BEYOND THE GRID: Herbie Blash on his journey from race mechanic to Race Control

To stay in the paddock for more than half a century, you simply must adore Formula 1, and this week’s Beyond The Grid guest Herbie Blash certainly does. The sport might have changed a lot in that time, but what has always stayed the same is Blash’s enthusiasm.

Now the FIA’s permanent senior advisor to the Race Director, Blash’s career began as a race mechanic at Rob Walker Racing and Lotus in the 1960s.

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Thirty years later, having won two World Championships as team manager of Brabham Racing in the 1980s, Herbie switched from the pit wall to Race Control – where he spent more than two decades as deputy to the late, legendary F1 Race Director Charlie Whiting.

Speaking to host Tom Clarkson, Blash relives some of the most intriguing tales from his long career in the sport.

He shares his experiences on pushing the regulations to the absolute limit with Brabham, working with world champions like Niki Lauda and Nelson Piquet, dealing with driver fatalities, becoming best friends with Whiting, his passion for motorbikes, and much more.

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To listen to Herbie Blash’s Beyond The Grid interview hit go on the player above or head here to catch it on your preferred platform.