Loving this!!! Much of Mercedes’ success has coincided with that of mercurial driver Lewis Hamilton. In terms of race wins, he is by far the most successful member to have donned the Silver Arrows overalls. It is, therefore, surprising that when asked about their favourite driver, the engineering staff at the team did not take the name of the 36-year-old. The Brackley Brothers - Andrew Shovlin, James Vowles, Ron Meadows, and Simon Cole - were present on F1’s podcast called Beyond the Grid. They have had a long haul at the team, having been present since it was BAR, then Honda, then Brawn GP, and finally, Mercedes. For them, German legend Michael Schumacher is the best driver they have worked with. “Michael Schumacher, but mainly because I was in the awe of him before he arrived and when he left the team, I was even more in the awe of him just because of how he behaved and treated all the team members,” said Ron Meadows. “Is Lewis listening? Does he listen to your podcast?” Simon Cole asked with a little chuckle. “I would say Michael Schumacher, not just because it’s sort of the common theme, but because he was genuinely impressive when we worked with him.” Chief strategist Vowles had a similar opinion. He spoke about how Schumacher completely changed his initial perception of him. “I would go with Michael because I had a perception that was entirely wrong of him before he joined,” he said. “I thought he was arrogant, I thought he was cold because that’s the impression you got. It took me just minutes before I realized that’s not true. “And his greatness really shone in that period where we were with him and we learned a lot from him.” It is tough to leave out Jenson Button as far as engineer Shovlin is concerned. They duo formed an impressive partnership that saw Button win the world championship in 2009. For Shovlin, it was tough to look beyond Button. “I can’t leave Jenson out, can I? I saw, as an engineer, I was learning on-the-job very much with him and just a lot of happy memories and funny moments.”
@@demdjen77 I mean.....not to be rude but we all know Schumacher had nothing to do with Mercedes success today. How could he? He left in 2012 driving V8's. The sport had a massive regulation change to V6 Hybrid cars in 2014. Schumacher never got anywhere near these cars. Never even drove them, never mind tested then to give feedback to the engineer's. And he wasn't even Mercedes best driver. He lost to Rosberg every year. You do realise that they are only saying this about Michael because he's ill, right?
James Vowles has such a great voice - balanced in volume, evenly paced and never stuttering. If there ever was a book written about the Brackley team, he should provide the voice for the audiobook.
This was my favorite Beyond the Grid. Gave me a real appreciation for why Mercedes has done so well. These guys have stuck together for 20 years through thick and thin and through many different team owners. The loyalty and constancy is the secret besides their obvious talent. And their reverence for Michael Schumacher, who never won a race for the team, and how genuinely upset they were for him that he didn’t win at Mercedes because of how much he deserved it given how hard he worked to build the team, was something special.
Brilliant work Tom Clarkson! That was a fantastic insight into the history of the Brackley Team, the things that make a team sucessful, and the passion that goes into getting to the top in F1, and then stayng there. I'm much more a fan of your interviews with Team Principals, Designers and Engineers, than drivers, and this was the best yet! Can you look at lining up interviews with some of the other leadership teams that have been together for a while in the other teams, their tales will be epic too.
Hearing stories about the Brawn GP 2009 season - it will never get old. In 50 years when I'm 80, I will still enjoy hearing that story. Every detail is better than the most finely written script.
Tom, Amazing podcasts of the Brackley Boys! Amazing group of people from BAR to Honda to Brawn GP to Mercedes. Brawn GP is still close to my heart. To hear about the King Michael Schumacher again gave me goosebumps! Thank you.
I love that half of this is devoted to pre-Mercedes days, which is about half of the time that Brackley has been around. Pretty well balanced, sometimes these old stories get lost in the more recent stuff
@@JakobusVdL Yeah as an engineer so long as what you're interested in is the problem then each season/race is interesting as there's always challenges.
So interesting and such a candid interview. I can't help think it's perhaps a shame that generally people aren't aware of t great values MS has as individual.
It's interesting what people think. Especially the "experts" on the internet often deny that Michael Schumacher was able to build a team. But it's funny that almost everyone who has ever worked with him claims exactly the opposite...
51.00-51.19 is the most important thing ever said and the deciding factor. Thats why Mercedes, as Ferrari before them, are dominating F1. That what makes the difference of being that little bit faster than your opponent and what decides about winning a championship or loosing it. Making the difference. And as it was Michael who brought that to the team, next to all the other important things, there is no doubt what driver really got that edge over all the other drivers ever in F1. Really fascinating how these guys explain why Michael was so important for the team, why without him Mercedes would NOT dominate F1 today and why this driver definetely is the most complete driver ever.
You should consider doing these interviews with Video... it would so much better... don’t take me wrong love the podcast but recognizing who is who on this interview would be great... Tom you are doing a superb job, not only for the current fans but imagine these interviews playing back in 20, 30 years... what a legacy... Congrats...
With People like that, a team menager like Mr Toto, and a driver like Sir Lewis Hamilton, almost everything must go well,or better, very well,I think| Stay all safe!
Love the concept of this BTG episode, reminded me of another group interview, very similar and also very funny, "The Brabham Boys (Ecclestone, Lauda, Blash, Whiting, Piquet) Interview With Martin Brundle"!
@@vaishnavsuraj007 That’s not correct. This James is the correct James from the radio. James Allison doesn’t talk to any of the drivers and he’s not on the pit wall.
@@catetv358 How many races per season in 1994 and how many races per season in 2020? How many times did Schumacher have a dominant car in his career and how many times Hamilton had a dominant car? How reliable were F1 cars in 1997 and how reliable in 2024?
The greatest season of all time 09 the brawn era thank you guys for such an awesome year without you and Ross that year would of been so so so different.
The Brackley Boys, remember me, some histories in motor racing in early´s years of last century, the Bentley Boys, well theseones were more parties,champagne and beautiful women!!!and some victories in races in their Bowlers
Great podcast I do disagree with these guys in why they are sounding kind of passive-aggressive when they discuss Nico leaving, he left cause he did everything he wanted to, it's not running from a fight if you won why not leave on top with everything then leaving when you are lower down and not focus on really important things like family.
Heard the 2009 fairy tale story so many times yet this interview revealed something often skipped. Not everyone's jobs could be saved by Brawn so several hundred people worked their butts off over the winter to get that car ready only to lose their jobs by the first race. That's tough!
There's no one who says Max Verstappen more than Tom Clarkson, and it grates every single time when he says VerSHtappen!! He doesn't even have a lisp, there's no excuse for it.
Stealing the nickname 'Brackley Boys' for future use
hi
Mercedes, I will give you the 'Brackley Boys' as nickname, just sell hamilton🤝
Why hello there our awesome admin!! 😂
The best admins on the grid
Hey, they were there before you guys! 🤣🤣
Never knew that these guys were the ones behind those rough BAR years. Newfound respect for their dominance and hard work
BAR Honda became Brawn GP which then became Mercedes so it makes sense.
@@Niranjan_Mavath tyrell > bar > honda f1 > brawn gp > Mercedes
very underappreciated and overhated
Amazing cast. I have so much respect for every single Mercedes' team member. Increbible stories!
Lol,
Mercedes: dominant on track
The boys at Brackley: *do ducks have teeth*
That's us
@@MercedesAMGF1 have got the answer already? 😉
They have bristles that look like teeth tho
🤣💀
@@jakuburban6289 woah, ok now im imterested cuz never actually seen ducks ' teeth
Amazing to hear about the team’s love for Michael, commentators always say it but brilliant to hear just how much he meant to Merc senior leadership
Loving this!!!
Much of Mercedes’ success has coincided with that of mercurial driver Lewis Hamilton. In terms of race wins, he is by far the most successful member to have donned the Silver Arrows overalls.
It is, therefore, surprising that when asked about their favourite driver, the engineering staff at the team did not take the name of the 36-year-old.
The Brackley Brothers - Andrew Shovlin, James Vowles, Ron Meadows, and Simon Cole - were present on F1’s podcast called Beyond the Grid. They have had a long haul at the team, having been present since it was BAR, then Honda, then Brawn GP, and finally, Mercedes.
For them, German legend Michael Schumacher is the best driver they have worked with.
“Michael Schumacher, but mainly because I was in the awe of him before he arrived and when he left the team, I was even more in the awe of him just because of how he behaved and treated all the team members,” said Ron Meadows.
“Is Lewis listening? Does he listen to your podcast?” Simon Cole asked with a little chuckle.
“I would say Michael Schumacher, not just because it’s sort of the common theme, but because he was genuinely impressive when we worked with him.”
Chief strategist Vowles had a similar opinion. He spoke about how Schumacher completely changed his initial perception of him.
“I would go with Michael because I had a perception that was entirely wrong of him before he joined,” he said.
“I thought he was arrogant, I thought he was cold because that’s the impression you got. It took me just minutes before I realized that’s not true.
“And his greatness really shone in that period where we were with him and we learned a lot from him.”
It is tough to leave out Jenson Button as far as engineer Shovlin is concerned. They duo formed an impressive partnership that saw Button win the world championship in 2009. For Shovlin, it was tough to look beyond Button.
“I can’t leave Jenson out, can I? I saw, as an engineer, I was learning on-the-job very much with him and just a lot of happy memories and funny moments.”
@@demdjen77 I mean.....not to be rude but we all know Schumacher had nothing to do with Mercedes success today. How could he? He left in 2012 driving V8's. The sport had a massive regulation change to V6 Hybrid cars in 2014. Schumacher never got anywhere near these cars. Never even drove them, never mind tested then to give feedback to the engineer's.
And he wasn't even Mercedes best driver. He lost to Rosberg every year.
You do realise that they are only saying this about Michael because he's ill, right?
@@jv-ot7ty i guess you didnt listen the podcast
@@commenttorv5572 Nothing I said is untrue.
@@jv-ot7ty
lol
Wow, this is some high quality content.
James Vowles has such a great voice - balanced in volume, evenly paced and never stuttering. If there ever was a book written about the Brackley team, he should provide the voice for the audiobook.
Valtteri would probably avoid it like the plague. I'm sure he's got some PTSD from that voice
Finally podcast with that James.
Valtteri, it's James, we need a podcast
I really want someone to make a movie about that 08/09 winter in Brackley, there's so much ups and downs in the whole story, it's incredible!
0:58 So the phrase "Get in there" has been a part of Brackley since the BAR days
From the very beginning!
This was my favorite Beyond the Grid. Gave me a real appreciation for why Mercedes has done so well. These guys have stuck together for 20 years through thick and thin and through many different team owners. The loyalty and constancy is the secret besides their obvious talent.
And their reverence for Michael Schumacher, who never won a race for the team, and how genuinely upset they were for him that he didn’t win at Mercedes because of how much he deserved it given how hard he worked to build the team, was something special.
Brilliant work Tom Clarkson!
That was a fantastic insight into the history of the Brackley Team, the things that make a team sucessful, and the passion that goes into getting to the top in F1, and then stayng there.
I'm much more a fan of your interviews with Team Principals, Designers and Engineers, than drivers, and this was the best yet!
Can you look at lining up interviews with some of the other leadership teams that have been together for a while in the other teams, their tales will be epic too.
there are no subtitles for this video, not even automatic ones. someday, the f1 account will understand how important this is. but not today. pain
I think there is a chrome plugin / google addon that automatically create subtitles for any kind of audio on the internet
Hearing stories about the Brawn GP 2009 season - it will never get old. In 50 years when I'm 80, I will still enjoy hearing that story. Every detail is better than the most finely written script.
Tom, Amazing podcasts of the Brackley Boys!
Amazing group of people from BAR to Honda to Brawn GP to Mercedes. Brawn GP is still close to my heart. To hear about the King Michael Schumacher again gave me goosebumps! Thank you.
I love that half of this is devoted to pre-Mercedes days, which is about half of the time that Brackley has been around. Pretty well balanced, sometimes these old stories get lost in the more recent stuff
It might be boring but continuing to win for 8 consecutive years is harder than you think it is.
As Toto says it's really tough to be consistent! What a team!
By the sound of it, its only boring for spectators, for the 'the Brackley Boys' every race and every season is another challenge.
@@JakobusVdL Yeah as an engineer so long as what you're interested in is the problem then each season/race is interesting as there's always challenges.
They are the Mastermind behind the monster we called "W" Series
Dream Team = made a ilegal car for years , paid MAFIA and stay ok!
@@MarcSob22 true
@@MarcSob22 Yes, because *Jean Todt* would much rather see Mercedes win than Ferrari. 🙄
@@MarcSob22 Proof or you're a joke
@@MrScorpio696 source: trust me bro
Wow, I did not know that this team has been together for so long. Absolutely amazing, they are legends.
You are just nailing it with amazing content this year!
What a podcast, yet again !❤️
James is one of the most intelligent on the grid!
Insane when your team goes from zero to Hero. Respect for the "Brackley Boys"
Pure F1 History! Thanks for sharing!
The Brackley Street Boys 🎤
Quit Playing Games 🎹
quit playing gamess with myyyy Mercedes-AMG F1 M10 EQ Power+, 1.6 L (98 cu in), 90° - V6 turbocharged engine
In other words, quit playing games with our cars
Would love video for these podcasts. Seeing the reactions.
Love the show, but this must be the best episode up to now! What an insight into the team. Great to hear how the team grew over the years.
Someone needs to go and find that plumber 😂. He seems like a TOP lad
all time # 1 ranked team in F1 history
False
Very True.
@@gnar7003 No, you are false.
What a fantastic interview! I could listen to all of them talk for hours more.
Brackley boys sounds like a band tbh
I like these behind the team podcasts. These boys are legends.
So interesting and such a candid interview. I can't help think it's perhaps a shame that generally people aren't aware of t great values MS has as individual.
It's interesting what people think. Especially the "experts" on the internet often deny that Michael Schumacher was able to build a team. But it's funny that almost everyone who has ever worked with him claims exactly the opposite...
51.00-51.19 is the most important thing ever said and the deciding factor. Thats why Mercedes, as Ferrari before them, are dominating F1. That what makes the difference of being that little bit faster than your opponent and what decides about winning a championship or loosing it. Making the difference. And as it was Michael who brought that to the team, next to all the other important things, there is no doubt what driver really got that edge over all the other drivers ever in F1. Really fascinating how these guys explain why Michael was so important for the team, why without him Mercedes would NOT dominate F1 today and why this driver definetely is the most complete driver ever.
Keep this coming! Love the people behind the car are getting the recognition they deserve
Wow, F1 is really putting out some amazing content! All of this and not behind a paywall! Love it!
The description in the video alone indicates a tremendously fascinating podcast! Can't wait to listen in full!
Great insight. This just confirms Michael is the GOAT.
Wonderful episode. Really enjoyed this one.
Fabulous! Thank you for bringing us this super content 💞
You should consider doing these interviews with Video... it would so much better... don’t take me wrong love the podcast but recognizing who is who on this interview would be great... Tom you are doing a superb job, not only for the current fans but imagine these interviews playing back in 20, 30 years... what a legacy... Congrats...
I loved every moment of this podcast, super, all 4 are legends.
Bono next, please TC!
You’re in luck! He’s done one (or two) with Bono 👍🏻
@@natetalks2465 he's done two with Toto but I can't really find any with Bono? Do you mind sending a link here, would be great
@@roddurmookherjee673 He hasn't done one with Bono, sry to disappoint you
Who are here after James was appointed as the TP for Williams? 🎉
Can't wait to take the dog for a walk out tonight and listen to this!
02:31 "The bond between them!"
Haha! It's twofold. 😄 👋
Best podcast! Truly enjoy listening to the way progress over the years! Bono would be great to hear from. Excellent job!
I would love for this to have video footage as well, would that be at all possible?
so intersting to hear these guys just chatting between themselves amazing listen
With People like that, a team menager like Mr Toto, and a driver like Sir Lewis Hamilton, almost everything must go well,or better, very well,I think| Stay all safe!
best episode so far. never liked mercedes but this is amazing. cant deny that the guys are the best in the biz
best one yet!
Love the concept of this BTG episode, reminded me of another group interview, very similar and also very funny, "The Brabham Boys (Ecclestone, Lauda, Blash, Whiting, Piquet) Interview With Martin Brundle"!
This is absolutely brilliant
Best one yet!
Keep fighting Michael
They are all look-a-likes right to left; ted, toto, a younger hobo Otmar Szafnauer, and Christian Horner 🤣🤣
Hotstar
SCHUMACHER!!!!
Miss him dearly around the F1 paddock.
Is this the James who's famous for the radio message to Valtteri?
Yes.
Mike, this is James.
no that is James Allison
@@vaishnavsuraj007 No, it's not. James Allison is the technical director. James Vowels is the "Valtteri, It's James" guy.
@@vaishnavsuraj007 That’s not correct. This James is the correct James from the radio. James Allison doesn’t talk to any of the drivers and he’s not on the pit wall.
Finally we get to hear from the "Valteri its James" guy
great interview such a pity it did not remain Brawn !
Brackley Four Horseman of the Mercedes
The best 👏🏾🔥
Michael Schumacher = King of F1
Records are there to be broken Michael Schumacher
@@catetv358 How many races per season in 1994 and how many races per season in 2020?
How many times did Schumacher have a dominant car in his career and how many times Hamilton had a dominant car?
How reliable were F1 cars in 1997 and how reliable in 2024?
Brackley Boys, we like that.
Hello, folks, it's James
Sad to see Vowles leave Merc after all.
The greatest season of all time 09 the brawn era thank you guys for such an awesome year without you and Ross that year would of been so so so different.
Best in the business
My favorite so far
The Brain Trust of Merc! Yeah!
The real dream team is 🅱️inotto and his disciples
You're my 🅱️oy
🅱️e ready to 🅱️e part of our Master🅱️lan members
*disci🅱️les
Spinotto
@@aaditganesh183 yes sorry, my 🅱️ad
@@1stFormula thank you 🅱️oss
This is lit 🔥
So that 'get in there' is quite ancient
A barely-talented screenwriter could adapt the best F1 movie ever made using little more than this podcast. Hats off.
Now I know WHO is behind the winning engine and chassis design. What a cohesive team. Now I have to check out whats been going on with Ferrari..... :)
I love how he said lewis never gives up 😂
Shall i remind you about Spain 2022
He only will not give up when he has the fastest car
Permavirgin over level 9000 Galore! Go team!
Great video
Video? lol
amazing
forgot that mercedes was brawn gp
Fantastic team, with the greatest driver, Sir Lewis
Not one of them listed Lewis as their favorite driver to work with, although they did praise his talent.
@@scottmeredith3359 Well doesn’t mean they hate him either.
@@blackgirlsrock264 Jump to conclusions much? I didn’t say that either. Very sensitive aren’t we?
@@scottmeredith3359 well, michael was known to be a people person
The Brackley Boys, remember me, some histories in motor racing in early´s years of last century, the Bentley Boys, well theseones were more parties,champagne and beautiful women!!!and some victories in races in their Bowlers
can we get video on these @formula1? it'd be great
"Mercedes F1" is, like most teams in F1, a British team.
and your point is........??
What happened in 2005 Monaco?
Great podcast I do disagree with these guys in why they are sounding kind of passive-aggressive when they discuss Nico leaving, he left cause he did everything he wanted to, it's not running from a fight if you won why not leave on top with everything then leaving when you are lower down and not focus on really important things like family.
The team should still run with a British license.
2009 monaco was also the race they fitted a wheel deflector on the front wheels the wrong way
They are dominant now but they surpassed their limits to be so.
Ferrari take notes please
Heard the 2009 fairy tale story so many times yet this interview revealed something often skipped. Not everyone's jobs could be saved by Brawn so several hundred people worked their butts off over the winter to get that car ready only to lose their jobs by the first race. That's tough!
There's no one who says Max Verstappen more than Tom Clarkson, and it grates every single time when he says VerSHtappen!! He doesn't even have a lisp, there's no excuse for it.
Who else saw “dream team” and took a second to realise it was f1
Taking a quick look, but the 2009 Bahrain GP was definitely not a night race, so I don't know what they're talking about.
Subtitle is a must for non native English speaker
We want bono podcast
I came here because of the Title thinking It was the Minecraft Dream 🤣
The fab four of the Mercs
♥️
Just add some video with it even it is just them talking.
0:05 Is that James May?