The second season of “Box Box Box” kicks off with Max Verstappen

The second edition of the “Box Box Box” vodcast, produced by Pirelli and hosted by journalist Tom Clarkson, is a great way to ease yourself into the 2026 Formula 1 season. Recorded over the past year and split into three episodes, the video podcast is an in-depth look at the major players in motor racing’s blue riband category, prior to the opening round in Melbourne, starting with the drivers.

The first episode, released today, features an interview with four‑time world champion Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver chats about Formula 1 of course, and also the many other projects he’s involved with. Among these is his role as a driver coach, through which he shares his continual pursuit of perfection with the young drivers in his academy: “I try to tell them that even if they feel happy with themselves and they had a good weekend, you always have to look at things that you can do better. Even if I win an F1 race, I always ask myself whether any change could have made a difference. You never stop learning. You always want to be better, basically.”

Also in the hour-long episode, Clarkson chats with Pierre Gasly and Kimi Antonelli. The Alpine driver explains what he finds so compelling about Formula 1: “It’s the adrenaline you get behind the wheel. There is nothing that beats the feeling of going at such speeds, so close to the ground, being at the absolute limits of a race car. And the focus it takes. When the lights go out for an hour and a half, you think of nothing else. The concentration is so high that it really almost transports you into a different dimension.”

The young Mercedes driver recalls the very first time he sat in an F1 car: “I absolutely loved it. I remember I had goosebumps. I was shaking. Just, you know, by feeling the power, the downforce of the car. It was such a cool experience.” Antonelli also jokingly mentioned how superstitious he is: “I have my routine. Before jumping into the car, I always do the same exercises, in the same order, to warm up. I listen to the same music, same order as well, and even when I get into the car, I always jump in from the same side.”

The episode explores themes of sport, passion, and safety, and also includes interviews with team principals Fred Vasseur (Scuderia Ferrari) and Ayao Komatsu (Haas). Aldo Costa, currently the Technical Director at Dallara, reflects on his previous roles as Technical Director at Ferrari (2008-2011) and Mercedes (2011-2019).

The next two episodes of “Box Box Box”, covering topics such as business, travel, change, and responsibility, will be released over the coming weeks before the season starts. Among the other guests interviewed during the 2025 season are drivers Charles Leclerc (Scuderia Ferrari), Oscar Piastri (McLaren), Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), and Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi F1).