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'It's a very unforgiving job... you're helping making champions, but it's not yourself', says Fred Vesti. Through hundreds of hours and thousands of laps in the simulator, he has contributed to Mercedes' success in 2026. It seems certain that Kimi Antonelli will be crowned Drivers' World Champion, and the team are destined to become Constructors' Champions. Fred tells Tom Clarkson about his demanding work at the track, at the team factory and especially in the simulator and explains how he stays ready to replace George Russell or Antonelli, should they be unable to drive. He explains the key to the Mercedes' drivers speed and how he plays a crucial role in deciding how to upgrade the car. Fred tells the story of approaching Team Principal Toto Wolff at a party, and having a conversation which eventually led him to join the team's junior driver programme. A champion in sportscars, Vesti remains determined to race in Formula 1, even if that meant leaving the Silver Arrows. This episode is sponsored by:SalesforceNobody knows F1 fans better than Salesforce. They're looking for Fan1. Think it’s you? Prove it. Enter now for the ultimate FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX experience and be crowned Fan1 at f1.com/unlocked Honda Vintage CultureHeritage garments, inspired by Honda's racing spirit. Get 25% off with code GRID at hondavintageculture.com VantaSave time and resources on security and compliance. Learn more at vanta.com/GRIDClaudeHand off the tedious work to Claude. Try it on any paid plan at claude.ai/grid

A fiery crash, a miraculous recovery, a shock disqualification, and a tense, rain-soaked title-decider. At the end of the drama-filled 1976 season, James Hunt emerged as Formula 1 World Champion. Hunt was loved by fans and respected by his rivals, particularly by Niki Lauda. The pair fought for the world title in a remarkable year in which Lauda almost lost his life. James retired from F1 as a World Champion with 10 race wins and 23 podiums. He later became a broadcaster, commentating for the BBC alongside Murray Walker. He died in 1993, aged just 45. To mark the 50th anniversary of James Hunt's title win, Tom Clarkson speaks to his son Freddie - also a racing driver and TV presenter. Freddie shares stories of his ‘maverick' father, and how being the son of a world champion affected his own career. Listen to more Official F1 PodcastsRace previews and reviews on F1 NationYour questions answered on F1 Explains

2026 was supposed to be the year Williams made a big step forward in Formula 1. They’d scored their first podiums under Team Principal James Vowles in 2025, all while prioritising focus on this new era of regulations, so expectations of what they could achieve this season were high. But they’ve fallen well short of those. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, James talks about the phone calls he had with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz before the season to tell them the team was ‘in trouble’, whether he was worried both drivers would leave and why the car was overweight in the first place. James is very honest and self-critical, reflecting on what he’d do differently and the advice he’d give himself in hindsight. But he’s also optimistic about the future, with the team fighting hard to overcome their struggles and showing ‘true innovation’ to create a new chassis that was introduced in Baku. This episode is sponsored by: Salesforce: Ever wondered what really happens behind the scenes at Formula 1? From the broadcast room to the track, see how the fastest sport on earth runs on Salesforce. Head salesforce.com/F1 to watch Inside F1, powered by Salesforce. Vanta: Learn more at vanta.com/GRID Shopify: If you’re ready to launch your business before Black Friday, go to SHOPIFY.COM/beyondthegrid to start your free trial.

From scoring his first podium with the team in Monaco, to missing three races with a wrist injury, and then re-signing for 2027, Isack Hadjar has had an eventful first season at Red Bull Racing. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Isack opens up about what happened to his wrist, how challenging it was to miss those races and what that new contract means to him. Plus, Isack tells Tom why he’s been ‘surprising himself’ this year, what it’s like being Max Verstappen’s teammate and his targets for the rest of the season and beyond. Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies also joins Tom to talk about their approach to Isack’s recovery, why they’ve decided to keep him on for another year and whether Red Bull have everything they need in place to start challenging for World Championships again.

‘I did all I could to survive’. A fiery crash put his life in danger, but Romain Grosjean escaped the flames and returned to racing. As Romain tells Tom Clarkson, the crash in Bahrain was not the first time he had to rebuild his career. After a seven-race spell in Formula 1 in 2008, he was dropped for the following season. Determined to find a way back, he took a step down the motorsport ladder to the junior category, GP2, became champion, and earned a Formula 1 comeback with the same team that had previously let him go. Romain, who has 10 F1 podiums to his name, reflects on Grands Prix he could have won, how his former team Haas have changed since he scored points for them on their debut 10 years ago, and considers his future in the Formula 1 paddock. Listen to more Official F1 PodcastsRace previews and reviews on F1 NationYour questions answered on F1 Explains This episode is sponsored by: Wayfair: join Wayfair Rewards today and get 5% back on every purchase. Head to wayfair.com or shop the Wayfair app for all things home. Hexclad: find your forever cookware @hexclad and get 10% off at hexclad.co.uk/GRID! Offer excludes bundles and other items already on sale. #hexcladpartner Vanta: learn more at vanta.com/GRID

After describing 2025 as the ‘toughest year of my career’, Yuki Tsunoda was thrilled to make his F1 comeback with Racing Bulls after the summer break – stepping in for Liam Lawson while he fills in for the injured Isack Hadjar at Red Bull. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Yuki gives a very honest account of his struggles at Red Bull last season – revealing how it affected him personally, the biggest mistake he made and what it really felt like when he found out he wouldn’t be on the grid in 2026. Or so it would seem… Yuki received the call that he’d be back racing in Zandvoort just three days before the first practice session, so he takes Tom inside the chaotic week that ensued, how he prepared to drive the 2026 cars for the first time at such short notice, and what it meant to score points in the second race of his comeback at Monza. And while Yuki’s unsure how many more races he’ll compete in this season as Isack recovers, Tom asks him what the future holds from 2027 onwards. This episode is sponsored by: CarGurus: go to cargurus.co.uk for complete vehicle details without any surprises. Homeserve: join the millions of customers who trust HomeServe. For 50% less your firstyear, go to homeserve.com/grid. Claude: For problems worth solving go to Claude.ai/grid.

Aston Martin Global Ambassador Pedro de la Rosa joins Tom Clarkson to discuss how Aston are fighting back after a difficult 2026 so far. Pedro tells Tom how it really felt when they realised just how far behind they were during the Barcelona shakedown and whether the team’s strategy of waiting until halfway through the season to bring upgrades risked them losing two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso. Pedro also talks more about his relationship with Alonso, including how they communicate with each other through eye contact, and what it’s like working with Aston Team Principal and legendary designer Adrian Newey. Plus, 20 years on, Pedro reflects on his first and only F1 podium at Hungary in 2006, why that result didn’t guarantee his seat at McLaren and how ‘hurt’ he was to not race alongside Lewis Hamilton in 2008. This episode is sponsored by: Shopify: head over to shopify.com/beyondthegrid to start your free trial today. Vanta: learn more at vanta.com/GRID

Why did he sign a new multi-year deal with Ferrari? What caused his rough patch earlier in the season? How did those struggles really make him feel? And what did victory at Silverstone mean to him after that difficult period? Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Charles Leclerc opens up and shares really interesting insight into the ups and downs he’s experienced so far in 2026. Charles also tells Tom what it’s like being a Ferrari driver at Monza, why Michael Schumacher had such a big influence on him growing up, whether he thinks Ferrari can challenge Mercedes for the World Championship this season, and how it feels to now be married to his wife Alexandra. This episode is brought to you by Bitdefender, Exclusive Cybersecurity Partner of Scuderia Ferrari HP.

After a year away from Formula 1, following his exit from Red Bull Racing at the end of 2024, Sergio Perez is back with the sport’s newest team - Cadillac. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Sergio talks about his last six months at Red Bull being mentally demanding, the new perspective having a year out has given him, the initial reservations he had about returning to F1 and why the Cadillac project is just as motivating for him as fighting at the front of the grid. Checo also discusses Cadillac’s decision to replace Graeme Lowdon with Marcin Budkowski as Team Principal, why he wishes he’d enjoyed his career more and how he thinks age affects racing drivers. This episode is sponsored by: Claude: for problems worth solving — get started with Claude at Claude.ai slash gridWayfair: join Wayfair Rewards today to get 5% back on every purchase and start saving on your next home upgrade. Head to wayfair.com to shop all things home.

1995 was a 'catastrophe' for Damon Hill, a bruising battle on and off the track. He was determined that 1996 would be his year. 30 years since his title triumph, 1996 World Champion Damon Hill joins Tom Clarkson to reflect on his winning season. From four wins in the opening five races, to finding out he was being dropped by Williams at the end of the season while still in the championship fight, Damon talks candidly about the ups and downs of a very dramatic title-winning campaign. He also tells Tom how he changed his approach going into 1996, after some tough battles with Michael Schumacher on and off track the year before, and why he turned down an offer to sign for McLaren despite wanting to join them. Listen to more Official F1 PodcastsListen to the latest episodes of F1 Nation and F1 Explains This episode is sponsored by: Vanta: get started today at vanta.com/GRID CarGurus: go to cargurus.co.uk for complete vehicle details without any surprises

Ferrari discovered him, trained him and gave him a place in Formula 1 with Haas. Ollie Bearman dreams of driving for the Scuderia, but with Lewis Hamilton enjoying a revival and Charles Leclerc committed long-term, what does Bearman's future hold? Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Ollie discusses what he still believes he can achieve with Haas, why this year’s results don’t reflect how much his driving has improved, and whether he’d ever leave the Ferrari family to pursue other options. Ollie also talks about stepping up as a team leader this year, recalling the time he picked up the microphone and addressed the whole team after a few difficult races. Plus, he explains why he was moved to tears after driving Ayrton Senna’s 1985 Lotus at Silverstone. WIN TICKETS FOR F1 IN MADRIDOfficial F1 Podcasts are giving you the chance to win one pair of weekend grandstand tickets for the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix 2026. You must be 18+ to enter. Competition closes on 31 July 2026. To enter and for full terms and conditions, visit f1.com/podcast-win-madrid THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY... Hexclad: Find your forever cookware @hexclad and get 10% off at hexclad.co.uk/GRID! Offer excludes bundles and other items already on sale. #hexcladpartner

Racing Bulls Team Principal Alan Permane says his exit from Alpine in 2023 was both ‘devastating’ and a ‘defining moment’ in his career. ‘Devastating’ because he’d been with Team Enstone for more than 30 years, winning World Championships with Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso. But ‘defining’ as it led to his first role as a Team Principal in Formula 1 – his biggest job yet. One year since taking the reins, Alan tells Tom Clarkson why the role was not initially a natural fit for him, how he’s risen to the challenge and what changes he’s made at Racing Bulls. He also shares fascinating insight into his drivers. What state of mind was Liam Lawson in after his demotion from Red Bull Racing? How did he produce such an impressive turnaround in form? Why does Alan describe rookie Arvid Lindblad as ‘very pushy’? And how has he dealt with some intense moments between Lawson and Lindblad on track? Alan also talks about the unique way they decided which driver would receive the team’s latest upgrade first, whether they’d ever give Max Verstappen a test in the Racing Bulls car, and what he makes of Red Bull junior driver and F2 championship leader Nikola Tsolov. WIN TICKETS FOR F1 IN MADRIDOfficial F1 Podcasts are giving you the chance to win one pair of weekend grandstand tickets for the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix 2026You must be 18+ to enter. Competition closes on 31 July 2026. To enter and for full terms and conditions, visit f1.com/podcast-win-madrid This episode is sponsored by: Wayfair: ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to wayfair.com right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less. CarGurus: go to cargurus.co.uk or complete vehicle details without any surprises.

Damson Idris describes playing Formula 1 rookie Joshua Pearce in F1: The Movie - the Oscar-winning, highest-grossing sports film of all time - as a life-changing moment. Speaking to Tom Clarkson a year since its release, Damson talks about racing in the F2 cars they used for the film, how he and co-star Brad Pitt compared against each other on track and what it was like to immerse himself in the world of Formula 1. Damson also tells Tom about his relationship with Lewis Hamilton and why he believes the seven-time World Champion ‘has that Michael Jordan thing’. You’ll also hear about a dramatic moment during filming that showed Damson what it’s truly like to be a Formula 1 driver pushing to the limit. This episode is sponsored by: Claude: for problems worth solving — get started with Claude at — Claude.ai/grid. Leesa: go to Leesa.com for 25% off select mattresses PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code GRID, exclusive for our listeners.

For 20 years, Italy waited for a driver to join Giancarlo Fisichella as a Formula 1 Grand Prix-winner. Now, Kimi Antonelli is flying Il Tricolore on the top step of the podium once again. Fisi tells Tom Clarkson about the pressures of carrying Italy’s hopes in F1 and what Kimi needs to do to end the nation’s even longer wait for a World Champion. Fisi looks back on his own F1 career - the ‘hard’ moments he had supporting Fernando Alonso in his teammate’s title-winning seasons, how they relaxed before the race and how close he came to moving to another team in the mid 2000s. Giancarlo remembers living his dream and joining Ferrari during the 2009 season. Does he think Kimi Antonelli could ever do the same? This episode is sponsored by: Vanta: Get started today at vanta.com/GRID Homeserve: Join the millions of customers who trust HomeServe. For 50% less your first year, go to homeserve.com/grid Shopify: You put in the work. Time to get paid like it. Free trial at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

Lando Norris achieved his lifelong dream in 2025, becoming Formula 1 World Champion for the first time after a rollercoaster title battle that went all the way down to the wire in Abu Dhabi. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Lando talks about not being nervous before that season-finale, what it really means to achieve the goal he’s been chasing for so long, how becoming champion has changed him and whether he ever considered ‘doing a Nico Rosberg’ and retiring after winning his first title. Lando also tells Tom why he doesn’t think he’d be World Champion now had he ignored team orders at Budapest in 2024 and whether he sees himself as a one-team driver with McLaren for the rest of his career. The answer is revealing. Plus, you’ll hear where Lando keeps his Drivers’ Championship trophy and what he makes of his recently unveiled waxwork at Madame Tussauds. This episode is sponsored by: Explora Journeys: travel the world in an ocean-front suite on an ultra-elegantship. Discover more at explorajourneys.com Vanta: get started today at vanta.com/GRID