Sam Michael: engineering his rise to the top of F1

Sam Michael: engineering his rise to the top of F1

“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

Episoder(422)

Piers Thynne: running McLaren's championship-winning factory

Piers Thynne: running McLaren's championship-winning factory

Tom Clarkson’s guest on this week’s F1 Beyond The Grid is McLaren’s Chief Operating Officer, Piers Thynne, who has been with the team since 2008. He oversees everything that happens at the team's bas...

22 Apr 202553min

Esteban Ocon: feeling at home with Haas

Esteban Ocon: feeling at home with Haas

After five years with Alpine, Esteban Ocon is embarking on a new adventure with Haas in 2025. What challenges has he faced while settling into his new team? How is he getting on with new race enginee...

15 Apr 202555min

'The team is a big family' - This week on F1 Beyond The Grid...

'The team is a big family' - This week on F1 Beyond The Grid...

Tom Clarkson reveals which Formula 1 star will be joining him on this week’s episode of F1 Beyond The Grid.  Listen to the full show on Wednesday 16th March or you can watch their chat on the officia...

14 Apr 20251min

Marc Gene: witnessing five World Champions at Ferrari

Marc Gene: witnessing five World Champions at Ferrari

Ferrari ambassador and former test driver Marc Gene has been with the team since 2004. During that time, Marc has had the privilege of working alongside five World Champions: Michael Schumacher, Kimi...

8 Apr 202552min

Jaime Alguersuari: record-breaking debut to high-pressure exit

Jaime Alguersuari: record-breaking debut to high-pressure exit

Chosen by Red Bull aged 15. Suddenly launched into his first Grand Prix as the youngest driver ever, having never driven a Formula 1 car before. Racing for the Red Bull junior team, Jaime Alguersuari ...

1 Apr 20251h 7min

Pierre Gasly: believing in Alpine

Pierre Gasly: believing in Alpine

‘I wish I could fast forward’, says Pierre Gasly. Like all F1 drivers, Pierre is used to things happening quickly. He thinks Alpine will be fighting further forwards in a matter of months, and is impa...

26 Mar 202547min

Andy Cowell: Aston Martin 'want to win’

Andy Cowell: Aston Martin 'want to win’

Aston Martin’s Team Principal knows what it takes to win in Formula 1. Andy Cowell leads a team which now includes Adrian Newey. They have the newest factory in the sport. Fernando Alonso and Lance St...

19 Mar 202549min

Liam Lawson: ready to go at Red Bull

Liam Lawson: ready to go at Red Bull

With 11 Grands Prix under his belt, Liam Lawson is technically no longer a rookie – but he is about to embark on his first full Formula 1 season in 2025 and race at many tracks he’s never driven befor...

12 Mar 202547min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
forklart
aftenpodden-usa
popradet
stopp-verden
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
det-store-bildet
rss-gukild-johaug
nokon-ma-ga
dine-penger-pengeradet
fotballpodden-2
hanna-de-heldige
aftenbla-bla
rss-espen-lee-usensurert
rss-ness
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
rss-dannet-uten-piano
frokostshowet-pa-p5
bt-dokumentar-2