F1: Beyond The Grid - Alexander Rossi: twists, turns and tragedy on the road to F1

Alexander Rossi: twists, turns and tragedy on the road to F1

05/04/22 • 53 min

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Growing up in Northern California, a young Alexander Rossi dreamed of racing in Formula 1. His route was not an easy one. Along the way he experienced false starts, unfulfilled promises, behind the scenes power moves and the tragic loss of his friend and teammate Jules Bianchi. Alex tells Tom Clarkson everything that led to his 5 Grands Prix in 2015 and just how close he was to staying in the sport for a longer time. Today, Alex is pushing to add the IndyCar Championship to his Indy 500 win, supported by team boss Michael Andretti, and challenged by teammate Colton Herta. Alex also has tales of racing at Indy with Fernando Alonso, and competing in Mexico’s extreme truck race, the Baja 1000.

Related episodes from the BTG archive
The USA’s first F1 World Champion, Phil Hill, remembered
Mario Andretti – 1978 F1 World Champion
Eddie Cheever – the USA’s most experienced F1 driver
Danny Sullivan – from NY taxi driver to F1
NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon on his F1 drive
F1 driver and IndyCar star, Juan Pablo Montoya
This episode is sponsored by:
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Previous Episode

Alex Albon: a point to prove at Williams

He says it himself, Alex Albon is back in F1 wanting to prove a point. After a 2020 season in which he scored his first podiums, but ultimately failed to match Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen, he lost his race drive and spent 2012 on the side lines. ‘It killed me’, he says, ‘but the hunger never went away’. Alex tells Tom Clarkson how hard he worked behind the scenes to help Verstappen win the Drivers’ Championship, and to fight for his F1 return with Williams in 2022. Now Alex is revitalised. He feels smarter and more at peace with himself. He’s certainly lost none of his skill behind the wheel - in Australia he drove 57/58 laps on a single set of tyres to score his first point for Williams in only his third race – and his friendship with rivals Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz is as strong as ever. A round of golf with those guys sounds like a lot of fun...
Related episodes from the BTG archive:
Nicholas Latifi, Alex’s Williams teammate Jost Capito, Williams CEO and Team Principal Christian Horner, Red Bull Team Principal Lando Norris Charles Leclerc
Carlos Sainz George Russell
This episode is sponsored by:
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Next Episode

Gilles Villeneuve Remembered

40 years ago, in May 1982, Formula 1 lost a marvellous maverick. No-one else drove a car quite like Gilles Villeneuve. He lost his life in a crash while at the very peak of his racing powers. In this special episode, those who knew Gilles share their memories and stories with Tom Clarkson. F1 World Champions Mario Andretti and Jody Scheckter and 7-time Grand Prix winner Rene Arnoux raced alongside Villeneuve and were close to him as friends. Jonathan Giacobazzi idolised Gilles; his family’s name appeared as a sponsor on the Canadian’s race suit, and their families travelled the racetracks of Europe together. Jochen Mass was also a good friend of Villeneuve – a fact that makes his blameless involvement in the crash which claimed his life even more tragic. They remember Gilles as a person, a teammate, a rival and a friend, and consider why he is still so adored, 40 years after his death.
This episode is sponsored by:
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LinkedIn Jobs: Go to linkedin.com/GRID to post a job for free. Terms and
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F1 Manager: Launching on PC, PlayStation and Xbox, Summer 2022. Visit F1manager.com to Wishlist the game on your platform of choice and follow @F1Manager on Twitter to stay up to speed