Into the Final Pit: Voices of Passion for F1

In the fast-paced world of Formula 1, passion is what fuels every turn, every rivalry, and every victory. For Antoine and Leo Pinto, two athletes who once made their names in the boxing ring, that same passion now drives them into a new arena: motorsport storytelling. Their show Final Pit has quickly become a space where fans can gather, share perspectives, and discover that F1 is more than just speed on the track. It is about strategy, teamwork, and the human stories that make every race unforgettable.

With honesty, humor, and the energy of true fans, Antoine and Leo invite audiences to see the sport from a fresh angle. They do not claim to be experts, but rather companions on the journey, learning, debating, and celebrating the thrills of Formula 1 together.

Q: Why did you decide to create the show Final Pit?

Leo: I have always enjoyed watching F1. I started following it through Netflix’s Drive to Survive around seven or eight years ago. Like many others, I first got into it because of that series. The more I watched, the more I liked it. Since I am a boxer, I could relate to the life of an athlete that F1 portrays, with all its ups and downs. It became something I truly enjoyed. Right now, F1 is also very popular and more people want to learn about it. That is why we decided to create a show about something we already love, and learn alongside the audience.

Antoine: At first, we had another podcast called 7030 where we talked about many aspects of our lives. One section of that podcast focused on Formula 1 every week. We noticed that some listeners were only interested in F1 and did not want to hear about other topics like our personal lives or boxing. They just wanted F1. So we decided to create content that focused solely on it. Of course, producing a proper show comes with costs. A few years ago, it might have been too early to make it worthwhile in Thailand as a business. But today, with the growing audience and hype, the timing makes sense. That is how Final Pit started.

Q: Do you have other inspirations, such as a favorite driver?

Antoine: The inspiration comes from fun. When you love something, you naturally look for a community around it. In Thailand, the F1 community feels quite small and there is not much content available. Of course, a few people already create excellent content, but we felt there was still something we could contribute. We wanted to represent the community and also make it easier for people who normally do not watch F1 to discover it.

Leo: That is the formal answer. The simple one is that we just wanted to find people to share opinions with.

Q: In Thailand, is there really no one doing F1 commentary yet?

Antoine: We actually do not want to use the word “commentary.” Do you know why? Because we are not experts. We are just fans, like everyone else. It is more like two brothers having a conversation from very different perspectives. I might see things one way, and Leo another. It is like a group of friends watching a race and discussing it. We are not analyzing as former drivers with insider knowledge. We are just sharing our views based on what we watch and understand, our opinions.

Q: Do you both have favorite drivers?

Leo: Honestly, I like everyone. Each week there is a new story or background that makes things interesting. But if I had to choose, I would say Charles Leclerc because he is French and I support my fellow Frenchman. From a competitive standpoint, I also admire Max.

Antoine: I feel the same. It is very hard to choose just one athlete. Since childhood, I never had one hardcore idol. Every driver is talented in different ways. As Leo said, each week you feel like rooting for someone new. One week I will cheer for the underdog, another week for the likely winner. It keeps changing.

Leo: Exactly. Every driver has their own journey. With only 20 drivers on the grid, each one must have something truly special to get there. That makes it very difficult to like only one.

Q: As entrepreneurs in this space, how do you see the future of the F1 market in Thailand?

Leo: The more hype there is, the better. More viewers mean more growth, which is a good thing. As for whether Thailand will host a race, I am not sure. But either way, I believe the market will continue to grow.

Antoine: From a business perspective, real growth will depend on what happens in Thailand. If there is no direct involvement, it will remain just a niche community. The sport will stay at that level. For us, it is both a passion project and a business. It works to some extent, but it is not highly profitable. That said, motorsports in Thailand overall are growing year by year, not only F1 but across different disciplines. That is a positive sign for people in this industry.

Leo: F1 is like a pillar of motorsport. It does not mean that growth in F1 will suddenly allow everyone to drive in F1. But when F1 does well, other motorsport categories also grow. People become more interested in racing, they buy sports cars, and that benefits related businesses.

Q: Was it difficult to transition from being boxers to hosting a motorsport show?

Antoine: Not at all. Sport is sport. If there is any challenge, it is that some people might be confused and wonder why we are suddenly talking about F1. But if you follow us closely, you know. As I said, we do not claim to know everything. We represent the audience. If you forget our boxing background for a moment, we are just fans creating something we enjoy and want to share. I think that is why Final Pit has gradually gained followers. Viewers see us as friends, part of the community. They often say they love watching F1 just like we do. Some weeks they agree with us, other weeks they disagree and share their own thoughts in the comments. That is what we want: a space for exchange.

Leo: Exactly. We never say we are gurus or that everything we say is correct. We are learning step by step together with the viewers.

Q: Is there a race you would most like to attend?

Antoine: You mean to go watch in person, right? If I had to choose just one race, it would be Abu Dhabi, because it is the final race of the season. If the championship points were very close and it all came down to that race, it would be incredibly exciting. Think back to when Max beat Hamilton, the title was decided in that very race. So if I ever got the chance to be there, it would be amazing.

Leo: For me, it is actually hard to choose because every track has its own uniqueness, and I would love to go to all of them. But if I had to pick one, I would say Silverstone. Rainy, cold, I think it would be fun. More importantly, it is such a historic track. It is the place every driver dreams of racing at, so as a fan I also want to watch it there.

Antoine: But if it rains it would be annoying. When you are watching online you hope for rain, but if you are actually at the track and it rains, it might be frustrating.

Leo: That is why you need to make enough money to be in the paddock. If it rains, it rains, I can just grab something to eat inside and relax.

Q: It is often said that Max has the advantage when it rains. Do you agree?

Leo: Yes, I think so. When it rains there are usually more incidents, the race is never boring, and so many things can happen.

Antoine: Actually, it is not just Max who has an advantage in the rain. In fact, almost everyone does. Even rookies benefit, and the whole game changes. That is why as a viewer at home, you hope for rain. But if you are a fan at the track, then I feel a bit sorry for you.

Q: If not focusing on drivers, do you have a favorite car or team?

Antoine: This year McLaren is obviously very strong and looks like a champion contender. But if you ask me personally, I would say I like them all, because so many teams have legendary histories, like Ferrari. Although supporting Ferrari this year might be tough. Personally, I really like Williams, because they have so much history and legacy behind them.

Leo: It depends on what kind of liking you mean. If we are talking about beautiful cars or strong performance, I usually follow Mercedes and Ferrari. But if you ask who I really like this year, I would say Aston Martin. Honestly, I like them because their car is beautiful, and I want to see them keep improving in the coming years.

Antoine: For me, I want to see Williams return to being strong. It is like a dream from the past. When you look back 40 years ago, Williams was a top team. I hope the Williams family can come back strong again. As for the present, Red Bull is Red Bull, nothing more needs to be said. Mercedes is like the fashionable team, world champions multiple times, everything about them looks cool and smart. Every team has its own identity.

Leo: Next year we will have Audi joining, so we will have to wait and see how that goes.

Q: Could you share your thoughts on Alex Albon?

Antoine: Honestly, I think he is one of the most underrated drivers. He is incredibly talented, but people have not fully recognized it yet. When he stumbled in his career and moved out of Red Bull, many assumed he was not good enough. But after joining Williams, it was like he found a family that suits him perfectly. He looks comfortable there, and his performance has been outstanding. I believe he has what it takes to be a world champion. If he and Williams can adapt to each other fully, he will be a real threat. He truly represents hope. In the past, we were just happy to have a Thai driver on the grid. But now it is not just about participation. In the coming years, I really think he has a chance to fight for the championship.

Leo: I agree with Antoine. I also like Albon in his Williams era. He has been performing better every year. Still, I would be curious to see him in another team in the future, maybe one that suits him even more. But of course, next year FIA will change several regulations. So this year might not look great, but next year could be excellent, or it could be the opposite. Nobody knows.

Q: What do you think about Hamilton moving to Ferrari?

Leo: Honestly, I think the same as many people. I still hope he can win his eighth world championship and become the first to do so. But so far, it has not happened. It is tough to adapt when you have been with the same team for such a long time. Once you switch, it is not easy. The team thinks differently, and he also struggles to adapt to the car and the team. Still, I believe there is hope that one day he will find his best form again.

Antoine: It is very tough. Moving to a new team is always difficult. If you look at F1 history, there are very few cases where a driver switched teams and immediately did very well. I used to wonder if Hamilton were driving McLaren today, would he perform as well as he did in the past? Probably not. So it is not fair to blame Ferrari alone. Everyone needs time to adjust. Look at Leclerc, he has been with Ferrari for many years before reaching his current level. Now he understands the car and the team so well. Hamilton has just arrived, and it takes time. But of course, expectations are very high. Ferrari has expectations, Hamilton has expectations, and Leclerc, no need to even mention, has enormous expectations as well.

Q: As F1 fans, how would you invite new people to start watching?

Leo: Start by watching our show.

Antoine: Exactly. If you want to get into F1, I would invite you to watch Final Pit first. You will see what F1 is about and why it is exciting. Let us be your first step. Wow, that makes us sound so important. But really, F1 is a lot of fun. It is not just about what happens on track, but also off track. Some people think it is only about overtaking at the front or being behind. But in reality, there are many stories inside the teams. The timing of pit stops, the strategies, the unexpected events. A race is never boring, there is always something to look forward to.

Leo: Yes. Many people see only the drivers, but there is so much happening behind the scenes.

Antoine: People may blame the driver and say, “You cannot make mistakes.” But in truth, there are so many others involved. For example, pit stops. If the wheel change takes one second too long, the driver can lose a position. It is a true team sport.

Leo: Just look at yesterday. A driver came into the pit, and something went wrong. Four, five, even six seconds. Even if he had been doing very well before, a poor pit stop ruined it all.

Q: Can you give us a highlight from the latest race? Which moment stood out most?

Leo: For me, it was Leclerc. People were even joking about his “VIP seat.”

Antoine: What I loved most was during qualifying, when Leclerc said, “There’s a fox on the track.” Imagine, driving at 300 km/h and still noticing the view. The level of awareness is incredible. And when we checked the replay, there really was a fox. That is the beauty of F1. Anything can happen, anytime.

Leo: At least it was a fox. If this were Thailand, maybe it would be a dog crossing the track.

Q: Or maybe not a dog, maybe a monitor lizard.

Antoine: A monitor lizard on the track? That is actually possible.

Leo: And if it were Alex Albon saying it in Thai, that would be hilarious.

Final Pit is not just a show, it is a community. Whether you are a longtime fan or just beginning your F1 journey, Antoine and Leo welcome you to join the conversation, share your passion, and discover the beauty of the sport together.