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Formula 1

The risk-takers, late-brakers and history-makers of Formula 1 slow down for in-depth interviews. Tom Clarkson brings you revealing, feature-length conversations with drivers, team bosses, engineering experts and F1 legends.

Hit the follow button for the fastest way to get new episodes. Watch episodes exclusively on the F1 YouTube channel.

An official Formula 1 podcast. For race reviews + previews, listen to F1 Nation. To learn more about how F1 works, listen to F1 Explains

F1: Beyond The Grid

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: 

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Allan McNish: winning ‘the Audi way’

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

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James Vowles: podium pride + Williams’ winning potential

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.

Derek Bell: from Ferrari F1 debut at Monza to five Le Mans wins

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 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 Williams, 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: 

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Franco Colapinto: Buenos Aires boy who made F1 breakthrough

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

Graeme Lowdon: getting Cadillac on-track in F1

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: 

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Gabriel Bortoleto: ‘my dream was so big’ - the long journey to F1

‘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

Fred Vasseur: Ferrari’s ‘next step’ with Lewis Hamilton + Charles Leclerc

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

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Vanta: Visit vanta.com/grid to sign up for a free demo today!

James Hinchcliffe: F1TV expert on surviving ovals + being inspired by Villeneuve

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 performances in the F2 car 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.

F1 Beyond The Grid will return on Wednesday 27th August. 

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:

Indeed: Beyond The Grid listeners will get a $75 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

Jacky Ickx: Belgium’s F1 + Le Mans legend

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

Adrian Reynard: a founding father of Brawn GP + Mercedes

Ever wondered how your Formula 1 heroes are found in the first place?

Well, George Russell, Esteban Ocon and Alex Albon may not be on the grid today if it wasn’t for the keen eye of F1 talent guru Gwen Lagrue.

He’s the Frenchman in charge of Mercedes’ junior driver programme, with a track record of uncovering hidden gems and helping them fulfil their potential in the pinnacle of motorsport.

Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Gwen talks about the traits that separated Russell, Ocon and Albon from others in their early karting years, what qualities he’s looking for when scouting young drivers, how regularly a future World Champion comes along, and some of the protégés currently on Mercedes’ radar.

Plus, you’ll hear the thoughts of Mercedes Team Principal, Toto Wolff, on their recruitment strategy and whether Max Verstappen could have ended up at the team in different circumstances.

Related Episodes

Alex Albon 

Esteban Ocon 

George Russell 

Toto Wolff 

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Gwen Lagrue: finding F1's future stars

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