“Technology is the setting, but the people are the story.”
With these words, Stefano Domenicali kicks off a special episode of “Box Box Box”, the Pirelli vodcast all about the world of Formula 1. The programme is back with a one-off edition to celebrate Pirelli’s 500 Formula 1 Grands Prix. The episode is available starting today on the Italian company’s YouTube channel (link).
Once again, journalist Tom Clarkson leads the conversation, joined by a special co-host, none other than the 1996 World Champion Damon Hill. They chat with six important figures from the world of Formula 1, each offering a different perspective on its DNA: Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1, Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, Ross Brawn, one of the most successful F1 engineers of all time, Jerry Bruckheimer, the film producer behind the hugely successful “F1 The Movie”, 1978 World Champion Mario Andretti and of course, Marco Tronchetti Provera, Executive Vice Chairman of Pirelli.
What they had to say
Stefano Domenicali emphasises that, above all, it’s about people: “Resilience, energy, humility, and passion, that’s what it takes to be a protagonist in Formula 1. The drivers are the stars of our sport, and the fact that they are all very different from one another is a real asset.”
Zak Brown highlights McLaren’s new direction, getting closer to the fans: “Sport is entertainment, but it’s never artificial. We brought the papaya colour back to our cars because the fans asked for it and that’s a symbol of openness, inclusion, and dialogue with those who live and breathe Formula 1 every day.”
For Ross Brawn, the most important evolution in motorsport history is safety: “Today, many drivers are alive thanks to huge advances in safety. It’s the greatest innovation Formula 1 has ever seen and the result of a collective effort.”
Jerry Bruckheimer discusses the challenge of bringing the paddock to the big screen: “We filmed at nine circuits, built a team, and put Brad Pitt and Damson Idris behind the wheel of real F1 cars. Formula 1 is pure drama so there couldn’t be a better subject.”
Mario Andretti, 1978 F1 World Champion and motorsport legend, adds the perspective of a champion: “Talent transcends eras. Max Verstappen would’ve been competitive even in the 1960s, just as past champions would be today. Formula 1 remains an impossible dream that, for a lucky few, becomes reality.”
Marco Tronchetti Provera connects Pirelli’s racing commitment with its core business strategy: “Formula 1 is an open-air laboratory. Here, we push materials and technologies to the limit. Thanks to digital twin technology, we’ve shortened tyre design and development cycles and transferred those innovations to road tyres, helping us strengthen our leadership in the high-end market.”
A special episode for a special milestone
With this special edition, “Box Box Box” returns as a space for reflection and storytelling, blending passion, innovation, and culture. The voices of management, champions, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs form a mosaic that looks back over 75 years of the sport, as well as forward to the next 500 GPs, reaffirming Pirelli’s role as supplier, partner, and key player in Formula 1.
