F1: Beyond The Grid

From frustration which drove him to tears in 2019, to an incredible F1 victory in 2021, Esteban Ocon has felt the extreme lows and highs of a racing driver’s life. After losing his race seat at Force India, Ocon spent a season as reserve driver for Mercedes in 2019. A year of ‘low moments’ opened his eyes to what he jokingly calls ‘the dark side’ of F1 – the off-track negotiations which can determine a driver’s future just as much on-track results. Wiser and more determined, Esteban returned to racing with Renault in 2020, scored his first podium and became a Grand Prix winner with Alpine. On his return to F1 Beyond The Grid, the Frenchman tells Tom Clarkson all about that chapter of his life, and looks ahead to the story he’s determined to write with Alpine. Plus, F1 friendships, the importance of clean racing, and why he sees the Spanish Grand Prix as a home race.
Related episodes from the BTG archive
Esteban Ocon’s first appearance
Fernando Alonso, Esteban’s Alpine teammate
Otmar Szafnauer on Force India’s administration
Mick Schumacher
Lance Stroll
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Chase Carey has been CEO and Executive Chairman of Formula 1 for the last four years, and it’s fair to say he’s been busy in that time. New rules – including F1’s first ever budget cap - have been crafted, a new governance structure has been negotiated, and new races have joined the calendar – and that’s before you consider having to navigate through a global pandemic. On this week’s show – the 100th episode proper – Chase discusses all of the above, as well as discussing Stefano Domenicali’s impending arrival and what he learned from working alongside Rupert Murdoch...

‘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.
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His father is a tough act to follow, but Mick Schumacher is loving writing his own Formula 1 story. In his debut season he’s often out of the spotlight at the back of the grid, but he’s proving he’s got what it takes to compete with the front-runners. Mick tells Tom Clarkson about adjusting to life in F1, the lessons he’s still learning from his father’s career, and drops some hints about his future. Plus he takes us inside his F1 support system: he’s got Haas, Ferrari Driver Academy, Sebastian Vettel, his family - and his dog, Angie - cheering him on every lap of the way.
Related episodes from the BTG archive
Sabine Kehm, Michael and Mick Schumacher's manager
Kevin Magnussen
Bertrand Gachot - the driver whose prison sentence gave Michael Schumacher his F1 debut
Ross Brawn on racing with Michael Schumacher
This episode is sponsored by:
Babbel - go to uk.babbel.com/play and use the code GRID for an extra six months free

Season 5 of F1 Beyond The Grid starts with a brand new episode on Wednesday 16th March.
Before another year of in-depth conversations with F1’s biggest stars, we’re revisiting some of our favourite episodes from the past four seasons.
When Lando Norris chatted to Tom Clarkson in March 2020, he was just about to start his second F1 season. He’d driven brilliantly in his rookie year, but podium finishes and his first pole position were still in his future. Lando talked about his late-night lifestyle, social media, gaming, his housework routine, and relationships with his fellow drivers. Plus tales of getting in trouble with McLaren and a slightly awkward pre-F1 meeting with Red Bull’s driver programme boss, Helmut Marko.
This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp and F1: Beyond The Grid listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com/GRID