McLaren have won back-to-back Constructors’ titles for the first time since the early ‘90s.
Just eight years ago, in 2017, they finished second to last, so how exactly have they transformed into World Champions since then?
Speaking to Tom Clarkson at the McLaren Technology Centre, CEO Zak Brown and Team Principal Andrea Stella outline how they’ve masterminded McLaren’s remarkable turnaround together, revealing just how desperate the team’s situation was at the start of this journey, and how they’re planning to sustain their recent success in the years to come.
But in the immediate future, their eyes are on the next prize, as they chase a first Drivers’ World Championship since Lewis Hamilton won in 2008. Going into the final four rounds of the 2025 season, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are separated by just one point at the top of the standings. Zak and Andrea discuss how the pair have evolved during their time at McLaren, criticism of their approach to this title fight, and whether they’ll have any regrets should Max Verstappen beat Lando and Oscar to the crown.


This episode is sponsored by: 


Vanta: get started at Vanta.com/GRID


Indeed: listeners of this show can get a $75 sponsored job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at indeed.com/GRID


Shopify: sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

<div>McLaren have won back-to-back Constructors’ titles for the first time since the early ‘90s.</div>
<br>
<div>Just eight years ago, in 2017, they finished second to last, so how exactly have they transformed into World Champions since then?</div>
<br>
<div>Speaking to Tom Clarkson at the McLaren Technology Centre, CEO Zak Brown and Team Principal Andrea Stella outline how they’ve masterminded McLaren’s remarkable turnaround together, revealing just how desperate the team’s situation was at the start of this journey, and how they’re planning to sustain their recent success in the years to come.</div>
<br>
<div>But in the immediate future, their eyes are on the next prize, as they chase a first Drivers’ World Championship since Lewis Hamilton won in 2008. Going into the final four rounds of the 2025 season, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are separated by just one point at the top of the standings. Zak and Andrea discuss how the pair have evolved during their time at McLaren, criticism of their approach to this title fight, and whether they’ll have any regrets should Max Verstappen beat Lando and Oscar to the crown.<br>
 <br>
This episode is sponsored by: <br>
<br>
Vanta: get started at <a href="http://vanta.com/GRID">Vanta.com/GRID</a> <br>
<br>
Indeed: listeners of this show can get a $75 sponsored job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at <a href="http://indeed.com/GRID">indeed.com/GRID</a><br>
<br>
Shopify: sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at <a href="http://shopify.com/beyondthegrid">shopify.com/beyondthegrid</a><br>
<br>
<br>

</div>

Formula 1's fastest stars slow down for in-depth interviews. Tom Clarkson brings you revealing, feature-length conversations with drivers, team bosses, engineering experts and F1 legends.

Hit the follow button for the fastest way to get new episodes. Watch episodes exclusively on the F1 YouTube channel.

An official Formula 1 podcast. For race reviews + previews, listen to F1 Nation. To learn more about how F1 works, listen to F1 Explains

F1: Beyond The Grid

Andrea Stella + Zak Brown: McLaren’s transformation + the Drivers’ Championship race

Five years after Carlos Sainz left McLaren, his former team and his former teammate are the reigning Formula 1 World Champions. As he watched Lando Norris reach the summit of world motorsport, did he ever think ‘that could have been me?’.  
Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Carlos reflects on leaving McLaren and becoming a race winner with Ferrari before joining Williams. He remembers feeling ‘powerless’ during a difficult start to the 2025 season, and reveals the work which led him to stand on the podium later in the year.
Carlos gives his first impressions of the 2026 F1 cars and explains why he wants to use the ‘peak’ of his career to take Williams back to the top.


Listen to other official F1 Podcasts
F1 Nation Australia Grand Prix Preview
F1 Explains: what you need to know for 2026


This episode is sponsored by: 

Shopify: sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/beyondthegrid

Quince: go to quince.com/GRID for free shipping and 365-day returns.

CarGurus: buy or sell your next car today with CarGurus at cargurus.com

<div>Five years after Carlos Sainz left McLaren, his former team and his former teammate are the reigning Formula 1 World Champions. As he watched Lando Norris reach the summit of world motorsport, did he ever think ‘that could have been me?’.  </div><br><div>Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Carlos reflects on leaving McLaren and becoming a race winner with Ferrari before joining Williams. He remembers feeling ‘powerless’ during a difficult start to the 2025 season, and reveals the work which led him to stand on the podium later in the year.</div><br><div>Carlos gives his first impressions of the 2026 F1 cars and explains why he wants to use the ‘peak’ of his career to take Williams back to the top.</div><br><div>
<p><strong>Listen to other official F1 Podcasts</strong><br><a href="https://www.podfollow.com/f1-nation">F1 Nation Australia Grand Prix Preview</a><br><a href="https://www.podfollow.com/f1-nation">F1 Explains: what you need to know for 2026</a><br> </p><p>This episode is sponsored by: </p><p>Shopify: sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at <a href="http://shopify.com/beyondthegrid">shopify.com/beyondthegrid</a></p><p>Quince: go to <a href="http://quince.com/GRID">quince.com/GRID</a> for free shipping and 365-day returns.</p><p>CarGurus: buy or sell your next car today with CarGurus at <a href="http://cargurus.com">cargurus.com</a></p></div>

Carlos Sainz: pushing for progress with Williams

A title fight full of twists and turns, a new World Champion, rookies reaching major milestones and Formula 1 on the big screen.
The 2025 season was nothing short of dramatic on and off track. Here, on F1 Beyond The Grid, Tom Clarkson has sat down with the people in the thick of all that drama and in this end-of-year special, Tom picks out his highlights.
You’ll hear from the new World Champion Lando Norris, who reveals how he changed his mental approach to racing, and his race engineer Will Joseph. Lando’s title rival and teammate Oscar Piastri explains how he made so much progress from 2024 to 2025. And McLaren CEO Zak Brown and Team Principal Andrea Stella tell us how they’ve managed to get Lando and Oscar to buy into the team’s racing philosophy.
Away from the champions, Isack Hadjar reflects on how he bounced back from a nightmare F1 debut in Australia. Esteban Ocon and his race engineer Laura Mueller explain how they’ve built a relationship in their first year working together at Haas. And Valtteri Bottas tells Tom why he’s got unfinished business with F1 ahead of his return with Cadillac in 2026.
From the cockpit to the pitwall, Williams Team Principal James Vowles shares his pride after Carlos Sainz secured the team’s first podium since 2021 and Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur gives his thoughts on Lewis Hamilton’s first year in red.
Plus, four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel reflects on the highs and lows of his career and Hollywood icon Brad Pitt reminisces on what it was like becoming F1 driver Sonny Hayes for F1: The Movie.
Thank you for listening in 2025. F1 Beyond The Grid will return in 2026.
To hear the full interviews with the guests featured in this show, click on the links below…
Lando Norris
Oscar Piastri 

Andrea Stella + Zak Brown
Helmut Marko
Fred Vasseur
James Vowles
Brad Pitt

Sebastian Vettel 

<div>A title fight full of twists and turns, a new World Champion, rookies reaching major milestones and Formula 1 on the big screen.</div>
<br>
<div>The 2025 season was nothing short of dramatic on and off track. Here, on F1 Beyond The Grid, Tom Clarkson has sat down with the people in the thick of all that drama and in this end-of-year special, Tom picks out his highlights.</div>
<br>
<div>You’ll hear from the new World Champion Lando Norris, who reveals how he changed his mental approach to racing, and his race engineer Will Joseph. Lando’s title rival and teammate Oscar Piastri explains how he made so much progress from 2024 to 2025. And McLaren CEO Zak Brown and Team Principal Andrea Stella tell us how they’ve managed to get Lando and Oscar to buy into the team’s racing philosophy.</div>
<br>
<div>Away from the champions, Isack Hadjar reflects on how he bounced back from a nightmare F1 debut in Australia. Esteban Ocon and his race engineer Laura Mueller explain how they’ve built a relationship in their first year working together at Haas. And Valtteri Bottas tells Tom why he’s got unfinished business with F1 ahead of his return with Cadillac in 2026.</div>
<br>
<div>From the cockpit to the pitwall, Williams Team Principal James Vowles shares his pride after Carlos Sainz secured the team’s first podium since 2021 and Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur gives his thoughts on Lewis Hamilton’s first year in red.</div>
<br>
<div>Plus, four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel reflects on the highs and lows of his career and Hollywood icon Brad Pitt reminisces on what it was like becoming F1 driver Sonny Hayes for F1: The Movie.</div>
<br>
<div>Thank you for listening in 2025. F1 Beyond The Grid will return in 2026.</div>
<br>
<div>To hear the full interviews with the guests featured in this show, click on the links below…</div>
<br>
<div>
<a href="https://podfollow.com/f1-beyond-the-grid/episode/5ea7ad5f9b9f1f978b026fa9b1f271d8b97edbb0/">Lando Norris</a> </div>
<br>
<div>
<a href="https://podfollow.com/f1-beyond-the-grid/episode/31e0a8439e65b5d80e459e4ea135aa570bcb5aaa/">Oscar Piastri </a><br>
 <br>
<a href="https://podfollow.com/f1-beyond-the-grid/episode/b005e8851b4080eb5aa016be7972919125d96524/">Andrea Stella + Zak Brown</a>
</div>
<br>
<div>
<a href="https://podfollow.com/f1-beyond-the-grid/episode/7d7a0292df8c66d7cac778bcb5b3bb12b8939f76/">Helmut Marko</a> </div>
<br>
<div><a href="https://podfollow.com/f1-beyond-the-grid/episode/abf8d8d7feddf7d8f37e7ffb1bcf837f5d0ba24a/">Fred Vasseur</a></div>
<br>
<div>
<a href="https://podfollow.com/f1-beyond-the-grid/episode/4854fb01f34814ca4352d7186eb33787f9ee6e8a/">James Vowles</a> </div>
<br>
<div>
<a href="https://podfollow.com/f1-beyond-the-grid/episode/375ea494bf155854fc22f7886246b6855d100021/">Brad Pitt</a> <br>
<br>
<a href="https://podfollow.com/f1-beyond-the-grid/episode/09c9473045c2e754df7baad4c8904c7e07ec78b0/">Sebastian Vettel </a>
</div>

Lando’s champion evolution, Vowles’ podium pride + Brad Pitt’s ‘need for speed’ – The Best of 2025

As Formula 1 enters an exciting new era of fast, thrilling and sustainable racing in 2026, what can we expect on track?
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff, and Managing Director of Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertains, Hywel Thomas, explain how the new power units and advanced sustainable fuels will enhance performance and demand different skills from the drivers and teams.
Toto and Hywel tell Tom Clarkson how they feel on the eve of this new rule cycle compared to 2014, when they went on to win eight Constructors’ World Championships in a row, and what they make of rumours in the paddock pitching them as pre-season favourites.
You’ll also hear their thoughts on how George Russell and Kimi Antonelli performed in 2025 and what they can achieve in the coming years.


This episode is sponsored by:


Truewerk: upgrade your day with workwear built like it matters. Get 15% off your first order at truewerk.com with code GRID.  


Indeed: listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at indeed.com/GRID. 


F1 Store: F1 Store: treat the F1 fan in your life this festive season with exclusive gear from the Official F1 Store. Shop now at F1Store.formula1.com

<div>As Formula 1 enters an exciting new era of fast, thrilling and sustainable racing in 2026, what can we expect on track?</div>
<br>
<div>Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff, and Managing Director of Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertains, Hywel Thomas, explain how the new power units and advanced sustainable fuels will enhance performance and demand different skills from the drivers and teams.</div>
<br>
<div>Toto and Hywel tell Tom Clarkson how they feel on the eve of this new rule cycle compared to 2014, when they went on to win eight Constructors’ World Championships in a row, and what they make of rumours in the paddock pitching them as pre-season favourites.</div>
<br>
<div>You’ll also hear their thoughts on how George Russell and Kimi Antonelli performed in 2025 and what they can achieve in the coming years.<br>
<br>
<br>
<strong>This episode is sponsored by:</strong> <br>
<br>
Truewerk: upgrade your day with workwear built like it matters. Get 15% off your first order at <a href="http://truewerk.com">truewerk.com</a> with code GRID.  <br>
<br>
Indeed: listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at <a href="http://indeed.com/GRID">indeed.com/GRID</a>. <br>
<br>
F1 Store: F1 Store: treat the F1 fan in your life this festive season with exclusive gear from the Official F1 Store. Shop now at <a href="https://f1store.formula1.com/en/?ce=1&amp;_s=bm-fi-f1-prtsocial-bf-pod-beyond-the-grid-281125-bc">F1Store.formula1.com</a><br>
<br>
<br>

</div>

Andrea Stella + Zak Brown: McLaren’s transformation + the Drivers’ Championship race

F1: Beyond The Grid

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