logo
episode-header-image
May 13
54m 55s

Celebrating F1 75 with Mario Andretti

FORMULA 1
About this episode
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

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/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

Up next
Jul 8
Anthony Davidson: reaching the pinnacle through talent + testing
Racing twice in 2002 with Minardi and once again three years later with BAR Honda in 2005, Anthony Davidson’s Formula 1 career had a few false starts. But in 2007, he finally got a full-time shot with Super Aguri. Although his F1 career ended just over a year later, Anthony is ri ... Show More
1h 17m
Jul 4
F1 at Downing Street - with the UK Prime Minister, James Vowles, Oliver Bearman + Cadillac boss Graeme Lowdon
To celebrate 75 years of the Formula 1 World Championship, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer invited drivers, Team Principals and others from the sport to 10 Downing Street - the heart of government in the UK. In a special episode of F1 Beyond The Grid, the Prime Minister tells Tom ... Show More
23m 27s
Jul 1
Lando Norris: raising his game
This episode is brought to you by Dropbox Dash, an official technology partner of the McLaren Formula 1 team. Now a multiple race winner, podium finisher and polesitter, Lando Norris is ready to take the next step in his Formula 1 career and become World Champion. To do so in 202 ... Show More
47m 12s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
Alonso, Sainz, Wolff + more - The Best of F1 Beyond The Grid 2024
On F1 Beyond The Grid, Formula 1's fastest stars slow down for in-depth conversations with Tom Clarkson. They reveal what it’s like being at the centre of the biggest stories of the season and share fascinating insight into what life is like as a Formula 1 driver, Team Principal, ... Show More
1h 22m
May 29
Rivalry with Schumacher, pre-race meals and F1 life skills - LIVE with Mika Hakkinen in Monaco
Teamwork. Racing. Pasta. We explore all that and more as Mika Hakkinen joins Christian Hewgill and F1 Explains listeners live on-stage at the Monaco Grand Prix. Double World Champion Mika talks about what he learned from racing Michael Schumacher. Their rivalry started as teenage ... Show More
28m 46s
Jun 16
McLarens clash, Mercedes win + Ferrari under fire - 2025 Canadian GP Review with Lawrence Barretto + Davide Valsecchi
F1 correspondent and F1TV Presenter, Lawrence Barretto, and 2012 GP2 champion, Davide Valsecchi join Tom Clarkson in the Montreal paddock to reflect on that dramatic collision between McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the Canadian Grand Prix. What did Lando do w ... Show More
50m 42s
Sep 2024
How the F1 season is scheduled - with Louise Young
24 spectacular Grands Prix in 21 incredible countries. A Formula 1 season is a world tour. How is it scheduled? F1 Explains gets the inside track from Formula 1 Director of Race Promotion, Louise Young.  Her team is responsible for planning the Formula 1 calendar. They decide the ... Show More
39m 44s
Jun 23
‘Battle lines drawn’ for Lando + Oscar? Max v McLaren for the win? + F1: The Movie hits the big screen - 2025 Austrian GP Preview with Jolyon Palmer + Laura Winter
Former Renault driver Jolyon Palmer, and F1TV’s lead presenter Laura Winter join Tom Clarkson to preview this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix. What next for McLaren after the collision between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in Canada? How will that affect their championship battle ... Show More
1h 4m
Nov 2024
What really happens on the F1 starting grid - with Oscar Piastri's engineer + Gordon Ramsay
The clock is ticking. The starting grid is full of people - drivers, engineers, reporters and celebrities. Formula 1 is about to go racing, but there's so much work to do. What happens on the grid in the crucial final minutes before lights out? In the first podcast episode to be ... Show More
33m 21s
Mar 2025
KIMI ANTONELLI | World Exclusive Interview | Extended chat with Mercedes new superstar
WORLD EXCLUSIVE: He's the most hyped rookie to enter Formula 1 for years. And now after an impressive start to his F1 career, Kimi Antonelli sits down with Betty Glover and Christian Hewgill for a debut appearance on The Fast And The Curious. Kimi tells us how he's coping with th ... Show More
40m 20s
Jul 2024
Mika Hakkinen on high-speed tracks + driver contract negotiations - LIVE at the British GP
A double F1 World Champion and three F1 Explains listeners joined Christian Hewgill live on stage at the 2024 British Grand Prix. F1 Explains listeners Sophie from Rugby, Ryan from London and Alex from Atlanta Georgia asked Mika Hakkinen about how Formula 1 has changed since his ... Show More
29m 2s
Jun 13
Lando Norris explains F1 driving styles, champagne slams + special helmets
What is a ‘driving style’ and how many different ones are there? What’s the secret to executing a champagne pop on the podium? And how do F1 drivers come up with ideas for special helmet designs and create the final product? McLaren driver Lando Norris joins Christian Hewgill at ... Show More
26m 14s
Apr 9
Bahrain preview ft. Damon Hill | Lando and Oscar have a right to fight for the championship
We're joined by former world champion Damon Hill to look ahead to the Bahrain Grand Prix and discuss what it's going to take for the McLaren drivers to continue their title battle with Max Verstappen. Along the way we also talk about Damon's memories of winning his own world cham ... Show More
28m 56s