F1: Beyond The Grid

Tom Clarkson’s guest on this week’s F1 Beyond The Grid is McLaren’s Chief Operating Officer, Piers Thynne, who has been with the team since 2008. He oversees everything that happens at the team's base, the McLaren Technology Centre, so he’s played a crucial role in their current success. How have McLaren transformed into World Champions after finishing second to last in 2017? Why is their philosophy of getting ‘comfortable with being uncomfortable’ so productive? What impact have Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri had on the whole team? And how are McLaren preparing for new regulations in 2026, while fighting for both titles in 2025? Piers provides fantastic insight into what it takes to run a championship-winning Formula 1 team away from the track. He also talks about his passion for McLaren’s heritage cars, the lessons he took into F1 from his time as an army officer serving in Iraq, and how his father helped a certain F1 legend become a World Champion. It’s All To Drive For. Be there! Book your seat at a 2025 Grand Prix – tickets.formula1.com THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY... Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

After five years with Alpine, Esteban Ocon is embracing a new adventure with Haas in 2025. What challenges has he faced while settling into his new team? How is he getting on with new race engineer Laura Mueller? What are the strengths and weaknesses of their car? Esteban tells Tom Clarkson how he’s adapting to his new surroundings and how Haas have made such a miraculous recovery from a nightmare opening weekend in Australia. He also talks about reuniting with Team Principal Ayao Komatsu, whom he raced alongside many years ago, his passion for cars and remote-control racing, his recent cameo in a Netflix film and his dramatic exit from Alpine at the end of 2024. This episode is sponsored by: Saily: Get an exclusive 15% discount on your first Saily data plans! Use code GRID at checkout. Download Saily app or go to to https://saily.com/GRID Vanta: For a limited time, listeners get one thousand dollars off Vanta at vanta.com/grid

Tom Clarkson reveals which Formula 1 star will be joining him on this week’s episode of F1 Beyond The Grid. Listen to the full show on Wednesday 16th March or you can watch their chat on the official F1 YouTube channel.

Ferrari ambassador and former test driver Marc Gene has been with the team since 2004. During that time, Marc has had the privilege of working alongside five World Champions: Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel and now, Lewis Hamilton. Do they all have a common trait that makes them so successful? What’s the difference between one-time and multiple World Champions? Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Marc shares stories from his years working with each of those legends. The Spaniard also talks about his own racing career in F1, which started with Minardi in 1999, why he loved testing Formula 1 cars for Williams and Ferrari, winning Le Mans in 2009, and much more. It’s All To Drive For. Be there! Book your seat at a 2025 Grand Prix – tickets.formula1.com

Chosen by Red Bull aged 15. Suddenly launched into his first Grand Prix as the youngest driver ever, having never driven a Formula 1 car before. Racing for the Red Bull junior team, Jaime Alguersuari was expected to win. He was dropped when he didn’t. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Jaime looks back at his rapid rise to Formula 1. From his surprise debut in 2009, the demands of the Red Bull junior programme, and racing Michael Schumacher, to turning down the chance to drive a race-winning car days before losing his place in the sport. Now a DJ and producer, Jaime tells Tom how music ‘saved his life’ after he left Formula 1.

‘I wish I could fast forward’, says Pierre Gasly. Like all F1 drivers, Pierre is used to things happening quickly. He thinks Alpine will be fighting further forwards in a matter of months, and is impatient to get there. He knows how winning feels. He believes he can do it again. Gasly tells Tom Clarkson about the faith he has in Alpine and its leaders, Team Principal Oliver Oakes and Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore. His aim is to win a race this season, but he’s looking further ahead to when F1’s new rules may shake up the sport in 2026. There’s also talk of Pierre’s teammates Jack Doohan and Franco Colapinto, his fitness goals, his desire to win (even when playing online chess) and his off-track investment in French football team FC Versailles. WIN with F1 Unlocked, and experience the Miami Grand Prix like a VIP Win weekend tickets to the Vista Club suite, plus lunch and a paddock tour with an F1 Ambassador, flights, and accommodation all for you and your 3 best friends! To enter go to f1.com/miami-unlocked-podcast Terms and conditions apply. Entries close on Wednesday April 2nd This episode is sponsored by Vanta: for a limited time, get a special offer of $1,000 off at vanta.com/grid.

Aston Martin’s Team Principal knows what it takes to win in Formula 1. Andy Cowell leads a team which now includes Adrian Newey. They have the newest factory in the sport. Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are in the driving seat. Owner Lawrence Stroll is funding the team’s future. When will these ingredients bring trophies? Andy tells Tom Clarkson that Aston Martin are in ‘the building phase’ against ‘mighty’ opponents, but he’s confident they will overtake their rivals. He compares his current job to his time winning championships with Mercedes, and explains why F1’s new era of racing with sustainable fuel from 2026 is so important. He also shares his hope that partnering with Honda will give them an advantage. It’s All To Drive For. Be there! Book your seat at a 2025 Grand Prix – tickets.formula1.com 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. Saily: get an exclusive 15% discount on your first Saily data plans! Use code grid at checkout. Download Saily app or go to to https://saily.com/grid Shopify: sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

With 11 Grands Prix under his belt, Liam Lawson is technically no longer a rookie – but he is about to embark on his first full Formula 1 season in 2025 and race at many tracks he’s never driven before. So how does the New Zealander feel about this next step with Red Bull Racing? Speaking to Tom Clarkson at the team’s UK headquarters in Milton Keynes, Liam answers all the big questions ahead of a potentially career-defining year. What did Liam do to persuade Team Principal Christian Horner and Red Bull Motorsport Advisor Helmut Marko that he was the right man to replace Sergio Perez? How is he approaching the challenge of having four-time World Champion Max Verstappen as his new teammate? And, with five other drivers kickstarting their F1 careers this season, why does he think more teams are choosing youth over experience? Experience F1 live in Las Vegas New ticket options + expanded grandstands for 2025 Find out more at F1LasVegasGP.com [hyperlink – https://f1lasvegasgp.com] This episode is sponsored by: Vanta - for a limited time, get a special offer of $1,000 off vanta.com/grid Liquid I.V. - 20% off your first order at liquidiv.com when you use code GRID at checkout Indeed: get a seventy-five dollar sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at indeed.com/GRID. F1 Experiences: visit f1experiences.com/beyondthegrid to book your official ticket package today

First up in 2025: Liam Lawson. Listen to a preview of the Red Bull racer's conversation with Tom Clarkson here. Don't miss the full episode on Wednesday 12th March. Listen to F1 Nation's 2025 Preview Romain Grosjean, Laura Winter + Tom Clarkson answer the big questions ahead of the Australian Grand Prix. Listen here Experience F1 live in 2025 Head to tickets.formula1.com to book your place trackside Get ready for the first race F1TV has had an upgrade. Get F1TV Premium now

Adrian Newey began his new job at Aston Martin this week. Is he the man who will make Aston Martin World Champions? How does Adrian’s arrival change Fernando Alonso’s future plans? How has team owner Lawrence Stroll transformed Aston since he took over in 2018? And what is it really like for Lance Stroll to have his dad as his boss? Tom Clarkson has been listening through his interviews with Lawrence, Adrian, Fernando and Lance from recent years here on F1 Beyond The Grid to find some answers to the key questions facing Aston Martin ahead of the new Formula 1 season. LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEWS HERE Lawrence Stroll Adrian Newey Fernando Alonso Lance Stroll

The arrival of four-time Grand Prix winner Carlos Sainz from Ferrari marks the start of an intriguing new adventure for Williams in 2025. Is Carlos the man to drive Williams back to their glory days? How will Alex Albon stack up against a much more experienced teammate? And can Williams move further up the grid this season or is the introduction of new regulations in 2026 the priority for Team Principal James Vowles? Tom Clarkson has been listening back to his interviews with James, Carlos and Alex from 2024 to try and find the answers to those questions ahead of the new season. LISTEN TO TOM’S FULL INTERVIEW WITH THE WILLIAMS TRIO HERE James Vowles Carlos Sainz Alex Albon

2024 saw McLaren become Constructor World Champions for the first time since 1998. Will they defend their title in 2025? And will Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri become the team’s first Drivers’ World Champion since Lewis Hamilton in 2008? Tom Clarkson has been digging through the F1 Beyond The Grid archives to find out how McLaren have transformed into the fastest team in Formula 1 and whether their success will continue in the new season. Providing in-depth insight into the winning culture they’ve created at McLaren, you’ll hear interviews from Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, plus McLaren CEO Zak Brown and Team Principal Andrea Stella. 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.

Lewis Hamilton is getting ready for his first season with Ferrari in 2025. He’s won seven World Championships and 105 races, but some of Formula 1’s most successful drivers have joined Ferrari in the past and missed out on the ultimate prize. So what lessons can Lewis take from those who came before him? How difficult is it to win titles with the Scuderia? And why is driving for Ferrari so different to any other team in the sport? Digging through the F1 Beyond The Grid archives, Tom Clarkson has found interviews with Sebastian Vettel, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Jody Scheckter – all of whom provide fascinating insight into their time at Ferrari and help answer some of those key questions as Lewis embarks on an exciting new era in red. This episode is sponsored by: Indeed: get a seventy-five dollar sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at indeed.com/GRID. Babbel: is offering our listeners up to 60% on their subscription. Go to babbel.com/grid to claim your discount.

What really happens on the grid before a race? How do Formula 1 teams scout their future stars? How are drivers coached to go faster? In 2024, F1 Explains answered these questions and many more sent in by F1 fans from all over the world. F1 Explains takes your questions and finds the experts to answer them. In this special episode, presenters Christian Hewgill and Katie Osborne have picked the most fascinating moments from the podcast's second season: Listen to previous episodes of F1 Explains here Whether you're a new F1 fan or a long-time follower, there's always something more to learn. If you have a question you'd like F1 Explains to answer, send it as an email or a voice note to F1Explains@F1.com Experience F1 live Tickets for the 2025 F1 season are available now at tickets.formula1.com Discover F1 Unlocked Unseen. Unheard. F1 Unlocked. Dive into exclusive content from F1 experts, redeem rewards and enter money-can't-buy competitions. Click here to join for free

A driver market for the ages, Verstappen at his very best, emotional race wins, new Constructor World Champions and the end of some iconic eras. The 2024 Formula 1 season was sensational. On F1 Beyond The Grid, the stars of this dramatic year of racing have sat down with Tom Clarkson, revealing what it’s like being at the centre of the biggest stories of the season and sharing fascinating insight into what life is like as a Formula 1 driver, Team Principal, engineer, designer, and more. In this end-of year special, Tom picks his favourite moments from a long list of stellar guests. Fernando Alonso reflects on becoming the first driver in F1 history to compete in 400 Grands Prix and why he nearly retired much earlier in his career. Carlos Sainz explains how he recovered from physical and mental setbacks to win multiple races. And Ollie Bearman describes what it was really like making his F1 debut at such short notice in Saudi Arabia. As well as today’s big names, legends of the past like Juan Pablo Montoya and David Coulthard relive their career-defining moments. Plus, you’ll hear memories of Lewis Hamilton’s time at Mercedes and Bruno Senna’s stories of growing up with his uncle Ayrton, 30 years on from his death. Thank you for listening in 2024. F1 Beyond The Grid will return in 2025. To hear the full interviews with the guests featured in this show, click on the links below… Toto Wolff Charles Leclerc Carlos Sainz Juan Pablo Montoya David Coulthard Bruno Senna Fernando Alonso Andy Stevenson Ollie Bearman Ayao Komatsu Tom Stallard Paul Monaghan This episode is sponsored by: Vanta: visit vanta.com/GRIDfor $1,000 off SelectQuote: Get the right life insurance for you for less at selectquote.com/BEYONDTHEGRID Unbound Merino: head over to unboundmerino.com where new customers can use the code GRID for 10% off of their order! Masterclass: get up to 50% off at masterclass.com/GRID

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes: their names are together forever in the Formula 1 record books. As the most successful team and driver partnership in the sport's history comes to an end, some of Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes colleagues tell Tom Clarkson their stories of working with him: Listen to more official F1 Podcasts F1 Nation - Grand Prix reviews and previews from inside the F1 paddock F1 Explains - answering your questions about Formula 1 Experience F1 live Tickets for the 2025 F1 season are available now at tickets.formula1.com Discover F1 Unlocked Unseen. Unheard. F1 Unlocked. Dive into exclusive content from F1 experts, redeem rewards and enter money-can't-buy competitions. Click here to join for free This episode is sponsored by Vanta: get $1,000 off Vanta at vanta.com/GRID. F1 Authentics: Find your ultimate piece of F1 history and head over to www.F1Authentics.com to shop now! Shopify: sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

This episode is presented by Explora journeys, redefining luxury ocean travel. 2024 has been a turbulent year for Carlos Sainz. It started with a shock: Lewis Hamilton would be replacing him at Ferrari in 2025. Then he missed a race with appendicitis. But the year is ending with multiple wins and podiums to look back on, and an exciting new challenge to look forward to with Williams next season. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Carlos talks about his feelings after finding out Hamilton was taking his seat, the pain he suffered after his operation and how he came back from those physical and emotional setbacks to take victories in Australia and Mexico, and secure his future in Formula 1. As well as reflecting on a special four years with Ferrari, Sainz is also relishing his next chapter. What can he achieve with Williams? How does he rate new teammate Alex Albon? And will he cope with not fighting at the front of the grid? Related Episodes Charles Leclerc James Vowles Alex Albon Listen to more official F1 Podcasts F1 Nation - Grand Prix reviews and previews from inside the F1 paddock F1 Explains - answering your questions about Formula 1 Experience F1 live Tickets for the 2025 F1 season are available now at tickets.formula1.com Discover F1 Unlocked Unseen. Unheard. F1 Unlocked. Dive into exclusive content from F1 experts, redeem rewards and enter money-can't-buy competitions. Click here to join for free

2024 has been a rollercoaster for this week’s guest on F1 Beyond The Grid. While the end of the season provides a chance for reflection, he’s also looking forward to an exciting new venture in 2025. Hear a preview of the episode with Tom Clarkson now and then you can listen to the conversation in full on your podcast app, or watch on the official F1 YouTube channel, from Wednesday 4th December. Listen to more official F1 podcasts F1 Beyond The Grid - exclusive interviews with F1's biggest stars. F1 Explains - your F1 questions, answered by experts Experience F1 live Tickets for the 2025 F1 season are available now at tickets.formula1.com Discover F1 Unlocked Unseen. Unheard. F1 Unlocked. Dive into exclusive content from F1 experts, redeem rewards and enter money-can't-buy competitions. Click here to join for free

This episode is brought to you by Salesforce, a Global Partner of Formula 1® Aston Martin Sporting Director Andy Stevenson reached a huge milestone in Las Vegas, working at his 600th Grand Prix. It’s a sensational achievement made even more remarkable by the fact that all 600 races have been with the same team. A driver winning with a broken leg, another going to jail halfway through the season, preparing a future seven-time World Champion for his debut… Andy has seen everything Formula 1 has to offer over the last 33 years in the paddock. Sharing fascinating and surreal anecdotes with Tom Clarkson, he talks about Eddie Jordan not liking him when he first joined ‘Team Silverstone’, how they’ve evolved since their F1 debut in 1991, why he’s stayed there for his whole career, what it’s like working with Crohn’s disease, and much more. Related Episodes Fernando Alonso, on racing in 400 Grands Prix (https://podfollow.com/f1-beyond-the-grid/episode/c7d26eb608f8ed5bb6587b72cbee3b15ee7823e0) Listen to more official F1 Podcasts F1 Nation - Grand Prix reviews and previews from inside the F1 paddock F1 Explains - answering your questions about Formula 1 Experience F1 live Tickets for the end of the 2024 F1 season and the start of 2025 are available now at tickets.formula1.com Discover F1 Unlocked Unseen. Unheard. F1 Unlocked. Dive into exclusive content from F1 experts, redeem rewards and enter money-can't-buy competitions. Click here to join for free This episode is sponsored by: Vanta: get $1,000 off Vanta when you go to vanta.com/grid

He’s one of the most experienced drivers in F1 history, who won races for championship teams Ferrari and Brawn GP. During his long career, Rubens Barrichello had to cope with the loss of his legendary countryman, Ayrton Senna, and the challenge of carrying the hopes of Brazilian fans afterwards. At Ferrari, Rubens went up against a dominant Michael Schumacher, and while he never won a title, he proved he could match his teammate on his day. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Rubens reflects on some of the highs and lows of his career, the long shadow cast by the death of Senna, and the pressure and pride he felt racing for Brazil’s passionate F1 fans. 10 Teams, 20 Drivers, 1 Massive Season Launch A groundbreaking season launch event at London’s The O2 – featuring all the teams, their drivers and team bosses, plus top entertainment – ahead of the 2025 campaign. 18.02.25! This episode is sponsored by: SelectQuote: get the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, at selectquote.com/beyondthegrid Indeed: to get your jobs more visibility with a $75 sponsored job credit, go to indeed.com/grid