F1 Beyond The Grid
Formula 1
Updated 4 days agoThe risk-takers, late-brakers and history-makers of Formula 1 slow down for in-depth interviews. Tom Clarkson brings you revealing, feature-length conversations with drivers, team bosses, engineering experts and F1 legends. 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
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Episodes (429)
‘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 F1 career; the cars, the teams and the rivals who impressed him most – plus what it was like to grow up in the hot bed of driving talent surrounding Michael Schumacher’s home kart track…
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 likes of Michael Schumacher and Alain Prost, and the remarkable story of how he discouraged Ayrton Senna from joining Benetton…
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 team mate Roland Ratzenberger was tragically killed…
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’ friendship with Brundle, filling Nigel Mansell’s hastily vacated seat at McLaren, learning from Ayrton Senna and much more…
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 Schumacher and Fernando Alonso, locking horns with McLaren boss Ron Dennis, and that most controversial topic: crashgate...
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 Christian Horner, life as a test driver, and what happened when he handed in his resignation to Ron Dennis…
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...
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.
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.
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!
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, unfiltered conversation.
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 withdrawing the famous fan car! Then there’s the highs and lows of running the sport as its grand supremo…this is one chat you don’t want to miss!
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 Brazilian speaks about all of the above, as well as the time Senna pranked him as a rookie in 1993, the time he ‘married’ Michael Schumacher on a night out, the elation of sealing a drive with Brawn in 2009 and much more!
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 besides...
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 Senna’s ass” on his McLaren debut, recovering from a life-changing crash, what it took to win the title twice, and much more…
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, Tom sits down with the affable Austrian to discuss all of the above, plus his early years in F1 with Ralf Schumacher, his involvement with BMW during the Williams years, his famous altercation with Scott Speed, and even his own racing days…
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 his career, racing in secret with brother Aldo. And from the glory of racing for Ferrari at Monza to his tragic coronation as F1 world champion at the same track in 1978 – the incredible stories come one after another.
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 in his career, his breakthrough performance for Jordan on home soil, his memorable podium finish in the USA, beating Fernando Alonso in his unfancied Super Aguri, and much more…
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 team mates, and much more...
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-world title, how frustrations in the early days shaped his future, the positive and negatives of his silky smooth driving style, beating Lewis Hamilton and much more…
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...
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 stories of signing Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon, and why he struggles to sleep at night...
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 career, and by the time it was over he’d switched his attention to nurturing Max’s prodigious talents. On this week’s episode he gives us the full story, describing in detail how what he learned along the way was vital for helping his son get ahead...
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 British-born Thai talks about that rollercoaster journey to the top, as well his sensational blockbuster promotion to Red Bull, his childhood obsession with Michael Schumacher and much more.
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 no punches as he discusses the highs and lows of his F1 career, including that famous victory in Barcelona, his run-ins with other drivers, being labelled a pay driver, the pressure from his homeland and much, much more.