F1: Beyond The Grid

From 1994 to 1998, Mick Doohan transcended motorbike racing as he won the 500cc World Championship five years in a row. Like Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen in modern times, Mick was often invincible on the racetrack and dominated his class.  The Australian also knows Formula 1 inside out. He’s spent more than 30 years in the paddock and, with his son Jack looking to climb from F2 to F1, he’s still ever-present today.  Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Mick discusses how his winning mentality compares to some of F1’s greatest champions. He talks about his very close friendship with Michael Schumacher, what it was like to test a Williams car in 1998, Jack's development with Alpine, how two wheels compares to four, and much more. Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid.    This episode is sponsored by… Babbel: go to babbel.com/podcast23 and use promo code BEYOND for an extra three months free with a purchase of a 3-month subscription. Factor: Head to factormeals.com/btg50 and use code btg50 to get 50% off. Santander: want to win exclusive Formula 1 experiences and money-can’t-buy prizes just by answering questions about F1? With Santander Lap Zero, you can be in with a chance. For more information, competition rules, full terms and conditions, and to enter, go to santanderlapzero.com or search Santander Lap Zero.

Ever wondered how your Formula 1 heroes are found in the first place? Well, George Russell, Esteban Ocon and Alex Albon may not be on the grid today if it wasn’t for the keen eye of F1 talent guru Gwen Lagrue. He’s the Frenchman in charge of Mercedes’ junior driver programme, with a track record of uncovering hidden gems and helping them fulfil their potential in the pinnacle of motorsport. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Gwen talks about the traits that separated Russell, Ocon and Albon from others in their early karting years, what qualities he’s looking for when scouting young drivers, how regularly a future World Champion comes along, and some of the protégés currently on Mercedes’ radar. Plus, you’ll hear the thoughts of Mercedes Team Principal, Toto Wolff, on their recruitment strategy and whether Max Verstappen could have ended up at the team in different circumstances. Related Episodes Alex Albon  Esteban Ocon  George Russell  Toto Wolff This episode is sponsored by: Mercedes AMG-SL: test drive the AMG SL today at your local authorised Mercedes-Benz dealer or learn more at MBUSA.com/AMG-SL Santander: want to win exclusive Formula 1 experiences and money-can’t-buy prizes just by answering questions about F1? With Santander Lap Zero, you can be in with a chance. For more information, competition rules. full terms and conditions and to enter go to santanderlapzero.com. That’s santanderlapzero.com or search Santander Lap Zero

Nico Hulkenberg will be on the grid again in 2024 after securing another year with Haas. At the 2023 Mexican Grand Prix, the German will reach a landmark 200 Grand Prix starts – accumulated from his time at Williams, Force India (now Aston Martin), Sauber, Renault and Haas. So how is ‘The Hulk’ that races today different to the 22-year-old that made his debut in 2010? Nico tells Tom Clarkson how family life and his recent break from F1 have given him a completely different outlook on the sport, what his relationship with teammate Kevin Magnussen is like, whether Team Principal Guenther Steiner is just like the man we see on TV, and much more. Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid. Related Episodes Nico’s first BTG appearance  Guenther Steiner Kevin Magnussen

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.

Ferrari’s wait for a record 32nd World Championship is set to continue in 2023. But are the most successful team in Formula 1 history at least heading in the right direction? Ahead of their home race at Monza, who better to answer that question than Ferrari Team Principal, Fred Vasseur? Cracking jokes throughout, Fred tells Tom Clarkson how the culture at Ferrari is like no other he’s experienced in F1 and why this job is the ‘biggest challenge’ of his career. He talks about the development of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, the team’s strengths and weaknesses, and he sends a message to the Tifosi. Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid. Related Episodes Charles Leclerc, ‘2nd isn’t enough’  Carlos Sainz  Fred’s previous F1 BTG appearance  This episode is sponsored by:  Factor: Head to factormeals.com/btg50 and use code btg50 to get 50% off  Bitdefender: 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

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.

F1 Beyond The Grid is back after the summer break with German fan favourite and three-time Grand Prix winner Heinz-Harald Frentzen. He tells Tom Clarkson some very intriguing tales from an eventful decade in Formula 1 - which saw him drive for Sauber, Williams, Jordan, Prost and Arrows from 1994 to 2003. Highlights include Heinz-Harald’s sacking by Eddie Jordan halfway through the 2001 season, how telling Ron Dennis a bad joke cost him a move to McLaren, why his 1999 Championship challenge collapsed, the friendship he forged with seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher, and much more. Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid. Related Episodes Eddie Jordan, Heinz-Harald’s boss at Jordan  Alain Prost, four-time World Champion and owner of Prost Racing  Jacques Villeneuve, Heinz-Harald’s teammate  Sam Michael, race engineer for Heinz-Harald at Jordan  This episode is sponsored by:  Philips OneBlade: if you live life at F1 speeds, you need the Philips OneBlade. Available at bol.com and Kruidvat. Shopify: sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/beyondthegrid Mercedes AMG-SL: test drive the AMG SL today at your local authorised Mercedes-Benz dealer or learn more at MBUSA.com/AMG-SL Santander: want to win exclusive Formula 1 experiences and money-can’t-buy prizes just by answering questions about F1? With Santander Lap Zero, you can be in with a chance. For more information, competition rules. full terms and conditions and to enter go to santanderlapzero.com. That’s santanderlapzero.com or search Santander Lap Zero

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.

To stay in the paddock for more than half a century, you simply must adore Formula 1. The sport might have changed a lot in that time, but what has always stayed the same is Herbie Blash’s enthusiasm for F1. Now the FIA’s permanent senior advisor to the Race Director, Blash’s career began as a race mechanic at Rob Walker Racing and Lotus in the 1960’s. 30 years later, having won two World Championships as team manager of Brabham Racing in the 1980’s, Herbie switched the pit wall for Race Control – where he spent more than two decades as deputy to the late, legendary FIA Race Director Charlie Whiting. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Herbie relives some of the most intriguing tales of his long career; from pushing the regulations to the absolute limit with Brabham, working with World Champions like Niki Lauda, dealing with driver fatalities, becoming best mates with Charlie, his passion for motorbikes, and much more. Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid. Related Episodes Bernie Ecclestone Damon Hill  Jochen Rindt Remembered

From rural Romania to F1 Team Principal, Otmar Szafnauer’s story is as inspiring as it is unlikely. Life as Alpine boss - coping with pressure from boards of directors, dealing with drivers and leading a team of 950 people - was a world away from his early childhood in a house with no running water, in a village with only two cars. In a conversation with Tom Clarkson recorded before Otmar left the team, he talks about what those early years taught him, the highs and lows of his decades in Formula 1, his views on the leadership of Alpine, the relationship between Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, the 2023 success of Alpine’s former drivers and the challenge of turning the team into regular race winners.

Engineer or artist? Mario Illien is both.  The Swiss engine designer powered McLaren to glory in the 1990s, and helped make F1’s current hybrid engines the most efficient in the world. Working in isolation for up to 18 hours a day, Mario has spent decades using exotic materials to make light, efficient and powerful engines for F1 and IndyCar legends. He tells Tom Clarkson the secrets of a great F1 power unit, which drivers were able to get the most out of an engine, and how he and his company Ilmor powered teams to Indy 500 victories and F1 World Championships. Plus, tales of 1000 horsepower engines, top secret projects and racing from Paris to Beijing. Invite a friend to listen using the share button and #F1BeyondTheGrid. Check out F1 Nation’s preview of the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix, and Formula Why’s latest episode for answers to your F1 questions.  This episode is sponsored by:  Silverstone Museum: cement your superfan status at Silverstone Museum – go to silverstonemuseum.co.uk and use the code BEYOND15 to save 15% Factor: head to factormeals.com/btg50 and use code btg50 to get 50% off

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 Klien. His time in the sport was shorter than hoped, reduced to test driver roles after just three years on the grid. But in faster cars, his talent may have been far more obvious. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Christian reflects on his F1 venture - explaining why it didn’t last longer and how he knew it was time to leave the sport in 2010. He also talks about his former teammates, Mark Webber and David Coulthard, why Red Bull was renowned for being a party team, his thoughts on the 2023 season, and much more. Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid Related Episodes David Coulthard  Mark Webber  Christian Horner, Red Bull’s Team Principal on masterminding their return to the top  Don't forget you can get 15% off when you book your tickets to Silverstone Museum by using the code BEYOND15 at silverstonemuseum.co.uk

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 conversation with Tom Clarkson, it’s clear how committed Lando is to winning with McLaren in the future. He talks about the extra pressure and responsibility of being the team’s senior driver and how his fans make a huge difference to his performance at the British Grand Prix. Lando also discusses coping with fame, dealing with criticism, and even what kind of dad he hopes to be one day. Plus, hear how new teammate Oscar Piastri compares to his predecessor Daniel Ricciardo. Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid. Related episodes Lando’s first Beyond The Grid appearance Lando’s previous Beyond The Grid interview  Oscar Piastri  Daniel Ricciardo

Williams haven’t won a Formula 1 title since 1997. In recent years, they’ve become all too familiar with the back of the grid. But after Alex Albon’s mighty P7 in Canada, is Team Principal James Vowles starting to turn things around? He arrived at Williams with a wealth of experience and a winning mentality – having played a huge role in Mercedes’ unprecedented eight Constructor Championships in a row. Speaking to Tom Clarkson at the team’s base in Grove, James outlines what success looks like for Williams in the near future. He talks about where the team is lacking compared to others, how Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant are working together, and the lessons he’s learned from Mercedes. Plus, hear how Lewis Hamilton compares to other World Champions James has worked with, and much more. Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid. Related episodes Alex Albon  Logan Sargeant Lewis Hamilton Toto Wolff, Mercedes Team Principal  Ross Brawn, special episode on Brawn GP’s fairytale 2009 season  Mercedes’ Brackley Boys, featuring James, on 20 years of racing together

His 14 F1 seasons were filled with drama, shocks and history. Three-time Grand Prix winner Giancarlo Fisichella is rightly very proud to have stayed at the top for so long, fulfilling his dreams of becoming a Formula 1 driver and racing for Ferrari.  From his dramatic first win with the Jordan team at Brazil in 2003, to the unlikely pole he took for underdogs Force India at Belgium in 2009, Giancarlo has experienced the most emotional highs F1 has to offer and he relives those iconic memories with Tom Clarkson.  He talks about helping Renault teammate Fernando Alonso become a two-time World Champion, the ‘pressure and power’ he felt as an Italian driving for Ferrari, whether his F1 journey would have continued had he not joined the Scuderia, and much more. Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid. Related episodes Fernando Alonso  Eddie Jordan, owner of Jordan team  Ralf Schumacher, Giancarlo’s teammate at Jordan  This episode is sponsored by MoneyGram: convert your digital currency to cash and back again using the only digital wallets with real cash access activated by MoneyGram. Learn more at moneygram.com/stellarwallets.

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

What does the future hold for Formula 1? New races? New teams? New rules? F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali answers all these questions and many more in an intriguing chat with Tom Clarkson.  Domenicali knows what success tastes like. He won multiple World Championships as a leader at Ferrari. Now he plans to harness those experiences and continue evolving the sport, amidst a huge boom in popularity worldwide. Stefano explains his approach to the presidency since taking over from Chase Carey in 2021 and why he’s not afraid to make big decisions for the good of Formula 1.  He also tells Tom about the relationship between F1 and the FIA, what he’s expecting from the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix and whether he thinks Max Verstappen is one of the greatest drivers of all time. Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid.   Related Episodes  Stefano Domenicali’s first Beyond The Grid appearance Listen to other official F1 Podcasts F1 Nation - race previews and reviews from the F1 Paddock Formula Why - answering your questions about Formula 1 This episode is sponsored by:  MoneyGram: flex your finances using the only digital wallets with real cash access activated by MoneyGram. Learn more at moneygram.com/stellarwallets. ExpressVPN: go to expressvpn.com/GRID and you can get an extra three months of ExpressVPN for FREE! F1 Authentics: find your ultimate piece of F1 history and head over to F1Authentics.com to shop now! Enter the code GRID10’ at checkout to receive 10% off your order. HelloFresh: visit hellofresh.com/grid16 and use code grid16 for 16 free meals plus free shipping!

McLaren’s prestige in Formula 1 is built on the foundations of legendary success. The team has won eight Constructor titles and produced some of the most distinguished World Champions to grace the sport. That history wouldn’t exist without the genius of people like Neil Oatley.  Neil first made a name for himself as a race engineer at Williams in the late 1970’s, but it was as McLaren’s chief designer when Neil really certified his status as one of the most influential engineers of all time. From 1989 to 1999, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Mika Hakkinen all won World Championships in cars designed by Oatley.  In a fascinating conversation with Tom Clarkson, Neil relives some of the most iconic memories from his extraordinary career. He reveals what it was like to work with some of the greatest drivers and to have a front-row seat for Senna and Prost’s fierce rivalry.  Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid. Related Episodes Lando Norris Oscar Piastri  Lewis Hamilton  Mika Hakkinen, two-time World Champion with McLaren  Alain Prost, won three titles at McLaren  Alan Jones, 1980 World Champion at Williams Frank Dernie, legendary F1 engineer  Sir Patrick Head, former Williams Technical Director  Steve Nichols, Head Car Designer in McLaren’s title-winning 1988 season  This episode is sponsored by:  MoneyGram: flex your finances using the only digital wallets with real cash access activated by MoneyGram. Learn more at moneygram.com/stellarwallets. Athletic Greens: get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/f1btg.

Timing is everything in Formula 1 and Logan Sargeant has timed his debut perfectly. F1 is booming in the US, and with three Grands Prix in the States, fans will have plenty of opportunities to cheer their new home favourite on.  Sargeant is one of three rookies in 2023, after finishing fourth in last year’s Formula 2 championship to secure his Super License and a seat at Williams. He tells Tom Clarkson how the reality of F1 compares to the dream of F1, and what he’s learned so far.  Logan reflects on his journey to this point; from leaving the US at the age of 12, to competing with fellow rookie Oscar Piastri for the Formula 3 title in 2020.  He talks about his relationships with Piastri and current teammate Alex Albon, why his mentality will have to be stronger than ever to succeed, how it feels to be racing some of his idols, and much more. Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid MORE FROM OFFICIAL F1 PODCASTS F1 Nation - the latest race previews and reviews Formula Why - answering your questions about F1 RELATED EPISODES FROM THE BTG ARCHIVE Alex Albon, Logan's Williams teammate Oscar Piastri, friend and former championship rival This episode is sponsored by:   MoneyGram: flex your finances using the only digital wallets with real cash access activated by MoneyGram. Learn more at moneygram.com/stellarwallets

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