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 2004) and Ferrari Sporting Director Diego Ioverno (Ferrari’s gearbox engineer in 2004) for unique insight into how Michael obliterated his opposition that season, what he was like to work with and how it felt to be part of the most successful period in Ferrari’s F1 history.

This episode is sponsored by:

Bitdefender -  visit bitdefender.com to learn more about why Ferrari chose Bitdefender to stay ahead of cyber threats and how YOU can make your digital life safer

Harry's -  get started with a $13 trial set for just $3 at harrys.com/GRID.

Liquid I.V. -  get 20% off your first order at liquidiv.com and use code GRID at checkout.

Shopify -  sign up for a $1 per month trial period at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

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, what he’ll miss about Carlos Sainz, how ‘life-changing’ Leo the Dachsund is keeping him on his toes, and much more.

This episode is sponsored by:

F1 Experiences: Want to get closer to F1 than ever before? F1 Experiences ensures you get the very most out of your Grand Prix weekend, with ticket packages offered at every race on the calendar. Visit f1experiences.com/beyondthegrid to book your official ticket package today 

Indeed: get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at indeed.com/GRID.

Shopify: sign up for a $1-per-month trial period at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

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 racing which is thrilling to watch.
Nikolas also looks back at his career in F1, when he enjoyed domination and experienced disappointment. Championships with Michael Schumacher at Benneton were followed by more success at Ferrari, with Schumi and Kimi Raikkonen. A move to McLaren during a difficult period brought challenges. His return to Ferrari brought agony as Fernando Alonso missed out on the 2010 title, in a showdown which still plays on Tombazis’ mind.
Experience Formula 1 live in 2024
Tickets for the United States Grand Prix in Austin, the Las Vegas Grand Prix and races around the world are available now at tickets.formula1.com

This episode is sponsored by:

Salesforce: visit salesforce.com/F1 to learn more about how Formula 1 wins fans and grows its global fanbase with Salesforce

Indeed: get a seventy-five dollar sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at indeed.com/GRID.

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 played a part in the team’s most successful period. 

His first two seasons at Aston Martin were difficult, but it seems to be third time lucky for Dan and the team. He tells Tom Clarkson why the 2023 car is far superior to its predecessor and how the talent of the team’s workforce surpassed his expectations. He explains where his passion for aerodynamics comes from, how playing guitar keeps him occupied outside of F1, and why Fernando Alonso has had such a big impact on the team.

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

Related episodes:
Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin team owner 


This episode is sponsored by: 

HelloFresh: go to HelloFresh dot com slash 50grid and use code 50grid for 50% off, plus your first box ships free! 

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.

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. How he performs this season will have a huge impact on his future in the sport. Is he ready for the challenge? Yuki tells Tom Clarkson what he's learned from his idol Fernando Alonso, why Daniel Ricciardo’s old trainer has made him fitter than ever before, and how he’s trying to be calmer on team radio. Plus, Yuki reveals why he loves being famous.

Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid.
Related episodes:

Nyck de Vries, Yuki's AlphaTauri teammate 


This episode is sponsored by: 

Babbel: go to babbel.com/podcast23, and use promo code BEYOND for an extra three months free.

Athletic Greens: get hold of a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/f1btg.

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

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 Grand Prix. He would go on to race for RAM, Zakspeed and Tyrrell over the next six years – scoring 14 championship points along the way. Palmer takes Tom Clarkson through his unique journey from studying medicine to competing in Formula 1. He reflects on some memorable drives in Monaco and we hear wonderful insight into what it was like working with Ayrton Senna as a test driver for McLaren in 1990. Palmer, whose son Jolyon also raced in F1 for Renault in 2016 and 2017, became part of the BBC’s Formula 1 coverage after retiring. He recalls working the day Senna lost his life at Imola in May 1994.
Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid.

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, tells Tom Clarkson that winning was all that mattered. But for all the highs, there were also dreadful lows. Formula 1 was an extremely dangerous sport in Jackie’s era. Three of his close friends were killed in F1 races – Piers Courage, Jochen Rindt and his Tyrrell teammate, Francois Cevert. Jackie explains how he became almost desensitised to death and how he removed all emotion from his racing to succeed. The hectic lifestyle of a Formula 1 World Champion eventually caught up with Jackie and proved to be a huge factor in his decision to retire. Much of his life after F1 was dedicated to improving the safety of the sport and many of the changes to protect the drivers today are thanks to him. Jackie opens up about the relationship with his wife, Helen, and sons, Paul and Mark. He reveals why he didn’t stop racing as Roger Williamson lost his life at the Dutch Grand Prix in 1973, and why Formula 1 still means so much to him now.
Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid.
To hear more of Sir Jackie Stewart’s F1 story, listen to his first BTG interview here.

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

Athletic Greens: if you want to take ownership of your health, today is a good time to start. Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/f1btg.

Babbel: go to babbel.com/podcast23, and use promo code BEYOND for an extra three months free.

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 Australians, Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo. Piastri tells Tom Clarkson about leaving home at a young age and how his career in motorsport began with remote control racing. Although last season’s battle for Piastri’s signature between McLaren and Alpine is behind them, there’s now more attention on him than most F1 debutants are used to. But alongside Lando Norris, he’s confident of bringing back the glory days to McLaren.

Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond the Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid.

This episode is sponsored by: 

Athletic Greens: if you want to take ownership of your health, today is a good time to start. Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free
travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/f1btg.

MoneyGram: flex your finances using the only digital wallets with real cash access activated by MoneyGram. Learn more at moneygram.com/stellarwallets.

LinkedIn Jobs: find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at linkedin.com/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.

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 much better than expected. Paul tells Tom Clarkson the moment he realised Alonso had what it takes to become a World Champion, why the Spaniard still has that burning desire to compete at the very top and how to be his best at Aston Martin. Paul also remembers Michael Schumacher’s manners and the eye-opening time he lapped Ferrari’s test track with the seven-time champion. Plus, how Max Verstappen’s winning mentality was clear to see at a young age, when he raced his father Jos in a simulator.

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: visit expressvpn.com/grid and you’ll get three extra months free.

Babbel: listeners can get three months free with a purchase of a 3-
month subscription with promo code BEYOND. Go to babbel.com/podcast23 

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 Williams team. Prost was also considering his future, and life after Formula 1. 30 years on, Alain tells Tom Clarkson his memories of his final F1 title, the end of his F1 career, and how close he came to a final chapter as Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari teammate.

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. 

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 Clarkson how he’s pushing to make F1 more competitive, more sustainable and more spectacular. He talks drivers, teams, races, golf, skiing, and the things that excite him in the coming years, including Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari and the upcoming F1 movie starring Brad Pitt.

See F1 live in 2024
Get your tickets for Las Vegas, Austin and races around the world now at tickets.formula1.com

Listen to more official Formula 1 Podcasts

• Race reviews from the heart of the F1 paddock on F1 Nation
• Your questions answered by the experts on F1 Explains

Watch F1 Beyond The Grid on the F1 YouTube channel

Follow F1 on Instagram, TikTok, X + Facebook

Head to F1.com or the F1 app for the latest news, video and analysis

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 they were 6 years old. Now, Rossi needs them to work together to help the team ‘climb the mountain’, and close the gap to Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull. Laurent tells Tom Clarkson how he and Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer plan to make Alpine winners. He also explains what the team learned from the 2022 departure of junior driver Oscar Piastri, who now races with McLaren.

This episode is sponsored by: 

Babbel: get three months free with a purchase of a 3-
month subscription. Go to babbel.com/podcast23 and use promo code BEYOND. 

F1 Unlocked: you and a friend could win the ‘Key to the Grand Prix’ in Melbourne
and unlock a level of access that’ll make you want to pinch yourself. Go to F1.com/competition to enter and for full terms and conditions.

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 Principal Fred Vasseur is the right person to lead the famous red team to success. Plus, how going ice climbing, learning to fly and playing the piano helps Charles escape from the constant pressure of F1. The piano Tom brought to the interview isn’t very good, but Charles’ playing certainly is…
New episodes of F1 Beyond The Grid every week during the F1 season. Hit follow for the fastest way to get them. Share using #F1BeyondTheGrid. 

This episode is sponsored by: 

F1TV: for a limited time F1 are offering a 7-day free trial for F1 TV Pro subscribers. Simply go to F1TV.com to sign-up and take your race weekend to the next level!

LinkedIn Jobs: find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at linkedin.com/GRID.

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

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 

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 

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 start Wednesday March 1st.

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 interview from 2020 is right here.

F1 Beyond The Grid’s new season begins on Wednesday March 1st.
Get the latest from pre-season testing on F1.com, the F1 app and F1 on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

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 here. 

New episodes of F1 Beyond The Grid start Wednesday March 1st.
Get the latest from pre-season testing on F1.com, the F1 app and F1 on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

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 Wednesday March 1st.  Follow the podcast on your player for in-depth interviews with F1’s biggest stars every week.

This episode is sponsored by: 

ExpressVPN: go to expressvpn.com/GRID today and get an extra three months free on a one-year package.

F1 TV: F1 are offering fans 20% off their annual F1 TV Pro Subscriptions, simply
go to F1TV.com to sign-up. Offer automatically updates at check out. F1 TV Pro is only available in select territories, check the website for more details

Shopify: sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

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 brand new episode on Wednesday March 1st.
To hear more winning secrets and stories from Aldo Costa, tap here 

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 motorsport.

This episode is brought to you by...

Bitdefender: visit bitdefender.com to learn more about why Ferrari chose Bitdefender to stay ahead of cyber threats and how you can make your digital life safer.

Related Episodes

Sebastian Vettel 

Jean Eric Vergne 

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. 

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. 

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 

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 

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. 

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 series continues tomorrow. Follow the podcast so you don’t miss our next highlight from the archive. New weekly episodes start on Wednesday March 1st.
George made a second appearance on F1 Beyond The Grid in 2022. You can listen to that here 

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.

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 the new McLaren.
Did you know Lawrence Stroll’s first F1 involvement was as clothing sponsor to Michael Schumacher? Listen to his full BTG interview for that story and many more.

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 F1 on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook for all the pictures, video and news from Ferrari’s 2023 launch on Tuesday February 14th.

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 

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 Tom Clarkson, Karl talks in great detail about the crash; why he still doesn’t know the cause, how it affected him physically and mentally, what motivated him to race again, and how he processed leaving the sport.
Plus, Karl remembers coming through the Mercedes junior programme with Michael Schumacher and the warm welcome Ayrton Senna gave him when he first arrived on the grid.

This episode is sponsored by: 

Shopify: sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

Indochino: go to Indochino.com today and use code GRID to get 10% off any purchase of $399 or more.

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 rookie F1 season here 

‘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 

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.

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  

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 
2021 – On winning with McLaren
2022 – Why he’s not done with F1 

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 

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 

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 Buscombe, listen to the full episode here 

On the eve of his retirement, four-time F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel gave Tom an in-depth look back at his career on F1 Beyond The Grid. Listen to their full conversation here 

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 interview from 2019, head here

Or listen here for his second appearance when he talked about his fans and hunting his first F1 win 

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 follow F1 on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok

This episode is sponsored by: 

LinkedIn: find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at linkedin.com/GRID

Shopify: sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

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 F1 Beyond The Grid’s LEGENDS episodes, Martin describes in great detail the crash that caused his injuries, how close he came to losing his foot, and what impact that had on the rest of his time in F1.
Brundle also talks about why he and Tyrrell Racing were disqualified in his first season, what it was like being a rookie back then, how Schumacher was different to Senna, where he thinks Adrian Newey’s future might lie, his thoughts on F1’s global standing, and much more.

Related Episodes

Listen to our first LEGENDS episode of 2024 with Juan Pablo Montoya, who reflects on how he lost the 2003 World Championship.

This episode is sponsored by: 

Factor: head to factormeals.com/grid50 and use code grid50 to get 50%
off your first box plus 20% off your next month

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 Magnussen, listen here 

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 with a friend, and check back tomorrow for Day 2.
To hear the full 2018 interview with Lewis Hamilton, head right here 

For the best bits of BTG in 2022, including Lando Norris, Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo, listen here 

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 and his most talented teammate. The clips in this episode come from the full episodes listed below. Thank you for listening in 2022. F1 Beyond The Grid will return in 2023.
Carlos Sainz: ready to win with Ferrari 
Nigel Mansell: World Champion, through the pain 
Kevin Magnussen: a no-fear F1 comeback with Haas
Steve Nichols: engineering domination for McLaren
Mike Elliott: how Mercedes’ ‘mistake’ is making them stronger 
George Russell: rising with Mercedes
Lando Norris: working on winning with McLaren
Gilles Villeneuve Remembered 
Susie Wolff: racer, role model, risk taker 
Nicholas Latifi: limits, lessons + leaving F1 
Nyck De Vries: seizing his F1 chance 

Christian Horner: putting Red Bull back on top 
Daniel Ricciardo: not done with F1 
Sebastian Vettel: around the next corner 


This episode is sponsored by: 

Shopify: sign up for a FREE trial at shopify.com/beyondthegrid and start selling online today

SmartNews: download SmartNews for free today in the app store to get the news that matters most.