F1: Beyond The Grid

This year is the first time Valtteri Bottas isn’t racing in Formula 1 since he started as a rookie in 2013, but the 10-time Grand Prix winner says F1 is ‘still the number one thing in my life’ and his priority is to get back on the grid in 2026. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Valtteri discusses all the options he has for his next move. Would he like to drive for the new Cadillac team that will join F1 next season? Could he race for Mercedes again? Or will there be opportunities at other teams like Red Bull or Alpine? Valtteri tells Tom why he doesn’t want his F1 career to be over yet, what attributes he would bring to a team in a year of new regulations and cars, and the deadline he has put in place to make a decision on his future. He also explains why he rejoined Mercedes as a Reserve Driver this year instead of competing in any other series. F1: THE MOVIE starring Brad Pitt Don't miss the chance to see F1 on the big screen. Only in cinemas June 2025 Get tickets now [https://f1themovie.com/] It's All To Drive For in 2025. Be there! Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com [http://tickets.formula1.com/] THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY: Liquid I.V. : Go to liquidiv.com [https://www.liquid-iv.com/] and get 20% off your first order with code GRID at checkout Indeed: Listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at indeed.com/grid [https://www.indeed.com/hire/audio-promotion-highimpact] Vanta: For a limited time, listeners get $1000 off at vanta.com/grid [https://www.vanta.com/landing/1k-discount?utm_campaign=1k_offer&utm_source=grid&utm_medium=podcast]

When he left Ferrari to join Mercedes, Simone Resta took decades of experience with him. In Italy, he worked with Michael Schumacher and designed race-winning cars for Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen and Charles Leclerc. Now, his task is giving George Russell and Kimi Antonelli the best Mercedes he can. As Deputy Technical Director Simone is focusing on the 2025 season, but he tells Tom Clarkson he is also thinking about the opportunity of 2026, when the rules on car design and power units will change. Simone talks about starting his career in the late 1990s with Minardi, a small team which struggled for results, his move to Ferrari, what engineers really want to hear from their drivers, and why he decided to leave his native Italy and ‘go for it’ with Mercedes F1: THE MOVIE – starring Brad Pitt Only in cinemas, June 2025 Don’t miss the chance to see F1 on the big screen Go to f1themovie.com [http://www.f1themovie.com/] to book a screening near you This episode is brought to you by Bitdefender, Team partner of Ferrari. Visit Bitdefender.com [http://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.

Dario Franchitti has had a sensational racing career in the United States, becoming a four-time IndyCar series champion and a three-time winner of the Indy500. But earlier in his career, Dario had plenty of interest from Formula 1 and tested for a few different teams. So why didn’t he end up racing in the pinnacle of motorsport? Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Dario talks about the three big opportunities he had to drive in F1 and why they never materialised – sharing fascinating insight into the negotiations he had and the tests he completed for different teams. He also discusses his racing idols, how three-time F1 World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart became his mentor and what it takes to become a complete IndyCar driver. This episode is sponsored by:  Vanta: for a limited time, listeners get $1000 off at vanta.com/grid [http://vanta.com/grid]  Shopify: sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shiopify.com/beyondthegrid [http://shiopify.com/beyondthegrid]

Mario Andretti was 10 years old when the first ever Formula 1 World Championship Grand Prix took place at Silverstone, on the 13th of May 1950. The 1978 World Champion has seen everything the pinnacle of motorsport has to offer over the past 75 years, and is one of just 34 drivers to win the ultimate prize, so he’s the perfect person to celebrate such a landmark anniversary. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Mario charts the history of F1 through his eyes. He explains how different the cars felt to drive in different eras of technical innovations, what it was like to compete in a very dangerous period of racing, and how safety improved over time. Mario also talks about what made World Champions Alberto Ascari, Jim Clark, Sir Jackie Stewart, Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher so special. Plus, he looks to the future of F1 – telling Tom about his role in the new Cadillac F1 team that will join the grid in 2026 and what they need to hit the ground running. This episode is sponsored by: MasterClass: see MasterClass’s latest deal–at least 15% off–at masterclass.com/GRID [http://masterclass.com/GRID] 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/ [https://saily.com/alexandsigge]GRID Indeed: listeners of this show will get a seventy-five dollar sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at indeed.com/GRID [http://indeed.com/GRID]

When Claire Williams sold the Williams F1 team at the end of 2020, a very special 43-year association between the Williams family and Formula 1 came to an end. Founded by Claire’s father, Sir Frank Williams, in 1977, the team have won 16 World Championships – a feat only bettered by Ferrari and McLaren.  Claire rose through the ranks – starting as press officer in 2002 and eventually becoming Deputy Team Principal in 2013. Over eight seasons, she led the team to 15 podiums and two P3 finishes in the Constructor Standings before she and her family left the sport. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Claire talks about the ups and downs of her time in charge of Williams, whether she regrets selling the team, why her dad was her biggest role model, and what it takes to run a Formula 1 team. Plus, you’ll hear the fascinating story of why she couldn’t let George Russell join Mercedes earlier in his career and what she makes of the racer he is today. It’s All To Drive For. Be there! Book your seat at a 2025 Grand Prix – tickets.formula1.com [http://tickets.formula1.com/] THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY: VANTA: For a limited time, listeners get $1000 off at vanta.com/grid [https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flinks.uk.defend.egress.com%2FWarning%3FcrId%3D681a47bbcd07472978d52b7b%26Domain%3Df1.com%26Threat%3DeNpzrShJLcpLzAEADmkDRA%253D%253D%26Lang%3Den%26Base64Url%3DeNrLKCkpsNLXL0vMK0nUS87P1U8vykwBAFRjB7U%253D%26%40OriginalLink%3Dvanta.com&data=05%7C02%7Cjsmith%40f1.com%7Cd8c1a4f803264cc89c0c08dd8cc40294%7Cb792abe295a94aff9e3a4beb3206df89%7C0%7C0%7C638821495697648748%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=OQ%2BKa8EHw6xc173jWGrWV%2B%2Fw7JJfn%2F3jvYfMC4O3CGg%3D&reserved=0]  LIQUID I.V.: Get 20% off your first order of when you go to liquidiv.com [https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flinks.uk.defend.egress.com%2FWarning%3FcrId%3D681a47bbcd07472978d52b7b%26Domain%3Df1.com%26Threat%3DeNpzrShJLcpLzAEADmkDRA%253D%253D%26Lang%3Den%26Base64Url%3DeNrLKCkpsNLXz8ksLM1MySzTS87P1QcATmwHXA%253D%253D%26%40OriginalLink%3Dliquidiv.com&data=05%7C02%7Cjsmith%40f1.com%7Cd8c1a4f803264cc89c0c08dd8cc40294%7Cb792abe295a94aff9e3a4beb3206df89%7C0%7C0%7C638821495697668145%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=jMwxExDjzZ1uHUuMm3%2BRCoWQ6qmRc4bcTgS8QU3tQ%2FI%3D&reserved=0] and use code GRID at checkout.