“You just think there’s no way I could be good enough.” When Sam Michael arrived in F1, he worried he wouldn’t be able to keep up. But he became an influential and experienced leader at two of the sport’s biggest teams. From a race engineer at Jordan in the late 1990s, to senior director roles at both Williams and McLaren in the 2000s, Sam enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top before leaving F1 in 2014. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, he reflects on more than two decades in the pinnacle of motorsport and reveals the people who influenced his life the most. Sam shares fascinating insight into some of the big names he’s worked with; Lewis Hamilton, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Rubens Barrichello to name a few. He explains the characteristics that separate the greatest racers from the rest, how he made drivers take a test to understand their knowledge of cars, what he misses about F1 and much more. Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid. Related episodes Eddie Jordan  Lewis Hamilton  Juan Pablo Montoya Ralf Schumacher  Rubens Barrichello  This episode is sponsored by:  MoneyGram: flex your finances using the only digital wallets with real cash access activated by MoneyGram. Learn more at moneygram.com/stellarwallets.  Babbel: go to babbel.com/podcast23 and use promo code BEYOND for an extra three months free with a purchase of a 3-month subscription free. Hello Fresh: head to hellofresh.com/grid16 and use code GRID16 for 16 free meals plus free shipping

‘I was a super cocky, arrogant kid’. Fast by name, fast by nature. Scott Speed was born to be a racer. He had natural talent and raw pace. But he didn’t need telling. After being discovered by Red Bull as America’s next star, Speed arrived in Formula 1 with a ‘massive ego’. Debuting for Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2006, he lasted just 18 months. With no World Championship points to his name, Speed was replaced by Sebastian Vettel after the 2007 European Grand Prix. Rallycross is the epicentre of his most notable achievements since then – he’s a four-time champion and three-time X-Games gold medallist – but Speed has also raced in NASCAR and IndyCar among other competitions. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Scott relives an exciting journey into motorsport that begins with his father’s infectious passion for racing. He explains very openly how a bad attitude, a lack of motivation, and a struggle to adapt to life in Europe cost him more time in Formula 1. Plus, Scott reveals how he’s helping today’s generation of drivers avoid the same mistakes he made. Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid. Related episodes: Franz Tost Christian Horner  Danny Sullivan This episode is sponsored by: MoneyGram: convert your digital currency to cash and back again using the only digital wallets with real cash access activated by MoneyGram. Learn more at moneygram.com/stellarwallets

BMW have been in and out of Formula 1 since the inaugural Drivers’ World Championship in 1950. As BMW’s Motorsport Director, Mario Theissen oversaw their most recent return at the start of the 21st century. Firstly with Williams and then with Sauber, the following 10 seasons provided plenty of ups and downs before the company decided to pull out of F1 altogether at the end of 2009.  Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Mario shares his memories of an unforgettable decade in the sport. Williams enjoyed a couple of years as ‘best of the rest’ during an era of Ferrari and Michael Schumacher dominance in the early 2000’s, but relationships within the team started to falter and the partnership ended in 2005.  BMW bought Sauber and Theissen became team principal from 2006 onwards. He recalls the emotions he felt when Robert Kubica suffered a horrifying crash at the Canadian Grand Prix in 2007, before leading a 1-2 at the same track a year later. Mario reveals why he and Kubica had a dispute as he challenged for the drivers’ title in 2008, why BMW’s decision to leave came as a surprise and how the introduction of the double diffuser played a part in their destiny.  Plus, hear why Sebastian Vettel showed wisdom beyond his years at the very beginning of his career. Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid. Related episodes Robert Kubica  Nick Heidfeld  Sebastian Vettel  Jenson Button This episode is sponsored by: Shopify: sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/beyondthegrid Heineken Silver is running a sweepstakes to win a VIP experience to the Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix. You must be a US resident aged 21 or over. Enter and see full terms and conditions at https://www.heineken.com/us/en/sponsorships/F12023 Babbel: go to babbel.com/podcast23, and use promo code BEYOND for an extra three months free. MoneyGram: convert your digital currency to cash and back again using the only digital wallets with real cash access activated by MoneyGram. Learn more at https://moneygram.com/stellarwallets

This episode of F1 Beyond The Grid is presented by Salesforce, a global partner of Formula 1. To learn more about how F1 wows fans and grows its fanbase with Salesforce, visit Salesforce.com/F1 Cooler, calmer and now rocking a new hairstyle, Valtteri Bottas seems a completely different man to the one that left Mercedes at the end of 2021. The 10-time Grand Prix winner still has a burning desire to reach the top step of the podium again, but his approach to Formula 1 has changed a lot since joining Alfa Romeo. He’s less sensitive to criticism, he doesn’t care what others think of him and he’s enjoying everything that makes him happy outside of the sport. Valtteri tells Tom Clarkson the inspiration behind his mullet, how he’s adapted to a team not fighting at the front and why he’s got no plans to leave F1 anytime soon. Plus, the Finn explains why he thinks Lewis Hamilton is still the fastest driver on the grid. Follow, rate and review F1 Beyond The Grid and share this episode using #F1BeyondTheGrid. Related episodes: Valtteri Bottas’ first Beyond The Grid interview  Zhou Guanyu, Valtteri’s Alfa Romeo teammate  Listen to F1 Nation's review of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Plus, check out F1's new podcast, Formula Why, to learn more about how F1 works. Search and listen to both right here on your podcast app.

Who’s Tom’s F1 Beyond The Grid guest this week? Hit play to find out, then share using #F1BeyondTheGrid Coming soon, the latest F1 Nation for reaction and analysis from the 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Plus, check out F1’s brand-new podcast Formula Why to hear why F1 Sprint is such a challenge.