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 rightly proud to have reached the top of motorsport.
Speaking to Tom Clarkson, he discusses the ups and down of his time in F1 – telling us why he was a better test driver than racing driver, how his incredibly short-notice cameo at the 2005 Malaysian Grand Prix came about, why a groundhog cost him his best ever finish in F1, and what it was like to be involved in the so-called ‘Tyre War era’ of Formula 1.
Anthony also opens up about winning the World Endurance Championship with Sebastian Buemi in 2014 and why that meant so much to him having felt like ‘everything was lost’ after F1.
Now a simulator driver for Mercedes, Ant explains how much the sim technology has improved over time, what impact his work has on Mercedes’ performance during race weekends and whether sim racing makes Max Verstappen a better driver.
F1 The Movie – in cinemas June 25th internationally, June 27th in North America
Find a screening near you at 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
Listen to more official F1 podcasts
Every race analysed on F1 Nation
Expert answers to your questions on F1 Explains
This episode is sponsored by:
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1:17:25
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1:17:25
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 Clarkson why he's 'proud' of the sport's success and its £12bn annual contribution to the UK economy. Williams Team Principal James Vowles explains how teams find the very best young engineers.
It is one year since Oliver Bearman was announced as a full-time F1 driver for Haas. Sitting in the Downing Street garden, he describes the 'surreal' feeling of stepping through Number 10's famous black front door, and looks forward to racing in front of his home fans at Silverstone.
Cadillac join the F1 grid in 2026. Team Principal Graeme Lowdon tells Tom about their dual bases in the US and UK, and gives a peek at preparations for their first Grand Prix.
Plus, Mercedes graduate aerodynamicist Daniel McCulla talks about how he got his start in F1, what he studied at university and the importance of never giving up on a career in the sport. Formula 1 and the UK government support aspiring engineers with scholarships, Apprenticeships and work placements at Formula 1 teams.
Listen to more official F1 podcasts
Lando Norris: raising his game - this week on F1 Beyond The Grid
F1 Nation previews the 2025 British Grand Prix
The story of the British Grand Prix - this week on F1 Explains
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23:27
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 2025, he’ll have to beat his equally talented teammate Oscar Piastri. But despite a sometimes challenging first half of the season, Lando says he’s a better driver this year and just needs to find some consistency.
Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Lando talks about how he’s evolved as a driver on and off track since winning his first Grand Prix in Miami in 2024, what McLaren are doing differently in their approach since becoming Constructors’ World Champions, how he moved on from his collision with Oscar in Canada and why he’s working hard to switch off from Formula 1 when he’s not racing.
Lando also tells us how F1 The Movie star Brad Pitt performed in the 2023 McLaren car at Austin recently and what it would mean to win his home race at this weekend’s British Grand Prix.
Plus, Lando’s race engineer Will Joseph joins the pod to discuss how their relationship has changed since they started working together in 2019.
This episode is sponsored by:
Shopify - sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/beyondthegrid
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47:12
Brad Pitt: becoming Sonny Hayes for F1 The Movie
For F1 The Movie, Brad Pitt lived the high-speed life of a Formula 1 driver. He drove with seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton. He learned to race. He spent years shooting scenes at racetracks around the world.
The result is what he calls ‘the most visceral feeling you will get in a race car of anything put on film’ - F1 The Movie, in cinemas on June 25th and June 27th in North America.
Brad Pitt tells Tom Clarkson about making the movie, the ‘adrenaline’ he felt driving on spectacular Formula 1 circuits, what he learned from his time with Lewis Hamilton and how getting close to F1 cars and drivers took his breath away.
Plus, he reveals the true F1 stories which inspired the character of Sonny Hayes, describes the feeling of driving a real F1 car, and hints at his hopes for a sequel.
F1 The Movie – in cinemas June 25th internationally, June 27th in North America
Find a screening near you at 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
This episode is sponsored by:
Ridge - improving the things you carry every day
For a limited time, go to ridge.com and use the code GRID for 10% off wallets, key cases + more
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28:48
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28:48
Isack Hadjar: ‘I’m a fighter’
He took some blows on his climb to Formula 1. Now Isack Hadjar is toe-to-toe with the heavyweights.
Hadjar’s first F1 race was over before it began, as he slid off the track on a rain-soaked day in Australia. He tells Tom Clarkson how previous setbacks helped him get back on his feet, and establish himself as one of the best young drivers in the sport.
Hadjar describes himself as ‘a fighter’, and he picks the World Champion he most wants to face up to as team mates. He talks about the difficult step from Formula 2 to F1, life in Red Bull’s driver program, how his parents inspired him to reach the highest level, and how he earned his nickname, ‘Le Petit Prost’.
Experience F1: The Movie on the big screen
Only in cinemas June 27
Tickets at f1themovie.com
This episode is sponsored by:
Shopify: sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/beyondthegrid
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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.
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An official Formula 1 podcast. For race reviews + previews, listen to F1 Nation. To learn more about how F1 works, listen to F1 Explains
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