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 inte...
Feb 24, 2023•5 min
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 he...
Feb 23, 2023•6 min
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 Wedn...
Feb 22, 2023•1 hr 23 min
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•5 min
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 min
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•5 min
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 min
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 min
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•6 min
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 serie...
Feb 15, 2023•1 hr 1 min
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•7 min
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 t...
Feb 13, 2023•6 min
14 seasons without a championship. Fred Vasseur needs to end that run. Ferrari’s new Team Principal has been working in elite motorsport for decades. A supreme talent-spotter, Vasseur hired Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and many more for his teams in junior formulas. Back in 2020, when he was Team Principal at Alfa Romeo, he told Tom Clarkson about working with a young Leclerc and his life outside racing. For the inside line on Ferrari’s new boss, listen to the full BTG interview here Follow F...
Feb 12, 2023•6 min
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 min
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 rooki...
Feb 10, 2023•6 min
‘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 09, 2023•5 min
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 08, 2023•51 min
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 07, 2023•6 min
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 202...
Feb 06, 2023•4 min
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 05, 2023•7 min
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 04, 2023•6 min
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 Bu...
Feb 03, 2023•5 min
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 inter...
Feb 02, 2023•6 min
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 fol...
Feb 01, 2023•1 hr 11 min
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 Magnu...
Jan 31, 2023•7 min
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•9 min
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 hr 7 min
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 07, 2022•52 min
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 hr 10 min
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 min
