F1 Beyond The Grid

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Zak Brown: McLaren’s winning mastermind May 07, 2024

Show notes

McLaren are back on top of the Formula 1 podium, but their mission is far from accomplished yet.
Since taking charge in 2018, CEO Zak Brown has overseen a huge transformation on and off the track and the team’s progress has accelerated astronomically over the last 12 months.
Lando Norris’s long-awaited maiden Grand Prix victory in Miami is the culmination of an enormous amount of hard work to turn their fortunes around, after an awful start last season left them right at the back of the grid.
So how do they take the next steps to become serial winners and World Championship contenders?
Speaking in Miami, Zak tells Tom Clarkson how he’s instilling a winning mentality at McLaren, what Norris’s victory means for his and the team’s future, why he thinks Oscar Piastri is a match for Lando, whether he’d like his close friend Adrian Newey to join the team, and much more.
Related Episodes
Lando Norris
Oscar Piastri
Andrea Stella
For more in-depth reaction to Lando Norris’s first Grand Prix victory, listen to the latest episode of F1 Nation from the Miami Grand Prix paddock
This episode is sponsored by:
Indeed: listeners of this show will get a seventy-five dollar sponsored job credit to
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Ayrton Senna remembered by Bruno Senna Apr 30, 2024

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30 years since his death at Imola on 1st May 1994, Ayrton Senna’s legacy is still felt around the world.
Brazil’s three-time Formula 1 World Champion continues to inspire today’s generation of racing drivers and fans.
To Bruno Senna, Ayrton is still both his uncle and his hero.
Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Bruno shares his childhood memories of Ayrton away from the track, the ‘racing relationship’ they built together, how his life changed after Imola 1994, and the pressure Ayrton’s success put on his own F1 career.
Hear more stories about Ayrton Senna on F1 Beyond The Grid from his former teammates and rivals:
Alain Prost
Damon Hill
Gerhard Berger
Martin Brundle

Stoffel Vandoorne: dramatic debut to 'tough' exit Apr 23, 2024

Show notes

A multiple title winner at junior level and a point-scorer on his unexpected F1 debut in 2016, Stoffel Vandoorne seemed on track for a long and prosperous career in Formula 1.
But his big break at McLaren in 2017 arrived during one of the team’s most challenging periods.
They finished second-last in the standings during Vandoorne’s first season, endured a difficult transition from Honda to Renault engines the following year, and there was huge organisational change at the top as Zak Brown came in as CEO.
After just seven points-finishes in two years, with a best result of P7, Stoffel was replaced by Lando Norris for 2019 and he hasn’t raced in F1 since.
Now a Test and Reserve driver for Aston Martin, the Belgian tells Tom Clarkson how he prepared for his first race in F1 at such short notice, the drama of signing his first McLaren contract, where it all went wrong during his two seasons on the grid, and what impact those struggles had on his mental wellbeing, motivation and enjoyment of racing.

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Zhou Guanyu: China’s F1 hero making history at home Apr 16, 2024

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20 years since his infatuation with Formula 1 began at China’s first race in 2004, Zhou Guanyu will race in front of his home fans for the first time as an F1 driver at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Zhou tells Tom Clarkson what racing in Shanghai will look like through his eyes; from his helmet design and sold-out grandstand, to the reaction he’s expecting on his first lap of the track and what it would mean to score his first points of the season in the city he was born in.
The Sauber driver also talks about what impact his success has had on motorsport culture in China, his crash at Silverstone in 2022, the documentary being made about his journey to F1, his passion for fashion, uncertainty over his future in the sport with no seat confirmed for 2025 yet, and much more.
Related Episodes

Zhou’s first BTG appearance
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F1 Nation: Why Alonso's staying at Aston Apr 12, 2024

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Fernando Alonso is 'here to stay' in Formula 1 with Aston Martin. What made the double World Champion decide to continue racing with his current team?
In a special episode of the F1 Nation podcast, Aston Martin Ambassador Pedro de la Rosa and 1996 World Champion Damon Hill join Tom Clarkson to analyse Alonso's announcement, what it means for him, the team and the rest of the drivers searching for a 2025 race seat.
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LEGENDS: Juan Pablo Montoya’s race for the 2003 championship Apr 09, 2024

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Seven-time Grand Prix winner Juan Pablo Montoya joins Tom Clarkson for the first episode of F1 Beyond The Grid’s LEGENDS episodes.
Going into the final two races of 2003, Montoya was only three points behind World Championship leader Michael Schumacher in a three-way fight for the title, with Kimi Raikkonen just behind them.
But by the season finale, the Colombian was out of contention – so where did it all go wrong? Juan Pablo reflects on the highs of his wins at Monaco and Hockenheim that year, the lows of his championship-ending collision with Rubens Barrichello, and whether there was anything he could have done differently to become World Champion.
Montoya also discusses whether he treated Michael differently to other drivers on track and addresses their famous incident at Imola in 2004. He explains how he got the better of teammate Ralf Schumacher, why he couldn’t be friends with his rivals, and much more.
Plus, Juan’s son Sebastian drops by to talk about his Formula 3 ambitions this year, what it’s like having an ex-F1 driver as his dad, and the best piece of advice JPM has given him.
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

Ayao Komatsu: from Tokyo to Team Principal Apr 02, 2024

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The journey that has taken Ayao Komatsu from a teenager in Tokyo, dreaming of working in Formula 1, to the new Haas Team Principal is a gripping tale.
Featuring fascinating anecdotes of his father’s experiences as a political prisoner, the challenges Ayao faced when he left Japan for England, and how he engineered his way through university to a career in F1, this is a compelling conversation between Komatsu and Tom Clarkson.
Ayao talks about his relationship with his family, the influence Japanese F1 hero Takuma Sato has had on his career, why he once wanted to be a journalist, how he’s transforming Haas, and much more.
Related Episodes
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Book your seat at a Grand Prix
Tickets for the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024 are now on sale along with Miami, Imola and every other race this season. Head to tickets.formula1.com to buy now
More official F1 Podcasts
F1 Nation - race previews, reviews and analysis from the F1 Paddock
F1 Explains - your questions answered by the experts

Pat Symonds: spectacular, sustainable F1 tech Mar 27, 2024

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He’s a World Championship-winning engineer with nearly 50 years in Formula 1, but Pat Symonds’ focus is new innovation and F1’s next generation.
Pat scored title wins with Michael Schumacher in the 90s and Fernando Alonso in the 2000s. In the 80s, he helped a rookie Ayrton Senna get up to speed and take a stunning Monaco podium. Today, as Formula 1’s Chief Technical Officer, his task is producing spectacular racing - now and for years to come.
Pat tells Tom Clarkson about his past successes, his memories of working with great drivers and his future projects, including the sustainable fuel which will power a new breed of F1 car from 2026.
Book your seat at a Grand Prix
Tickets for the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024 are now on sale along with Japan, Miami, Imola and every other race this season. Head to tickets.formula1.com to buy now
More official F1 Podcasts
F1 Nation - race previews, reviews and analysis from the F1 Paddock
F1 Explains - your questions answered by the experts
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Oscar Piastri: building up to more wins with McLaren Mar 20, 2024

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A Formula 1 winner in his first season, Oscar Piastri has his sights set on more success. At McLaren, alongside Lando Norris, guided by Team Principal Andrea Stella and manager Mark Webber, he’s right where he needs to be.
Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Oscar reflects on his rookie year in F1, his Sprint victory ahead of Max Verstappen, on-track clashes and off-track discussions with Lewis Hamilton, and why at his home race in Melbourne he’ll be fuelled by his Grandma’s baking as well as the Australian crowd.
You can now watch full episodes of F1 Beyond The Grid on the F1 YouTube channel.
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For more Oscar, listen to the next episode of F1 Explains – the podcast which answers your questions about Formula 1. Oscar explains how his time in Formula 3 and Formula 2 prepared him for the pinnacle of motorsport.
Listen to F1 Nation's preview of Oscar's home race
This episode is sponsored by:
Indochino: go to indochino.com and use code GRID to get 10% off any
purchase of $399 or more
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Alex Albon: thriving with Williams Mar 13, 2024

Show notes

What does 2025 hold for Alex Albon? How has golf changed his approach to Formula 1? Would he like more competition from his teammate?
The Williams driver answers all those questions and more in his first proper catch-up with Tom Clarkson on F1 Beyond The Grid since 2022.
Albon explains the mindset of being a number two driver at Red Bull Racing compared to being team leader at Williams, how his fitness varies so much throughout the season, and why self-care is the most important part of his preparation.
Plus, Alex explains why he has 13 cats and who the most competitive Padel player in the paddock is.
Related Episodes

James Vowles, Williams Team Principal
Logan Sargeant
More official F1 Podcasts
F1 Nation - race previews and reviews from the F1 Paddock
F1 Explains - your questions answered by the experts
This episode is sponsored by:

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

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