F1 Beyond The Grid

Every driver who wants to win with Red Bull needs to impress Helmut Marko. The veteran Motorsport Advisor oversees the team’s young driver programme and helped launch the careers of Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. A former F1 driver himself, he knows what it takes to race under the highest pressure. Helmut tells Tom Clarkson about his life in racing: childhood adventures in Austria with future world champion Jochen Rindt, and the serious eye injury which ended his driving career just as he was about to join Ferrari. He tells the story of how he met Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz, and how they started the F1 team which would go on to win races and championships with Vettel and Verstappen. Plus, Marko explains how Verstappen and Team Principal Laurent Mekies have changed the team’s approach in 2025 and picks the young driver with potential to be a future champion. This episode is sponsored by: CarGurus: go to cargurus.co.uk for complete vehicle details without any surprises Vanta: get started at Vanta.com/GRID. F1 Authentics: discover unique F1 items found nowhere else at the official home of F1 memorabilia. For a limited time, use the code BTGRID10 for an exclusive 10% off your next order. Exclusions apply. Shopify: sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

With three rounds left of the 2025 season, Oscar Piastri is still in contention to become Formula 1 World Champion for the first time. So what’s it like being in the thick of an F1 title fight with so much at stake? Speaking to Tom Clarkson before the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Oscar opens up about the pressure of a title battle and why fighting a teammate is different to racing against any other driver. He also discusses whether his relationship with teammate Lando Norris has changed this year and how he feels McLaren have handled the challenge of treating them both equally. It’s easy to forget that this is only Oscar’s third season as an F1 driver. With seven wins, seven podiums and five pole positions, he’s taken a huge leap forward. What exactly did he work on over the winter to make so much progress this year? And how are race engineer Tom Stallard, manager Mark Webber and new physio Artturi Simila all helping his development? As well as reflecting on the highs, Oscar also talks about dealing with setbacks in Australia, at Silverstone and in Azerbaijan, which is good insight into how he’ll bounce back from a difficult weekend in Brazil. 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... SelectQuote: Get the right life insurance for you, for less, and save more than 50% at selectquote.com/beyondthegrid Rag & Bone: Upgrade your denim game with Rag & Bone! Get 20% off sitewide with code GRID at www.rag-bone.com

McLaren have won back-to-back Constructors’ titles for the first time since the early ‘90s. Just eight years ago, in 2017, they finished second to last, so how exactly have they transformed into World Champions since then? Speaking to Tom Clarkson at the McLaren Technology Centre, CEO Zak Brown and Team Principal Andrea Stella outline how they’ve masterminded McLaren’s remarkable turnaround together, revealing just how desperate the team’s situation was at the start of this journey, and how they’re planning to sustain their recent success in the years to come. But in the immediate future, their eyes are on the next prize, as they chase a first Drivers’ World Championship since Lewis Hamilton won in 2008. Going into the final four rounds of the 2025 season, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are separated by just one point at the top of the standings. Zak and Andrea discuss how the pair have evolved during their time at McLaren, criticism of their approach to this title fight, and whether they’ll have any regrets should Max Verstappen beat Lando and Oscar to the crown. This episode is sponsored by: Vanta: get started at Vanta.com/GRID Indeed: listeners of this show can get a $75 sponsored job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at indeed.com/GRID Shopify: sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

30 years ago, a 120mph puncture sent Mika Hakkinen’s car spinning over a high kerb and into a wall of tyres. His McLaren did not have many of the safety devices modern F1 cars have. Mika suffered serious injuries which left him in hospital, unsure if he would ever race again. Mika tells Tom Clarkson he thinks about his crash at the 1995 Australian Grand Prix every day, and he remembers the moment he lost control of the car and hit the wall vividly. He talks about his physical and mental recovery and the nerves he felt the first time he got back into a Formula 1 car after the crash. Hakkinen returned to Formula 1 for the 1996 season, but says the crash had a lasting impact. He recalls how he shook off his doubts, rediscovered his speed and became strong enough to win the Formula 1 World Championship in 1998 and 1999. This episode is sponsored by: Honda Vintage Culture: listeners can get 20% off the full Honda Vintage Culture range at hondavintageculture.com and use the code BTG20 at checkout CarGurus: go to cargurus.co.uk for complete vehicle details without any surprises. 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. Ridge: Upgrade your wallet today! Get 10% Off Ridge with code GRID at https://www.Ridge.com/GRID

Ahead of a new era of Formula 1 in 2026, Italian engineer Enrico Cardile moved from Ferrari to Aston Martin. Working alongside Adrian Newey as Chief Technical Officer, his aim is to turn Aston into winners. Enrico tells Tom Clarkson how he studied Ferrari at university, before joining the company as a young engineer in the road car division. He moved on to the F1 team, developing single-seaters which took Kimi Raikkonen, Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc to Grand Prix wins. Enrico left Ferrari and joined Aston Martin in summer 2025. He describes the differences between an established team and one which is still building. He describes working with Adrian Newey at Aston’s state-of-the-art factory, what Lance Stroll has in common with Raikkonen and how driver feedback from Stroll and Fernando Alonso is helping to drive the team forwards. This episode is sponsored by: Truewerk: get 15% off your first order at truewerk.com with the code GRID. Honda Vintage Culture: right now, listeners can get 20% off the full Honda Vintage Culture range. Just head to hondavintageculture.com and use the code BTG20 at checkout. Shopify: sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/beyondthegrid Salesforce: visit salesforce.com/f1 to learn more about how Formula 1 drives fan excitement with Agentforce - the powerful AI from Salesforce

Serial winner in sports cars, Formula 1 driver and all-out racer: Allan McNish is using his experience to give Audi a fast start in F1. A Le Mans and World Endurance Championship-winner with the manufacturer, Allan knows how ‘the Audi way’ of racing will translate to F1. Allan’s own journey to F1 began with a McLaren test alongside Ayrton Senna. 13 years later, he finally made his Grand Prix debut. Allan tells Tom Clarkson how his sportscar career eventually led him to F1 with Toyota, and seeing a young Fernando Alonso’s unique driving style up-close while at Renault. Plus, Allan explains his work with the new Audi F1 team ahead of their 2026 debut, and why he thinks Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto are the perfect drivers for the team. 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. Liquid I.V - go to liquidiv.com and get 20% off your first order with code GRID at checkout CarGurus - head to cargurus.co.uk for complete vehicle details without any surprises Vanta - get started at Vanta.com/GRID

With 16 Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships combined, Williams are the third most successful team in Formula 1 history – behind Ferrari and McLaren. But they haven’t won a title since 1997 and it’s 13 years since they last won a race, so Team Principal James Vowles is on a mission to bring the glory days back to Williams. In 2025, the team have taken big steps towards success. Carlos Sainz secured the team’s first podium in four years when he finished third in Baku, and they’ve amassed their highest points total since 2016. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, James reveals what he and Carlos spoke about over dinner before that sensational podium, why that result means so much to the whole team, and the reasons Carlos had endured a frustrating season up to that point. On the other side of the garage, James shares what he thinks is different about Alex Albon this year and how he’s risen to the challenge of having a much more experienced and competitive teammate. And while Williams have performed better than expected in 2025 with such a strong driver line-up, their main focus is 2026. So what opportunities will the new era of Formula 1 bring them? Given James’s first-hand experience of the intense championship battles between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at Mercedes, what would his approach be if Alex and Carlos are fighting for a title in the coming years? 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 Shopify: sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/beyondthegrid Vanta: visit vanta.com/GRID to sign up for a free demo today

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