F1 Beyond The Grid

A whirlwind rise to Formula 1 with its most famous team in the 1960s, and one of the greatest sportscar racing drivers in the world during the ‘70s and ‘80s, Derek Bell has established an incredible legacy in motorsport. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Derek talks about being personally picked by Enzo Ferrari to make his Formula 1 debut for the team at their home race and what it was like going out for dinner with Ferrari’s founding father. While he only registered one championship point during his F1 career, Derek went on to have incredible success elsewhere – winning five Le Mans, three Daytona 24 races and two World Sportscar Championships. Derek explains why he achieved so much in sportscars, particularly alongside Belgium’s former F1 driver Jacky Ickx, and what it was like helping to make the Le Mans movie with Hollywood icon Steve McQueen. This episode is sponsored by: Babbel: right now, Babbel is offering our listeners up to 60% on their subscription. Go to babbel.com/GRID to claim your discount.

Franco Colapinto didn’t take long to make a name for himself in Formula 1. He became the first Argentine F1 driver in 23 years when he debuted with Williams in 2024. It only took him two races to then become the first Argentine points scorer in the sport since 1982. More than a year since his incredible breakthrough, and now racing for Alpine, Franco tells Tom Clarkson the incredible story of how a boy from the outskirts of Buenos Aires reached the pinnacle of motorsport. Franco remembers the sacrifices he made by moving abroad as a young teenager to pursue his dream, the challenges of leaving his family and living on his own in a different continent, and how an unexpected visit from an F1 legend inspired him to keep going. Franco also talks about how his experience at Alpine compares to his time at Willams, what his relationships with teammate Pierre Gasly and Alpine Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore are like, and his future in F1. This episode is sponsored by: CarGurus: go to cargurus.co.uk to make sure your big deal is the best deal Vanta: visit vanta.com/GRID to sign up for a free demo today Liquid I.V. : get 20% off your first order with code GRID at liquidiv.com

Six months before their first race, the new Cadillac Formula 1 Team is already moving fast. The drivers have been signed, the car is being developed on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, and engineers are running simulations to prepare for Grand Prix racing. Leading Cadillac to the Formula 1 grid is Team Principal Graeme Lowdon, who knows how to launch a brand-new team. He did it in 2010 with Virgin Racing, which raced at the back of the grid and was graced by the talent of the late Jules Bianchi. Graeme tells Tom Clarkson how his experience led to a job with Cadillac, how the team won its place in F1, and the incredible preparation work happening as the clock ticks towards Cadillac’s debut at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix. He explains why Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez are the perfect drivers for the team, and why he admires Cadillac reserve driver Colton Herta for swapping IndyCar for a shot at racing in F1. This episode is sponsored by: Bitdefender: Team partner of Ferrari. 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. Shopify: sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

Aged 11, Gabriel Bortoleto left Brazil, determined to make it in motorsport. His family’s passion, hard work and sacrifice gave him a start. His talent saw him accelerate towards a racing career. A two-time World Champion saw he was special, and helped guide him to Formula 1. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Gabriel looks back at his childhood, how his parents worked hard to fund his racing dream, how he made the difficult decision to leave them behind and go to Europe to further his career, and why Fernando Alonso’s support was essential as he climbed the racing ladder. Winning the Formula 3 and Formula 2 championship titles earned Gabi a place in F1. He explains how he is adjusting to the driving and living in the World Championship, the pride he feels representing Brazil, what racing against experienced teammate Nico Hulkenberg is teaching him, how his manager and on-track rival Alonso continues to help him, and why he spends hours on his home simulator immediately after every race weekend. This episode is sponsored by: Vanta: visit vanta.com/ GRID to sign up for a free demo today! SelectQuote: save more than fifty percent on term life insurance at selectquote.com/beyondthegrid

‘Pressure is the best motivation for all of us’. Fred Vasseur knows all about pressure. He leads Formula 1’s most storied team. At the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the tifosi – Ferrari’s passionate fans – want to see Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton on the podium. But what they, the rest of Italy and Ferrari fans all over the world really want Vasseur to deliver is the Formula 1 World Championship. Fred tells Tom Clarkson how Ferrari are building a team to fight for titles, and the high-priority objectives of his high-pressure job: getting the best out of Leclerc, and supporting Hamilton as he continues to adapt to Ferrari – the challenge of which Vasseur says may have been underestimated. He talks about his 5am starts in search of success, and why returning Ferrari to the top of the sport will take time – even with two proven stars in the cars. It's All To Drive For in 2025. Be there! Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com Listen to more official F1 podcasts Every race analysed on F1 Nation Expert answers to your questions on F1 Explains This episode is sponsored by: Shopify: sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/beyondthegrid Babbel: right now, Babbel is offering our listeners up to 60% on their subscription. Go to babbel.com/GRID to claim your discount CarGurus: head to cargurus.co.uk to make sure your big deal is the best deal Indeed: listeners of this show will get a seventy-five-dollar sponsored job credit at indeed.com/GRID

Today he's on F1TV giving us expert racing insight. But 10 years ago, James Hinchcliffe suffered a near-fatal accident during practice for the 2015 Indy500, which left many people doubting that his racing career could continue. A year later, he scored a sensational pole position at the very same racetrack. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, James talks through the freak injury he suffered and how he made such a miraculous recovery. A six-time IndyCar race winner, James also explains what it takes to be quick on high-speed ovals, whether the likes of Max Verstappen would be competitive on them and whether Indy stars like new four-time champion Alex Palou could succeed in Formula 1. Tom asks James why, despite being such a huge fan of F1 growing up, he didn’t pursue a career in the pinnacle of motorsport, and whether he thinks the United States needs an American on the grid. Now a regular pundit and commentator on F1TV, James also shares his thoughts on the thrilling battle between McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to become World Champion in 2025. It's All To Drive For in 2025. Be there! Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com Listen to more official F1 podcasts Every race analysed on F1 Nation Expert answers to your questions on F1 Explains THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY: CalderaLab: Head to calderaLab.com/grid and use GRID at checkout for 20% off your first order. Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/beyondthegrid Babbel: Get up to 55% off at babbel.com/grid Vanta: Visit vanta.com/grid to sign up for a free demo today!

Jacky Ickx didn’t grow up wanting to be a racing driver, so how did he become Belgium’s most successful Formula 1 driver and one of the most versatile racers in the history of motorsport? Competing in all types of cars and competitions, not only did Jacky win eight F1 races and finish runner-up in the Drivers’ Standings twice, he was also a serial winner in Le Mans, the World Endurance Championship and even the Paris-Dakar rally. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Jacky tells the remarkable story of how he made his Formula 1 debut in a Formula 2 car at the 1966 German Grand Prix. At that time, F2 cars were allowed to race alongside F1 machinery because of how long the iconic Nürburgring Nordschleiffe track was. Jacky reveals how his impressive performance that day led to him joining Ferrari in 1968, why he left the team after just one season, only to return a year later, and what his relationship with Enzo Ferrari was like. Jacky also remembers how he felt finishing runner-up in 1970 to Jochen Rindt, the only driver to be crowned World Champion posthumously, and you’ll hear the story of his inspirational one-man protest on track that changed the safety of Le Mans forever. This episode is sponsored by: Indeed - listeners of this show will get a seventy-five dollar sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at Indeed.com/GRID Liquid I.V. - go to liquidiv.com and get 20% off your first order with code GRID at checkout Vanta - visit vanta.com/ GRID to sign up for a free demo today! Shopify - sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

Adrian Reynard's motor racing outfit were one of the best in the world during the 1980s and '90s – winning multiple championships across Formula 3000, F3 and IndyCar. Reynard Racing Cars also held an impressive record of winning the first race of every major single-seater competition they entered. But when Adrian helped create the British American Racing F1 team in 1999, expectations were high and that previous success didn’t quite translate in the pinnacle of motorsport. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Adrian tells the fascinating story of BAR - how the team was formed with 1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve, why a big falling out with Team Principal Craig Pollock led to Adrian resigning, and how he helped lay the foundations for that team to later become World Champions as Brawn GP and then Mercedes. Adrian reflects on his F1 ventures before BAR as well - including a failed attempt to create his own team in 1990, despite selling his house to fund it, and his experiences with March F1 as a 29-year-old Technical Director in the 1980s. And Adrian also talks about inspiring legendary engineers like Rory Byrne and Pat Symonds, why he had an up-and-down relationship with the late Eddie Jordan, and the small part he played in the car that Michael Schumacher won his first F1 race in. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION CHARTER To find out more about the Diversity and Inclusion charter agreed by all 10 F1 teams, Formula 1 and the FIA, with support from the Royal Academy of Engineering and Sir Lewis Hamilton’s foundation, Mission 44, click here It's All To Drive For in 2025. Be there! Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com Listen to more official F1 podcasts Every race analysed on F1 Nation Expert answers to your questions on F1 Explains THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY: Babbel: F1 Beyond The Grid listeners get 55% off subscriptions at babbel.com/grid Vanta: visit vanta.com/grid to sign up for a free demo today

Alex Albon went into 2025 facing one big question. With the arrival of Carlos Sainz at Williams, how would he measure up against his most competitive teammate since racing alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull? So far, Alex has answered that question on track – having the edge over Carlos in qualifying and on race day in the first half of the season. But Alex never doubted his ability to rise to that challenge. So, is he a better driver than last year or are we just appreciating his talent more? Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Alex talks about what it’s like having Carlos on the other side of the garage, what changes he has made to his approach this year, why the culture and energy at Williams feels different, and how his relationship with Team Principal James Vowles is growing. Plus, Alex also looks ahead to 2026 and the arrival of new cars and regulations. Will next season be his time to shine? It's All To Drive For in 2025. Be there! Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com Listen to more official F1 podcasts Every race analysed on F1 Nation Expert answers to your questions on F1 Explains THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY… Select Quote: Life insurance is never cheaper than it is today. Get the right life insurance for you, for less, and save more than 50% at selectquote.com/beyondthegrid Caldera Lab: Whether you’re starting fresh or upgrading your routine, Caldera Lab makes skincare simple and effective. Head to calderaLab.com/grid and use GRID at checkout for 20% off your first order. Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

He drove for one of the least competitive teams in F1 history. He never started a race, but just making it to Formula 1 was ‘a million to one’ shot for Perry McCarthy making it to F1. Through extraordinary determination, he made it. When his raw talent behind the wheel was spotted at his local racetrack, McCarthy set his sights on racing at the top. He worked on a North Sea oil rig to raise money to fund his career. Racing in Formula 3000 and sports cars in America led to a chance in F1 with Andrea Moda – a team which only raced for one season in 1992. When Perry made it to the track, the car either broke down or was too slow to make it through an extra ‘pre-qualifying’ session. From climbing the motorsport ladder with drivers including Damon Hill, to testing with Michael Schumacher at Benetton, and later becoming the mysterious ‘Stig’ on TV’s Top Gear, Perry tells Tom Clarkson an eye-opening story from a different era of Formula 1. This episode is sponsored by: Vanta: visit vanta.com/GRID to sign up for a free demo today Shopfiy: sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

Racing twice in 2002 with Minardi and once again three years later with BAR Honda in 2005, Anthony Davidson’s Formula 1 career had a few false starts. But in 2007, he finally got a full-time shot with Super Aguri. Although his F1 career ended just over a year later, Anthony is rightly proud to have reached the top of motorsport. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, he discusses the ups and down of his time in F1 – telling us why he was a better test driver than racing driver, how his incredibly short-notice cameo at the 2005 Malaysian Grand Prix came about, why a groundhog cost him his best ever finish in F1, and what it was like to be involved in the so-called ‘Tyre War era’ of Formula 1. Anthony also opens up about winning the World Endurance Championship with Sebastian Buemi in 2014 and why that meant so much to him having felt like ‘everything was lost’ after F1. Now a simulator driver for Mercedes, Ant explains how much the sim technology has improved over time, what impact his work has on Mercedes’ performance during race weekends and whether sim racing makes Max Verstappen a better driver. This episode is sponsored by: F1 Experiences: want to get closer to Formula One than ever before? Visit f1experiences.com/beyondthegrid to book your official ticket package today. Vanta: visit vanta.com/GRID to sign up for a free demo today! Indeed: get a seventy-five dollar sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at indeed.com/GRID

To celebrate 75 years of the Formula 1 World Championship, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer invited drivers, Team Principals and others from the sport to 10 Downing Street - the heart of government in the UK. In a special episode of F1 Beyond The Grid, the Prime Minister tells Tom Clarkson why he's 'proud' of the sport's success and its £12bn annual contribution to the UK economy. Williams Team Principal James Vowles explains how teams find the very best young engineers. It is one year since Oliver Bearman was announced as a full-time F1 driver for Haas. Sitting in the Downing Street garden, he describes the 'surreal' feeling of stepping through Number 10's famous black front door, and looks forward to racing in front of his home fans at Silverstone. Cadillac join the F1 grid in 2026. Team Principal Graeme Lowdon tells Tom about their dual bases in the US and UK, and gives a peek at preparations for their first Grand Prix. Plus, Mercedes graduate aerodynamicist Daniel McCulla talks about how he got his start in F1, what he studied at university and the importance of never giving up on a career in the sport. Formula 1 and the UK government support aspiring engineers with scholarships, Apprenticeships and work placements at Formula 1 teams. Listen to more official F1 podcasts Lando Norris: raising his game - this week on F1 Beyond The Grid F1 Nation previews the 2025 British Grand Prix The story of the British Grand Prix - this week on F1 Explains

This episode is brought to you by Dropbox Dash, an official technology partner of the McLaren Formula 1 team. Now a multiple race winner, podium finisher and polesitter, Lando Norris is ready to take the next step in his Formula 1 career and become World Champion. To do so in 2025, he’ll have to beat his equally talented teammate Oscar Piastri. But despite a sometimes challenging first half of the season, Lando says he’s a better driver this year and just needs to find some consistency. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Lando talks about how he’s evolved as a driver on and off track since winning his first Grand Prix in Miami in 2024, what McLaren are doing differently in their approach since becoming Constructors’ World Champions, how he moved on from his collision with Oscar in Canada and why he’s working hard to switch off from Formula 1 when he’s not racing. Lando also tells us how F1 The Movie star Brad Pitt performed in the 2023 McLaren car at Austin recently and what it would mean to win his home race at this weekend’s British Grand Prix. Plus, Lando’s race engineer Will Joseph joins the pod to discuss how their relationship has changed since they started working together in 2019. This episode is sponsored by: Shopify - sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/beyondthegrid Liquid.I.V. - go to liquidiv.com and get 20% off your first order with code GRID at checkout

For F1: The Movie, Brad Pitt lived the high-speed life of a Formula 1 driver. He drove with seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton. He learned to race. He spent years shooting scenes at racetracks around the world. The result is what he calls ‘the most visceral feeling you will get in a race car of anything put on film’ - F1: The Movie, in cinemas on June 25th and June 27th in North America. Brad Pitt tells Tom Clarkson about making the movie, the ‘adrenaline’ he felt driving on spectacular Formula 1 circuits, what he learned from his time with Lewis Hamilton and how getting close to F1 cars and drivers took his breath away. Plus, he reveals the true F1 stories which inspired the character of Sonny Hayes, describes the feeling of driving a real F1 car, and hints at his hopes for a sequel. F1: The Movie – in cinemas June 25th internationally, June 27th in North America Find a screening near you at f1themovie.com It's All To Drive For in 2025. Be there! Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com This episode is sponsored by: Ridge - improving the things you carry every day For a limited time, go to ridge.com and use the code GRID for 10% off wallets, key cases + more

He took some blows on his climb to Formula 1. Now Isack Hadjar is toe-to-toe with the heavyweights. Hadjar’s first F1 race was over before it began, as he slid off the track on a rain-soaked day in Australia. He tells Tom Clarkson how previous setbacks helped him get back on his feet, and establish himself as one of the best young drivers in the sport. Hadjar describes himself as ‘a fighter’, and he picks the World Champion he most wants to face up to as team mates. He talks about the difficult step from Formula 2 to F1, life in Red Bull’s driver program, how his parents inspired him to reach the highest level, and how he earned his nickname, ‘Le Petit Prost’. Experience F1: The Movie on the big screen Only in cinemas June 27 Tickets at f1themovie.com This episode is sponsored by: Shopify: sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/beyondthegrid Vanta: for a limited time, listeners get $1,000 off Vanta at vanta.com/grid.

Emerson Fittipaldi made history with Lotus in 1972 by becoming the first Brazilian to win the Formula 1 World Championship. In 1974, he won the title again with McLaren. Emerson’s achievements on track are legendary, but his actions off track are just as iconic. In a special F1 Beyond The Grid Legends episode, Emerson tells Tom Clarkson why he refused to take part in the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix, the extensive medical precautions he had in place during race weekends, and how he and some of the sport’s other big names at the time helped improve safety in the sport. Emerson also talks about leaving Brazil for the UK to pursue his racing career, forming his own Brazilian F1 team, and the incredible phone call he received from Enzo Ferrari after Niki Lauda’s serious accident in 1976. Plus, which current F1 driver reminds Emerson of himself? What impresses him the most about Max Verstappen? And how does he view this year’s title battle between McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris? This episode is sponsored by MasterClass: see MasterClass’s latest deal–at least 15% off–at masterclass.com/GRID

This year is the first time Valtteri Bottas isn’t racing in Formula 1 since he started as a rookie in 2013, but the 10-time Grand Prix winner says F1 is ‘still the number one thing in my life’ and his priority is to get back on the grid in 2026. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Valtteri discusses all the options he has for his next move. Would he like to drive for the new Cadillac team that will join F1 next season? Could he race for Mercedes again? Or will there be opportunities at other teams like Red Bull or Alpine? Valtteri tells Tom why he doesn’t want his F1 career to be over yet, what attributes he would bring to a team in a year of new regulations and cars, and the deadline he has put in place to make a decision on his future. He also explains why he rejoined Mercedes as a Reserve Driver this year instead of competing in any other series. This episode is sponsored by: Liquid I.V. : go to liquidiv.com and get 20% off your first order with code GRID at checkout Indeed: listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at indeed.com/GRID Vanta: for a limited time, listeners get $1000 off at vanta.com/grid

When he left Ferrari to join Mercedes, Simone Resta took decades of experience with him. In Italy, he worked with Michael Schumacher, and designed race-winning cars for Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen and Charles Leclerc. Now, his task is giving George Russell and Kimi Antonelli the best Mercedes he can. As Deputy Technical Director Simone is focusing on the 2025 season, but he tells Tom Clarkson he is also thinking about the opportunity of 2026, when the rules on car design and power units will change. Simone talks about starting his career in the late 1990s with Minardi, a small team which struggled for results, his move to Ferrari, what engineers really want to hear from their drivers, and why he decided to leave his native Italy and ‘go for it’ with Mercedes F1: THE MOVIE – starring Brad Pitt Only in cinemas, June 2025 Don’t miss the chance to see F1 on the big screen Go to f1themovie.com to book a screening near you This episode is brought to you by Bitdefender, Team partner of Ferrari. 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.

Dario Franchitti has had a sensational racing career in the United States, becoming a four-time IndyCar series champion and a three-time winner of the Indy500. But earlier in his career, Dario had plenty of interest from Formula 1 and tested for a few different teams. So why didn’t he end up racing in the pinnacle of motorsport? Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Dario talks about the three big opportunities he had to drive in F1 and why they never materialised – sharing fascinating insight into the negotiations he had and the tests he completed for different teams. He also discusses his racing idols, how three-time F1 World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart became his mentor and what it takes to become a complete IndyCar driver. This episode is sponsored by: Vanta: for a limited time, listeners get $1000 off at vanta.com/grid Shopify: sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shiopify.com/beyondthegrid

Mario Andretti was 10 years old when the first ever Formula 1 World Championship Grand Prix took place at Silverstone, on the 13th of May 1950. The 1978 World Champion has seen everything the pinnacle of motorsport has to offer over the past 75 years, and is one of just 34 drivers to win the ultimate prize, so he’s the perfect person to celebrate such a landmark anniversary. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Mario charts the history of F1 through his eyes. He explains how different the cars felt to drive in different eras of technical innovations, what it was like to compete in a very dangerous period of racing, and how safety improved over time. Mario also talks about what made World Champions Alberto Ascari, Jim Clark, Sir Jackie Stewart, Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher so special. Plus, he looks to the future of F1 – telling Tom about his role in the new Cadillac F1 team that will join the grid in 2026 and what they need to hit the ground running. This episode is sponsored by: MasterClass: see MasterClass’s latest deal–at least 15% off–at masterclass.com/GRID Saily: get an exclusive 15% discount on your first Saily data plans! Use code GRID at checkout. Download Saily app or go to to https://saily.com/GRID Indeed: listeners of this show will get a seventy-five dollar sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at indeed.com/GRID