F1: Beyond The Grid
Formula 1's extraordinary stars slow down and open up, sharing untold stories and unrivalled insight. Tom Clarkson brings you revealing, feature-length interviews and amazing anecdotes from superstar drivers, team bosses, tech geniuses and racing legends. Hit the follow button for the fastest way to get new episodes. Watch episodes exclusively on the F1 YouTube channel. For race reviews + previews, listen to F1 Nation. To learn more about how F1 works, listen to F1 Explains
Episodes
May 28, 2024 • 52 mins
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 ...
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 ...
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May 21, 2024 • 60 mins
30 years ago, Karl Wendlinger’s Formula 1 career was just beginning to rise after a strong start to 1994 with Sauber.
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May 14, 2024 • 40 mins
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 ser...
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May 7, 2024 • 52 mins
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 tu...
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April 30, 2024 • 63 mins
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.
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April 23, 2024 • 51 mins
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 Renau...
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April 16, 2024 • 53 mins
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...
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April 12, 2024 • 25 mins
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.
...
In a special episode of the F1 Nation podcast, Aston Martin Ambassador Pedro de la Rosa and 1996 World Champion Damon Hill join Tom Clarkson to analyse Alonso's announcement, what it means for him, the team and the rest of the drivers searching for a 2025 race seat.
...
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April 9, 2024 • 44 mins
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.
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April 2, 2024 • 62 mins
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 an...
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March 27, 2024 • 72 mins
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 ...
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 ...
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March 20, 2024 • 48 mins
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.
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March 13, 2024 • 40 mins
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 ...
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March 6, 2024 • 65 mins
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 Yu...
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February 28, 2024 • 51 mins
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.
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February 27, 2024 • 2 mins
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
Discover new official F1 podcasts in 2024:
F1 Nation - 2024 Season Preview out now
F1 Explains - your questions about F1, answered by the experts
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February 26, 2024 • 11 mins
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.
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.
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February 25, 2024 • 11 mins
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.
For Zhou’s full conversation with Tom from 2022, listen here.
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February 24, 2024 • 13 mins
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 ...
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 ...
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February 23, 2024 • 10 mins
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.
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.
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