F1 Beyond The Grid

‘I’ve thought about this so much, and it feels so right’. Sebastian Vettel is ready to say farewell to Formula 1. In a final in-depth interview with Tom Clarkson, Sebastian looks back at his entire F1 career: how he dealt with winning and losing, his rivalries and friendships with champions and teammates, and the races and moments that shaped him. He explains how ‘feeling loved’ fuelled his success, and what he’ll miss about life in F1. Sebastian also looks ahead – beyond his final chequered flag in Abu Dhabi - to what’s around the next corner. Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid on your podcast app. Share your thoughts on this episode and your memories of Sebastian Vettel’s F1 career using #F1BeyondTheGrid. Scroll through the BTG back catalogue for more interviews with stars from every era of Formula 1. Related episodes: Sebastian Vettel on Ferrari  Charles Leclerc  Kimi Raikkonen  Fernando Alonso  Mick Schumacher Mark Webber Lewis Hamilton This episode is sponsored by:  Babbel: right now, Babbel is offering our listeners six months free with a purchase of a 6-month subscription, go to babbel.com/play and use promo code GRID Shopify: sign up for a FREE trial at shopify.com/beyondthegrid and start selling online today 

Listen right here on Wednesday 16th November. Follow the podcast and share it with your fellow F1 fans using #F1BeyondTheGrid

F1 was her ‘goal’ once upon a time, but she made history in IndyCar and NASCAR. Danica Patrick’s early racing career followed the course of so many F1 stars: karting championships, a teenage move to Europe, an impressive result at the prestigious Formula Ford Festival, and meetings with former F1 champions and team bosses. But it was back in the US that made her mark on motorsport, winning in IndyCar and leading the Indy500. Was racing in F1 ever a possibility? Danica tells Tom Clarkson about her life in racing: why oval racing differs from road course driving, how team orders may have denied her more success, and how she feels about Formula 1 today. Related episodes: Bobby Rahal – IndyCar + F1 driver, Danica’s former team boss NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon Susie Wolff This episode is sponsored by:  LinkedIn Jobs: find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at linkedin.com/GRID ExpressVPN: go to expressvpn.com/grid today and get an extra three months free on a one-year package Rocket Money: get rid of useless subscriptions with Rocket Money now. Go to rocketmoney.com/GRID. Seriously, it could save you HUNDREDS per year

 A chapter is closing, but Nicholas Latifi is ready to open up. In three difficult F1 seasons, the Canadian has dealt with defeats, disappointment and being dropped by Williams. As he prepares to leave the sport at the end of 2022, Nicholas tells Tom Clarkson about the challenges and frustrations he continues to face.  In deep detail, he explains why he struggles to show his speed on the racetrack, how his ‘weaknesses’ behind the wheel have been ‘exposed’, and why he’s often unable to match the achievements of his teammates. He’s quick to praise George Russell, Alex Albon and Nyck De Vries, his one-time teammate and former F2 championship rival, as well as his Williams team for supporting him. He points to performances he’s proud of which sometimes passed unnoticed and remembers times he came close to impressive results. Now, Nicholas is looking to his future. He reveals what’s driving his decision on where to continue his race. Related episodes: Alex Albon  George Russell Nyck De Vries Jost Capito, Williams CEO This episode is sponsored by:  Rocket Money: get rid of useless subscriptions with Rocket Money now. Go to rocketmoney.com/GRID. It could save you HUNDREDS per year. Santander: CountdownToZero is a global competition for startups and scale ups looking for solutions that help the motor sport world become a more sustainable place. Ideas improving logistics or transport within the sport, projects aimed Net Zero mobility or that help offset the carbon footprint.  Check out the winners at santander.com

His time in F1 was brief and ‘brutal’, but he learned lessons he’s passing on to his son. Jan Magnussen, father of Haas driver Kevin, arrived in Formula 1 in the mid-1990s feeling unbeatable. His confidence came from a stunning championship-winning season in British Formula 3, in which he broke records set by the great Ayrton Senna. F1 broke that confidence. ‘I don’t think I understood the enormity of the task’ Jan tells Tom Clarkson as he honestly looks back on a difficult time with McLaren and Stewart Grand Prix. Did the early success which launched him into F1 have a downside? Did a ‘driving lesson’ from triple World Champion team boss Jackie Stewart do more harm than good? Jan remembers his sudden F1 exit, and how he rediscovered his love of racing. Today, he shares that love and the wisdom of his experience with Kevin as his father, sportscar teammate and mentor. Related episodes: Kevin Magnussen on his ‘no fear’ F1 comeback.

In September 2022, Nyck De Vries got a golden opportunity. A surprise F1 debut. He knew it was a chance to change his life. His remarkable top 10 finish was just step one of his mission. In an exclusive in-depth interview, Nyck tells Tom Clarkson what he did next: the phone calls, flights, meetings and deals which have made him a 2023 AlphaTauri Formula 1 driver. He explains how advice from his friend Max Verstappen, dinners with an F1 star-maker, a personal approach to negotiations and a decision to move away from Mercedes were so important. With championship-winning speed developed in Formula 2 and Formula E, experience driving several F1 cars and a wealth of racing knowledge to draw on, F1’s newest driver is ready for his next big opportunity. Related episodes Nyck’s 2023 AlphaTauri teammate, Yuki Tsunoda  AlphaTauri Team Principal, Franz Tost  Nyck’s fellow Formula 2 champions: George Russell  Charles Leclerc Mick Schumacher This episode is sponsored by: BetterHelp: visit BetterHelp.com/grid today to get 10% off your first month MSC Cruises: book your unforgettable cruise vacation at msccruises.com Liquid IV: get 15% off when you go to liquidiv.com and use code GRID at checkout

Tom’s got news of this week’s in-depth interview. Hear it exclusively here on Wednesday 19th October

Whether he’s behind the wheel of an F1 car or analysing the action for millions on TV, Karun Chandhok is driven by his passion for racing. His love for the sport grew during his childhood in India, and it remains strong despite his frustrating time in F1, where he repeatedly defied the odds. With little money to rely on and few racing opportunities at home, Karun set out on a path which took him to Europe. GP2 wins led to a Red Bull test and a spot on the F1 grid with a brand new team in 2010.  Karun tells Tom Clarkson the astonishing story of his Grand Prix debut and the struggle to even start his first race. He reflects on the deals and behind-the-scenes events at Hispania and Lotus which changed the course of his career. He sums up the experience of driving some of F1’s most legendary cars, including the ‘scary’ one, and the one that he feels is ‘a bit too perfect’. Plus, Karun explains how his love for F1 is fuelling his current work as a broadcaster, racetrack design consultant and grassroots motorsport advocate. This episode is sponsored by:  Shopify: sign up for a FREE trial at shopify.com/beyondthegrid LinkedIn Jobs: find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at linkedin.com/GRID.

As soon as the 2022 Mercedes F1 car hit the racetrack, the man who oversaw its creation realised it had problems. ‘We made a mistake’, admits Technical Director Mike Elliot. In finding fixes, Mike and his team of engineers have improved Mercedes’ results and learned a lot about themselves. Mike tells Tom Clarkson how they traced the car’s problems to a single design decision, how a year of not winning has helped the people at  Mercedes develop, and how he craves a return to the team’s championship-winning form. Looking back, Mike remembers why he chose a career in F1, and the remarkable day two top teams offered him a role. That led him to work in aerodynamics for McLaren, and he recalls a surprising early conversation he had with the team’s young test driver, Lewis Hamilton. McLaren’s former leader Ron Dennis, legendary car designer Adrian Newey, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and drivers Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg and George Russell also feature in Mike’s story. He explains how F1 engineering has become ‘more specialised’ and has advice for anyone who aspires to work in F1 car design. More BTG interviews with F1 Technical Directors: AlphaTauri’s Jody Egginton  McLaren’s James Key  Alpine’s Pat Fry James Allison, former Mercedes TD This episode is sponsored by:  ExpressVPN: secure your online activity by visiting ExpressVPN.com/grid TODAY and get an extra three months FREE

He’s a survivor, who fought back from a crash which could have broken his spirit. Martin Donnelly’s racing career was cut short at the 1990 Spanish Grand Prix, when his Lotus left the track and hit a barrier at 160 miles per hour, throwing him from the car. Martin tells Tom Clarkson his memories of that fateful weekend, and the great lengths he went to as he tried to return to racing – including treatment from the doctor who had helped Niki Lauda after the Austrian’s life-changing crash. He reflects on his close friendship with Ayrton Senna, who rushed to the scene that day in Spain, and on his brotherhood with fellow racing drivers like Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert, alongside whom he rose to Formula 1. Support from his father and deals with shrewd team owner Eddie Jordan shaped his career. His time at the top of motorsport was short-lived, his potential never fully realised, but Martin never stopped racing. Related episodes: Eddie Jordan Damon Hill  Tommy Byrne Johnny Herbert  Derek Warwick This episode is sponsored by:  DoorDash: use code GRID for 50% off your first order with DoorDash. Subject to change, terms apply. Emma Sleep: save 5% on top on all offers at www.emma-sleep.co.uk/grid