F1 Beyond The Grid

Mercedes Technical Director, James Allison, is Tom Clarkson’s pick for the penultimate day of our countdown to the new series of F1 Beyond The Grid. James tells the very funny and emotional story of how his rather awkward first interaction with Lewis Hamilton formed the foundations of a strong and successful relationship between them. For James’ full conversation with Tom from 2019, listen here.

On 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Day 28, Zhou Guanyu tells Tom Clarkson why Fernando Alonso is his idol, what it means to be the first Formula 1 driver from China, and how excited he’ll be to race in front of his home fans at the Chinese Grand Prix. For Zhou’s full conversation with Tom from 2022, listen here.

Martin Brundle is best known today for his infamous pre-race gridwalks and his expert analysis on television. But did you know he had a very impressive and dramatic racing career before moving into the commentary box? On Day 27 of our countdown to the new season, Martin tells Tom Clarkson about beating the likes of Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and Mika Häkkinen, before they all went on to beco...

Six-time Grand Prix winner Ralf Schumacher joins Tom Clarkson on 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Day 26.  Ralf explains why he never became friendly with teammates and also tells Tom whether he would have made it to Formula 1 without his seven-time World Champion brother, Michael Schumacher. For Ralf’s full interview with Tom in 2019, listen here.

On 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Day 25, Alex Albon talks about the impact of being dropped by Red Bull at the end of 2020 and how he fought his way back into Formula 1 with Williams. Listen to Alex’s full chat with Tom Clarkson in 2022 here.

In 2019, Tom Clarkson sat down with Ross Brawn to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Brawn GP becoming the first team to win both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships in their debut year. On Day 24 of our countdown to the new season, listen to their conversation in full - as Ross shares fascinating insight into how the team emerged from Honda’s ashes and went on to dominate the 2009 s...

On Day 23 of our pre-season countdown, World Champion designer Neil Oatley shares what it was like to have a front row seat for the fierce rivalry between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost at McLaren in the late 1980’s. For Neil’s full chat with Tom in 2023, listen here.

Damon Hill is Tom Clarkson’s guest for 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Day 22. The 1996 World Champion explains why his fellow title-winning teammates - Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, and Ayrton Senna - were in a class of their own. And Damon also shares his perspective on losing the 1994 championship to Michael Schumacher in controversial circumstances. Listen to Damon’s full interview with Tom from 201...

He's a three-time podium finisher and a regular points-scorer, with a fantastic pole position to his name, but Lance Stroll's place in Formula 1 is sometimes still questioned. His father, Lawrence, owns the Aston Martin team he drives for - the latest stage in what he calls a 'father-son journey' to the top of motorsport.  On 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Day 21, Lance tells Tom Clarkson why he dese...

On Day 20 of our countdown to the new season, former Toro Rosso driver Scott Speed tells Tom Clarkson how his ego and a fiery clash with team boss Franz Tost cut his Formula 1 career short. For Scott’s full conversation with Tom last year, listen here.

Juan Pablo Montoya is Tom Clarkson’s pick for 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Day 19.  Speaking in 2018, Montoya tells Tom why he left Formula 1 halfway through the 2006 season and how he reflects on his five and a half years in the sport.  For the full interview with Juan Pablo, listen here.  

On Day 18 of our pre-season countdown, an emotional Paul Stoddart tells the story of what he calls ‘the most famous two points in Formula 1 history’ - as his Minardi team secured a shock result at the Australian Grand Prix in 2002. For Paul’s full conversation with Tom Clarkson in 2023, listen here.

Tom Clarkson has chosen his full chat with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri from last season for Day 17 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid.  Oscar talks to Tom about leaving home at a young age, how his career in motorsport began with remote control racing, looking up to fellow Australians Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo, and much more.

On Day 16 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Carlos Sainz Jr tells Tom Clarkson about his incredible connection with two-time World Rally Champion father, Carlos Sainz Sr. For Sainz Jr's first BTG interview with Tom in full, tap here

Aston Martin reveal their challenger for the 2024 season today. So, on Day 15 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, their Team Principal, Mike Krack, tells Tom Clarkson what it’s like to be in charge of a Constructor and how he works with team owner Lawrence Stroll. Listen to Mike’s full conversation with Tom in 2022 here . 

Formula 1 will break new ground this year, with 24 races on the calendar. That’s more than any other season in the sport’s history. On Day 14 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali, tells Tom Clarkson why 24 Grands Prix makes sense. To learn more about F1’s future, listen to Stefano’s full conversation with Tom here . 

On Day 13 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, F1 talent guru Gwen Lagrue, the man in charge of Mercedes’ junior driver programme, reveals what he looks for in potential F1 drivers and future World Champions. Listen to Gwen’s full conversation with Tom Clarkson from 2023 here . 

Franz Tost retired from Formula 1 at the end of 2023, after 18 years as Team Principal of Toro Rosso and AlphaTauri. On Day 12 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Franz tells Tom Clarkson why he ignored naysayers and made a 17-year-old Max Verstappen the youngest debutant in F1 history. To hear Franz reflect on his remarkable career in full, tap here . 

On Day 11 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Tom Clarkson asks nine-time Grand Prix winner, Mark Webber, whether he was too intense during his career and how he’s changed since leaving F1. Listen to Mark’s full chat with Tom from 2018 here

Tom Clarkson has chosen his full chat with Susie Wolff in 2022 for Day 10 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid. Susie talks about her thrilling racing career, the experience of driving an F1 car for Williams, competing with and against her husband Toto, and her ambitions to create more opportunities for women in motorsport. Susie is now Managing Director of F1 Academy. The 2024 championship starts in Jed...

Heikki Kovalainen was Lewis Hamilton’s teammate at McLaren when he became World Champion for the first time in 2008. On Day 9 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Heikki tells Tom Clarkson how Lewis tried to spice up their rivalry and what it was like to win the 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, his first and only win in Formula 1. For Heikki’s full conversation with Tom, listen here .

Romain Grosjean escaped from a fiery crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2020. It proved to be his last action in Formula 1 but, on Day 8 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid, Romain tells Tom Clarkson why he wasn’t going to let that be the end of his career in motorsport. To hear Romain’s chat with Tom from 2021 in full, tap here . 

20 years on from his first and only victory in Formula 1, Jarno Trulli shares his memories of winning the 2004 Monaco Grand Prix with Tom Clarkson, on Day 7 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid. F1 Beyond The Grid returns with another stellar guest from the world of Formula 1 on Wednesday 28th February. Every day until then, you can hear the best bits from the last five years, so make sure you follow the...

Aston Martin’s former Head of Race Strategy, Bernie Collins, is the featured guest on Day 6 of 30 Days of Beyond The Grid. Bernie tells Tom Clarkson how and why the strategy she chose guided Sergio Perez to his first Formula 1 win at a very entertaining Sakhir Grand Prix in 2020. Follow F1 Beyond The Grid to join our countdown to the new series, starting on Wednesday 28th February. To hear Bernie’...

A special episode of the F1 Nation podcast on the biggest driver move in F1 history. Lewis Hamilton will wear Ferrari red from 2025. How did it happen, and what does Lewis' move mean for Mercedes, Ferrari and the driver market? Tom Clarkson gets the inside story of Ferrari's long pursuit of Hamilton from F1 Correspondent and Presenter Lawrence Barretto, who explains why the Scuderia succeeded this...