racing ladder on talent alone. An F3000 champion, he got test roles with Lotus and Ferrari, yet the bulk of his career - for one reason or another - was spent with teams at the very back of the grid. In this week’s show he tells us his inspirational story, from performing heroics to make the cut in Monaco with An

Jun 2, 2021 • 1:23:33

Yuki Tsunoda on his journey to F1, radio swearing, and debut season

Yuki Tsunoda on his journey to F1, radio swearing, and debut season

On-track he’s been audacious, daring and fast; off-track he’s been witty, animated… and has occasionally used very colourful language. Yuki Tsunoda is a very welcome addition to Formula One this year and on this week’s show he discusses the start to his Grand Prix career, his infamous radio mannerisms, his love of food, his relationship with Red Bull supremo Helmut Marko, and much more…

May 26, 2021 • 40:29

Olivier Panis on his ‘crazy’ Monaco win, 25 years on

Olivier Panis on his ‘crazy’ Monaco win, 25 years on

Olivier Panis was a very fine Formula 1 driver, but if there’s one thing he’ll be remembered for, it’s his remarkable victory in an utterly crazy Monaco Grand Prix in 1996. On this week’s show, the Frenchman talks us through what it was like to win on that day, for a French team, and how his life changed afterwards. He also discusses the other big moments in his career, including the leg-breaking shunt in Canada from which he was lucky to recover, his departure from Prost, driving for McLaren, B

May 19, 2021 • 1:19:57

Romain Grosjean on dealing with Bahrain crash flashbacks and his recovery

Romain Grosjean on dealing with Bahrain crash flashbacks and his recovery

Romain Grosjean returns to the show for the first time since September 2018 to discuss a life changing last six months for him. The Frenchman, of course, made headline news around the world for his miraculous escape from THAT dreadful fiery crash in Bahrain – and as he tells Tom, the episode has had a profound effect on him. He discusses the aftermath, the flashbacks and his recovery, plus his subsequent decision to continue racing in Indycars. Grosjean also talks about how his upcoming F1 test

May 12, 2021 • 41:00

Monisha Kaltenborn: F1’s first female team principal

Monisha Kaltenborn: F1’s first female team principal

Monisha Kaltenborn is an F1 trailblazer. After growing up in India, she moved to Europe with her family and went on to study law. It was as a lawyer that she first came into contact with F1. She’d go on to become an integral part of the Sauber F1 team, first as CEO and then as the sport’s first ever female team principal. She discusses that incredible journey, plus her experiences of being a high-profile woman in a male-dominated environment – and what the sport needs to do to have more women fo

May 5, 2021 • 58:05

Paddy Lowe on leaving Williams, winning with Mercedes and working with Hamilton

Paddy Lowe on leaving Williams, winning with Mercedes and working with Hamilton

Paddy Lowe’s career in F1 took him from Williams to McLaren to Mercedes and then back to Williams. Over the course of that journey Paddy developed some of the biggest tech innovations the sport has seen – including active suspension - as well as working with the likes of Senna, Prost, Hakkinen, Mansell and current superstar Lewis Hamilton. On this week’s show he’s open and honest about it all – including his departure from Williams in 2019 and the new mission he’s on…

Apr 28, 2021 • 1:17:03

Jost Capito on his mission at Williams

Jost Capito on his mission at Williams

Jost Capito has as good a motorsport pedigree as you’re likely to find. His most recent successes on the world championship stage have come in rallying, when he oversaw Ford and Volkswagen’s world title successes – and now he's charged with bringing Williams back to the front of the grid. On this week’s show the Grove team’s CEO opens up on what the Williams family made of his appointment, how his background on the Dakar rally will help him in the role, what Jenson Button will bring to the table

Apr 21, 2021 • 50:59

Jarno Trulli on winning Monaco, acing qualifying and why Alonso is so quick

Jarno Trulli on winning Monaco, acing qualifying and why Alonso is so quick

This week’s guest was a brilliantly fast racing driver – in pure pace terms, arguably one of the best over his years in the sport. Jarno Trulli won only the one race, at Monaco in 2004, but he put in many sensational qualifying performances - often seemingly out-performing his machinery. We spoke to him about all of the above, as well as what it was like to be Fernando Alonso’s team mate, how much he enjoyed driving for Alain Prost, why he never won for Toyota (despite some close calls) and much

Apr 14, 2021 • 55:38

Mercedes’ ‘Brackley Boys’ on 20 years of racing with Button, Schumacher, Rosberg and Hamilton

Mercedes’ ‘Brackley Boys’ on 20 years of racing with Button, Schumacher, Rosberg and Hamilton

We’ve done something a little different this week, because we haven’t got one special guest, but four! And the glue that links the fab four is that not only do they all work at Mercedes, they’ve all been with the Brackley-based team since the beginning – back when they were BAR, then Honda, then Brawn GP and finally Mercedes. Join Tom as he shares the stories of Ron Meadows, Andrew Shovlin, Simon Cole and James Vowles and the collective highs and lows that bond them together like brothers. Spon

Apr 7, 2021 • 1:22:43

Kamui Kobayashi on Suzuka, Tsunoda and fights with world champions

Kamui Kobayashi on Suzuka, Tsunoda and fights with world champions

Yuki Tsunoda may be the latest Japanese racing hero, but he’s got a way to go to match the achievements of Tom’s guest this week: Kamui Kobayashi. In 75 races in F1 for Sauber and Caterham, Kobayashi earned himself a podium on home soil at Suzuka, more points than any other Japanese driver in history and cult hero status among fans. He’s also the man Sergio Perez credits for teaching him the dark art of tyre management.  Kobayashi discusses all of the above and more, including the famous first

Mar 31, 2021 • 52:09

Andreas Seidl on his route to F1

Andreas Seidl on his route to F1

Having joined McLaren in May 2019, Team Principal Andreas Seidl has been a key cog in the Woking team’s recent renaissance. But get to know him and it’s easy to see why.  On this week’s show the German discusses his hopes and aspirations for 2021 and why he couldn’t be happier with his driver line-up of Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo. He also opens up on his management style, what he learned on the way up with BMW in F1 and with Porsche at Le Mans, and why standing on the grid at Monaco will

Mar 24, 2021 • 1:01:02

Sergio Perez on Red Bull + racing Verstappen

Sergio Perez on Red Bull + racing Verstappen

Beyond The Grid is back for a new season, and for our first episode we’re proud to bring you a driver who is firmly in the spotlight in 2021: Sergio Perez. No one on the grid has experienced as many ups and downs as the Mexican over the last 12 months, from being the first driver to catch Covid-19 to losing his race seat, to winning his first race to landing a last-minute dream move to Red Bull. Checo speaks about all of the above and much more, as well as giving us some fascinating insight in

Mar 17, 2021 • 41:16

REVISITED: Murray Walker – An incredible life, in his own words

REVISITED: Murray Walker – An incredible life, in his own words

To millions of F1 fans around the world, Murray Walker was much more than an F1 commentator. He was the man that brought their passion to life, with his unmistakable voice sound-tracking – and enhancing – some of the greatest moments in the sport’s history.  As the world mourns his sad passing, at the age of 97, we bring you Tom’s conversation with Murray from early 2019, as he looked back on his incredible life story, from the battlefields of World War Two to F1 commentary boxes across the glo

Mar 14, 2021 • 1:02:25

Beyond The Grid Returns March 17!

Beyond The Grid Returns March 17!

Mark your diaries – Beyond The Grid is back Wednesday March 17 with more raw, open and honest conversations with the biggest names in F1, from world champions to new-gen sensations, engineering gods to mighty team managers. Don’t miss it!

Mar 12, 2021 • 2:05

REVISITED: Kimi Raikkonen on racing, partying and becoming a family man

REVISITED: Kimi Raikkonen on racing, partying and becoming a family man

In the third of our Beyond The Grid Revisited episodes, where we delve into the show’s archives, we look back on Tom’s conversation with F1’s resident Iceman: Kimi Raikkonen.   At the time of recording, Kimi was just about to embark on his first season with Alfa Romeo, after departing Ferrari. He was in extremely good spirits and, in a rare feature-length interview, was happy to open up on everything from his party boy past to the joys of fatherhood.     Beyond The Grid will be back with a new

Mar 3, 2021 • 45:16

REVISITED: Charles Leclerc on overcoming tragedy to race for Ferrari

REVISITED: Charles Leclerc on overcoming tragedy to race for Ferrari

In the second of our Beyond The Grid Revisited episodes, where we delve into the archives, we look back on Tom’s conversation with a fresh-faced Charles Leclerc in October 2018.   At the time, Leclerc was still enjoying a first season of F1 with Alfa Romeo Sauber, but with one eye on Ferrari after signing a deal to race for the Scuderia in 2019. Listen to him discuss his hopes and emotions about racing in red, and about overcoming hardships in his emotional journey to the top of world motorsport

Feb 24, 2021 • 48:30

REVISITED: Lewis Hamilton opens up on his F1 journey in 2018

REVISITED: Lewis Hamilton opens up on his F1 journey in 2018

In the first of our Beyond The Grid Revisited episodes, where we delve into the archives, we turn the clock back to our very first episode in 2018 to hear from Lewis Hamilton - then only a four-time champion.  The Briton discussed how the sport had shaped him, how his interests away from F1 keep him grounded and much, much more.  Beyond The Grid will be back with a new series in March.

Feb 17, 2021 • 53:06

The Best of 2020: Tom picks some of his favourite moments from Season 3

The Best of 2020: Tom picks some of his favourite moments from Season 3

This is our final episode of 2020, and my goodness what a year it’s been, both in F1 itself and on this very podcast.  We’ve had lots of great guests, lots of wonderful anecdotes, lot of laughs and quite a few tears too. And - we hope you agree - some real insights into some of the sport’s high-rollers. On this special episode, Tom has picked some of his favourite stories and anecdotes from the guests he’s spoken to this year, including gems from Sebastian Vettel, George Russell, Lando Norris, R

Dec 16, 2020 • 59:09

Mattia Binotto on the pressure of leading Ferrari

Mattia Binotto on the pressure of leading Ferrari

The job of Ferrari team principal is arguably the most prestigious in Formula 1 – but it’s also the one that undoubtedly carries the most pressure. The man whose task it is to lead the Scuderia right now is Mattia Binotto. Binotto is a Ferrari lifer, having joined the team straight out of university and worked numerous roles over his 25 years stay. He tells us all about that journey, which included working as an engineer for Michael Schumacher, as well as the joyous highs and intense lows of man

Dec 9, 2020 • 55:23

Lance Stroll on answering critics and his father-son journey to F1

Lance Stroll on answering critics and his father-son journey to F1

He’s one of the most exciting young drivers on the grid, with two podiums and one stunning pole position to his name, and yet Lance Stroll has had to deal with a minority of critics throughout his time in the sport. On this week’s show, the Canadian explains how he deals with those voices, how he’s evolved as a driver and person since his debut in 2017, how he was forced to learn from his mistakes on the road to F1, and his relationship with father - and boss! - Lawrence Stroll, the owner of Rac

Dec 2, 2020 • 50:54

Lord Hesketh on James Hunt and F1’s original party team

Lord Hesketh on James Hunt and F1’s original party team

When Hesketh Racing burst onto the F1 grid in the 1970s, they took everyone by surprise. They appeared to be playboys, having fun on and off track. But away from the yachts and the parties, was a small, well-organised group of passionate racers who were determined to win. With James Hunt at the wheel, they did. Lord Alexander Hesketh, who bankrolled and ran the team, tells Tom Clarkson how he ‘accidentally’ got into motor racing, rose to the top, and challenged the old guard of Ferrari, Lotus an

Nov 25, 2020 • 1:09:58

Renault stalwart Alan Permane on 30 years of stars, success and struggles at Enstone

Renault stalwart Alan Permane on 30 years of stars, success and struggles at Enstone

He joined Benetton in the late 1980s as a bottom-rung mechanic and he’s been with the team ever since, as it morphed into Renault then Lotus and now back to Renault. Alan Permane, Renault’s Sporting Director, has seen and done it all in his time at the Enstone factory. He was Michael Schumacher’s mechanic, Giancarlo Fisichella’s race engineer, and he stepped up to lead the team after the Crashgate scandal. He also had an expletive-filled team radio exchange with Kimi Raikkonen in India. Alan rev

Nov 18, 2020 • 1:25:38

Jochen Mass on a career tinged with tragedy, racing Lauda and mentoring Schumacher

Jochen Mass on a career tinged with tragedy, racing Lauda and mentoring Schumacher

Jochen Mass’ F1 career began with a bang and ended more than a decade later in a fiery crash. In the 1970s he shared podiums with the likes of Lauda, Hunt, Fittipaldi and Scheckter. His talent deserved more than a single victory, which came on a dark day in Spain in 1975. Tragedy struck again in 1982, when Jochen played a blameless part in the crash which killed the legendary Gilles Villeneuve. Tom Clarkson uncovers the twists and turns of Jochen’s time in F1: the near-victories, cars, bosses an

Nov 11, 2020 • 1:19:08

Eric Boullier on managing Raikkonen, Kubica’s accident and switching from Team Principal to Promoter

Eric Boullier on managing Raikkonen, Kubica’s accident and switching from Team Principal to Promoter

Eric Boullier was Team Principal at Renault and Lotus before he became the Racing Director of McLaren. He resigned from that role in 2018 before switching camps to Paul Ricard, where he is now managing director of the French Grand Prix. In this episode, Tom probes Eric about his life in the sport, from the challenge of managing Kimi Raikkonen to dealing with the aftermath of Robert Kubica’s accident. There’s also time to chat about McLaren and the drivers he worked with there – Button, Alonso an

Nov 4, 2020 • 47:39

Safety car secrets with driver Bernd Maylander

Safety car secrets with driver Bernd Maylander

He's led hundreds of laps in F1 – but you may never have heard of him. That’s because Bernd Maylander is the Safety Car driver, and has been for the last 20 years. When the weather is bad or there’s a serious incident, Bernd takes to the track to lead the field around at a safe speed – not fast by F1 standards, but still seriously quick. He gives us the inside line on his job, revealing who is the most aggressive behind the Safety Car, the worst conditions he’s ever driven in, how he feels about

Oct 28, 2020 • 51:48

Toto Wolff on Hamilton, Rosberg, Lauda and breaking records

Toto Wolff on Hamilton, Rosberg, Lauda and breaking records

He’s a workaholic, whose team is about to win a record seventh consecutive constructors’ championship. Yet his desire for more trophies remains all-consuming. We welcome back Mercedes boss Toto Wolff for an intimate and relaxed chat at his home in Oxford. Topics up for discussion include his future, how Niki Lauda remains a big influence in his life, the realities of the Rosberg/Hamilton relationship (and why it makes a future Hamilton/Verstappen duo unlikely), how his relationship with Hamilton

Oct 21, 2020 • 42:27

Chase Carey on his role in shaping F1’s future and guiding the sport through a global pandemic

Chase Carey on his role in shaping F1’s future and guiding the sport through a global pandemic

Chase Carey has been CEO and Executive Chairman of Formula 1 for the last four years, and it’s fair to say he’s been busy in that time. New rules – including F1’s first ever budget cap - have been crafted, a new governance structure has been negotiated, and new races have joined the calendar – and that’s before you consider having to navigate through a global pandemic. On this week’s show – the 100th episode proper – Chase discusses all of the above, as well as discussing Stefano Domenicali’s im

Oct 14, 2020 • 55:07

Sebastian Vettel on leaving Ferrari, life outside F1 and changing goals

Sebastian Vettel on leaving Ferrari, life outside F1 and changing goals

He’s a four-time world champion and racing icon, yet Sebastian Vettel’s fiercely private nature means we don’t know as much about him as we do many of his rivals, whose lives are plastered all over social media. We get to know the German racer a little better, discovering how his attitude to F1 has shifted over his 250 Grand Prix starts, finding out how he likes to spend his time away from the track, getting his thoughts on leaving Ferrari and joining Aston Martin, and learning his views on risk

Oct 7, 2020 • 45:59

Zak Brown on running McLaren, billion-dollar deals and his F1 car collection

Zak Brown on running McLaren, billion-dollar deals and his F1 car collection

A sponsorship guru for more than 20 years, Zak Brown landed his dream job in 2016 when he became executive director, and later CEO, of McLaren – the team he’d supported as an F1-mad kid in California.  On this week’s show, Brown discusses how he’s guiding McLaren back to the front of the grid and why he made the moves he has in the driver market. He also gives us the lowdown on his own racing career, including going toe-to-toe with the likes of Juan Pablo Montoya in F3, discusses his epic F1 ca

Sep 30, 2020 • 1:03:31

Racing for Ferrari – Part 2: Mansell, Prost, Vettel and more on the modern era

Racing for Ferrari – Part 2: Mansell, Prost, Vettel and more on the modern era

In the second of our special episodes chronicling what it’s like to drive for Scuderia Ferrari, F1’s most storied team, we fast forward into the modern era, to hear what it’s like to race for the Prancing Horse without founder Enzo at the helm. There are superb stories from Nigel Mansell and Alain Prost, who guided the Maranello team into the Nineties, plus eye-opening insight from fan favourite Rubens Barrichello and current drivers Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc too.

Sep 23, 2020 • 58:07

Racing for Ferrari - Part 1: The Enzo Ferrari years, with Andretti, Scheckter, Brooks and Berger

Racing for Ferrari - Part 1: The Enzo Ferrari years, with Andretti, Scheckter, Brooks and Berger

They’re the most storied team in Formula 1 history, the one that’s been around the longest, the one with the most wins and championships, the one that generates the most headlines, and definitely the one with the most mystique. But what’s it like to drive for the biggest F1 team on the planet, Scuderia Ferrari? In the first of two special episodes, we speak to those who have been there and done it, with our focus in part one on those who drove for the Prancing Horse under legendary founder Enzo

Sep 16, 2020 • 44:00

Antonio Giovinazzi on learning from Raikkonen, his unusual route to F1, and how fast food shaped his career

Antonio Giovinazzi on learning from Raikkonen, his unusual route to F1, and how fast food shaped his career

Think you know Antonio Giovinazzi? Think again. Most of you will know that he’s an Alfa Romeo driver. You might also know he’s the only Italian driver on the grid – the first since 2011. But what else do you know about him? On this week’s show we get to know Kimi Raikkonen’s lion-maned team mate a little better, finding out about his unique path to F1 via a stint in China, the inside line on his sudden F1 call-up in 2017, the inner workings of his relationship with Ferrari, and why he owes his c

Sep 9, 2020 • 1:13:47

Jochen Rindt remembered - by Helmut Marko, Jackie Stewart and Bernie Ecclestone

Jochen Rindt remembered - by Helmut Marko, Jackie Stewart and Bernie Ecclestone

September 5th marks the 50th anniversary of Jochen Rindt’s death, during practice for the 1970 Italian Grand Prix. He’d go on to be crowned F1’s first – and thankfully only -  posthumous world champion – but his legacy is much more than that.On this very special episode, we look back on Rindt’s rebellious upbringing and racing origins with friend and current Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko, reminisce on wheel-to-wheel battles and his tragic accident with Sir Jackie Stewart, and see the

Sep 2, 2020 • 58:04

Mercedes engine guru Andy Cowell on the art of creating the perfect F1 power unit

Mercedes engine guru Andy Cowell on the art of creating the perfect F1 power unit

This week’s guest is one of the grid’s most influential people.  In fact, he’s arguably one of the most influential people in F1 ever. Since the dawn of the turbo-hybrid era in 2014, Mercedes engines have won 80% of all Grands Prix, and the man overseeing that success is Andy Cowell, Engineering and Programme Director of Mercedes High Performance Powertrains since 2008. Listen as he discusses how the all-conquering engine was created, why failures drive motivation more than success, what makes

Aug 26, 2020 • 1:02:24

Johnny Dumfries, the aristocrat racer who was team mate to Senna

Johnny Dumfries, the aristocrat racer who was team mate to Senna

Many of you may not have heard of this week’s guest. To give him his official title he’s John Crichton-Stuart, the 7th Marquess of Bute – though fans familiar with F1 in the 1980s will know him as Johnny Dumfries, one-time team mate of the great Ayrton Senna at Lotus. A descendant of legendary King of Scotland Robert the Bruce, Johnny was far from your average F1 driver – though if you think his connections made his route to the top easy, think again. He worked numerous jobs before entering Gran

Aug 19, 2020 • 55:52

Fred Vasseur on finding future F1 stars

Fred Vasseur on finding future F1 stars

Fred Vasseur has had a huge influence on F1 for many years, having guided the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Sebastian Vettel, Valtteri Bottas and Nico Hulkenberg into Grand Prix racing via his junior team, ART.  The Frenchman tells us how he plans to get Alfa Romeo back on track, discusses Kimi Raikkonen’s future, takes us back to his days house-sharing with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, and delivers some brilliant anecdotes about today’s superstars before they became household names…

Aug 12, 2020 • 1:11:13

The USA's Eddie Cheever on living his F1 dream after walking away from Ferrari

The USA's Eddie Cheever on living his F1 dream after walking away from Ferrari

No American has started more Grands Prix than Eddie Cheever, the Phoenix-born, Rome raised racer, who took nine excellent podium finishes in the 1980s. In his long stay at the pinnacle of motor sport Cheever drove for eight teams (including Renault, Ligier, Tyrrell and Alfa Romeo), experiencing the highs of reaching the rostrum and the lows of losing fellow drivers. What’s more remarkable is that he achieved all this after walking away from a Ferrari test contract, so determined was he as a youn

Aug 5, 2020 • 1:17:32

George Russell on getting Mercedes' attention, meeting Toto and racing friends

George Russell on getting Mercedes' attention, meeting Toto and racing friends

This week we welcome one of the bright young stars of Formula 1 to the show: Williams driver George Russell. The British racer has been making waves this season, dragging his car far higher up the grid than many thought possible, and giving us a glimpse of the talent that made Mercedes sign him as a young driver. So listen in for some great stories as he describes the unusual way he approached Silver Arrows boss Toto Wolff, how Alex Albon’s family used to cook him dinner, why he’s flattered by c

Jul 29, 2020 • 1:05:21

Willy T Ribbs on his pioneering F1 test and the push for diversity in motor sport

Willy T Ribbs on his pioneering F1 test and the push for diversity in motor sport

This week’s guest is a man many of you may not have heard of. But Willy T Ribbs’ story needs to be heard. In 1985 Ribbs became the first black man to drive an F1 car, when he tested for Bernie Ecclestone’s Brabham team. But despite that milestone moment, he’d never crack F1 full-time, returning instead to his native US to pursue his racing dreams against an undercurrent of racism and discrimination.  Those who opposed him called him ‘Uppity’- a term Willy would wear as a badge of honour as he f

Jul 22, 2020 • 56:55

Pat Symonds on Fernando Alonso’s F1 return with Alpine

Pat Symonds on Fernando Alonso’s F1 return with Alpine

In 2021 Fernando Alonso returns to the F1 grid with Alpine, the new name for the Enstone team with which he won two world titles in 2005 and 2006. In this episode, the man who engineered him to those championships – Formula 1’s current Chief Technical Officer Pat Symonds – gives us the inside line on all things Alonso. With fantastic anecdotes, Symonds discusses what made Alonso such a great racer in the past, his areas of weakness, the things he learned away from F1, and just why he thinks the

Jul 15, 2020 • 43:36

FIA Race Director Michael Masi on mentor Charlie Whiting, driver penalties and more

FIA Race Director Michael Masi on mentor Charlie Whiting, driver penalties and more

As the FIA’s Race Director and Safety Delegate, Michael Masi’s job is to run F1 races – to keep an eye on everything that happens on track, and plenty of stuff off it too – including running driver briefings and dealing with protests. On this week’s show the Australian gives TC the inside line on one of the most interesting and pressurized roles in F1, discussing – amongst other things – his interpretation of the ‘let them race’ philosophy, his re-introduction of the black and white ‘warning’ fl

Jul 8, 2020 • 54:25

Mika Salo on giving up certain victory, racing through injury and more

Mika Salo on giving up certain victory, racing through injury and more

Winning in F1 is incredibly hard - giving up a certain victory is even harder. Many people will remember Mika Salo from his time as a super sub for Ferrari, when Michael Schumacher broke his leg in 1999. Racing alongside title contender Eddie Irvine, Salo starred, most memorably in Germany where he was faster than his team mate, but asked to move over while leading. That was just one of the topics on the list when TC sat down with the Finn, who also frankly discussed his stints with Toyota, Lotu

Jul 1, 2020 • 35:07

Stefan Johansson on racing 80s monsters, almost winning for Ferrari and tangling with wildlife

Stefan Johansson on racing 80s monsters, almost winning for Ferrari and tangling with wildlife

This week we welcome blonde-haired 80s Super Swede Stefan Johansson onto the show. Stefan was a 12-time podium finisher, and he would have been a race winner too were it not for team orders or Lady Luck intervening. A terrific raconteur, Stefan regales Tom with some incredible stories from his career, including fascinating insight into what made Alain Prost so good, his heartbreaking near miss at Imola ’85, his barely conceivable weekend to forget in Austria in 1987, and much, much more…

Jun 24, 2020 • 1:12:19

Alex Zanardi: F1 racer, inspiration, Paralympic champion

Alex Zanardi: F1 racer, inspiration, Paralympic champion

Alex Zanardi only raced in F1 41 times, never finishing higher than sixth. But for millions of fans around the world, he remains both a hero and an inspiration. A dazzling racer, who only really showed his true talent in IndyCars, Zanardi’s career story took an unexpected turn in 2001 when he was gravely injured in a Champ Car race and had both legs amputated. But remarkably, Zanardi would battle back. Battle back to race again at the top level in touring cars, but perhaps even more remarkably,

Jun 17, 2020 • 1:51:16

Riccardo Patrese on the wins, pranks and fallouts from his epic 17-season F1 career

Riccardo Patrese on the wins, pranks and fallouts from his epic 17-season F1 career

Riccardo Patrese’s career began in the era of Hunt, Lauda and Andretti and ended 256 races later in the era of Senna and Schumacher, by which time he’d become the most successful Italian racer since double world champion Alberto Ascari.  On this week’s show he talks us through that incredible 17-season career – the team mates, the rivals, the cars, the victories. Expert wonderful anecdotes on that famous Monaco win in 1982 (the race nobody wanted to win!), the time he was pranked by Nelson Piqu

Jun 10, 2020 • 1:32:07

Heikki Kovalainen's bets with Hamilton, his sole F1 win and rollercoaster career

Heikki Kovalainen's bets with Hamilton, his sole F1 win and rollercoaster career

Tom welcomes one-time Grand Prix winner Heikki Kovalainen onto the show to discuss the ups and downs of his Grand Prix career, which began with Renault in 2007 and took in 111 starts, with stops at McLaren, Caterham and Lotus. The amiable Finn discusses the challenges of going up against an all-time great in Hamilton – their sporting bets and what separated them on the race track – and looks back on his only F1 win in Hungary in 2008. There are also stories on his breakout defeat of Michael Schu

Jun 3, 2020 • 1:09:53

Technical director Andrew Green on giant killing with Racing Point, surprising with Jordan and more

Technical director Andrew Green on giant killing with Racing Point, surprising with Jordan and more

When it comes to giant killing in F1, few have done it better than Racing Point in recent years – in fact in 2016 and ’17, with the smallest budget on the grid, the then Force India team outperformed many well-healed opponents to finish fourth in the constructors’ championship. One of the architects behind that success was long-running Technical Director Andrew Green, whose F1 career started in the very same squad in 1991, in their Jordan guise.  On this week’s show, Tom chats to Andrew about w

May 27, 2020 • 1:03:22

Stirling Moss: A life lived at full speed (with Mia Forbes Pirie)

Stirling Moss: A life lived at full speed (with Mia Forbes Pirie)

On the 12th April, the world of motorsport lost a giant with the news that iconic 16-time Grand Prix winner Sir Stirling Moss had passed away aged 90. In the final few years of his life, Moss stopped doing public appearances and interviews because of his health. But he did sit down for a chat with Mia Forbes Pirie, a close family friend, for what is believed to be his final in-depth interview, providing us with a compelling and poignant first-hand account of an incredible life lived at full spee

May 20, 2020 • 32:28

Martin Brundle on the best F1 cars of each decade

Martin Brundle on the best F1 cars of each decade

F1 turns 70-years-old on May 13, so to celebrate we have invited perennial favourite Martin Brundle back on the show to discuss the best F1 cars he’s ever driven. The Englishman, a nine-time F1 podium finisher, is one of the only people on the planet to have driven race-winning cars 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…

May 13, 2020 • 1:08:56

Daniil Kvyat on podiums, pressure and phone calls from Helmut Marko

Daniil Kvyat on podiums, pressure and phone calls from Helmut Marko

Few drivers have experienced as many ups and downs as AlphaTauri’s Daniil Kvyat in his near century of Grand Prix starts, from the elation of three brilliant podium finishes to the dejection of demotion and losing his F1 seat. This week, the Russian opens up on the mental resilience needed to bounce back in F1, why his sabbatical year with Ferrari inspired him to fight back, that redemptive podium in Germany last year, and his thoughts on Red Bull supremo Helmut Marko’s school of hard knocks…

May 6, 2020 • 1:03:07

BONUS: Introducing F1 Nation

BONUS: Introducing F1 Nation

F1 may be on hiatus, but we know your fandom burns as strong as ever. So to help fill the void, we’ve launched F1 Nation – a new podcast that aims to unite like-minded fans around the world with a mix of chat, special guests and plenty of laughs… Search for F1 Nation on your favourite podcast app and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss out on new episodes.

May 1, 2020 • 6:44

Julian Jakobi on managing Senna and Prost

Julian Jakobi on managing Senna and Prost

As one of the most successful driver managers in the history of the sport, Julian Jakobi has worked with the very best – including managing rivals Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost at the same time! Currently managing Racing Point’s Sergio Perez, Jakobi – who oversaw some of F1’s biggest ever deals - gives us the lowdown on how an F1 driver’s contract is drawn up, plus regales us with some must-hear anecdotes about Senna, Prost, James Hunt, Michael Schumacher and more!

Apr 29, 2020 • 1:07:07

‘Quick Nick’ Heidfeld on his fastest team mates, his toughest rivals and the best F1 car he drove

‘Quick Nick’ Heidfeld on his fastest team mates, his toughest rivals and the best F1 car he drove

This week’s guest was one of the quickest and most consistent drivers of the 2000s. In fact, Nick Heidfeld stood on the podium 13 times, which is the most any driver has in history without winning a race. But don’t think of that as a dubious honour, more a reflection of the quality of a man who went toe-to-toe in equal machinery with the likes of Robert Kubica, Mark Webber and Kimi Raikkonen and frequently came out on top.  On this week’s show Quick Nick chats to Tom Clarkson about his 183-race

Apr 22, 2020 • 1:03:44

Tech genius John Barnard on his game-changing F1 inventions

Tech genius John Barnard on his game-changing F1 inventions

John Barnard can stake a claim to shaping all modern F1 cars. Not only was he responsible for victoriously introducing the now ubiquitous carbon fibre chassis to F1, he also was the brains behind the semi-automatic gearbox that is now an integral part of every Grand Prix car.  On this week’s show he gives us an eye-opening look into these innovations, as well as describing what it was like to negotiate setting up a Ferrari factory in the UK with Enzo Ferrari, what it was like to work with the l

Apr 15, 2020 • 1:16:33

David Brabham on growing up as Black Jack’s son, Imola 94, and the potential of Brabham returning to F1

David Brabham on growing up as Black Jack’s son, Imola 94, and the potential of Brabham returning to F1

Like Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve and Nico Rosberg, David Brabham knows only too well what it’s like to forge a path to F1 under the shadow of a famous father, in his case triple world champion Jack Brabham – the only driver to win the title in a self-made car.  On this week’s show, Brabs tells us about his unconventional start to racing, the perhaps surprising influence of his father, his stop-start Grand Prix career, the legacy of Brabham, and that dark weekend at Imola in 1994, when his te

Apr 8, 2020 • 1:04:55

Mark Blundell on F1 in the 90s, friendship with Martin Brundle, filling Mansell’s seat and more

Mark Blundell on F1 in the 90s, friendship with Martin Brundle, filling Mansell’s seat and more

Fans of F1 racing in the Nineties will remember Mark Blundell well as part of a brilliant ‘Brit pack’ of racers including Damon Hill, Johnny Herbert and his pal Martin Brundle. The gritty racer reached the podium in underdog machinery three times in that period, whilst also acting as test driver for the two best teams at the time: Williams and McLaren.  On this week’s show he discusses all of this and more, including the financial realities of racing for a back-of-the-grid outfit, his ‘useful’

Apr 1, 2020 • 1:15:07

Flavio Briatore on crashgate, Schumacher vs Alonso, and winning the title for ‘a t-shirt maker’

Flavio Briatore on crashgate, Schumacher vs Alonso, and winning the title for ‘a t-shirt maker’

He may have been out of the sport for a few years now, but how could anyone forget Flavio Briatore? The former Benetton and Renault boss was one of the biggest and most controversial characters in F1 throughout the Nineties and Noughties, but he was also one of the most successful, with his inimitable style leading Benetton and Renault to multiple championships.  On this week’s show he opens up about his unlikely journey from the fashion business to F1 team boss, about working alongside Michael

Mar 25, 2020 • 1:11:13

 Pedro de la Rosa on spygate, Hamilton vs Alonso, and racing Christian Horner

Pedro de la Rosa on spygate, Hamilton vs Alonso, and racing Christian Horner

As a racer, Pedro de la Rosa competed in more than 100 Grands Prix, and drove many, many more miles as an F1 test driver for the likes of McLaren and Ferrari. And on this week’s show the Spaniard gives host Tom Clarkson a fascinating perspective on F1, from life behind the scenes during the explosive 2007 season at McLaren, to what it was like being in the garage during Lewis Hamilton’s maiden test.  Then there are stories of Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen, racing against Red Bull boss Chri

Mar 18, 2020 • 1:09:27

Lando Norris on late nights, trolls and his pre-F1 meeting with Helmut Marko

Lando Norris on late nights, trolls and his pre-F1 meeting with Helmut Marko

Beyond The Grid is back, and to kick off the new season Tom Clarkson sits down with a driver who proved a rookie sensation last year, both on and off the track: McLaren’s Lando Norris.  In a revealing conversation, the British racer opens up about his hopes for 2020, whilst also discussing his love of gaming, his relationships with other drivers, dealing with Twitter trolls, and his rather extreme approach to cleaning the house...

Mar 11, 2020 • 1:04:02

Beyond The Grid returns March 11!

Beyond The Grid returns March 11!

Mark your diaries – Beyond The Grid is back Wednesday March 11. Make sure you subscribe today so you don’t miss out on Tom Clarkson in conversation with McLaren ace Lando Norris.

Mar 6, 2020 • 1:38

SPECIAL EPISODE: Inside the thrilling world of F1 Esports

SPECIAL EPISODE: Inside the thrilling world of F1 Esports

In a special one-off episode, we look back on the thrilling 2019 F1 Esports Series, speaking to everyone from drivers to organisers to explore what makes F1 Esports one of the most compelling and fastest growing racing series on the planet.

Mar 4, 2020 • 41:24

The Best of 2019: Tom’s favourite moments from Season 2

The Best of 2019: Tom’s favourite moments from Season 2

So here it is folks: your final episode of Beyond The Grid of the year. And what a year it’s been, with great guests every week from March to December. So what better way to bid farewell to 2019 than with Tom’s selection of his favourite moments of the season?  We’ve stuffed a Christmas cracker full of anecdotes from the likes of Jenson Button, Kimi Raikkonen, Rubens Barrichello, David Coulthard and more. Unwrap and enjoy!

Dec 18, 2019 • 58:21

Daniel Ricciardo: “If I’m going to strap myself into a car every weekend, I’m not doing it justice unless I’m all in”

Daniel Ricciardo: “If I’m going to strap myself into a car every weekend, I’m not doing it justice unless I’m all in”

He’s that rarest of creatures: a multifaceted, outgoing personality who also happens to be a world-class competitor, beloved by fans, media and even his fellow drivers.  On this week’s show we go deep with Daniel Ricciardo on his life on and off the race track, from his present with Renault to his past with Red Bull; his relationship with Max Verstappen to his relationship with music, food and ultimate fighting. You asked for it, here it is: F1’s most colourful character in extended, unfiltere

Dec 11, 2019 • 1:32:28

Bernie Ecclestone: "I'm now enjoying doing all the things that perhaps I should have done years ago"

Bernie Ecclestone: "I'm now enjoying doing all the things that perhaps I should have done years ago"

To many people, Bernie Ecclestone is the Godfather of Formula One. He transformed the sport from being the expensive indulgence of rich amateurs in the 50s into the global phenomenon it is today, watched by hundreds of millions of people on television and online.  On this week’s special show, we speak to Mr E about his incredible career, including his attempts to qualify for races as a driver, managing the interests of tragic world champion Jochen Rindt and running Brabham – including withdrawi

Dec 4, 2019 • 1:06:03

Rubens Barrichello: “Even now, I feel sick not being in an F1 car. I miss the buzz”

Rubens Barrichello: “Even now, I feel sick not being in an F1 car. I miss the buzz”

This week’s guest is F1’s original iron man – a veteran of 19 seasons in the top class of racing and a record 322 Grand Prix starts. Over the course of that career, Rubens Barrichello experienced every emotion under the sun: from the despair of being injured and losing hero and countryman Ayrton Senna on the same weekend in 1994; he experienced the euphoria of winning races for Ferrari and Brawn, and also the disappointment of being forced to give up race wins for a team mate.  The affable Braz

Nov 27, 2019 • 1:26:14

Special episode: Aldo Costa - The man with more world titles than anyone else

Special episode: Aldo Costa - The man with more world titles than anyone else

This week’s guest is a man whose name may not be immediately familiar to everyone, but it probably should be. Why? Well quite simply this is a man who has won more world titles than anyone in history - 26 in total.  In a glittering career in F1, Aldo Costa was a key engineer for both Ferrari and Mercedes throughout their dominant dynasties, and on this week’s show he spills the beans on what it was like to be on the inside of both historic runs; the similarities, the differences and much more b

Nov 20, 2019 • 1:24:47

Mika Hakkinen: “I carry the emotions of winning the world title every day”

Mika Hakkinen: “I carry the emotions of winning the world title every day”

He is regarded as one of the fastest drivers to ever grace an F1 racetrack, and arguably the rival Michael Schumacher feared the most. Not only was Mika Hakkinen’s commitment in a racing car absolute, particularly on a qualifying lap; he somehow came back from a horrifying accident at the end of 1995 not only to win races, but two world championships.  On this week’s episode we catch up with the Flying Finn to discuss his truly remarkable career, including that rivalry with Schumacher, “kicking

Nov 13, 2019 • 1:30:40

Franz Tost: “I don’t think I’m hard on drivers – but I expect to see results”

Franz Tost: “I don’t think I’m hard on drivers – but I expect to see results”

Putting aside Frank Williams, who is no longer in the active role at Williams he once was, Franz Tost is the second longest-serving team boss in the pit lane, behind only Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner. In his 14 years at the helm of Toro Rosso, Tost has overseen the team’s maiden pole and victory, nurtured talents like Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo, and helped rehabilitate the careers of those moving the other way in the Red Bull pyramid.  On this week’s show, To

Nov 6, 2019 • 1:02:54

Mario Andretti: “I was driven by a burning desire to pursue the impossible dream”

Mario Andretti: “I was driven by a burning desire to pursue the impossible dream”

As motor racing stories go, Mario Andretti’s is pure Hollywood. Born in what was war-ravaged Italy in 1940, and later a refugee, he would rise to not only become arguably the greatest all-round racing driver in history, but also a household name, synonymous with speed, across America – his adopted homeland after emigrating in the 1950s.  On this week’s episode we hear the full epic tale, from the moment he caught the motor racing bug watching hero Alberto Ascari at Monza, to the early years of

Oct 30, 2019 • 1:34:56

 Takuma Sato: “When I saw an F1 car for the first time I thought it was outrageous”

Takuma Sato: “When I saw an F1 car for the first time I thought it was outrageous”

He’s regarded as arguably the fastest Japanese driver of all time, and yet it could all have been so different for Takuma Sato. A bike racing champion in his youth, Sato caught the racing bug watching Senna at Suzuka in his youth, and though he didn’t start racing until much later than almost all of his rivals, his talent and sheer bloody minded determination lifted him all the way to F1.  On this week’s episode, the Indy 500 champion tells us about his brave switch from Japan to Britain early

Oct 23, 2019 • 57:31

F2 PODCAST: Mick Schumacher – Living up to the name

F2 PODCAST: Mick Schumacher – Living up to the name

Alex Jacques catches up with a young driver who has the biggest name in all of motorsport. Mick Schumacher exclusively talks to F2: The Road to F1 about his career so far, his passions away from the track and the influence of his father. The German also talks about his future ambitions, as he aims to one day compete in Formula One, where Dad, Michael, won seven world titles.

Oct 18, 2019 • 29:05

Ralf Schumacher: “Would I have made it to F1 without Michael? I don’t think so”

Ralf Schumacher: “Would I have made it to F1 without Michael? I don’t think so”

He was a driver for whom much was expected, arriving in F1 as the younger brother of a double world champion. And though today Ralf Schumacher doesn’t rate his achievements that highly, those who raced against him will tell you the six-time Grand Prix winner was one of the quickest and most under-estimated of his era.  On this week’s show, Ralf discusses being a racing dad to up-and-comer son David, what it was like to race brother Michael at the highest level, why he was never friends with tea

Oct 16, 2019 • 50:07

 Jenson Button: “My title was the perfect story – they need to make a movie of it”

Jenson Button: “My title was the perfect story – they need to make a movie of it”

Our guest this week is someone who lived through one of the sport’s biggest fairy tales when, in 2009, he won the world title with Brawn, less than 12 months after the team had been put out of business by Honda. But though that season has come to define Jenson Button’s F1 career, in reality it was just one small part for a racer that clocked up more than 300 Grand Prix starts.  On this week’s episode, Jenson discusses his remarkable career journey, including why the most enjoyable part was pre-

Oct 9, 2019 • 1:18:11

Valtteri Bottas: “Beating Lewis isn’t easy. But I don’t like anything easy in my life...”

Valtteri Bottas: “Beating Lewis isn’t easy. But I don’t like anything easy in my life...”

As Lewis Hamilton’s team mate at Mercedes, Valtteri Bottas finds himself consistently measured against a driver many consider the best of all time. But far from being overawed, the gritty Finn actively relishes the challenge, and has become a consistent race-winning threat.  On this week’s show Bottas opens up about mental resilience, motivation and self-development, and also gives us a fascinating look into his private life: beards, dogs and - yes - porridge...

Oct 2, 2019 • 45:34

Cyril Abiteboul: “I live F1 physically. I don’t sleep for two nights after a race”

Cyril Abiteboul: “I live F1 physically. I don’t sleep for two nights after a race”

He’s a man with one of the toughest jobs in F1: tasked with leading one of the sport’s grandee teams back to the top, under the weight of huge public expectation. But if anyone knows Renault, it’s Cyril Abiteboul. The Frenchman has worked in a variety of positions for the French marque over the years and, though just 41, is now in his fourth season as Team Principal.  On this week’s episode Abiteboul discusses how the oft-talked five-year rebuild is going, the pressures of the job, the inside s

Sep 25, 2019 • 1:01:01

Jos Verstappen: “My own F1 career could have gone better, but I’m happy, because what I learned I gave to my son…”

Jos Verstappen: “My own F1 career could have gone better, but I’m happy, because what I learned I gave to my son…”

This week’s guest is Dutch, caused a major stir when he first jumped into an F1 car, and has the surname of Verstappen… but we’re not talking about Red Bull star Max, we’re talking about his father. Jos Verstappen had the same meteoric rise through the junior formulas as his son, culminating in an F1 debut alongside Michael Schumacher at Benetton in 1994. He’d end up making more than 100 Grand Prix starts and scoring two podiums – although it’s fair to say it was something of a rollercoaster car

Sep 18, 2019 • 45:15

Alex Albon: “Adversity has given me a strong personality…”

Alex Albon: “Adversity has given me a strong personality…”

A year ago, Alex Albon didn’t have an F1 drive, and his prospects of getting one looked slim at best. He had no affiliation with an F1 team and, despite shining in F2, he was having to looking at alternative series in which to earn a living. It was not the first time his career faced a crossroads, but this time, things were turned upside down when he got a call from Red Bull – the same Red Bull that had dropped him years earlier – about driving for Toro Rosso in 2019. On this week’s show, the Br

Sep 11, 2019 • 58:31

Pastor Maldonado: “Sometimes I went over the limit. No more than others, but my mistakes were always on the front page…”

Pastor Maldonado: “Sometimes I went over the limit. No more than others, but my mistakes were always on the front page…”

Pastor Maldonado was always a headline maker. The Venezuelan arrived in F1 in 2011 with Williams as GP2 champion, and the very next year delivered the team a first win in over seven years with a dazzling performance in Spain. But for all his speed, and all his talent, Maldonado also found himself on the end of a large amount of criticism, sometimes from his fellow drivers, sometimes from the press, for his flamboyant and always committed approach. This week on Beyond The Grid, Maldonado pulls n

Sep 4, 2019 • 1:25:48

 Tony Brooks: “If you made a mistake in my day, you were in the lap of the gods…”

Tony Brooks: “If you made a mistake in my day, you were in the lap of the gods…”

He raced in an era of heroes; a time when cars had no seat belts, yet could still be raced at averages of 150mph. Many he raced against in the 1950s – the first decade of the world championship – perished in pursuit of speed, but Tony Brooks emerged unscathed with six Grand Prix victories, having come ever so close to winning the world title his talents surely deserved. This week on Beyond The Grid, we caught up with this giant of F1, now 87, to look back over his remarkable career, which saw hi

Aug 28, 2019 • 1:08:17

SPECIAL EPISODE: Six of the best anecdotes from Season 2 so far!

SPECIAL EPISODE: Six of the best anecdotes from Season 2 so far!

It’s the F1 summer break, and on this week’s episode Tom has trawled through the archives and picked out six of his favourite anecdotes from Season 2 so far. We won’t give anything away, but listen out for gems from Kimi Raikkonen, David Coulthard and Jean Alesi among others. So whether you’re a diehard fan or a new listener to the show, sit back and enjoy some fabulous F1 conversations with the best in the business…

Aug 21, 2019 • 25:41

SPECIAL EPISODE: Jo Ramirez on being in the middle of Senna and Prost at McLaren

SPECIAL EPISODE: Jo Ramirez on being in the middle of Senna and Prost at McLaren

He may not be a household name, but Jo Ramirez is one of those people who has seen it all and worked with them all. He broke into F1 in the 1960s, working with emerging superstar Ricardo Rodriguez. His Mexican countryman sadly perished before his star had truly emerged, but by then Ramirez was set on a path that would eventually see him work with Jackie Stewart at Tyrrell, Emerson Fittipaldi at Copersucar, and - most famously - with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost at McLaren in the midst of their b

Aug 14, 2019 • 53:43

Jacky Ickx: "I lived through an incredible era. I'm a survivor"

Jacky Ickx: "I lived through an incredible era. I'm a survivor"

He may never have claimed the world championship his supreme talents probably deserved, but Jacky Ickx remains one of the most revered drivers of the 60s and 70s. An eight-time Grand Prix winner, and twice runner up for the title, the lightning quick Belgian also won the famed Le Mans 24 Hours six times in arguably its most brutal era - not bad for someone who never wanted to be a racing driver...  On this week's Beyond The Grid, Ickx reflects on a career in motorsport: Those who nurtured him,

Aug 7, 2019 • 1:23:14

Alex Wurz: “On the morning of the day I scored my first podium, I was fired…”

Alex Wurz: “On the morning of the day I scored my first podium, I was fired…”

He’s one of the most interesting characters in the F1 paddock: a podium-scoring driver who remains just as busy today as he was when he was racing. Then again, Alex Wurz was never your average racer; from his unconventional introduction to speed as a BMX world champion to airbrushing his own helmets to ensure they looked correct. On this week’s episode, the affable Austrian talks about both of those things, as well as the stand-out moments from a fascinating career which included 69 Grand Prix s

Jul 31, 2019 • 1:35:15

Jean Todt: “I’ve been blessed to enjoy success in an world that has always fascinated me. But now I want to give back…”

Jean Todt: “I’ve been blessed to enjoy success in an world that has always fascinated me. But now I want to give back…”

Among F1 fans, Jean Todt is perhaps most famous for leading Ferrari out of their early 90s slump and into a period of unprecedented domination in the 2000s. As mighty as that period was - and don’t forget that Schumacher’s drivers’ title in 2000 was Ferrari’s first since 1979 - that success was to some extent only the tip of the iceberg for a man with one of the most impressive CVs in world motorsport. He’s currently President of motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, but in a previous life was a

Jul 24, 2019 • 1:08:03

Derek Warwick: "The bravest thing I ever did was get back in the car the day after my team mate was nearly killed"

Derek Warwick: "The bravest thing I ever did was get back in the car the day after my team mate was nearly killed"

From the rock ‘em, sock ‘em world of stock car racing to the pinnacle of motorsport, Derek Warwick’s career was one hell of a rollercoaster ride. In an F1 career spanning 146 Grand Prix starts, the tough Brit raced for the likes of Renault and Lotus, and stood on the podium four times, albeit always missing out on the top spot. But he’s perhaps best remembered for the bravery he exhibited: not just behind the wheel of some of the most ferocious F1 cars of all time, but for the way he kept going,

Jul 17, 2019 • 1:12:23

SPECIAL EPISODE: Ross Brawn on Brawn GP’s fairy-tale 2009 title success

SPECIAL EPISODE: Ross Brawn on Brawn GP’s fairy-tale 2009 title success

The history of F1 is littered with great stories and improbable comebacks, and Brawn GP’s title-winning season in 2009 is right up there with the best of them. It was late 2008 when Honda surprisingly pulled the plug on its F1 project, leaving a team hundreds strong with a bleak future. That the team not only survived but emerged with a grid-blitzing machine is the stuff of legend, and on the tenth anniversary of that success Tom Clarkson sat down with the man at the centre of the story – curren

Jul 10, 2019 • 44:50

 Kevin Magnussen: "Racing-wise, I don't care what people think of me. I'd feel weird if everyone was saying I'm a nice guy..."

Kevin Magnussen: "Racing-wise, I don't care what people think of me. I'd feel weird if everyone was saying I'm a nice guy..."

His F1 career began with a bang, with a podium finish on debut with McLaren in Australia in 2014. Though he hasn't hit those heights since, in the intervening period Kevin Magnussen has established himself as a hard-edged, no-nonsense racer who, after losing his McLaren drive and then spending a year with Renault, is now really hitting his stride with the American team Haas.  Tom Clarkson sat down with the Dane during a quiet period at the Austrian Grand Prix for a candid and honest talk about

Jul 3, 2019 • 1:04:13

Patrick Tambay: “There was a time after Gilles’ death I felt he was in the car with me”

Patrick Tambay: “There was a time after Gilles’ death I felt he was in the car with me”

He raced for some of Formula One’s top teams, including McLaren and Renault, but Patrick Tambay is probably best remembered as a Ferrari driver. Having arrived in F1 via the circuitous route of downhill skiing, the US college system and the North American CanAm series, Tambay ended up driving for the Prancing Horse after the death of close friend Gilles Villeneuve. He then helped carry the team through one of its most tumultuous periods, famously providing spirit-lifting victories in Germany and

Jun 26, 2019 • 52:17

Jody Scheckter: "When you first get into F1 you’ll do anything. I remember once thinking I'd rather be dead than not drive in F1…"

Jody Scheckter: "When you first get into F1 you’ll do anything. I remember once thinking I'd rather be dead than not drive in F1…"

Jody Scheckter’s life has been anything but conventional. Having arrived in Britain from South Africa in 1970, Jody broke into Grand Prix racing in 1972 with McLaren where he caused a stir with his great speed and somewhat wild race craft. Rough edges polished, he’d go on to win the sport’s ultimate prize - the world title - in 1979 while driving for Ferrari, though in some ways that was just the beginning. Less than a year later he’d announce his retirement from F1, turning his attention instea

Jun 19, 2019 • 46:59

Nico Hulkenberg: "Winning Le Mans was unforgettable - but I'm an F1 guy"

Nico Hulkenberg: "Winning Le Mans was unforgettable - but I'm an F1 guy"

He arrived in F1 in 2010 as one of the hottest properties in motorsport, and showed his promise by scoring a sensational pole position before his rookie season was out. Today, Nico Hulkenberg is still regarded as one of the most talented drivers on the grid, despite the fact he's surprisingly yet to make it to the podium.  On this week's show, the driver known affectionately at ‘The Hulk’ talks Tom Clarkson through his career to date, from his early days at Williams, to his time at Force India

Jun 12, 2019 • 45:14

Gordon Murray: "As an F1 car designer I was always looking for an unfair advantage. I still am..."

Gordon Murray: "As an F1 car designer I was always looking for an unfair advantage. I still am..."

This week’s guest on Beyond The Grid is renowned as one of F1’s great innovators and technical brains – perhaps the best. In a 20-year Grand Prix racing career this blue-sky thinker was responsible for introducing such things as tyre warmers, mid-race fuel stops and the ingenious Brabham fan car – not to mention a host of championship-winning machines and the acclaimed McLaren F1 road car. It’s an amazing resume – especially given Gordon Murray arrived in the UK from his native South Africa in t

Jun 5, 2019 • 1:13:56

*NEW PODCAST ALERT* - Introducing The Road To F1, the new podcast all about Formula 2

*NEW PODCAST ALERT* - Introducing The Road To F1, the new podcast all about Formula 2

On the inaugural episode of Road To F1, join Alex Jacques and Rosanna Tennant as they profile BWT Arden’s Tatiana Calderon, the first ever female driver to race in Formula 2. The Colombian driver tells her fascinating career story; one that began on the roads of Bogota and she passionately hopes will lead to a seat in Formula 1... Make sure you search for F2: The Road To F1 and subscribe to their channel via your favourite podcast app so you don't miss out on new episodes.

May 31, 2019 • 26:42

John Watson: “I learned to calculate risks – I didn’t go into areas where there was no escape”

John Watson: “I learned to calculate risks – I didn’t go into areas where there was no escape”

He may not be as well-known as James Hunt or Nigel Mansell, but for a good period in the late Seventies and early Eighties, after the former had retired and before the latter became a household name, John Watson was Britain’s Grand Prix hero.  Over the course of 152 starts, Watson reached the podium 20 times, winning five races – including one from 22nd on the grid! But it wasn’t all roses for the Northern Irishman – over the course of his career he saw many colleagues killed or badly injured,

May 29, 2019 • 1:13:14

Felipe Massa: “I have no bad feelings about 2008 – but winning the title at home would have been incredible”

Felipe Massa: “I have no bad feelings about 2008 – but winning the title at home would have been incredible”

As a driver Felipe Massa experienced every emotion under the sun: The joy of winning races for Ferrari; the utter despair of losing a world title at the final race of the year; and the huge uncertainty of recovery from life-threatening injuries. This week on Beyond The Grid, supported by Bose, the popular Brazilian bares his soul on all three subjects - and much more besides. Recorded in Massa’s Monaco home, there are stories on his F1 beginnings with Sauber, his relationships with team mates Mi

May 22, 2019 • 1:14:20

Jean Alesi: “The day I stopped driving in F1 was the worst day of my life”

Jean Alesi: “The day I stopped driving in F1 was the worst day of my life”

With his trademark head tilt and unique grip on the steering wheel, there was no mistaking the driver of Ferrari number 27 in the early Nineties. But then in many ways Jean Alesi embodied the perfect Ferrari driver: passionate, fast and driven by heart-on-sleeve emotion. No wonder he was such a firm favourite of the Tifosi.  This week on Beyond The Grid, supported by Bose, the popular French-Sicilian regales host Tom Clarkson with stories from his stellar F1 career, including the tale of his n

May 15, 2019 • 1:04:52

James Allison: "For an engineer, F1 is an unending work of invention and skill"

James Allison: "For an engineer, F1 is an unending work of invention and skill"

Mercedes have been the standard setters in F1 since 2014, and this year they've started the season at a relentless pace. This week on Beyond The Grid, supported by Bose, we speak to one of the key figures in the Silver Arrows' incredible winning machine: Technical Director James Allison. In an F1 career spanning nearly 30 years, Allison has enjoyed successful spells with the likes of Ferrari, Renault and Mercedes, and knows better than most what it takes to win. So get ready for fascinating insi

May 8, 2019 • 1:09:19

Damon Hill: "I had an innate desire to race - and a need to make things right"

Damon Hill: "I had an innate desire to race - and a need to make things right"

In the current era, it's not unheard of for a driver aged 24 to have hundreds of Grands Prix under his belt. At the same age, Damon Hill had only just begun racing cars. Then again, had his father - charismatic double F1 world champion Graham Hill - not died tragically in his formative years he might never have raced at all.  This week on Beyond The Grid, supported by Bose, Damon talks Tom Clarkson through his remarkable career, including his long battle to get to the top, the despair of losin

May 1, 2019 • 1:06:22

Alan Jones: “I was a pretty aggressive driver. If someone passed me I took it personally…”

Alan Jones: “I was a pretty aggressive driver. If someone passed me I took it personally…”

He’s renowned as one of racing’s toughest nuts – a driver who gave his all on the race track and didn’t suffer fools off it. And this week on F1’s official podcast, Beyond The Grid, supported by Bose, 1980 World Champion Alan Jones regales host Tom Clarkson with no-nonsense tales from his extraordinary career.  Having arrived in Europe from his native Australia in the early 70s, Jones worked his way into F1 before becoming a Grand Prix winner with Shadow in 1977. But it’s with Williams that AJ

Apr 24, 2019 • 1:15:51

Sergio Perez: “There are no coincidences in F1. There’s a reason why I’m always there when there’s an opportunity to take…”

Sergio Perez: “There are no coincidences in F1. There’s a reason why I’m always there when there’s an opportunity to take…”

He’s known as a driver who makes the most of every opportunity – in the thick of the midfield battle, give Sergio Perez a sniff of a podium and the Mexican will normally take it.  This week on Beyond The Grid, supported by Bose, ‘Checo’ tells host Tom Clarkson about where that desire and racing ability came from, taking us on a journey from his childhood in Guadalajara to his formative years in Europe, when he journeyed across the world on his own at 15 with little more than a dream to reach F

Apr 17, 2019 • 54:26

1000th race special with Murray Walker - ‘The Voice of F1’

1000th race special with Murray Walker - ‘The Voice of F1’

He's been called ‘The Voice of F1’ - and for good reason. For more than 25 years, Murray Walker provided commentary on Grand Prix racing for the majority of the English-speaking world - and always in his own inimitable style.  This week on a special 1000th race edition of Beyond The Grid, supported by Bose, host Tom Clarkson speaks to the legendary British broadcaster, a man whose exhilarating, excitable style behind the microphone was once memorably summed up by Australian wit Clive James as

Apr 10, 2019 • 1:07:15

Guenther Steiner: "F1 fans like an underdog to fight with the big boys"

Guenther Steiner: "F1 fans like an underdog to fight with the big boys"

He's the colourful Team Principal of the American Haas team, and thanks to an unforgettable appearance in the recent Netflix documentary series Formula 1: Drive To Survive, Guenther Steiner has also become something of a fan favourite.  This week on Beyond The Grid, supported by Bose, the Italian joins host Tom Clarkson for a lively conversation about his fascinating career to date, from his early years in rallying to his time at Jaguar, and from his stint in F1 with Red Bull to the foray into

Apr 3, 2019 • 49:19

Luca Di Montezemolo: "Ferrari is passion, Ferrari is emotion, I thank God I worked for them"

Luca Di Montezemolo: "Ferrari is passion, Ferrari is emotion, I thank God I worked for them"

He was handed arguably the biggest job in motor racing in his mid-twenties, when none other than Enzo Ferrari made him Sporting Director of his famous team. But rather than falter under such pressure, Luca Di Montezemolo flourished. In the Seventies, as the 'Old Man's' trusted man on the ground at races, he led the team to their first world titles in over a decade. Then in the Nineties, after several years away, he returned as President to lead Ferrari out of the doldrums and into the most succe

Mar 27, 2019 • 1:14:10

David Coulthard: “I loved being an F1 driver - but I don’t miss the mental anguish”

David Coulthard: “I loved being an F1 driver - but I don’t miss the mental anguish”

David Coulthard arrived in F1 amid one of its most turbulent periods, getting his big break at Williams in 1994 after the tragic death of superstar driver Ayrton Senna. He’d go on to race in 246 Grands Prix, winning 13 of them, including two victories each at classic venues Monaco and Silverstone. But amid the champagne celebrations there were bumpy periods too – moments of self-doubt and big crashes, both on and off the race track.  In this week’s Beyond The Grid, DC joins TC for an honest an

Mar 20, 2019 • 1:22:59

Kimi Raikkonen: “Racing and partying – for me it was normal“

Kimi Raikkonen: “Racing and partying – for me it was normal“

He exploded onto the F1 scene in 2001 as a 21-year-old super rookie – barely any experience, but tons of raw speed.  In the years that followed, Kimi Raikkonen became an F1 icon, winning 21 races for McLaren and Ferrari and the 2007 world championship crown before taking a sabbatical where he raced almost everything else with four wheels. Grand Prix racing’s resident Iceman remains the same unflinchingly no-nonsense character that fans have come to love. And whilst he’s famous as a man of few w

Mar 13, 2019 • 47:13

Beyond The Grid Is Back..

Beyond The Grid Is Back..

Beyond The Grid is back Wednesday 13th March.  Make sure you subscribe now so you don't miss out on Tom Clarkson in conversation with 'The Iceman' himself: the one and only Kimi Raikkonen.

Mar 12, 2019 • 0:57

Sabine Kehm on working with Michael Schumacher as his PR and manager

Sabine Kehm on working with Michael Schumacher as his PR and manager

On January 3rd 2019, Michael Schumacher – statistically the most successful F1 driver of all-time – turned 50. To commemorate the occasion, last week Tom brought you a special conversation with Ross Brawn - the man who helped guide Schumacher to all but three of his 91 Grand Prix victories.  This week, for our second and final special episode, Tom is back with an equally revealing chat with Sabine Kehm - one of the few people to have witnessed the public and private sides of Michael Schumacher

Jan 9, 2019 • 41:34

Ross Brawn on Michael Schumacher – the driver, the leader, the man

Ross Brawn on Michael Schumacher – the driver, the leader, the man

On January 3rd 2019, Michael Schumacher – statistically the most successful F1 driver of all-time – turns 50. To commemorate the occasion, Beyond The Grid is back with two special conversations with two people who know the great man better than most.  Our first guest worked with Schumacher for all but three of his record 91 Grand Prix victories, and helped steer him to amazing seven world titles with Benetton and Ferrari: current F1 motorsport chief Ross Brawn. So sit back and enjoy as Ross di

Jan 2, 2019 • 1:01:20

End Of Year Special: The Best Of 2018

End Of Year Special: The Best Of 2018

This week marks the season finale of Beyond The Grid - but don't worry, we'll be back before you know it in 2019 with more conversations with the great and the good of Grand Prix racing (and much more besides). But before the chequered flag flies, there's just enough time for Tom to pick out some of his top moments of 2018. So stand by for a few laughs, a few tears and a few eye-opening revelations...

Dec 19, 2018 • 45:26

Otmar Szafnauer: “When Force India went into administration, my role was to keep the team together”

Otmar Szafnauer: “When Force India went into administration, my role was to keep the team together”

Though he's been in F1 a long time, you may not have been overly familiar with Otmar Szafnauer before this year. As COO of Force India, the American played a key role in turning them into one of the best pound for pound teams on the grid. But when driver Sergio Perez pulled the trigger and sent the Silverstone squad into administration in mid-2018, Szafnauer found himself on a course that ultimately led to him becoming Team Principal of a new entity: Racing Point.  On this week’s episode of Be

Dec 12, 2018 • 55:15

Juan Pablo Montoya: “I was different – I guess that’s why I wasn’t in F1 long. I didn’t fit in”

Juan Pablo Montoya: “I was different – I guess that’s why I wasn’t in F1 long. I didn’t fit in”

He streaked into F1 in 2001; a spectacular no-holds-barred racer unafraid to go wheel-to-wheel with the biggest names in the sport. But though he made a big splash, winning seven races, including the Monaco Grand Prix, Juan Pablo Montoya’s Formula 1 career lasted just five-and-a-half seasons before he suddenly said goodbye to Grand Prix racing for good. On this week’s episode of Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, JPM tells Tom about his short but sweet time in the top flight of racing, includ

Dec 5, 2018 • 57:09

Rob Smedley: “I cried for about an hour after Massa lost the 2008 title – it was so intense…”

Rob Smedley: “I cried for about an hour after Massa lost the 2008 title – it was so intense…”

This week, for the first time on Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, we’re not speaking to a driver or a team boss, but to an engineer – and someone who’s been directly involved of some of the biggest moments in F1 in the past 20 years. Rob Smedley is probably best known to most fans as Felipe Massa’s long-standing Race Engineer, and in that role he experienced the full gamut of emotions, from the elation of race wins to the heartbreak of a narrow title loss, and the horror of seeing ‘his’ drive

Nov 28, 2018 • 1:18:03

Emerson Fittipaldi: When you left the pits you had to give yourself to the sport. You couldn't think what might happen...

Emerson Fittipaldi: When you left the pits you had to give yourself to the sport. You couldn't think what might happen...

He's the granddaddy of Brazilian motorsport; a true trailblazer who, having become F1's youngest ever world champion in 1972, inspired a generation of exceptional talent in his homeland, including Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna. Emerson Fittipaldi saw it all in his Grand Prix career, from the highs of winning two world titles, 14 races, and two Indy 500s, to the lows of seeing multiple colleagues killed and his family-run team fold. On this week's episode of Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, t

Nov 21, 2018 • 1:09:07

Carlos Sainz: "Racing is in my blood - my father taught me a champion's mentality"

Carlos Sainz: "Racing is in my blood - my father taught me a champion's mentality"

F1 has seen its fair share of second generation racers, but Carlos Sainz doesn't quite fit the mould. The natural script would have been for him to follow his famous father and namesake into rallying, but while Carlos Sainz Sr became a double world champion on the dirt, his son set his sights on F1 after being inspired by countryman Fernando Alonso.  In this week's Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, Sainz speaks about his father's influence on his career, regaling Tom with some great anecdote

Nov 14, 2018 • 53:11

Claire Williams: “I had no aspirations to run an F1 team - it was never in my destiny”

Claire Williams: “I had no aspirations to run an F1 team - it was never in my destiny”

To say Claire Williams has racing in her blood would be an understatement. But despite being born into and raised around one of F1’s most successful teams, it’s fair to say she never expected to one day find herself taking the reins of her family squad.  On this week’s episode of Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, the daughter of legendary team boss Sir Frank Williams spills the beans on how she came to take the position of Deputy Team Principal (including the crucial role played by Toto Wolf

Nov 7, 2018 • 47:32

Jackie Stewart: “I removed emotion completely when I drove racing cars – I had to…”

Jackie Stewart: “I removed emotion completely when I drove racing cars – I had to…”

He’s regarded as one of the very best drivers of all-time; a man who, when he walked away from F1, had amassed three world championship titles and a then-record 27 Grand Prix victories. But that he was able to walk away at all was something of a success in itself, for so many of his friend and rivals were not so fortunate in an era when death lurked around every corner.  This week’s guest on Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, is that icon of late Sixties and early Seventies F1 racing: Sir Jac

Oct 31, 2018 • 1:12:31

Nico Rosberg: “I don’t miss the driving, but I miss the winning…”

Nico Rosberg: “I don’t miss the driving, but I miss the winning…”

He’s the only man in the last nine years other than Lewis Hamilton or Sebastian Vettel to win a world title. But what makes Nico Rosberg’s story so compelling is what happened immediately after his crowning glory when, seemingly at the peak of his powers, he walked away from F1.  On this week’s episode of Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, the German talks in depth about his career, including what it took to beat childhood friend and rival Hamilton to the 2016 title, how it felt it emulate fa

Oct 24, 2018 • 58:13

Charles Leclerc: “People say the pressure in Ferrari will be on another level - but mental strength is my biggest quality”

Charles Leclerc: “People say the pressure in Ferrari will be on another level - but mental strength is my biggest quality”

It takes a special kind of driver to get the call to race for Ferrari with less than a season of Grand Prix racing under your belt - especially when the man you’re set to replace is a world champion. Charles Leclerc is that driver.  The young man from Monaco has shown flashes of brilliance this year while racing for Sauber, but it’s not just his skills behind the wheel that set him apart - it’s his mental fortitude too. On this week’s episode of Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, Leclerc expl

Oct 17, 2018 • 50:38

Johnny Herbert: “I always felt I could beat anyone, anytime, in any car. But after my accident, I never had those feelings again…”

Johnny Herbert: “I always felt I could beat anyone, anytime, in any car. But after my accident, I never had those feelings again…”

He’s one of racing’s toughest nuts – a man who refused to let potentially life-changing injuries stand in the way of his dream of racing in Formula 1.  This week on Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, we’re joined by Johnny Herbert, a man for whom the phrase ‘triumph over adversity’ seems tailor made. Once the bright young hope of British Motorsport, Herbert’s career came to an abrupt halt when he suffered horrific damage to his feet in an F3000 crash. But he refused to give in, battling

Oct 10, 2018 • 1:06:52

Pierre Gasly: “The Red Bull programme tests you every day to see how strong you are. Once you get it, you know how to handle things…”

Pierre Gasly: “The Red Bull programme tests you every day to see how strong you are. Once you get it, you know how to handle things…”

Daniel Ricciardo’s shock decision to quit Red Bull for Renault in 2019 sent shockwaves through the F1 world – but for rising star Pierre Gasly, it handed him the biggest opportunity of his career so far. After a season and a bit of dazzling drives with Toro Rosso, the young Frenchman was promoted to Red Bull as team mate to none other than Max Verstappen.  On this episode of Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, the 22-year-old tells Tom the inside line of how the move came about, discusses how a

Oct 3, 2018 • 52:04

Alain Prost: “You can’t talk about my rivalry with Senna without understanding what happened after I retired…”

Alain Prost: “You can’t talk about my rivalry with Senna without understanding what happened after I retired…”

The word legend is often bandied about in sports, but this week’s guest on Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, is truly worthy of the moniker.  As a driver, Alain Prost set new standards, establishing a win record that only three drivers in history have surpassed – and he did it against some of the greatest talents in F1 history. His inimitable approach earned him the nickname The Professor, but it’s for his rivalry with Ayrton Senna – his one-time team mate – that the great Frenchman is best

Sep 26, 2018 • 56:58

Toto Wolff: "I run a successful F1 team but that's nothing compared to what other people have achieved..."

Toto Wolff: "I run a successful F1 team but that's nothing compared to what other people have achieved..."

He's presided over one of the most successful F1 teams of all time - and had to manage one of the most heated rivalries in history. So what exactly makes Mercedes chief Toto Wolff tick?  On this week's episode of Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, the thoughtful Austrian lifts the lid on running a team - including dealing with the 'volcano-like' relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg - gives a welcome update on colleague Niki Lauda's health, and tells Tom Clarkson about his trul

Sep 19, 2018 • 51:54

Stefano Domenicali: “Being a normal guy, I’m proud to have been at Ferrari for so long…”

Stefano Domenicali: “Being a normal guy, I’m proud to have been at Ferrari for so long…”

Running an F1 team is a demanding job. When that team is Ferrari, the pressure rises dramatically. Stefano Domenicali knows all about that.  On the latest episode of Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, the Italian recalls his 23 years at the Prancing Horse, which peaked with him taking the reins as Team Principal. He delivers fascinating insight into working with Michael Schumacher, during what was Ferrari’s most successful period, and the hurt endured as Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso agoni

Sep 12, 2018 • 43:58

Romain Grosjean: "Mark Webber wanted to punch me, and I had nothing to say in my defence..."

Romain Grosjean: "Mark Webber wanted to punch me, and I had nothing to say in my defence..."

There's no doubt that Formula 1 drivers live a largely glamorous life. But to say it's all roses would be far from the truth - and this week's guest on Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, knows that better than most.  In a career spanning more than 100 Grands Prix, Romain Grosjean has experienced the highs of reaching the podium several times and the lows of facing heavy criticism from his fellow drivers for his on-track behaviour. From fascinating insight into working with a sports psychologi

Sep 5, 2018 • 45:41

Eddie Jordan: “Starting an F1 team was the stupidest thing I ever did – you cannot imagine the stress”

Eddie Jordan: “Starting an F1 team was the stupidest thing I ever did – you cannot imagine the stress”

The history of F1 is filled with iconic team owners; extraordinary characters who went above and beyond to build cars and go racing. But it’s fair to say that when they made Eddie Jordan, they broke the mould. The self-proclaimed ‘Irish chancer’ built his team up from nothing, staved off numerous attempts to close it down, ran some of the sport’s finest drivers (including giving a certain Michael Schumacher his F1 debut) and even won several Grands Prix before selling up and starting a new caree

Aug 29, 2018 • 47:58

Gerhard Berger: "I tried to get results, but I also tried to not miss the party..."

Gerhard Berger: "I tried to get results, but I also tried to not miss the party..."

With his larger than life personality, penchant for fun and an eye for a party, Gerhard Berger was one of the most popular characters in the F1 paddock in the Eighties and Nineties. But much more than that, he was also one of the era's finest racers, holding his own against - and often beating - the best of the best and driving for both Ferrari and McLaren.  In the latest episode of Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, the Austrian opens up to Tom Clarkson about his carefree racing approach, pr

Aug 22, 2018 • 51:35

Jacques Villeneuve: “I learnt from my father about pushing the limits and taking risks”

Jacques Villeneuve: “I learnt from my father about pushing the limits and taking risks”

Jacques Villeneuve was just 12 when his father – swashbuckling fan favourite Gilles Villeneuve – was killed in practice for the Belgian Grand Prix. You might have thought that would turn the Canadian away from pursuing a racing career of his own, but instead Jacques climbed – unconventionally – all the way to the top of the Grand Prix tree, winning the F1 world title his father was never able to in 1997.  In this week’s episode of Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, the famously non-conformist

Aug 15, 2018 • 57:47

Christian Horner: "The Queen once quizzed me on Multi 21..."

Christian Horner: "The Queen once quizzed me on Multi 21..."

In another life, he might have been an F1 driver. Instead, after a slight change of direction, he became a team boss - and the youngest on the grid to boot. On the latest episode of Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, Christian Horner tells Tom about swapping the driver's seat for the pit wall, why it took 'balls' for Red Bull to pick him to lead their new team, Daniel Ricciardo's shock switch to Renault, and the surreal conversation he once had with the Queen. Oh, and then there's the story abo

Aug 8, 2018 • 57:29

Martin Brundle: “I was a racer – I had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the commentary box”

Martin Brundle: “I was a racer – I had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the commentary box”

As a racing driver he fought wheel-to-wheel with - and on his day beat - the very best of his era, including Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna and Mika Hakkinen.  But for a whole generation of F1 fans, Martin Brundle is ‘Mr Grid Walk’ – a man whose expert analysis and revolutionary approach to F1 broadcasting have won him multiple awards.  On this week’s episode of Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, Tom catches up with the nine-time podium finisher to discuss his action-packed Grand Prix car

Aug 1, 2018 • 47:39

Esteban Ocon: "My family gave up everything for me – there was no choice but to succeed"

Esteban Ocon: "My family gave up everything for me – there was no choice but to succeed"

Getting to F1 is no easy task for any driver, but the story of Esteban Ocon’s route to the top reads like a Hollywood movie.  On the latest episode of Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, the Frenchman chats to Tom Clarkson about, amongst other things, the incredible sacrifices his family made in support of his career, the touching gesture he made with his first proper salary, his epic battles with fellow young gun Max Verstappen in junior racing, and the highly unusual diet that keeps him in

Jul 25, 2018 • 41:18

Mark Webber: “Maybe I could have been less intense…but there was so much at stake”

Mark Webber: “Maybe I could have been less intense…but there was so much at stake”

Team mate squabbles, hairy crashes, incredible victories – there wasn’t much Mark Webber didn’t experience in 12 years in F1. On episode 3 of Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, the Australian, now retired, reflects on his incredible career in the top flight; on his approach, his team mates, partying with rivals, coming back from a broken leg to taste victory, nearly quitting Red Bull and much, much more…

Jul 18, 2018 • 51:30

Robert Kubica: “I wanted to improve as a driver… but I paid too high a price”

Robert Kubica: “I wanted to improve as a driver… but I paid too high a price”

He was regarded as one of the greatest drivers of his generation - and then he was struck down in his prime. On this week’s episode of Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, Tom Clarkson speaks to Williams Martini Racing reserve driver - and one-time Grand Prix winner - Robert Kubica, whose F1 career was abruptly halted by a devastating rally crash in 2011 that severed his arm and nearly cost him his life. From humble beginnings to incredible highs and debilitating lows, Robert’s is one of the mo

Jul 11, 2018 • 59:12

Lewis Hamilton: "F1 has given me a life - but it's also broken me"

Lewis Hamilton: "F1 has given me a life - but it's also broken me"

Lewis Hamilton is one of the most interviewed people in the world, but beyond the champagne-soaked press conference soundbites, how well do you really know the four-time F1 world champion? For the very first episode of Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, Tom Clarkson sat down with the British racer to talk about everything from success to regrets, travel to fashion, relationships to making music - and even his dog's modelling career. "I was a bit nervous about what we were going to talk abou

Jul 4, 2018 • 52:42

NEW F1 Podcast: Beyond The Grid

NEW F1 Podcast: Beyond The Grid

Beyond The Grid, presented by Bose, is a new podcast that delivers great stories, fresh insight and amazing anecdotes from the world of F1. Each week Tom Clarkson will bring fans in-depth, personal conversations with the biggest names in the sport, from current superstar drivers and leading team bosses to legendary figures from history.

Jun 29, 2018 • 1:03

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