For a driver who only qualified for nine Formula 1 races in three seasons, German racing legend Bernd Schneider sure has some epic stories from his short stint on the grid in the late 1980’s and early ‘90’s. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Schneider talks about how close he came to denying Michael Schumacher his F1 debut and the huge contract Eddie Jordan offered him to return to the sport. Bernd, who went on to become a five-time DTM champion with Mercedes-Benz after his F1 career finished, also reveals how he was nearly partly responsible for Mercedes pulling out of all motorsport after their car flipped several times at Le Mans in 1999 and what it was like to be teammates with icons Mika Hakkinen, Mark Webber and Jean Alesi. This episode is sponsored by: Shopify: sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/beyondthegrid Indeed: listeners of the show will get a seventy-five dollar sponsored job credit at indeed.com/GRID

Just 19 months after making his debut with Renault, Jolyon Palmer lost his seat with four races of the 2017 season still remaining and his Formula 1 career was over. So where did it all go wrong for the 2014 GP2 champion? Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Palmer dissects all the ups and downs of his year and a half on the grid. He talks about facing unique challenges to prove his worth on track, why he describes former teammate Nico Hulkenberg as a ‘career-killer’, when he stopped enjoying racing and the controversial way in which he found out he was being replaced by Carlos Sainz. Jolyon also shares his thoughts on the current crop of F1 drivers and what he enjoys about being a commentator on F1TV. LISTEN: ADRIAN NEWEY JOINS ASTON MARTIN Aston Martin ambassador Pedro de la Rosa reacts to the news that legendary F1 designer Adrian Newey will join the team from March 2025 on this week's F1 Nation with Tom Clarkson. This episode is sponsored by: Salesforce: visit salesforce.com/F1 to learn more about how Formula 1 wins fans and grows its global fanbase with Salesforce. Indeed: get a seventy-five dollar sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at indeed.com/GRID

Now in his fourth year as a Formula 1 driver, Yuki Tsunoda says he’s starting to show his ‘full potential’. Frequently beating his VCARB teammate, eight-time Grand Prix winner Daniel Ricciardo, in qualifying and on race day, the Japanese star’s driving has attracted a lot of attention in 2024. So how and why has Yuki improved so much and what does his future hold? Is promotion to VCARB's senior team, Red Bull Racing, still his priority or will he have to find opportunities elsewhere? Speaking to Tom Clarkson ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, Yuki explains how he's made so much progress on track, why VCARB is a very different team now than in 2023 and the next steps he's planning to further his career.

With 13 wins from 18 races, Michael Schumacher’s seventh and final World Championship was his best season in Formula 1. Still to this day, Schumacher is the only driver to have won five titles in a row as he and Ferrari dominated F1 from 2000 to 2004. So why was the German at his most ruthless during that last triumph in ‘04? 20 years on, Tom Clarkson speaks to McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella (Michael’s performance engineer in 2004), Sabine Kehm (Michael’s media and PR consultant in 2004) and Ferrari Sporting Director Diego Ioverno (Ferrari’s gearbox engineer in 2004) for unique insight into how Michael obliterated his opposition that season, what he was like to work with and how it felt to be part of the most successful period in Ferrari’s F1 history. This episode is sponsored by: Bitdefender - visit bitdefender.com to learn more about why Ferrari chose Bitdefender to stay ahead of cyber threats and how YOU can make your digital life safer Harry's - get started with a $13 trial set for just $3 at harrys.com/GRID. Liquid I.V. - get 20% off your first order at liquidiv.com and use code GRID at checkout. Shopify - sign up for a $1 per month trial period at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

After winning his home race for the first time in 2024, Charles Leclerc has just one more item to tick off his Formula 1 bucket list. But can the Monegasque and Ferrari still become World Champions together? Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Leclerc reflects on that special victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, the reasons behind Ferrari’s struggles since then and why he’s confident of future success with the team. Also on the agenda, Charles talks about having Lewis Hamilton as his teammate in 2025, what he’ll miss about Carlos Sainz, how ‘life-changing’ Leo the Dachsund is keeping him on his toes, and much more. This episode is sponsored by: F1 Experiences: Want to get closer to F1 than ever before? F1 Experiences ensures you get the very most out of your Grand Prix weekend, with ticket packages offered at every race on the calendar. Visit f1experiences.com/beyondthegrid to book your official ticket package today Indeed: get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at indeed.com/GRID. Shopify: sign up for a $1-per-month trial period at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

Tom Clarkson is back, speaking to a current F1 star ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix. Listen for a preview, then hear the full in-depth interview on Wednesday 21st August. Follow F1 Beyond The Grid to get the episode delivered to your podcast app as soon as it’s released

Change is on the horizon at Alpine, as boss Bruno Famin prepares to step down, and the Renault-owned team considers switching to another manufacturer's power units. Bruno tells Tom Clarkson why he is moving away from the F1 team to focus on operations at Renault's engine factory in Viry, just outside Paris. The factory has produced Renault F1 engines since the 1970s, but staff have been told this project will stop ahead of F1's new engine regulations in 2026. Bruno explains the thinking behind that plan, the possibility of Alpine becoming a Mercedes-powered customer team, and the alternative projects Viry could work on in future. Bruno also looks back on his year as Alpine Team Principal, the arrivals of experienced engineer David Sanchez and former team boss Flavio Briatore. Plus, Pierre Gasly's continuing relationship with the team, and the departure of Esteban Ocon. This episode is sponsored by Liquid IV: get 20% your first order when you shop better hydration today using promo code GRID at liquidiv.com Experience F1 live in 2024 Tickets for races in the Netherlands, Italy, Texas, Las Vegas and around the world are on sale now. Go to tickets.formula1.com to book your place at a Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri and George Russell are just a handful of the Formula 1 stars born in Bruno Michel’s racing series. Multiple F1 World Champions and Grand Prix-winners have risen from Formula 2 and Formula 3, previously known as GP2 and GP3. From the very first GP2 champion, Nico Rosberg, to Lando Norris, Nico Hulkenberg, Pierre Gasly, Valtteri Bottas and many more, Bruno has been supporting young drivers in their journey to the pinnacle of motorsport for two decades. He tells Tom Clarkson how he built the ladder to Formula 1, why Hamilton and Leclerc particularly stood out, and his prior work as manager to drivers including Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber. As F1 teams look to sign stars for the 2025 season, Bruno explains why future Haas driver Ollie Bearman is ready to step up to the top level, and what Mercedes junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli can do to claim his place in F1. Plus, how F1 Academy will become a pathway to F3 and beyond. Experience F1, F2 + F3 live in 2024 Book your seat at a Grand Prix today. The second half of the season is on sale now at tickets.formula1.com This episode is sponsored by: Indochino: go to indochino.com and use code GRID to get 10% off any purchase of $399 or more Fitbod: join Fitbod today to get your personalized workout plan. Get 25% off your subscription or try the app FREE at Fitbod.me/GRID

Paul Monaghan, Red Bull Racing’s chief engineer, has been with the team from the very beginning of their Formula 1 venture in 2005. He’s experienced the highs and lows of the team’s evolution from racing rookies into serial winners. How does the their first era of dominance with Sebastian Vettel compare to their current success with Max Verstappen? What’s the secret to the Dutchman’s speed? And, with the competition getting closer, Adrian Newey leaving and Red Bull making their own engines for 2026, what does their future hold? Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Paul shares fascinating insight from nearly two decades with the team and tells some very entertaining anecdotes from working with Ayrton Senna at McLaren and Fernando Alonso at Renault earlier on in his career. Related Episodes Adrian Newey Sergio Perez David Coulthard Don't miss the chance to see F1 live Tickets for races in the US, across Europe and the rest of the world are on sale now. Go to tickets.formula1.com to book your place at a Grand Prix. This episode is sponsored by Liquid I.V: get 20% off your first order when you go to liquidiv.com and use code GRID at checkout Harry's: get started with a $13 trial set for just $3 at harrys.com/GRID Babbel: listeners can get six months free with a purchase of a 6-month subscription at babbel.com/BTG Shopify: sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

What’s the difference between winning races and winning World Championships? David Coulthard enjoyed multiple Grand Prix wins and podiums, but titles were out of reach during his 15-year career in Formula 1. So why was he unable to achieve success that the likes of Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have all experienced? Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Coulthard analyses everything he tried to maximise his ability when competing against ‘exceptional’ drivers and why he ultimately fell short of becoming World Champion. Don't miss the chance to see F1 live Tickets for races in the US, across Europe and around the world are on sale now. Go to tickets.formula1.com to book your place at a Grand Prix. This episode is sponsored by: Salesforce: visit salesforce.com/F1 to learn more about how Formula 1 wins fans and grows its global fanbase with Salesforce Indeed: get a seventy-five dollar sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at indeed.com/GRID Babbel: right now, Babbel is offering our listeners six months free with a purchase of a 6-month subscription go to babbel.com/btg for more information

This episode is brought to you by GetYourGuide – the app to discover and book unforgettable travel experiences. Choose from over 100,000 things to do in one app, including an exclusive tour of the McLaren Technology Centre. Discover, book and make memories this summer at GetYourGuide.co.uk Lando Norris’ first F1 victory has changed everything. Speaking to Tom Clarkson before the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix, the McLaren driver explains why winning means so much more, and why racing for the lead feels so different. Lando looks back at races in Canada and Spain he feels he could have won, and gives a detailed breakdown of what he could have done differently. He also talks about racing Max Verstappen, and why he feels he still has to prove himself against champion drivers. Plus, Lando looks ahead to this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone. He remembers his first experience of a Formula 1 Grand Prix, how it felt to lead the 2023 race, and imagines taking victory in front of his home fans.

Just 14 races into his debut Formula 1 season in 2001, Luciano Burti suffered a huge crash at the Belgian Grand Prix. He walked away but it proved to be his last action as an F1 driver. Speaking to Tom Clarkson in his home city of Sao Paolo, Burti reflects vividly on the crash; what he was thinking about as it was happening, the physical injuries he suffered, why he wasn’t able to return to racing, and how the accident led to improved safety in the sport. The Brazilian also discusses why he changed teams just four races into that season, the reasons he was unable to showcase his full potential, what it was like being a Ferrari test driver during Michael Schumacher’s era of dominance, and much more. Experience Formula 1 live this season Tickets for races in Texas, Las Vegas, across Europe and around the world are available now. Go to tickets.formula1.com to book your seat. This episode is sponsored by: Fitbod: join Fitbod today to get your personalised workout plan. Get 25% off your subscription or try the app FREE at Fitbod.me/GRID

From 2014 to 2021, Mercedes dominated Formula 1 with a record eight Constructor World Championships in a row. Since 2022 though, they have struggled to fully grasp the current ground effect cars and, as a result, have dramatically fallen down the pecking order, behind their rivals Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari. Merc’s struggles continued at the start of 2024, but they have made progress in the last few races. George Russell’s P3 and Lewis Hamilton’s P4 in Canada secured the team’s best result of the season thus far. So, where were they going wrong? What have they changed on the car? And are they going to be competitive for the rest of the year? Speaking to Tom Clarkson in Montreal, Mercedes Technical Director James Allison answers all those questions. He also talks about the personal impact of the team’s struggles, why he thinks Russell is faster than Hamilton in qualifying this season, what he’ll miss about Lewis, whether 17-year-old Kimi Antonelli is ready for F1, and much more. Related Episodes George Russell Experience Formula 1 live this season Tickets for races in Texas, Las Vegas, across Europe and around the world are available now. Go to tickets.formula1.com to book your seat. This episode is sponsored by: Shopify: sign up for a one dollar per month trial period at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

He’s an engineer who won Formula 1 World Championships with Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen. Now he’s working on the rules of the sport for 2026 and beyond. Nikolas Tombazis is the Director of Single Seaters for the FIA. He is overseeing the regulations for the 2026 season, when F1 cars will be lighter, smaller and sustainably fuelled, with greater battery power and revolutionary active aerodynamics. He tells Tom Clarkson how the new rules have been designed to create close, competitive racing which is thrilling to watch. Nikolas also looks back at his career in F1, when he enjoyed domination and experienced disappointment. Championships with Michael Schumacher at Benneton were followed by more success at Ferrari, with Schumi and Kimi Raikkonen. A move to McLaren during a difficult period brought challenges. His return to Ferrari brought agony as Fernando Alonso missed out on the 2010 title, in a showdown which still plays on Tombazis’ mind. Experience Formula 1 live in 2024 Tickets for the United States Grand Prix in Austin, the Las Vegas Grand Prix and races around the world are available now at tickets.formula1.com This episode is sponsored by: Salesforce: visit salesforce.com/F1 to learn more about how Formula 1 wins fans and grows its global fanbase with Salesforce Indeed: get a seventy-five dollar sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at indeed.com/GRID.

As President and CEO of Liberty Media, Formula 1's parent company, Greg Maffei is at the very top of the sport. Together, he and F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali, are setting the strategy for the sport’s future. Since Liberty Media took ownership of the Formula 1 in 2017, we’ve seen thrilling races from the Las Vegas Strip to Silverstone, new fans around the world have fallen in love with the sport, and new stars have been given their chance to shine in F1 Academy. Maffei tells Tom Clarkson how he’s pushing to make F1 more competitive, more sustainable and more spectacular. He talks drivers, teams, races, golf, skiing, and the things that excite him in the coming years, including Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari and the upcoming F1 movie starring Brad Pitt. See F1 live in 2024 Get your tickets for Las Vegas, Austin and races around the world now at tickets.formula1.com Listen to more official Formula 1 Podcasts Race reviews from the heart of the F1 paddock on F1 Nation Your questions answered by the experts on F1 Explains Watch F1 Beyond The Grid on the F1 YouTube channel Follow F1 on Instagram, TikTok, X + Facebook Head to F1.com or the F1 app for the latest news, video and analysis

At the end of his glittering career, four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel said he was in the ‘best shape possible’ thanks to his performance coach Antti Kontsas. So how do you physically and mentally prepare a Formula 1 driver for a season of racing around the world? With over 10 years of experience working in the paddock, coaching the likes of Sebastian Buemi, Jean Eric Vergne and Vettel, Kontsas tells Tom Clarkson his secrets to training these extraordinary humans for the pinnacle of motorsport. This episode is brought to you by... Bitdefender: visit bitdefender.com to learn more about why Ferrari chose Bitdefender to stay ahead of cyber threats and how you can make your digital life safer. Related Episodes Sebastian Vettel Jean Eric Vergne

30 years ago, Karl Wendlinger’s Formula 1 career was just beginning to rise after a strong start to 1994 with Sauber. But that all changed in first practice for the Monaco Grand Prix, when the Austrian lost control of his car as he approached the Nouvelle chicane and crashed into the barriers. After a long recovery to regain racing fitness, Wendlinger returned a year later at the Spanish Grand Prix. He wasn’t the same driver though, and at the end of 1995, his time in F1 was up. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Karl talks in great detail about the crash; why he still doesn’t know the cause, how it affected him physically and mentally, what motivated him to race again, and how he processed leaving the sport. Plus, Karl remembers coming through the Mercedes junior programme with Michael Schumacher and the warm welcome Ayrton Senna gave him when he first arrived on the grid. This episode is sponsored by: Shopify: sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/beyondthegrid Indochino: go to Indochino.com today and use code GRID to get 10% off any purchase of $399 or more.

In 1984, Martin Brundle and Ayrton Senna made their Formula 1 debuts. They had just fought each other in an epic battle for the 1983 British Formula 3 title. But while there was little to separate the duo in junior racing, their F1 careers panned out very differently. As Senna went on to achieve hero status as a triple World Champion, Brundle’s 12-year career was significantly shaped by very serious injuries he suffered in just his ninth Grand Prix. Speaking to Tom Clarkson in the latest of F1 Beyond The Grid’s LEGENDS episodes, Martin describes in great detail the crash that caused his injuries, how close he came to losing his foot, and what impact that had on the rest of his time in F1. Brundle also talks about why he and Tyrrell Racing were disqualified in his first season, what it was like being a rookie back then, how Schumacher was different to Senna, where he thinks Adrian Newey’s future might lie, his thoughts on F1’s global standing, and much more. Related Episodes Listen to our first LEGENDS episode of 2024 with Juan Pablo Montoya, who reflects on how he lost the 2003 World Championship. This episode is sponsored by: Factor: head to factormeals.com/grid50 and use code grid50 to get 50% off your first box plus 20% off your next month

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 get your jobs more visibility at indeed.com/GRID Shopify: sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

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