Formula 1 2024: British Grand Prix

Track Insights:
The Silverstone Circuit, located in Northamptonshire, England, has a rich history dating back to its origins as a World War II Royal Air Force bomber station. The airfield was repurposed into a racetrack in 1948, with the first official British Grand Prix taking place that same year. Over the decades, Silverstone has become a cornerstone of motorsport, hosting numerous prestigious races including the Formula One British Grand Prix. The circuit's fast and challenging layout, featuring iconic corners like Copse, Maggots, and Becketts, has solidified its reputation as a favorite among drivers and fans alike. With continuous upgrades and improvements, Silverstone remains a beloved and historic venue in the world of motorsports.

This track sees drivers go through another set of 14 curves, corners and chicanes. There is 2 DRS zones and a lap length of 5.891km. Drivers are tasked with navigating this notoriously narrow and unforgiving circuit 52 times for a total of 306.198km.

Starting Grid:
Pole Position: George Russell: Mercedes
P2: Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes
P3: Lando Norris: Mclaren
P4: Max Verstappen: Red Bull
P5: Oscar Piastri: Mclaren
P6: Niko Hulkenburg: HAAS
P7: Carlos Sainz: Ferrari
P8: Lance Stroll: Aston Martin
P9: Alex Albon: Williams
P10: Fernando Alonso: Aston Martin
P11: Charles Leclerc: Ferrari
P12: Logan Sargeant: Williams
P13: Yuki Tsunoda: VCRB
P14: Zhou Guanyu: Sauber
P15: Daniel Ricardo: VCRB
P16: Valtteri Bottas: Sauber
P17: Kevin Magnussen: HAAS
P18: Esteban Ocon: Alpine
P19: Sergio Perez: Red Bull
P20: Pierre Gasly: Alpine

Race Highlights:
I really don’t think that this race could have ended any better or happier if God himself had written it (and I can already hear people say ‘he did’). You heard it on the team radio when he crossed the finished line- I think the only other race yoTu can really compare it to this season is mayyyybe Charles in Monaco.

Coming into this race, the big topic of conversation was, “Can Lewis break the record that he and Michael Schumacher hold for most wins at one circuit?”. Prior to the start of the race, they both sat at 8 wins. Lewis held 8 wins at both Silverstone and the Hungaroring in Austria. Schumacher’s wins were tallied at the currently retired Magny-Cours Circuit in France. I will be honest, I think us Lewis fans always hope for a LH44 win. But with the car only getting slightly better each week and no where need the pace of the *one* Red Bull and Mclarens, it was incredibly unlikely. Then again, if anyone were to do it, it would be the 8x World Champion himself. And that he did.

To start off the race, we had three hometown Brits leading the pack. It was a front row lock out for the budding Mercedes team who has been on the podium for the last two races. The very speedy Mclaren of Lando Norris taking that third spot will be looking to hunt them down. As well as Max Verstappen and his declining Red Bull in 4th- his teammate, whose position on the team is in serious question despite a recent contract extension started from the pit lane after getting a getting a new engine. However, not the most unfortunate start to this race- Pierre Gasly and his Alpine didn’t make it through the formation lap before coming into the pits and retiring his vehicle with a gear box failure.

As per usual, the race got off to a thrilling start. Verstappen was able to take advantage of a run off by Norris to get into third. Now, if you don’t know this by now, when there is a chance of rain, there is going to be a great race. We’ve seen the veterans really thrive in wet conditions while the younger drivers visibly struggle. Both Mercedes got off to a good start and worked to build a comfortable gap to the Dutchman when they were warned that rain was anticipated in the next 25 minutes. With everyone working out strategies for the impending showers, lap 13 saw the McLaren of Norris catch and pass the Red Bull of Verstappen going into Stowe. Followed quickly by his teammate, dropping Verstappen into P5 as the rain began to pelt the track.

On lap 18, Hamilton made his move on his teammate to gain the lead as Russell was looking to struggle in the changing conditions. Things only seemed to go from bad to worse for the impending team leader of Mercedes when Norris took advantage of his struggles and took P2 and again, his teammate quickly followed dropping the Brit back to P4 and they didn’t stop there. Not two laps later the podium picture looked very different with the Papaya team leading the race in a thrilling 1-2. At this point, the track was getting more and more wet and drivers such as Leclerc, Zhou, Perez and Ocon decided to go or the intermediates- which Hamilton declined citing that the time wasn’t right. Most of these drivers radioed in that the track was still too dry and ended up back in the pits to swap tires back. Leclerc ended up with the brunt of this poorly timed decision as he had gone off track during lap 25 and found himself being lapped by his teammate.

Back to the action at the front, Norris found himself in some trouble with his teammate Piastri hunting him down through the wind and rain. During this time, both Verstappen and Sainz, running P5 and P6 respectively took the opportunity to pit to strap on intermediates while Norris and the team at Mercedes followed the next lap. McLaren made the ambitious decision to leave Piastri out in the lead all the way until lap 29 where he emerged from the pits in 6th. By this time, Norris and his orange rocket had regained the lead with Hamilton running just three seconds behind and Verstappen in third having jumped in front of Russell. Athena question on everyone’s mind though would be how long would that last. Both Red Bull drivers were reporting issues with the degradation of the tires with over 20 laps- forcing Perez to pit in order to put a new set on.

Coming down to lap 34, mixed messages were being sent from engineers telling drivers that the rain would last for 6 more laps and the drivers reporting that it was no longer raining on the track but the track was still too slick to put dry tires back on. While Hamilton continued to hunt down Norris for the lead, his teammate Russell’s really bad no good day would come to an end with a retirement due to a suspected water systems issue after starting the race off on pole. The sun started to peak out around lap 37 with Norris leading fellow Brit Hamilton by just about two seconds. At this point, many drivers made the decision to pit for slicks with Hamilton opting for a clean set of softs and Verstappen going the opposite for hards. Norris and camp made the choice to stay out for one additional lap which would cost him the lead when he eventually pitted for a slow 4.5 seconds.

As we got down to the nitty gritty final laps, the Mercedes veteran was out in front with his British counterpart and the Dutchman dueling it out for second. Verstappen was like a lion stalking his prey as he ate away at Norris’ lead as he struggled on his set of soft tires. Eventually, the reigning world champion did catch his rival and took P2 off his hand but the battle left him without enough in the tank to go for the Greatest Of All Time. Hamilton would go on to create history with his record 9th win at the British Grand Prix. Marking his first win since Saudi Arabia 2021. A Marshall found the visibly emotional driver to deliver a British flag which he took with him on his cool down lap as well as the podium.

Podium:

1st: Sir Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes (25)
2nd: Max Verstappen: Red Bull (18)
3rd: Lando Norris: McLaren (15)

A Fan’s Thank You to Charlie Blackmon

What does one say to one of the most influential players an organization has ever had? Thank you surely won’t, can’t, doesn’t cover it near enough. Someone who has dedicated 26 years of his life to one game playing with one organization deserves so much more than just a ‘Thank you‘.

Charles Cobb Blackmon, better known as Charlie or if you’re a Rockies fan (even a little bit), Chuck Nazty. Since June 7th, 2011, Charlie has been a staple in the Rockies line up and household name throughout Colorado and its surrounding fanbases. He was a second round draft pick in 2008 out of Georgia Tech and made his way through the Rockies’ farm system for three years until that fateful day in June 2011. He has been part of some of the greatest plays, games and lineups that the Rockies organization have ever put together. An interesting stat has been shown a couple times today. When it comes to the franchise records, Charlie sits alone in second place for most of them (Games, Hit, Runs, Doubles, Extra Base Hits and Total Bases). The person holding the top spot, none other than Hall of Famer Todd Helton. He sits atop the franchise records in Triples and in the top five for RBI’s home runs. He is a 4x All Star, 2x Silver Sluggar and the 2017 National League Batting Champion.

As a fan, he is the player that you look up to. The epitome of class, determination and true dedication to his craft. In his retirement press conference, he talked about how serious of a person he is but we have been lucky enough to see that fun side of him as well. He. is the celebrations leader- always carrying the gatorade bucket for a shower and handing out the ‘Player of the Game’ award after each game. He has been instrumental in creating an atmosphere that fans have become accustomed to. When someone would ask me what made Coors Field so special, one of the first things I mention is the chorus to The Outfield’s ‘Your Love’. It doesn’t matter if we get to the ‘TOOOONNNNIIIIGGGGHHHHHTTT’ part, you will hear it. That is the culture and environment he created in Denver.

As he runs onto the field and into Center Field for the very last time, where the number 19 has been cut into the grass, you can’t help but let the tears flow. As he stands on the field, by himself, soaking it all in, even through a TV screen, I can feel the emotions and the gratitude that everyone in that stadium, fan, player, grounds crew, staff member feels towards him. He is where he belongs. His first at bat was no different. I will thank the Dodgers for indulging us this weekend and giving every opportunity for Charlie to get all the love he deserves. As his walk up song played, he was given yet another standing ovation with even Dodgers fans singing along to the famous song. Even though he popped out in his first at bat, his second (and last) would be the cherry on this very emotional Sunday. As he singled a fastball right back up the middle and rounded first base, he hugged long time Rockies first base coach Ron Gideon and then walked off the field as a player to cheers from his coworkers, staff members and a stadium full of fans.

This last week since his beautiful retirement announcement was made has been nothing short of everything Charlie deserves from an organization that should have done better. I for one, am thankful that he stuck it out. That he gave everything for this team and never let the political BS deter him from wanting to win for this city.

To watch you lead a team the way you’ve led this one for so long and influence countless players the way you have has been a privilege. There will never be another Charlie Blackmon and there never should be. You are 1 of 1.

To put it simply, Thank you Charlie for everything you have not only given to the game, but to the fans

I will leave you with my one ask. As a die hard, bleeding purple pinstripes fan…

Retire his number #19.

Formula 1 2024: Austrian Grand Prix

Track Insights:
The Austrian Grand Prix track, also known as the Red Bull Ring, is located in Spielberg, Styria, Austria. The history of the circuit dates back to 1969 when it was originally built as the Österreichring. The track quickly gained popularity for its fast and challenging layout nestled within the picturesque Austrian mountains. Over the years, the track underwent several renovations to improve safety and meet evolving FIA standards. In 1996, the circuit was rebuilt and renamed the A1-Ring until 2011 when it was acquired by Red Bull's Dietrich Mateschitz and transformed into the modern facility known as the Red Bull Ring. Today, the Austrian Grand Prix track continues to host thrilling races in the heart of the Austrian countryside, attracting fans from around the world.

Starting Grid:
Pole Position: Max Verstappen: Red Bull
P2: Lando Norris: Mclaren
P3: George Russell: Mercedes
P4: Carlos Sainz: Ferrari
P5: Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes
P6: Charles Leclerc: Ferrari
P7: Oscar Piastri: Mclaren
P8: Sergio Perez: Red Bull
P9: Esteban Ocon: Alpine
P10: Niko Hulkenburg: HAAS
P11: Daniel Ricardo: VCRB
P12: Kevin Magnussen: HAAS
P13: Pierre Gasly: Alpine
P14: Yuki Tsunoda: VCRB
P15: Fernando Alonso: Aston Martin
P16: Alex Albon: Williams
P17: Lance Stroll: Aston Martin
P18: Valtteri Bottas: Sauber
P19: Logan Sargeant: Williams
P20: Zhou Guanyu: Sauber

Race Highlights
Sooooooo Mercedes taking P1 wasn’t on my bingo card for this race. Not sure it was on anyone else’s either to be honest. However, I think something slightly more significant was overshadowed by the Brit’s second race win. Red Bull has an issue. And a very large on at that.

To start the race, we saw 19 cars line up on the grid- it was announced earlier that the Sauber of Zhou Guanyu would start from the pit lane due to set up changes being made after qualifying (does it matter it really matter though?). The wind made itself known at the top of the hill where they were clocked at least 40kph- causing George Russell’s Mercedes to lock up. Once the lights went out and the show was underway, Verstappen pulled ahead while Russell and Norris jockied for the second with the Mclaren winning out. Russell’s teammate Hamilton made a swift and early move of the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz and positioned himself into 4th place but the Spaniard would take the place back a few laps later.

Ferrari’s luck unfortunately would not be changing this race. Charles Leclerc suffered damage on turn 1 when his front wing made contact with the Mclaren of Oscar Piastri- putting him practically at the back of the field by the time he came out of the pits. I kid you not, he was P18 at one point and his race engineer is on the radio telling him that there is still a chance for him to get into the points. Spoiler alert- he did not finish in the points. The decline from Ferrari from the start of this season is truly disheartening as they have so much potential that is being squandered.

Anywho- let’s get to why we are all here. The DRAMA. I think we were all on the edge of our seats as we saw the Red Bull of Max Verstappen being hunted yet again by the Mclaren of Lando Norris. The difference this time? He didn’t wait until the very end to try and close an 8 second gap. A slow pit stop at lap 52 helped as well as both cars raced to the pits to swap out tires which cut the gap to a mere two seconds by the time they got back out onto the track. Here is where it got nail bitingly exciting and frustrating. During the final 16 laps, there was lunging and defending and breaking and diving from the two front runners. Norris was on his radio complaining about Verstappen’s defensive tactics while the Dutchman was on his radio to explain an unstable and uncomfortable feeling that something was wrong with the car.

As the laps were grinding down, the battle raged on. Norris briefly got ahead of Verstappen only to go off the track and have to give the position back. Now- with the tension brewing- it eventually boiled over. Just two laps later (64) Norris and Verstappen had swapped places when the Red Bull had also gone off the track. This brought out the side of Max that arguably hasn’t been seen since 2021 (if you know you know) aggressive. So much so that he and Norris collided in dramatic fashion- effectively ending Norris’ potentially race winning drive and knocking him back to P5. Through all the malay, the unsuspecting Mercedes of Russell- who was well back in P3 swept through. Much to the excitement of his team (Team Principle Toto Wolff got so excited he actually scared George by hoping on the radio to inform him that he could win it).

And that was what he went on to do. Now I know what you’re thinking. He won it by chance and you are absolutely correct. In this writer’s opinion, Russell and Mercedes didn’t have the pace to win this race. Had the ‘touching’ of Mclaren and Red Bull not happened, he would have been sitting on the 3rd step of that podium instead of the top. Post race interviews with Max and Lando revealed that they were blaming each other of the incident while Mclaren and many other teams pointed out that this is not the first time these tactics were used by the reigning World Champion but now that it’s impacted him, he’s going to fuss about it. The real question is where the friendship between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen survive? Only time will tell.

Podium:
P1: George Russell: Mercedes (25)
P2: Oscar Piastri: Mclaren (18)
P3: Carlos Sainz: Ferrari (15)

Formula 1 2024: Spanish Grand Prix

Track Insights:
The track at the Spanish Grand Prix, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, has a rich history in Formula 1. Its first race was held in 1991, following the popularity of the 1992 Summer Olympics held in Barcelona. Over the years, the track has witnessed many memorable moments, including intense battles between legendary drivers like Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. The circuit's layout, with its mix of high-speed corners and challenging braking zones, has made it a favorite among both drivers and fans. The Spanish Grand Prix continues to be a highlight of the Formula 1 calendar, showcasing the best of racing in the heart of Catalonia.

This track sees drivers go through another set of 14 curves, corners and chicanes. There is 2 DRS zones and a lap length of 4.657km. Drivers are tasked with navigating this notoriously narrow and unforgiving circuit 66 times for a total of 307.236km.

Starting Grid:
Pole Position: Lando Norris: Mclaren
P2: Max Verstappen: Red Bull
P3: Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes
P4: George Russell: Mercedes
P5: Charles Leclerc: Ferrari
P6: Carlos Sainz: Ferrari
P7: Pierre Gasly: Alpine
P8: Sergio Perez: Red Bull
P9: Esteban Ocon: Alpine
P10: Oscar Piastri: Mclaren
P11: Fernando Alonso: Aston Martin
P12: Valtteri Bottas: Sauber
P13: Niko Hulkenburg: HAAS
P14: Lance Stroll: Aston Martin
P15: Zhou Guanyu: Sauber
P16: Kevin Magnussen: HAAS
P17: Yuki Tsunoda: VCRB
P18: Daniel Ricardo: VCRB
P19: Alex Albon: Williams
P20: Logan Sargeant: Williams

Race Highlights:
This season is really shaping up to be a better one than recent. Mclaren, Ferrari and even Mercedes are putting in the work to give Red Bull a run for their money and it shows. That being said, the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was eh in this writer’s opinion. To spoil the end of the race, we had no retirements and not even one safety car. We could call it a pretty “clean” race if you will. So let’s get into it.

To start, a notable change to the grid was that of Alex Albon and his Williams would start from the pit lane after changing his power unit under parc ferme. He was also the only driver on the grid to not start on a set of soft tires-opting for mediums. Once the lights went out and the race was underway, we got a first taste of the drama when pole sitter Lando Norris did his absolute best- although with a less than stellar start- to block Max Verstappen from getting past in him in turn one. His move however opened the door for a sweeping George Russell who cut across the track to overtake literally everyone in front of him to take the lead from the outside. Buuuuuuut- his lead lasted a whole three laps before Verstappen came charging in his Red Bull to overtake him for the lead.

As we moved through the race, we saw a good number of first pit stops around laps 13/14. Something that we don’t see much of is slow pit stops from multiple teams at the same time. Ferrari had a significantly slow pitstop with Carlos Sainz, coming in at 5.3 seconds (a “good” pit stop is about 2 seconds). Alpine also had an issue with Pierre Gasly’s pit stop, ringing in at 6.7 seconds (average pit stop is around 2.2 seconds) due to a stuck rear tire. While Alpine is fighting for middle of the pack, Sainz’s pit stop harmed him in his fight with Russell. Ferrari’s struggles seemed to be continuing from Montreal as both Leclerc and Sainz struggled for pace and were in constant battle with each other. Hovering around lap 18, the Spaniard’s troubles persisted when his battle for 6th with the Mercedes of Hamilton culminated in a dramatic ‘touching’ with Sainz complaining to his team that the 7x World Champion and future taker of his Ferrari seat, forced him off and demanded he give the place back. The stewards however did not agree and the race continued.

We get about half way through the race. We’ll say laps 34/35 for reference. Max is way out in front. His closest rival being Russell who was around eight seconds behind (Side note: If George is not in 1st, he’s a f*****g menace with no pace. And I will die on that hill. Pray for anyone behind him. If you’re in front of him, he’s an amazing buffer). However, this wouldn’t stop a charging Mclaren headed by Lando Norris. He hunted him down before making his move and overtaking on lap 35. This put Russell in a precarious situation as Norris had opened him up to another fight but this one was with his teammate- Sir Lewis Hamilton. Interestingly enough, the pit wall decided this was the time to bring George in for a tire change- a hard set to be specific. A few laps later, Verstappen’s lead was shrinking significantly and he had yet to come in for a new set of tires.

Here is where things got interesting. Lap 41, Verstappen gets called in for a stop, Norris takes the lead. Lap 46, Norris comes in- a slow stop-, Verstappen retakes the lead. Lap 51, gap between P1 and P2, 6.6 seconds. Lando’s opportunity to close this gap to the Red Bull was closing and quickly. With one lap left, he got the gap down to 2.3 seconds. However, his charge would fall short as the Dutchman secured his third win in Spain. Norris, visibly upset took P2 and surprisingly, Sir Lewis Hamilton grabbed his first podium of the season in P3. As a very special note because everyone should know that we are a Sir Lewis Hamilton Stan Blog, this P3 marks his 18th consecutive season with a podium win. We head to Austria next where we are gifted not only a Grand Prix but a Sprint as well.

Podium:
1st: Max Verstappen: Red Bull (25)
2nd: Lando Norris: Mclaren (19)
3rd: Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes (15)

Formula 1 2024: Canadian Grand Prix

Track Insights:
The Formula One Canadian Grand Prix, first held in 1967 at Mosport Park, has become a staple in the racing world. Over the years, the event has taken place at various locations, including Mont-Tremblant and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. The race has seen legendary drivers like Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, and Lewis Hamilton triumph on its challenging circuit. Known for its high-speed straights and tight chicanes, the Canadian Grand Prix never fails to deliver excitement for fans worldwide. The race's rich history and its significance in the Formula One calendar make it a must-see event for both drivers and spectators alike.

This track sees drivers go through another set of 14 curves, corners and chicanes. There are 3 DRS zones and a lap length of 4.361km. The drivers will be asked to navigate this circuit- notorious for it’s instantaneously changing weather conditions for 70 laps for a total of 305.27km.

Starting Grid:
Pole Position: George Russell: Mercedes
P2: Max Verstappen: Red Bull
P3: Lando Norris: Mclaren
P4: Oscar Piastri: Mclaren
P5: Daniel Ricardo: VCRB
P6: Fernando Alonso: Aston Martin
P7: Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes
P8: Yuki Tsunoda: VCRB
P9: Lance Stroll: Aston Martin
P10: Alex Albon: Williams
P11: Charles Leclerc: Ferrari
P12: Carlos Sainz: Ferrari
P13: Logan Sargeant: Williams
P14: Kevin Magnussen: HAAS
P15: Pierre Gasly: Alpine
P16: Sergio Perez: Red Bull
P17: Valtteri Bottas: Sauber
P18: Niko Hulkenburg: HAAS
P19: Zhou Guanyu: Sauber
P20: Esteban Ocon: Alpine

Race Highlights:
Montreal, you did not disappoint. Our first wet weather race of the year really brought the drama with five retirements throughout the race and a rather unlikely winner in my opinion. Let’s start with the real winner- Mother Nature and her scheming. She knew we were due for some drama and she did not disappoint. The race started in the middle of a beautiful rain storm that really put tire strategy to the test. All teams except HAAS opted for Intermediate tires while the American born team went for wets. For those of you wondering- intermediates can be compared to medium tires and wets to softs in dry conditions.

George Russell and Mercedes sat on Pole for the first time this year and with a slow but good start, he was able to keep that position for several laps until the charging Mclaren of Lando Norris overtook both Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and the Merc. However, as Red Bull put it, what goes around comes around and an incredibly ill-timed safety car around lap 24 which gave Verstappen, Russell, Hamilton and few other front runners the opportunity to pit for a fresh set of intermediate tires while Norris missed his window and had to go around the circuit again. This gave both Max and George the opportunity to overtake him once the safety car came in at the end of lap 29. Unfortunately, this would be the point in the race where the damage was done and even though Lando pushed as hard as possible he came up just under 4 seconds short.

Ferrari, who were coming off their strongest weekend this season with a win in Monaco struggled significantly. Leclerc was on the radio relaying constant power unit issues while Sainz was struggling with front wing damage from scrapping in the midfield. A stark contrast to what we saw in Monaco. Eventually, both Ferrari’s would be unable to finish the race with Leclerc’s engine issues and Carlos spinning out with the Williams of Alex Albon. Overall just a disastrous race for the Italian Stallions. If we want to go there though, Williams also suffered a double DNF- begs the question of whether or not Albon’s contract extension was worth it and should Logan be given one last chance in 2025.

As the race wound down to it’s final laps, Norris charged ahead in a bid to make Max really work for this win (which he did). But the real drama was for the final podium spot which was a fight between both Mercedes and Oscar Piastri’s Mclaren. Russell would eventually take the podium spot from his teammate- we can get into his behavior later because I have some strong feelings on his very apparent lack of willingness to work with Lewis as a team. Any who, at the end of the day, Red Bull was back in the top spot- with no help from Sergio Perez who also crashed out around lap 51. Mclaren and Mercedes made significant strides in closing the gap to the Austrian team. Ferrari has their work cut out for them as we start the European triple header in Spain next weekend. Both Aston Martin’s brought home points as well as the VCRB of Daniel Riccardo. In a surprising turn of events, Alpine rounded out the points with a double finish from both Gasly and Ocon. HAAS, who started off strong, finished just outside the points in 11th and 12th. Like I said earlier, we start our triple header in Madrid next week and it will hopefully be just as fun as this one was.

Podium:
1st: Max Verstappen: Red Bull (25)
2nd: Lando Norris: Mclaren (18)
3rd: George Russell: Mercedes (15)

Formula 1 2024: Monaco Grand Prix

Track Insights:
The Monaco Grand Prix track, renowned for its glamor and prestige, has a rich history dating back to 1929. The street circuit winds through the picturesque streets of Monte Carlo, challenging drivers with tight corners and elevation changes. Over the years, the track has hosted some of the most iconic moments in Formula One history, solidifying its status as one of the most demanding and coveted races on the calendar. From legendary drivers like Ayrton Senna to the modern-day heroes of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, the Monaco Grand Prix track continues to captivate fans and drivers alike with its unparalleled beauty and unforgiving nature.

This track sees drivers go through another set of 19 curves, corners and chicanes. It is also home to the slowest hairpin turn on the F1 calendar. There is 1 DRS zone and a lap length of 3.337km. Drivers are tasked with navigating this notoriously narrow and unforgiving circuit 78 times for a total of 260.286km.

Starting Grid:
Pole Position: Charles Leclerc: Ferrari
P2: Oscar Piastri-Leclerc: Mclaren
P3: Carlos Sainz: Ferrari
P4: Lando Norris: Mclaren
P5: George Russell: Mercedes
P6: Max Verstappen: Red Bull
P7: Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes
P8: Yuki Tsunoda: VCRB
P9: Alex Albon: Williams
P10: Pierre Gasly: Alpine
P11: Esteban Ocon: Alpine
P12: Niko Hulkenburg: HAAS (DSQ)
P13: Daniel Ricardo: VCRB
P14: Lance Stroll: Aston Martin
P15: Kevin Magnussen: HAAS (DSQ)
P16: Fernando Alonso: Aston Martin
P17: Logan Sargeant: Williams
P18: Sergio Perez: Red Bull
P19: Valtteri Bottas: Sauber
P20: Zhou Guanyu: Sauber

Race Highlights:
I’ll start off before the race even starts- Red Bull is struggling without Newey. They came into this weekend knowing it wasn’t going to go well but with the reigning world champ sitting in P6 and his teammate at P18- it is looking like the championship is not going to be as easily won this year. And thank god for it. It also seems like the RB schedules weren’t synced and they had no simulator drivers available this weekend as they were driving in F2 and FE. Ferrari, Mclaren and even Mercedes looked great in qualifying with a front row lockout from the Leclerc family (if you know, you know). Post qualifying, both HAAS were disqualified and will start from the back of the pack due to failed inspections and “illegal” rear wing modifications.

With all that out of the way- let’s get to the race. It can really be split into two parts. Lap 1 and laps 2-78. Outside of the first lap, the race was really quite uneventful. There was for sure one overtake on the track but that was really it. The top 10 from qualifying finished the race in that exact same order. The interest in this race (at least for me) was the tire management strategies. Each team got a free pitstop after the first lap due to a red flag- we’ll get into that momentarily- and all cars except one performed their mandatory tire compound change at this time and as expected, most went the last 77 laps on those tires.

So what happened in the first lap that set it apart from the rest of the race you ask? Well i’m glad you did. We’ll start with turn 1. As the lights went out the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz made a valiant effort to improve his track position by overtaking Mclaren’s Oscar Piastri but ended up making contact with him instead and sustaining a puncture to his left front tire that looked like it would take him out of the race before it really even started. But when I tell you that he had someone or something watching out for him, he got the greatest bit of luck when on turn 2, the HAAS of Kevin Magnussen went to overtake Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and not only took himself out, he sent the Red Bull into the wall, shattering it into pieces, when trying to stay out of the way of the debris, his teammate Niko Hulkenburg was taken out as well. To put it plainly, before the end of the first lap, both HAAS, a Red Bull and the Alpine of Esteban Ocon were out of the race. Now I know what you’re thinking, where did the Alpine come from? You were expecting me to say Ferrari? Like I said, Sainz’s Ferrari was a lucky car. He was able to get it back to the pits under it’s own power and therefore, when the race restarted 45 minutes later, he was able to restart as well. Now to answer your original question- the Alpine of Esteban Ocon. Let’s just say, as he and his teammate were about to enter the tunnel, he tried to see if his car could fly. Spoiler alert, not only does it not fly, it will take you out of the race and possibly jeopardize your position on the team- we’ll take a look at team dynamics in a later post.

Anyways- we solider on. So like I said earlier, the Monaco track has a mandatory tire requirement. This means that teams are reauired to use two different types of tire compounds. This usually translates to a mandatory pit stop requirement. But the red flag allowed the teams to change their tires after just the first lap and that fulfilled the requirements for everyone except Logan Sargaent who stayed on his original compounds. So with the tire changes, the expectation- and reality for most cars were that they rode those tires to the end of the race. For the most part, once the race restarted it was relatively boring if i’m being honest. There may have been some minimal fighting in the back but it didn’t make a particular difference. In the end, the hometown hero, Charles Leclerc took home the victory- which if you didn’t shed a tear, are you even an F1 fan? He is the first Monegasque to win the Monaco Grand Prix and he earned every bit of it. His win combined with Carlos’s P3 puts Ferrari and Mclaren (who finished P2 and P4) within striking distance of Max Verstappen and Red Bull.

Podium:
1st: Charles Leclerc: Ferrari(25)
2nd: Oscar Piastri: Mclaren (18)
3rd: Carlos Sainz: Ferrari (15)

Formula 1 2024: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

Track Insights:
The Imola Grand Prix track, officially known as the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, is a historic circuit located in Imola, Italy. The track is known for its challenging layout that winds through the beautiful Italian countryside. Originally built in the 1950s, Imola gained international recognition as a Formula One venue in the 1980s. The circuit is famous for hosting some memorable races in Formula One history, including the tragic weekend in 1994 when both Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger lost their lives. Despite the hardships, the track continues to be a favorite among drivers and fans alike, attracting motorsport enthusiasts from around the world to witness thrilling races. The undulating nature of the track presents a true test of skill for drivers, making it a beloved venue in the world of motorsport.

This track sees drivers go through another set of 19 curves, corners and chicanes. There is 1 DRS zone and a lap length of 4.909km. Drivers are tasked with navigating this notortiously narrow and unforgiving circuit 63 times for a total of 309.049km.

Starting Grid:
Pole Position: Max Verstappen: Red Bull
P2: Lando Norris: Mclaren
P3: Charles Leclerc: Ferrari
P4: Carlos Sainz: Ferrari
P5: Oscar Piastri: Mclaren
P6: George Russell: Mercedes
P7: Yuki Tsunoda: VCRB
P8: Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes
P9: Daniel Riccardo: VCRB
P10: Nico Hulkenberg: HAAS
P11: Sergio Perez: Red Bull
P12: Esteban Ocon: Alpine
P13: Lance Stroll: Aston Martin
P14: Alex Albon: Williams
P15: Pierre Gasly: Alpine
P16: Valtteri Bottas: Sauber
P17: Zhou Guanyu: Sauber
P18: Kevin Magnussen: HAAS
P19: Logan Sargeant: Williams
P20: Fernando Alonso: Aston Martin

Race Highlights:
I’m not going to sugar coat this one- it was pretty uneventful until the last 10 laps. And when I say uneventful, I mean had me questioning whether waking up at 6:45am was really worth it. We were told that there would be a 100% of a safety car in this race that would make it interesting- spoiler alert: no safety car was deployed during this race. I do have to say, there were moments here and there that sparked interest but again, it was Lando Norris who really decided to give us a show in the end and it was worth it.

From the start, it was going to be a game of tire strategy. Who was going to how many stops and when were they going to do them? The consensus was that most teams were likely going to be on a one stop plan- when that stop would occur would be dependent on the tire they started out on. For the most part, the predictions were accurate with just a few exceptions. The first one being Alex Albon from Williams who suffered a malfunction after his first pit stop when the right front tire wasn’t out on correctly. Luckily, he was able to make it back to the pits to have it fixed but Williams did recieve a 10-second stop and go penalty for releasing the vehicle under unsafe conditions. He would go on to have to retire the car after 51 laps.As the race went on, pit stop strategy were altered depending on when certain teams pitted which of their pairs. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez stayed out on his hard tires the longest, pitting on lap 38 but as usual, it is no where near that of his teammate or even the Mclaren of Norris and both Ferraris. Plus, with the narrow track that saw the gravel pits brought closer to the pavement this season, he was their first victim when he slid off the track and into one. Luckily he was able to get back on but he lost valuable time. He wasn’t the only victim though. Replays showed the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton lock up and go through the gravel as well which cost him in the fight with Sainz for fifth.

Let’s get to the good part. The final ten laps. Coming off his first Grand Prix win, Lando Norris and Mclaren were looking for a repeat- which hasn’t been done sby anyone other Max Verstappen since 2022. And he made the Dutchman work for this win like he hasn’t worked for it in a very long time. As the final ten laps wound down, Norris pushed his Mclaren as hard as he could- within less than a second of the Red Bull to be clear. Per team radios- Max was struggling with his tires and the overall handling of the car while Lando was doing his beast to keep the pressure on his friend. To illustrate just how close this race was, had Max made 1 mistake, locked up in the wrong spot or gone over track limits (which he was already given a black and white flag for)- he would have lost P1. At the end of the day though, he was able to fend off Mclaren but it will cause worry. Red Bull brought upgrades to Imola and they very clearly did not perform as expected. With Adrian Newey no longer having any part in the design and upgrades in Red Bull, do they have what it takes to bring a fourth championship home? Or will we perhaps see someone else hoisting the trophy at the end of the season?

Podium:
1st: Max Verstappen: Red Bull (25)
2nd: Lando Norris: Mclaren (18)
3rd: Charles Leclerc: Ferrari (15)

Formula 1 2024: Miami Grand Prix

Track Insights:

The Miami Grand Prix track, located in the vibrant city of Miami, Florida, has a rich history dating back to its debut in 1983. Originally known as the Grand Prix of Miami, the track was situated in Bayfront Park and featured a challenging street circuit that tested the skills of drivers from around the world. Over the years, the track underwent several modifications to improve safety and enhance the racing experience for both drivers and spectators. In 2019, plans were unveiled for a new circuit around the Hard Rock Stadium, signaling a new chapter in the history of the Miami Grand Prix track. With its combination of high-speed straights and technical corners, the Miami Grand Prix track continues to be a thrilling venue for Formula 1 racing.

This track sees drivers go through 19 curves, corners and chicanes. There are 3 DRS zone and a lap length of 5.412km. Drivers are tasked with circling this track 57 times for a total of 308.326km.

Starting Grid:
Pole Position: Max Verstappen: Red Bull
P2: Charles Leclerc: Ferrari
P3: Carlos Sainz: Ferrari
P4: Sergio Perez: Red Bull
P5: Lando Norris: Mclaren
P6: Oscar Piastri: Mclaren
P7: George Russell: Mercedes
P8: Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes
P9: Nico Hulkenberg: HAAS
P10: Yuki Tsunoda: VCRB
P11: Lance Stroll: Aston Martin
P12: Pierre Gasly: Alpine
P13: Esteban Ocon: Alpine
P14: Alex Albon: Williams
P15: Fernando Alonso: Aston Martin
P16: Valtteri Bottas: Sauber
P17: Logan Sargeant: Williams
P18: Daniel Riccardo: VCRB
P19: Kevin Magnussen: HAAS
P20: Zhou Guanyu: Sauber

Race Highlights:
OH. MY. GOODNESS! What a day for Mclaren! First and foremost Congratulations to Lando Norris on his first ever Formula 1 Grand Prix win. Let’s get into his practically perfect drive as well as what went right and what went wrong for who.

To start off, Red Bull nearly had a disaster of a race when Sergio Perez nearly crashed into teammate Max Verstappen at the very first turn of the race. I know what you’re thinking and stop it… while most of us would have loved to see another Verstappen DNF this season, his continuance in the race only validates Norris’ win that much more. Any who. For a good portion of the first 20 or so laps, everything looked pretty routine in the front of the pack. Verstappen’s Red Bull was out in front but not with the comfortable lead he has become accustomed to in previous seasons. He had both Ferraris, Mclarens, and his teammate right on him. We hit the 20 lap mark and the first set of box calls came out for the front runners with Perez going first and being followed closely by the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc. Right around this time, Verstappen decided he didn’t like the bollard sitting in the chicane at turn 14/15 and took it out. Literally. Hopped the curb and poof- no more cone. A virtual safety car was deployed and then it got interesting.

With the virtual safety car ending, Verstappen opted for his first pit stop at the end of lap 23, relinquishing his lead to Mclaren’s Oscar Piastri who was fending off Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari and his teammate Norris. It lasted for about 3/4 laps before both Piastri and Sainz pitted (around lap 27) and Norris took it from there and sped off. Not too long after this, around lap 27, a yellow flag was waved followed by another safety car after an incident involving the HAAS of Kevin Magnussen caused Logan Sargeant’s Williams (who was having one of his best drives of the season thus far) to go off the track and into the wall and out of the race. This is super important to the strategy of Norris’ race due to the fact that completing a pit stop under the safety car which would cause him to lose much less time and retain his P1 position.

The second safety car finally came off the track at the end of lap 32 and Lando got an impressive jump as soon as his path was clear. The last 20 or so saw various battles throughout the field. Norris and Verstappen were duking it out for 1st. His Papaya teammate would fight it out with Sainz’s Ferrari- even touching at one point, allowing Piastri to overtake, which the Spaniard took a considerable amount of time bitching about. Feeling that it was a penalty worthy act and that if Piastri gave him the position back, he wouldn’t get a penalty. However, the stewards felt that there was no penalty and allowed Piastri to keep his spot. Sainz’s teammate Charles Leclerc is continuing to show that he is in fact, worth the contract extension given to him and ended up on the podium as well in P3.

The Dutchman however had continuing issues regarding the handling of the car- saying that he couldn’t get the car to turn. Mclaren took the opportunity to get Norris as far out in front as possible-ending the race with an over 7-second lead on the Red Bull and first ever Grand Prix win for the 24-year-old British driver. And if you want to say he got lucky with the safety cars, it may have helped but you really didn’t see the race. Not to mention how happy literally every single driver was for him- Verstappen included. For Lando, it was never an if this would happen, it was always a when. The upgrades Mclaren brought were worth it this weekend and it proves they are just as in the hunt for the championship as Red Bull and Ferrari are. Who will come out on top in the end, we will have to wait and see.

Podium:
1st: Lando Norris: Mclaren (25)
2nd: Red Bull: Max Verstappen (18)
3rd: Ferrari: Charles Leclerc (15)

Formula 1 Shake Ups

And here I thought the biggest shake up of this season was going to be the shocking announcement of Sir Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari following the conclusion of the 2024. While I still think it was a blockbuster move for him and the Italian born organization, there is one other situation that has shaken out over this past week that could potentially top it. That is the not so shocking announcement that Red Bull’s Chief Technology Officer of nearly 20 years will be leaving the team in the first quarter of 2025.

Adrian Newey, who is hailed as one of the greatest Formula 1 engineers in modern day history, will be leaving the racing powerhouse and he has no shortage of offers coming his way. Rumor has it that his abrupt decision to leave Red Bull has to do with his disliking of the way the team has/is handling the claims of sexual harassment that have embattled team principle Christian Horner since the end of 2024. In the team’s statement, it was stated that Newey would be stepping away from his Formula 1 duties (although he is in Miami for the Grand Prix this weekend- as his the Chair of Ferrari, Piero Ferrari himself- we see you sir) and focusing on Red Bull’s first hypercar. This begs the question, if he is no longer associated with the Formula 1 portion of RB, can his mandatory 12 month gardening leave start now?

Gardening leave is a fun little practice done by many organizations that pretty much ensure that as soon as an employee resigns or is terminated, they don’t/can’t go to a competitor immediately and give them all the information as to their successes and failures. In return, they pay their salary for a bit. Formula 1 usually has a gardening leave time of 12 months depending on contracts.

Personally, I think Newey’s exit from the team that he has spent two decades with shines a light on just what the internal state of Red Bull is looking like. And it isn’t good. Add on the continued and rampant rumors that reigning World Champion and superstar driver Max Verstappen is meeting with teams like Mercedes (would be the weirdest move given the state of Mercedes cars at the moment but we can get into that later) and we could very well be witnessing the beginning of a melt down at the Milton Keynes team and i’m here for it. If i’m being completely honest with you all, this move doesn’t surprise me all that much. Things have been off with the team since the original allegations came to light. Max’s interactions with Horner are short and that’s if he chooses to respond at all. Not to mention Jos Verstappen making his opinion on the situation incredibly clear to anyone who will listen. Newey’s decision to leave a clearly toxic environment is just a peak at what I can only speculate an incredibly intense and uncomfortable factory.

So where does the foremost expert on Formula 1 engineering go after everything is said and done? For one, the rumor mill has Ferrari as the front runner for his next contract. It is understood that instead of flying to Miami with the team, team principle Fred Vassuer personally flew to London to speak with Newey. And like I said earlier, Piero Ferrari has made his way to Miami this weekend as well. Was it to also work on enticing the English engineer to invest in some Italian real estate? Aston Martin, Williams and Mercedes have also been in contact with him as well. But if Fred Vassuer is able to sign Sir Lewis Hamilton and Adrian Newey in the same year, he should have a statue dedicated to him built at the factory.

According to the drivers, who some i’d love to play poker with because, no poker faces at all, these next few months are going to be interesting in the driver market. Only 2 teams are fully booked for the 2025 season as of today and Audi (currently Stake Sauber) recently announced that they signed Nico Hulkenberg from HAAS for next season. Even Red Bull’s 2 seats aren’t for certain. Plus you have to take into account the Formula 2 drivers looking to get their foot in the door. Oliver Bearman already made his debut and his mark this season. Kimi Antonelli is expected to make his debut at some point this season, rumored to be replacing Logan Sargaent in a Williams seat. What other shake ups will settle before the summer break? We will have to wait and see.

Formula 1 2024: Chinese Grand Prix

Track Insights:

Welcome back to China. The last time a Grand Prix was held here, 2019. The Formula One Chinese Grand Prix is a highly anticipated event on the F1 calendar, typically held at the Shanghai International Circuit. The track's unique layout challenges drivers with its combination of long straights and technical corners, making for exciting racing moments. Over the years, the Chinese Grand Prix has witnessed some intense battles, unexpected upsets, and memorable victories that have kept fans on the edge of their seats. The event not only showcases the pinnacle of motorsport technology but also exposes the drivers' skills and endurance as they navigate the circuit at high speeds. With a diverse fan base and a vibrant host city, the Chinese Grand Prix continues to be a significant highlight in the world of Formula One.

This track sees drivers go through 16 of some of the hardest corners and turns on the schedule. There are 2 DRS zone and a lap length of 5.451km. Drivers are tasked with circling this track 56 times for a total of 305.006km.

Starting Grid:
Pole: Max Verstappen: Red Bull
P2: Sergio Perez: Red Bull
P3: Fernando Alonso: Aston Martin
P4: Lando Norris: Mclaren
P5: Oscar Piastri: Mclaren
P6: Charles Leclerc: Ferrari
P7: Carlos Sainz: Ferrari
P8: George Russell: Mercedes
P9: Niko Hulkenberg: HAAS
P10: Valtteri Bottas: Sauber
P11: Lance Stroll: Aston Martin
P12: Daniel Riccardo: VCRB
P13: Esteban Ocon: Alpine
P14: Alex Albon: Williams
P15: Pierre Gasly: Alpine
P16: Zhou Guanyu: Sauber
P17: Kevin Magnussen: HAAS
P18: Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes
P19: Yuki Tsunoda: VCRB
P20: Logan Sargeant: Williams

Race Highlights:
Let’s get this out of the way real quick- Max won. Again. Not surprising. 13 seconds ahead of a very surprising second place finisher. But for real, 13 seconds? Who can compete with that? His own teammate doesn’t even have that pace. Anywho. Let us get to the interesting stuff. To start- a shocking Q3 out in the form of Lewis Hamilton starting from P18 after finishing 2nd in the Sprint race just 24 hours earlier. He stated that both he and George made drastic changes to their set up and his made an already unreliable car worse. He would eventually battle his way back up into the points with an unexpected 9th place finish- continuing to bring points to a struggling Mercedes team- also worth noting that George did finish sixth.

There were strong drives from many in the field. Mclaren saw another podium finish- their second this season with Lando Norris having a practically perfect race, coming in 13 seconds behind Verstappen and 19 seconds ahead of his Sergio Perez in the other Red Bull for second place. His teammate Oscar Piastri also brought home some points in eighth place. Both Ferraris also placed in the points- keeping consistent with a 4-5 finish, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz respectively. Fernando Alonso also continued his top 10 finish streak coming in seventh and the HAAS of Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the points coming in 10th. Notably, it was also an incredibly emotional day for one driver who, just 20 years ago was a fan in the stands. Hometown Hero Zhou Guanyu got all the feels- as he should- after he finished an impressive 14th.

For the fun bit. On the other end of the spectrum, there were a couple teams that were not having a good day. Notably the Visa Cashapp Racing Bulls who saw DNF’s from both Daniel Riccardo (seen above) and Yuki Tsunoda after they were both involved in separate crash incidents. During a safety car on lap 33, the Aston Martin driven by Lance Stroll was very clearly not paying attention and when other drivers braked due to a lock up by his teammate Fernando Alonso, Stroll went right up the tail end of Riccardo’s VCRB- causing too much damage for him to continue. Earlier in the race, the HAAS of Kevin Magnussen made contact with Yuki Tsunoda’s VCRB causing him to spin out and ultimately DNF as well on lap 26. Sauber’s technical issues persisted today as well. Valtteri Bottas was the unfortunate recipient of their bad luck when his engine completely went out. His race ended after just 19 laps.

Podium:
1st: Red Bull: Max Verstappen (25)
2nd: Lando Norris: Mclaren (18)
3rd: Red Bull: Sergio Perez (15)

Formula 1 2024: Japanese Grand Prix

Track Insights:

The Japanese Grand Prix is an iconic race that has been a mainstay in the Formula 1 calendar for decades. Known for its challenging Suzuka Circuit, this race demands the best from drivers with its fast corners and unpredictable weather conditions. The passionate Japanese fans bring a unique energy to the event, creating an electrifying atmosphere throughout the race weekend. Over the years, the Japanese Grand Prix has seen memorable moments that have solidified its place in motorsport history. From legendary battles on the track to championship-deciding races, this event continues to captivate fans worldwide with its blend of tradition and excitement.

This track sees drivers go through 18 corners, 1 DRS zone and a lap length of 5.807km. Drivers are tasked with circling this track 53 times for a total of 307.471km.

Starting Grid:
Pole: Max Verstappen: Red Bull
P2: Sergio Perez: Red Bull
P3: Lando Norris: Mclaren
P4: Carlos Sainz: Ferrari
P5: Fernando Alonso: Aston Martin
P6: Oscar Piastri: Mclaren
P7: Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes
P8: Charles Leclerc: Ferrari
P9: George Russell: Mercedes
P10: Yuki Tsunoda: VCRB
P11: Daniel Riccardo: VCRB
P12: Niko Hulkenberg: HAAS
P13: Valteri Bottas: Sauber
P14: Alex Albon: Williams
P15: Esteban Ocon: Alpine
P16: Lance Stroll: Aston Martin
P17: Pierre Gasly: Alpine
P18: Kevin Magnussen: HAAS
P19: Logan Sargeant: Williams
P20: Zhou Guanyu: Sauber

Race Highlights:
My goodness. Turn 2- which is known for contact between drivers- was no different today. First lap saw a massive crash between VCRB Daniel Riccardo and Williams Alex Albon that sent both cars into the wall with a red flag being waved immediately. This has some implications as Max Verstappen got away well and had a nice little gap that will now be gone when the cars restart. For Williams, the hope is that the chassis is okay. As we all know, Alex crashed out in practice in Melbourne and damaged the chassis so badly that it had to be shipped back to Williams HQ for repairs and Logan Sargaent was benched.

It is well known since this incident that Williams has no extra chassis so we will watch for reports on what the future state of the vehicle will be. If that wasn’t enough for Williams today, Sargaent, who was having arguably one of his best races and had moved himself all the way up into 11th got locked up and had his car sent into the gravel on lap 43. Thankfully, he was able to reverse back on to the track but would have to settle for 17th and hope that there is minimal to no damage to his repaired car.

Once the race restarted about 40 minutes later, Tsunoda in the VCRB took a wide start and gained several crucial positions where Nico Hulkenburg, who got a great first start- had a terrible second start and lost any and all positions he had gained earlier. Now normally, I would say that coverage is usually focused on the battles happening in the middle to rear of the pack- but today that was not the case. The battles happened to be between Mercedes, Mclaren and Aston Martin to see who could get themselves higher in the top ten and bring their teams more points. Lando Norris of Mclaren admitted post race that he was struggling with pace throughout the race but was ultimately able to keep George Russell in the Mercedes and Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin at bay. While his teammate Oscar Piastri was busy fending off 7x World Champion Lewis Hamilton in his lack luster Mercedes. The elected ‘Driver of the Day’ was Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who came in fourth behind his teammate Carlos Sainz- personally, it makes me wonder if Ferrari put their eggs in the right basket next season. I mean- yes, I don’t believe they could go wrong with signing lewis Hamilton. He wants that 8th World Championship and if you get him in a consistent and reliable car, he definitely still has it in him. But was Charles’s contract the right one to extend?

In the end, we get yet another 1-2 finish from the Red Bull team and 3-4 for the Italian team. Mclaren came in 5th and 8th with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso getting some points in 6th. Mercedes also got some much needed points from 7th and 9th. Home town Hero Yuki Tsunoda rounded out the points in 10th- bringing a lot of smiles to the Japanese fans who came to see him. China is next in 2 weeks and several teams are expected to bring big upgrades. Will it be enough or will their struggles continue?

Podium:
1st: Red Bull: Max Verstappen (26)
2nd: Red Bull: Sergio Perez (18)
3rd: Ferrari: Carlos Sainz (15)

Colorado Rockies 2024: CO at AZ

FINALLY! The 2024 MLB season is underway. The Colorado Rockies are coming off their worst season in franchise history (if you need a recap, click here). They start their season off just about 20 miles SW of their Spring Training home in Scottsdale going against the reigning National League Champions Arizona Diamondbacks. While Arizona made some moves in the off season to bolster their already incredibly talented roster, the Rockies made little adjustment-notably signing star shortstop Eziquiel Tovar to massive 7-year, $63.5 million contract. The question is, will this be the year they can turn it around or are we in for yet another disappointing season?

Game 1: Arizona beats Colorado 16-1
Starting Pitchers: CO: Kyle Freeland AZ: Zac Gallen

Starting off the season, we see the face of the Rockies, Charlie Blackmon back in the lead off spot for the Rockies- where he has had monumental success in the past. He begins the season facing off against arguably one of the best right handers in the game Zac Gallen. Gallen, who is looking to improve upon an insane 2023 season where he finished 17-9 with. 3.47 ERA came out with his best stuff.

He saw only three batters in the first inning, Blackmon, Bryant and Jones. And all of them were sent back to the dug out. Going up against Gallen, Colorado’s very own Kyle Freeland. Freeland, unlike Gallen is coming off one of his worst seasons since 2019. For 2023, he went 6-14 with an ERA of 5.03. To say that he has something to prove, would be on par for the team as a whole. He would not come out of his first inning of work as lucky as Gallen either. Ketel Marte was up for the Arizona regiment first and he shot the second pitch he saw up the middle to CF Brenton Doyle for a single. The 2023 Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll would be up next and while he grounded out to Kyle, he advanced Amrte to second-putting him in scoring position. But who needs scoring position when Lourdes Gurriel Jr. who we talked about quite a lot in our post season coverage last year, absolutely demolishes the second ball he sees into the stands in left field? 2-0 Arizona. Luckily for the Rockies, hurt would be short lived when Christian Walker struck out and Gabriel Moreno grounded out. Personally, I feel like the second inning was misleading. It gave us hope that this was going to be a close/good game. The Rockies got off to a quick start in the top of the second inning with a laser to RF Corbin Carroll. Which set up the Rockies first run of the season when Ryan McMahon laced a double of his own up the middle to CF Alek Thomas. 2-1. Third base would eventually be as far as Ryan would get as Diaz, Tovar and Montero would all get out. Bottom of the second would be Kyle’s best inning as a lead off single by Eugenio Suarez would be erased by an inning double play off the bat of Alek Thomas. To the third we go. Four batters were sent to the plate in the top of the third and here is a quick recap: Doyle- groundout, Blackmon- groundout, Bryant- hit by pitch, Jones- groundout. Now, to put it nicely, the bottom of the third is where everything went horribly horribly wrong. To keep it short and simple, here is how it went down:
Perdomo: Single
Marte: Single
Carroll: Walk
Gurriel Jr.: RBI Single (scores Perdomo) 3-1
Walker: RBI Double (scores Marte and Carroll) 5-1
Moreno: RBI Single (scores Gurriel Jr.) 6-1
Suarez: RBI Single (scores Walker) 7-1
Alexander: 1st out- fly out
Thomas: RBI Double (scores Moreno) 8-1
Pitching Change: Anthony Molina comes in to relieve Kyle Freeland- inheriting a runner on 3rd and 2nd
Perdomo: RBI Single (scores Suarez) 9-1
Marte: RBI Single (Scores Thomas) 10-1
Carroll: Walk
Gurriel Jr.: RBI Single (scores Perdomo and Marte) 12-1
Walker: Single
Moreno: RBI Double (scores Carroll and Gurriel Jr.) 14-1
Suarez: Sac Fly (scores Walker) 15-1
Alexander: RBI Single (scores Moreno) 16-1
Pitching Change: Jalen Beeks comes in to relieve Anthony Molina
Thomas: 3rd out- ground out

To sum it up, the entire Diamondbacks line up batted twice and scored 14 runs. Kyle Freeland left the inning with an ERA north of 30 and Rockies fans feeling that this is going to be a long season. The only saving grace was that the hemorrhaging stopped there. Neither team would score again for the rest of the game but it definitely set the tone that this season is going to be a very long and very hard one if the Rockies are unable to make necessary adjustments- and make them quickly.

Game 2: Arizona beats Colorado 7-3
Starting Pitchers: CO: Cal Quantrill AZ: Merrill Kelly
New day, fresh start. Right? After the absolute slaughter that was the first game of the season, the Colorado Rockies come into the second game of the season hoping to rebound and show that it was just a one time fluke. To do this, they called on new member to the rotation, right hander Cal Quantrill who is coming off a lack luster 2023 season with the Guardians. Going 4-7 with a 5.24 ERA. He will be going up against yet another Ace is the DBacks rotation in veteran right hander Merill Kelly who is coming off an incredible 2023- going 12-8 with an ERA of 3.29 and was an integral part of Arizona’s 2023 World Series run.

We start the game off again with Charlie Blackmon leading off for the Rockies. He would end up lining out in a great snag by 2B Ketel Marte. Bryant followed him up and his struggles continued as he struck out in his 3rd at bat of the season. Nolan Jones was the third batter Kelly faced and he crushed a ball up the middle into center field for a double. In the end though, it wouldn’t do any damage as Brendan Rodgers would strike out swinging. Arizona’s first inning would be far more productive as the incredibly hot Lourdes Gurriel Jr., with two outs hammered an 88 mph cutter 385 feet into the left field stands. 1-0 Arizona. Christian Walker also wanted to get in on the action and took the 8th pitch of his at bat 411 feet to straight away center field. 2-0 Arizona. The second inning seems to be when the Rockies can get any sort of traction at the moment. With one out in the top of the second, Elias Diaz got in on the action and delivered his own 411 foot homer to left center off an 82 mph curveball to put the Rockies on the board 2-1. Tovar followed up with his own single but was subsequently picked off on a play that was challenged by Arizona after he was originally called safe. Montero came up next and flew out to right field to end the top of the second. The bottom went much better for the Rockies as Quantrill only saw four batters. Top of the third, three Rockies went up to the plate, three Rockies went back to the dug out. Bottom of the third, looked a lot like the bottom of the first. Marte started it off with a single and then quickly followed it up with stealing second base. Gurriel Jr,. and Walker flew out- giving hope it would be another quick inning. Joc Pederson had other ideas. On a very high chopper to SS Ezequiel Tovar, he was able to not only get a single out of it but Ketel Marte came in to score another run 3-1. Wouldn’t matter though- Gabriel Moreno would end the inning for the Diamondbacks.

The fourth inning was another three up, three down for the Rockies with two strike outs and a groundout. The bottom of the fourth was the same for Arizona with a popout, a groundout and lineout- that was an absolute clinic by LF Nolan Jones on how to hustle for an out.

Fifth inning- just like the fourth was nothing special. Rockies saw another three up three down inning with two flyouts and a popout. Arizona- who is not holding back very early in the season tried to extend their lead with a single to start by Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte but, it would lead to nothing after Carroll was caught stealing third base and then Gurriel Jr. and Walker grounded out. Top of the sixth inning was like a record on repeat- three up, three down. Now, just like the first game, this game has an inning when everything went sideways- like the score. We start off with Joc Pederson singles. Gabriel Moreno then walked. At this time, Bud Black made the choice to bring in Jake Bird to replace Cal Quantrill. Personally, looking back at this choice, unsure that it was the right one. One the next batter, Eugenio Suarez singled, scoring Pederson. 4-1. And to dig it in that much more, Alek Thomas got in on the home run action in the very next at bat off a 95 mph sinker that went 399 feet over the right field wall. 7-1. Fortunately for Colorado, their hurt would end there. Everything was relatively quiet on both sides of the ball until the top of the 8th inning when Chuck Nazty- who by the way is 37 years old and is going into his 13th season with the Rockies- legged out a TRIPLE that scored Brenton Doyle. 7-2. A pitching change occurred after this and on the first pitch, Charlie would score as the ball went past catcher Gabriel Moreno. 7-3.

Unfortunately, the rally would not go any farther and the Rockies fell to the Diamondbacks again, beginning their season 0-2.

Game 3: Colorado beats Arizona 9-4
Starting Pitchers: CO: Austin Gomber AZ: Tommy Henry
Oooof. To say that the first two games of the season have been fun would be a gross overstatement. If anything, it highlights just how far the Rockies have fallen since their last winning season in 2018. The rotation is looking rough with early struggles in command and placement. The offense is also lacking in pop and aggressiveness. The hope is that they can figure out something that will turn this train around quickly and they are going to call on Austin Gomber to do it today. Aquired in the lopsided Arenado trade from St. Louis in 2021, his 2023 was one of the better of the Rockies starters. He went 9-9 with a 5.50 ERA. He will be asked to go up against left hander Tommy Henry whose second season in the big leagues saw him go 5-4 with a 4.15 ERA.

The first inning went pretty much the exact same as the first two games. The Rockies went three up, three down with a line out from Charlie and two strikeouts from Bryant and Jones. Arizona again got out to an early lead from none other than the scortching hot Lourdes Gurriel Jr. whose double to RF scored Ketel Marte. 1-0 Arizona. With runners on second and third, Gabriel Moreno hit an RBI groundout to SS Ezequiel Tovar scoring Corbin Carroll in the process. 2-0. Gomber’s hard time would end there though, ending the inning by striking out Blaze Alexander.
Now the second inning. The first two at bats looked like par for the course at this point. Two ground outs. But Elias Diaz and Ezequiel Tovar had different ideas. Diaz started it off with a single to left field. Which set Tovar up nicely to launch a 90mph fast ball 402 feet to center field- tying the game for the first time in the series. 2-2. Bottom of the second inning saw three of the Diamondbacks best bats coming to the plate and all three of them were sent back to the dugout on a strikeout and two groundouts to third baseman Ryan McMahon. TO THE THIRD!
To kick off the third inning, Charlie Blackmon is proving that even after 13 seasons, he is one of the greatest in the Rockies organization. He gets it going with a single to left field before snagging his first stolen base of the season. Ultimately though, it wouldn’t do much good, the next three batters went down in order just like AZ did with a strikeout and two groundouts. Bottom of the third was really just as interesting- or lacking in interest- as the top was. Corbin Carroll was the first DBack to reach and like Charlie, stole 2nd. Again, nothing would come of it when Gabriel Moreno grounded into a double play catching Christian Walker at second and him at first.
The fourth inning saw the Arizona regiment take the lead back off the bat of Eugenio Suarez launching a four-seam fastball 402 feet into center field. 3-2. Honestly, I wanted to get to the top of the fifth inning because that is where the magic happened. Here we go:
Elehuris Montero: Walk
Brenton Doyle: Single
Charlie Blackmon: Double- Montero and Doyle score- 4-3
Kris Bryant: Walk
Nolan Jones: Triple- Blackmon and Bryant score- 6-3
Brendan Rodgers: Strikeout
Ryan McMahon: Sac fly- Jones scores- 7-3
Elias Diaz: Lineout
Arizona would get one of those runs back off the bat of none other than Lourdes Gurriel Jr. who cranked out his third dinger of the season in as many games. 7-4.
To keep this short and sweet, nothing exciting happened for either team in the sixth and seventh inning. Players came to the plate while other players threw the ball in their general direction and they tried to hit it not at the players assigned to play on the field.
Cool. Now that we have that out of the way, the top of the eighth inning. Montero again found himself waling to first base for the THIRD time tonight- which he would later confirm has never happened in his career. Brenton Doyle wanted to get his stats up a bit after the first two games and launched a rocket of a heavily misplaced sinker (don’t think they are supposed to end up high and inside on the strikezone) 383 feet to the left field seats. This extended the Rockies lead comfortably at this point. 9-4. Arizona was unable to recover from the final nail in their coffin. The Rockies win their first game of the season- good to know we won’t go 0-162.

Game 4: Arizona beats Colorado
Starting Pitchers: CO: Ryan Feltner AZ: Tommy Pfaadt
Maaaaaaan. I guess we could thank the Rockies for setting our expectations early. At least we can safely say we most likely won’t be disappointed in a poor performance from the team. Don’t get me wrong, I wholeheartedly believe that we have an incredibly talented field of players this season. But when you put up three defensive errors that all resulted in runs being scored, it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. A positive from this game though is Ryan Feltner. A kid who took a ball off the head last year and was out with a skull fracture because of it, came in and performed well. He did not deserve the lack of support his defense gave him.

The first inning of this game seemed to continue the trend we’ve been seeing in this series, The Rockies wen’t down in order with a fly out and two strike outs. The bottom of the third was far more fruitful for the Diamondbacks. To start it off, Corbin Carroll drew a walk after battling in a 9-pitch at bat. During Ketel Marte’s at bat, Carroll stole second but was able to advance to third on a rare throwing error from veteran catcher Jacob Stallings. This would come back to bite the Rockies when the scorching hot Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singled up the middle. 1-0. Gurriel Jr. then stole second base in the next at bat- showing just how aggressive Arizona plans to be on the base paths tonight. The stolen base didn’t mean a whole lot in the end though- in the next at bat, Christian Walker launched a nuke 409 feet to center field. 3-0. Thankfully, the bleeding stopped here with a strike out followed by a double play.
The second, third and fourth innings were relatively quiet with no more than four batters being seen by either team. That being said, the third inning did end in a fantastic pick off of Christian Walker while trying to steal second base. The fifth inning was the most exciting by far. The Rockies sent of seven batters to face Tommy Pfaadt. Michael Toglia started the inning off strong with-got hit by a pitch. He would eventually come around to score the Rockies’ only run off a single from catcher Jacob Stallings. 3-1. Unfortunately, that run would mean very little as the Diamondbacks came up. Here’s out it went down:
Tucker Barnahrt: Walk
Geraldo Perdomo: Strike out- Tucker Barnhart steals second
Corbin Carroll: Pop out
Ketel Marte: Reaches on a fielding error by Nolan Jones, Barnhart scores 4-1
Lourdes Gurriel Jr: Doubles- Marte scores 5-1
Christian Walker: Ground out
I will preface that no one else scores the rest of the game but there are a few more things to highlight. In total, the Rockies totaled three errors and despite outhitting Arizona 8-5, still managed a pretty large loss. Their base running was nowhere near as bold or offensive as Arizona’s either. This series, if anything, has shown plenty of weaknesses in this team and they have a lot to work on to prove that they are moving in the right direction this season.

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Formula 1 2024: Australian Grand Prix

Track Insights:

The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix has a rich history dating back to its inception, becoming a pivotal event in the realm of motorsports. Celebrated as the kickstarter of the F1 season, the race unfolds at the charming Albert Park Circuit, nestled in Melbourne, Australia. This prestigious competition allures enthusiasts globally, offering a mix of high-speed drama against a backdrop of stunning vistas. Renowned for its blend of rapid corners and impeccable tarmac, the circuit poses a formidable yet exhilarating challenge for racers. Beyond testing velocity and expertise, the Australian Grand Prix transcends into a cultural fiesta, melding the excitement of racing with the vivacious ambiance of its host city. As one of the seasoned fixtures on the F1 calendar, the Australian Grand Prix has become a sentimental favorite among fans and drivers, cementing its status as an annual spectacle not to be missed.

This track sees drivers go through 14 corners, 2 DRS zones and a lap length of 5.278km. Drivers are tasked with circling this track 58 times for a total of 306.124km.

Starting Grid:
Pole: Max Verstappen: Red Bull
P2: Carlos Sainz: Ferrari
P3: Lando Norris: Mclaren
P4: Charles Leclerc: Ferrari
P5: Oscar Piastri: Mclaren
P6: Sergio Perez: Red Bull (Incurred a 3 place penalty for impeding)
P7: George Russell: Mclaren
P8: Yuki Tsunoda: VCRB
P9: Lance Stroll: Aston Martin
P10: Fernando Alonso: Aston Martin
P11: Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes
P12: Alex Albon: Williams
P13: Valtteri Bottas: Sauber
P14: Kevin Magnussen: HAAS
P15: Esteban Ocon: Alpine
P16: Nico Hulkenberg: HAAS
P17: Pierre Gasly: Alpine
P18: Daniel Ricardo: VCRB
P19: Zhou Guanyu: Sauber

Race Highlights:
MAX VERSTAPPEN IS OUT! For the first time since the 2022 Australian Grand Prix, the reigning World Champion will not finish a race. He goes out after two laps with a rear braking issue that caused it to overheat so much that it not only melted the tire but caught on fire. Prior to this, the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz, who for a man that had his appendix removed some two weeks ago took advantage and was able to pass Verstappen and claim the lead. As the race went on, it would become clear that Red Bull was not the only one with issues. Lewis Hamilton, who has had issues with his car all weekend experienced a complete engine failure at lap 17. Joining Max in the DNF club for the weekend. To add insult to injury for the Mercedes team, on the very last lap of the race and trying to catch Alonso in the Aston Martin when he made massive contact with a wall which then threw the car into the middle of the track and taking any possible world championship points with him.

The theme of the race weekend seems to have been mechanical/supply issues for a variety of teams. The Williams team only entered one car when the race started due to Alex Albon crashing his car during practice in such a way that his chassis was irreparably (on site) damaged. Due to this and the fact that the team did not have alternate chassis’, the decision was made to sit Alex’s teammate Logan Sargaent and have Albon race his car- we can get into real thoughts on this decision later. Additionally, Sauber’s issues continued when Zhou Guanyu picked up some front wing damage but they were unable to fix it because the extra one they had was not to speck. As if this wasn’t enough, Sauber is continuing to experience issues with their pit stops being extended due to wheel nut issues. Both Bottas and Zhou experienced increasing long pit stops throughout the race.

Ferrari really could not have had a better a race if they tried- with the help of Max Verstappen’s car taking itself out, Carlos Sainz is having a stellar race. At this point, it is more of a race for the remaining podium positions which is a battle between Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc and the Mclaren team of Lando Norris and home town kid Oscar Piastri. In the end though, the Ferrari’s seized the opportunity and under the virtual safety car from the Russell crash, took a one-two on the podium with Lando Norris rounding the podium out. Red Bull’s lone driver, Sergio Perez will bring home some world championship points in 5th place but the world championship lead for them is now incredibly small. Although we are only three races in to a twenty-four race season, it is already proving that Red Bull will most definitely not have it as easy as it has been in recent seasons.

Podium:
1st: Carlos Sainz: Ferrari (25)
2nd: Charles Leclerc: Ferrari (19)
3rd: Lando Norris: Mclaren (15)

Formula 1 2024: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Track Insights:
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix made its debut on the Formula 1 calendar in 2021, taking place on the Jeddah Street Circuit. This track winds its way along the Red Sea, offering a stunning backdrop for the intense racing action. The circuit is known for its high-speed nature, tight corners, and long straights, providing an exciting challenge for drivers. Despite being a newcomer to the Formula 1 scene, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has quickly gained popularity among fans for its unique layout and thrilling races. As the Grand Prix continues to establish itself in the world of motorsport, it is sure to become a staple event on the calendar for years to come.

This track has 27 turns, 3 DRS zones and a lap length of 6.174 km. The drivers are asked to complete 50 laps totaling 308.45 km.

Starting Grid:
Pole Position: Max Verstappen: Red Bull
P2: Charles Leclerc: Ferrari
P3: Sergio Perez: Red Bull
P4: Fernando Alonso: Aston Martin
P5: Oscar Piastri: Mclaren
P6: Lando Norris: Mclaren
P7: George Russell: Mercedes
P8: Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes
P9: Yuki Tsunoda: VCRB
P10: Lance Stroll: Aston Martin
P11: Oliver Bearman: Ferrari
P12: Alex Albon: Williams
P13: Kevin Magnussen: HAAS
P14: Daniel Riccardo: VCRB
P15: Nico Hulkenberg: HAAS
P16: Valterri Bottas: Sauber
P17: Esteban Ocon: Alpine
P18: Pierre Gasly: Alpine
P19: Logan Sargeant: Williams
P20: Zhou Guanyu: Suaber

Race Highlights:
The 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix showcased thrilling competition and unexpected twists on the Jeddah Street Circuit. As the drivers navigated the fast and technical track under the shimmering lights, fans were treated to a display of skill and strategy. The race brought moments of both triumph and heartbreak, with several teams executing impressive pit strategies while others grappled with mechanical issues. In the end, the podium finishers celebrated their hard-fought success, adding another chapter to the history of Formula 1 in Saudi Arabia.

Biggest on-track news of the week is that Carlos Sainz will not be racing after undergoing surgery for appendicitis on Friday. HAAS reserve and FP2 driver Oliver Bearman will step into the coveted role and make his F1 debut in his place this weekend.

There was news at lights out that Mclaren’s Lando Norris may have jumped the start. In the end, the Stewards did not find this true and no penaly was given. The ten laps saw quite a bit of drama with Pierre Gasly of Alpine having to retire his vehicle before completing one lap due to gear box issues. a couple laps later, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll would find himself bouncing off the wall-causing him to be slammed into another one and bringing out the only safety car of the race. All but four drivers (Hamilton, Norris, Hulkenburg and Zhou) took the opportunity to pit and get.a fresh set of tires on.

While red Bull was yet again dominant, the real fun was well behind them. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Mclaren’s Oscar Piastri battled for a good amount of the race with the Aussie claiming that he is now a “Mercedes rear wing specialist.” after the race. He would eventually get around the Brit who eventually took 9th. Even though that was a fun battle, eyes were understandably elsewhere during the race. More specifically an 18-year-old in Tifosi red. And he was EXHILARATING. Ollie Bearman, for having I kid you not, 1 hour of practice in a car he’s never been in before had the race of his life. he showed great pace and would ultimately beat out the veteran Brits in Mercedes and Mclaren before finishing P7 and bringing home valuable points in his F1 debut.

Lastly, another fantastic highlight was that of the strategic prowess exhibited by the team at HAAS. With Niko Hulkenburg using the safety car to get his way into 10th place, it was clear that if HAAS wanted a point that day, Hulkenburg was their best bet. With teammate Kevin Magnussen sitting in 12th, he incurred a few 10-second penalties which would put him out of contention for points. So instead of battling to move up, Magnussen was tasked with keeping everyone behind him there and build a gap large enough that Hulkenburg could pit without losing a place. It was a masterpiece in team work. Plus the frustration of drivers behind him was hilarious. In the end though, it was worth it as HAAS got their first point of the season finishing P10.

2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Podium:
1st: Red Bull: Max Verstappen (25)
2nd: Red Bull: Sergio Perez (18)
3rd: Ferrari: Charles Leclerc (16)

Formula 1 2024: Bahrain Grand Prix

Track Insights:

The Bahrain Grand Prix made its debut on the Formula One calendar in 2004, becoming the first race in the Middle East. The event takes place at the Bahrain International Circuit, known for its impressive modern facilities and challenging layout. Over the years, the race has garnered a reputation for delivering exciting moments and intense battles on the track. From dramatic desert sunsets to thrilling wheel-to-wheel racing, the Bahrain Grand Prix has become a staple in the world of motorsport, capturing the hearts of fans around the globe.

Bahrain Grand Prix Circuit

This track has 15 turns, 3 DRS zones and a lap length of 5.412 km. The drivers are asked to complete 57 laps totaling 308.238 km.

Starting Grid:
Pole: Max Verstappen- Red Bull
P2: Charles Leclerc- Ferrari
P3: George Russell- Mercedes
P4: Carlos Sainz- Ferrari
P5: Sergio Perez- Red Bull
P6: Fernando Alonso- Aston Martin
P7: Lando Norris- Mclaren
P8: Oscar Piastri- Mclaren
P9: Lewis Hamilton- Mercedes
P10: Nico Hulkenberg- HAAS
P11: Yuki Tsunoda- VCRB
P12: Lance Stroll- Aston Martin
P13: Alex Albon- Williams
P14: Daniel Riccardo- VCRB
P15: Kevin Magnussen- HAAS
P16: Valtteri Bottas- Sauber
P17: Zhou Gyuanu- Sauber
P18: Logan Sargeant- Williams
P19: Esteban Ocon- Alpine
P20: Pierre Gasly- Alpine

Race Highlights:
The 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix unfolded as a high-octane spectacle where speed, precision, and tactical prowess converged on the scorching tarmac. Watching drivers test their machines to the brink in the unforgiving desert heat enthralled the audience, delivering a rollercoaster of a race marked by fierce rivalries, calculated pit strategies, and heart-stopping maneuvers. Each lap brought fresh excitement, culminating in a finish that left an indelible mark on the motorsport community, destined to be recounted and cherished for generations to follow.

Red Bull and Max Verstappen continued their dominance with a practically perfect outing from both the Dutchman and his counterpart Sergio Perez with a 1-2 finish. The only fending off Verstappen had to do this entire race was on the first turn from Ferrari’s Charles Leclrec. From there, he was untouchable. His two pit stops were made with so much space they looked like practice stops. It also helped that their competitors experienced multiple issues throughout the race. Mercedes, who was on the podium for a good portion of the race thanks to George Russell saw themselves having to settle for 5th and 7th due to overheating in both cars and various other issues (including a broken seat in Hamilton’s). Ferrari, who is seen as Red Bull’s biggest competitor this season saw a pretty successful run for both their drivers. Charles Leclerc who started second on the grid ended up finishing just off the podium in fourth after experiencing consistent lock ups and increased tire degredation. His teammate, Carlos Sainz, who is will be spending this season proving that he deserves a seat somewhere next year raced spectacularly and rounded out the podium spots in third place. Mclaren and Aston Martin’s teams also grabbed double points as all of their drivers finished in the top 10.

While we had no retirements during our season opener, there were a couple notable happenings. First, there were multiple teams expressing issues with pace. Including Aston Martin, Mercedes and Williams- whose drivers were struggling with new dashboards on their steering wheels. Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas- who currently holds the record for the slowest pit stop in F1 history- made a play for that record when he had to sit through a 52 second pit stop due to a wheel nut issue in one of tire guns. Lastly, Visa CashApp Red Bull Racing will have to figure out how to get their drivers working together and on the same page. At the end of the race, it was communicated to Yuki Tsunoda that he would be switching places with teammate Daniel Riccardo as it was a hope that he could fight for higher a higher spot in the last laps. Per the team radio, Riccardo felt that Tsunoda didn’t adhere to the directive early enough and then made a pass at him in the cool down lap that he did not find professional.

This season is going to be very fun to watch. The common understanding is that Red Bull will be the team to beat and it will be fun to see who makes the necessary corrections to possibly give them a run for their money.

Podium:
1st: Red Bull: Max Verstappen (26)
2nd: Red Bull: Sergio Perez (18)
3rd: Ferrari: Carlos Sainz (15)

2023 NFL Playoffs: Super Wildcard Weekend

Game 1: Cleveland Browns (11-6) at Houston Texans (10-7):
Houston beats Cleveland 45-14
The Joe Flacco led Cleveland Browns made the trip to the south for their first postseason appearance since 2020 to face the rookie led Houston Texans who have something to prove.
1st Quarter:
The first quarter had six total possessions (3 a piece). Cleveland’s first two possessions ended in punts with no more than two and half minutes of possession. Houston’s first two possessions were slightly different. While their first ended in a punt, they were able to convert their second into some points with a 21-yard field goal. Cleveland responded by marching down the field 75-yard to get their first points of the game with a 1-yard run by Kareem Hunt. This put them in the lead 7-3. That lead would not last long though as the Texans would finish out the first quarter with their first touchdown off a 15-yard pass from rookie quarterback CJ Stroud to Brevin Jordan. Making the score 10-7 at the end of the 1st quarter.
2nd Quarter:
The second quarter saw more of the same action from the first. Cleveland and Houston traded touchdowns on their possessions with Joe Flacco finding Kareem Hunt in the endzone for an 11-yard touchdown and CJ Stroud tossing a rocket 76-yards to Brevin Jordan, giving the Texas regiment the lead again 17-14. The next three possessions (2 for CLE and 1 for TEX) were uneventful with them all ending in puts. With the offense back out on the field for the third time this quarter, the Texans took the opportunity to share the love and expand their lead with another CJ Stroud passing touchdown (37 -yards this time) to Dalton Schultz. End the half ahead 24-14.
3rd Quarter:
Oh man. I don’t know who said what or what they gave the Texans defense as midgame snacks but they came out a completely different defense. We start off the half with Houston receiving the ball just to punt it eight plays later. While technically, Cleveland had three possessions in this quarter, the first one was intercepted by Steven Nelson and returned for an incredible 82-yard touchdown. Adding another seven points to the Texans score, 31-14. Joe Flacco and the Browns immediately got the ball back for their second possession and lost it just as quickly with another pick-six from the Houston defense- this time it was Christian Harris who went 36-yards in the opposite direction for an extended 38-14 lead.
4th Quarter:
If there was ever a time for Cleveland to come back, these last 15 minutes would have been the time to do it. Houston would take the first possession of the quarter and add the last points that this game would see with a 19-yard rushing touchdown from Devin Singletary. Making this game a runaway 45-14. Cleveland’s fourth quarter strategy was to go for it on every down- and while they did, twice, both times ended in turnovers on downs. Essentially ending their season. Once the clock got under two minutes, the Texans took victory formation and ended the game. The Texans move on to the Divisional round to face the #1 seeded Baltimore Ravens.

Game 2: Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas beats Miami 26-7
I will say, as a born and raised Denver Broncos fan, we will be rooting for the Dolphins throughout this game and, if we are being honest, it’s nice to see the Chiefs, who have been incredibly dominant since 2015, struggling this season. This game will be the real test of whether they still have it as a football powerhouse or if it is the beginning of the fall of a “dynasty”.
1st Quarter:
With the weather getting colder by the minute, the Chiefs got off to a hot start with a 69-yard opening drive touchdown off an 11-yard pass from QB Patrick Mahomes to Rashee Rice. Miami’s first possession would not be as exciting as they only went six plays before having to punt it away. The Chiefs did the same thing right after, only making it three plays though. On the last drive of the quarter, the Dolphins were doing their best to chug along through the bitter cold when QB Tua Tagovailoa tossed one up and right into the hands of Chiefs Safety Mike Edwards who hauled it in for the first turnover of the game.
2nd Quarter:
The Chiefs were unable to do anything substantial with the turnover, settling for a field goal after going 48-yards on 10 plays. Which would put their lead at 10 points over the Dolphins. Miami took their next possession- which only lasted 50 seconds- to finally put some points on the board with a phenomenal deep 53-yard pass from Tagavailoa to Tyreek Hill. The Chiefs answered back by tacking on another field goal, extending their lead 13-7. The next five posessions, three from Miami and two from Kansas City would not turn out to be anything exciting except for the addition of another Kansas field goal. At the end of the half, which saw the most possessions combined than any other quarter, the Chiefs were up 16-7 on the Dolphins.
3rd Quarter
Three and a half long possessions. That is all the third quarter consisted of. I think at this point, we started to see just how much of an impact on the elements were having on this game. But what is playoff football without Mother Nature making her presence known? There were seven incomplete passes and four rushes for no or negative yardage. The Dolphins received the ball to begin the half and their turn was over with a punt just as soon as it started. Kansas City made out a little better in their first possession of the half, settling for a field goal putting them up 19-7. Miami took the ball back with a little under half the quarter left and when their time was done- four minutes and forty-two seconds to be exact- they had taken nine plays to go nine yards. There was a first down in there (we see you brotherly shove and we respect you) but the sack of Tagavailoa negated most of those gains.
4th Quarter
The Chiefs received the ball back with a little more than three minutes left in the third quarter and they marched down the field for seven minutes and 64 yards, and a little help from some yellow flags, they found themselves in the endzone again off a shotgun snap not to QB Patrick Mahomes, but to RB Isiah Pacheco who then ran it in for a touchdown. It would be the last score of the game but it was enough to put the very frigid and frozen nail in the Dolphins coffin at 26-7. To the Dolphin’s credit, they did their best in their next two drives to risk it but they could not get the biscuit. Both drives ended at 12 plays and never got them close enough to add points. The last exciting piece of this game was the Chiefs last possession when RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire was tackled by Miami CB Ethan Bonner who stripped the ball out on the way down causing a fumble that was recovered by Da’Shawn Hand which just goes to show you that even when they were down to the wire with literally no way to come back and win, they were resilient and balled out.
Kansas City’s playoff success continues but they will be faced with something they never have before, a road playoff game that is not the Super Bowl when they head to the North East to play the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional round.

Game 3: Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys
Green Bay beats Dallas 48-32
Oh my goodness! This game was exciting! For Green Bay to come into Dallas and absolutely pull them apart piece by piece was not a pick I had on my bingo card.
1st Quarter
I mean, Green Bay did not come to mess around. And that point was made incredibly clear when they start the game with a touchdown drive. Eight minutes, 16 plays and 67 yards saw Aaron Jones run the ball in to put the pack up 7-0. I think we were all expecting Dallas to answer in a very similar fashion and yet, their first possession lasted a little over three minutes before they were forced to punt. Green Bay’s second possession went very much the same way. Now here is where the fun (or depression dependent on who you were rooting for) started. On Dallas’s second possession, QB Dak Prescott was looking for WR Brandin Cooks when Packers CB Jaire Alexander intercepted the ball with amazing field position.
2nd Quarter
The Packers would not squander this opportunity and finished what Alexander started by giving the ball to Jones again who crossed the pylons and adding to their lead 14-0. I would assume that the thought on the Dallas sideline at this point would be to get something going. It just wouldn’t happen on their drive as it ended the way their previous ones had thus far- in a punt. Green Bay on the other hand just kept it rolling. At this point, their defense wanted in on the points as well. The offense went first. 93 yards and 11 plays ended in a Jordan Love passing touchdown to Dontayvion Wicks- 21-0 to those keeping score at home. Dallas got the ball back again and proceeded to lose it five plays later on another ill-placed throw from Prescott that was intended for WR CeeDee Lamb that was intercepted (again) but this time by Darnell Savage who RAN IT BACK 64 YARDS FOR A PICK-6. With the extra point good, we were staring down the barrel of a 27-0 Packers lead over the undefeated at home Dallas Cowboys. Under two minutes left in the half and Dallas gets one last chance. They were actually able to do something with this one. Albeit they kept us waiting. With two seconds left in the half, Prescott finally found one of his own players in the form of TE Jake Ferguson in the end zone. Ending the half with a score of 27-7.
3rd Quarter
Dallas received the ball to start the second half and the hope was that they got the pep-talk of their lives during half time. Whatever it was, it kind of worked? I think what Cowboys fans were hoping for was for them to come out and turn it around-which did not happen. On their first possession of the half, they settled for a field goal making a small gain on the Packer’s substantial lead, 27-10. Green Bay got the ball back for their first possession of the half and did not let off the gas. If anything, they pushed harder. They held onto the ball for two minutes and forty-five seconds and 75 yards for yet another Aaron Jones running touchdown. Erasing the earlier points obtained by Dallas- 34-10. At this point, Dallas got a teeny tiny spark and it felt like they started to put in the effort. They responded with a touchdown of their own from Tony Pollard after an 82-yard barrage. 34-17. Looking at this you’d think, okay, no we’re talking. It’s interesting. Green Bay said, “Hold my beer.”. Jordan Love, seriously, this kid deserves all the praise. He gets it done and he gets it done quick. 1:36 was their TOTAL time of possession and it ended with a beautiful, 38-yard pass from Love to Luke Musgrave to the end zone to just continue the beatdown on the home team. 41-17. The third quarter would come to a close with Dallas doing their level best to stay in this game but it is just not going their way. This possession, like several others, would end in a turnover on downs giving Green Bay another great field position.
4th Quarter
With the fantastic field position, the Packers did not have to do much or go far to capitalize. but it was one of their longer drives. At this point in the game, I would think that the strategy shifts from putting points on the board to using up as much time as humanly possible. With this drive, they were able to do both. Love was able to take them down the 40 yards and get a pass of to Romeo Doubs for a touchdown. It would be their last score of the game and the cherry on top of a very delicious sundae. 48-17. Now Dallas finally found their rhythm during this quarter but it wouldn’t be enough. In their first 2 possessions of the game, they managed to find the endzone. The first one was a seven yard pass from Dak Prescott to Jaylon Ferguson and didn’t stop there. They went for the two-point conversion and succeeded. Cutting the Pack’s lead 48-25. Their second touchdown of the quarter was almost a mirror image of the first. Prescott threw a 14 yard pass to Ferguson and succeeded in another two-point conversion. But at the end of the day, it wouldn’t be enough. Dallas would get the ball one more time before the end of the game but it would end in a turnover on downs and it would end the Cowboys season in probably one of the most disappointing endings to a season in recent years. The Greenbay Packers ended the game 48-32 and will go to San Francisco next week to play the 49ers.

Game 4: Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions
Detroit beats Los Angeles 24-23
Staffords’ much anticipated return to Detroit is a one for the storybooks. With the home team making it’s first playoff appearance in 30 years, going up against Stafford and the Rams who happen to be Detroit QB Jared Goff’s former team, there is a lot of history here.
1st Quarter
The first quarter had Detroit coming out ready to go. They received the ball first and they made quick use of their time. In five and half minutes, they took the ball 75-yards and found their way into the end zone with a one yard rush from running back David Montgomery. 7-0. The Rams first possession of the game was not as efficient. While they spent almost the same amount of time on the field, they only made it 54-yards and had to settle for a field goal. 7-3. With their second possession, Detroit’s energy didn’t subside. In my opinion, it may have even gone up. They cut their total possession time for the drive almost in half and with a shotgun pass to running back Jahmyr Gibbs for another touchdown. 14-3.
2nd Quarter
The Rams ended the first quarter and started the second by They topped off a 72-yard drive with a 50-YARD pass from quarterback Matthew Stafford to wide receiver Puka Nakua. 14-10. The Lions answered right back on their possession- not in as little time, but they still went 69-yards. Ending the drive with a short two yard pass from QB Jared Goff to tight end Sam LaPorta. 21-10. At this point, the theme of the game was set. Neither team was going to back down and they are going score for score at this point. With their second possession of the quarter, the Rams continued to keep the Lions within not even a full score ahead. As not to waste the minimal time they had before half time, Stafford does what he’s been doing this whole game, going yard. This time he went 38 yards to find WR Tutu Atwell for another touchdown. 21-17. Detroit got the ball one more time before the end of the first half but were unable to do anything with it. They ended up punting it back to the Rams who ended the half trailing by 4.
3rd Quarter
Los Angeles got the ball to start the second half and did pretty much nothing with it. After a little over a minute and a half, they had to give the ball back to Detroit. Detroit, while they were able to get a little more out of their possession than LA did. While they were only able to go 44 yards, the most impressive part of their drive was the end when their Kicker Michael Badgely drilled one through the uprights from 54 yards. 24-17. With Detroit pulling away, the Rams had to figure something out. They did a little better on their last possession of the quarter- even getting to the red zone. But alas, the touchdown eluded them and they settled for a field goal as well. 24-20.
4th Quarter
With a very lack luster third quarter, the Lions got the back to start the fourth quarter and did absolutely nothing. Again. After only going 13 yards on six plays, they had to kick the ball away. Los Angeles’s next possession would be the last one to score points in the game. In what would be one of their last chances to bring it home, they fell just short. Literally. They got into the red zone but were unable to covert it into anything meaningful. Instead they settled for a 29-yard field goal that put them within one point of the Lions. I’m sure their hope was that the Lions wouldn’t be able to do anything with their remaining time on offense (spoiler alert: they didn’t). And then they would get one, maybe two more attempts if they were lucky to put some points on the board. Alas, both teams were unable to convert any of their offensive time on field into points and the Detroit Lions, for the first time in three decades not only won a playoff game, but did it at home in front of some very deserving fans.

Game 5: Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills
Buffalo beats Pittsburgh 31-17
After a significant delay in this game due to Mother Nature deciding to absolutely DUMP and I mean feet on feet on feet of snow- to the point that the Bills hired fans to shovel the snow out of the seats. None the less, Buffalo is no stranger to the playoffs in recent years but luck has not been on their side. Pittsburgh is back in the playoffs to show that the years they’ve spent rebuilding their historic franchise.
1st Quarter
The first quarter was action packed with five puts, two touchdowns and fumble. With the Bills winning the coin toss, Pittsburgh was the first to receive the ball and start the game. It ended just as quickly as it started. After about two and half minutes, their first possession ended in a 31-yard punt- putting Buffalo at their own 20 for their first go. The Bills were a little more efficient with their first possession- going 80 yards in 11 plays for a touchdown from QB Josh Allen to Tight End Dawson Knox for a touchdown. 7-0. The next two possessions (1 by both teams) went less than ten yards and both ended in punts. On Pittsburgh’s third possession of the quarter, it lasted a who six seconds when WR Diontea Johnson fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Bills line backer Terrell Bernard- giving Buffalo great field positioning at the Pittsburgh 29-yard line. The Bills made the quickest possible work of the opportunity they could and on the next play, Allen found TE Dalton Kincade for a deep 29-yard pass and adds another seven points to their side of the scoreboard. 14-0. As the quarter came to an end, the next two possessions (again 1 for each team)- ended quickly and in punts.
2nd Quarter
The Steelers started off the second quarter with their offense on the field and looked like they were just marching on down the field for a touchdown. It started off incredibly strong with a 33-yard pass to TE Pat Freiermuth. There were a couple 11 and 12 yard plays sprinkled in there. In total, they went 79 yards before disaster struck when CB Kaiir Elam intercepted the ball intended for Diontae Johnson. Now, it’s not like Buffalo intercepted the ball and gained some great field position- they were spotted at their own 20-yard line. But if this next possession of theirs didn’t get you on the Josh Allen fandwagon (see what I did there?), then are you really a football fan? They took their time and got down the field in small incriments. A run for a few years here. A pass for a few yards there. The real, and i’m not afraid to say this, play of the game. The whole game. Came when Quarterback Josh Allen legged out a 52 YARD RUN FOR A TOUCHDOWN. If you haven’t seen this play, I got you covered. 21-0. The Steelers got the ball back for their second possession of the quarter and it ended pretty much just as quickly. They got a whole three yards before they punted it back to Buffalo. Their second possession was also fruitless. But not for the same reason. They actually made a good amount of progress towards some points but were denied when their field goal was blocked by defensive tackle Montravious Adams. This seemed to have lit a spark on the Pittsburgh side. They took advantage of the apportunity given to them by their defense and made quick work at the Bills lead. In thirty-five seconds of play time, the Steelers went the 33-yards needed and managed to get their first points of the game on the board. 21-7. Buffalo got one more chance before the half but were unable to do more than go a couple yards before kneeling the ball and calling it half time.
3rd Quarter
To start the second half, the Bills got the ball. If you happened to peep the Rams/Lions game over the weekend, then you pretty much saw exactly how this quarter went. With their first possession of the half, the Bills did absolutely nothing. They moved the ball a whole two yards before having to punt it away and give Pittsburgh their first crack at closing the points gap. Which, they kind of did. Settling for a field goal at the end of five minutes and 48-yards. 21-10. With their last possession of the quarter, Buffalo echoed the Steelers. They also went 48-yards, capping off an almost eight minute offensive turn with a field goal to offset the one just kicked by the Pittsburgh regiment. 24-10.
4th Quarter
To start off the last 15 minutes of this snow packed freeze fest, Pittsburgh had their work cut out for them. Trailing by two scores, every possession this quarter would be essential and their defense was going to have to put a stop to whatever Buffalo was going to throw (or run) at them. Their first attempt was as successful as they could have hoped. Their 75-yard trek down the frozen field was as capped off by a shotgun pass from QB Mason Rudolph to wide receiver Calvin Austin that ended up in the back of the endzone and cutting the Bills’ lead to just one score. 24-17. I won’t keep you in suspense though, it wouldn’t be enough. On the next possession, the Bills erased any progress that was made by scoring their own touchdown on a Josh Allen 17-yard pass to Khalil Shakir. 31-17. It would be the last score of the game as both teams would be unsuccessful in their final possessions. Pittsburgh left it all out on the field and ended up turning over the ball on downs for their last possession. Buffalo wanted to cement their win just a little more but missed the field goal on their last try. The Bills and Bills Mafia will move on to the divisional round where they play host to the Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Game 6: Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay beats Philadelphia 25-9
Baker Mayfield is coming into the post season with nothing lose and everything to prove. For someone who is on his fourth team in six years, he is heading up a team that last saw the post season when a certain veteran QB was at the ships helm and lead them to a championship. Philadelphia is coming into this game not on the best foot. They have struggled this season more than in recent ones and if you watched this game, the struggle not only continued, it was a factor in their loss.
1st Quarter
The first quarter of this game was dominated predominantly by the Buccaneers. Their first possession lasted just under five minutes and was stopped short of any substantial score. But it’s early. They took the field goal and called it good. 3-0. The Eagles first possession was less fruitful in it’s endeavors. They charged down the field a whole 19 yards in seven plays before having to punt the ball back to Tampa. Part of what I really liked about this game was that the Buccaneers looked like they were just out there to have fun. And their second possession showed that mentality. They spent far less time on this possession- less than 90 seconds (playing time)- and got quite a bit more bang for their buck with a gorgeous 44 yard touchdown pass from QB Baker Mayfield to WR David Moore. 10-0. Philadelphia’s second and final possession of the quarter ended just like their first one except it took less plays and went fewer yards before they gave it back to the Bucs.
2nd Quarter
Tampa Bay ended the first and started the second quarter with the ball but for the over five minutes that they had the ball, they went only 40-yards and had to settle for adding just a little to their lead with a field goal. 16-0. Philadelphia’s first possession of the quarter was almost identical to Tampa’s but in half the time. They went 48 yards in two and half minutes but also had to settle for a field goal 16-3. On their second turn with the ball, Tampa did exactly what they did in their first possession. 14 plays and 45 yards later, they kicked yet another field goal. Are we getting the theme here? Don’t worry. The Eagles finally came through with a meaningful (or what we thought at the time would be) score. 80 yards ended with short little pass to TE Dallas Goedert for a touchdown. In an attempt to cut the Bucs lead even more, Philly went for a two point conversion but were unsuccessful in securing the extra points. 16-9. The end of the half was nothing of note. Tampa ended up punting after going only 23 yards and Philadelphia got only 31 yards before the half came to an end and both teams went to their respective locker rooms to regroup.
3rd Quarter
This half was DOMINATED by the Buccaneers. I don’t know what was said to them in the locker room at half time but they did not let off the gas. If anything, they pushed the pedal to the floor and the Eagles, as mighty as they are could not handle it. Philly got the ball to start the second half and almost immediately had to give it to Tampa. They had a total possession time of one and half minutes and managed to go -10 yards on just five plays. To be fair, the first four possessions of the quarter all went this way. Tampa punted on their first two possessions after gaining a handful of yards. The real fun didn’t start until Philadelphia was on their third possession of the quarter, starting from their own 10 yard line, QB Jalen Hurts was flagged for intentional grounding, incurring a 14 yard penalty and giving the Buccaneers a rare safety. 18-9. To add insult to injury, Philly had to kick the back to The Bay after. QB Baker Mayfield didn’t waste anytime either. Taking just under a minute, he went full send and got his team another seven points off a massive 56-yard touchdown to wide receiver Trey Palmer. 25-9.
4th Quarter
Like I said above, this half was all Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and nothing showed that more than this quarter. Let me give you a quick rundown of how the five total possessions went down in this quarter and let’s see if you can tell me which team had the ball:
Possession 1: Turnover on Downs
Possession 2: Touchdown
Possession 3: Turnover on Downs
Possession 4: Turnover on Downs
Possession 5: End of Game
To offer a little perspective here, the last time the Eagles would score in this game was in the second quarter. Both teams gave it their all but in the end, Tampa did simply out played the reigning NFC Champions. They put up a very impressive 32 points to Philly’s 9. With their upset, Tampa will have to head north to the Motor City and take on Detroit in the divisional series.

Formula 1: 2023 Season in Review

Other than RedBull winning all but one race this entire season, there is a lot to sift through in these 23 races. And this season did not disappoint. When I watch and read about Formula 1, it reminds me a lot of a high school. Before you come for me, hear me out. You have cliques which are represented by each team. You have the cool kids (RedBull, Mercedes, Ferrari and Mclaren) who will be really nice to each other in person but have no problem ripping each other apart passive aggressively. Then you have the kids who aren’t quite cool enough but aren’t considered nerds (Aston Martin, Alpha Tauri and Alpine). Lastly, you have the socially awkward kiddos who the cool kids only hang out with so they can get help with their homework (HAAS, Alfa Romeo, and Williams). The dynamic of these relationships really is like watching a social experiment every race week/end. But I digress. Let’s get into this season:

Sector 1::

Bahrain:
1. Max Verstsappen (Red bull) (25)
2. Sergio Perez (Red bull) (18)
3. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) (15)
- Notable actions: Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc misses podium after retiring late in the race (Lap 39) due to an engine issue. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon had a race to forget after incurring a 5-second penalty for lining up on his grid spot incorrectly which was compounded with a 10-second penalty for serving the previous penalty incorrectly (yes you read that right) and then had another 5 seconds tacked on for speeding in the pit lane, he was finally put out of his misery and retired after 41 laps. Oscar Piastri who made his debut for Mclaren was retried early in his inaugural race (13 laps in) due to engine issues.
Saudi Arabia:
1. Sergio Perez (Red bull) (25)
2. Max Verstappen (Red bull) (19)
3. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) (15)
- Notable Actions: Red Bull spread the love with a swapping of P1 and P2 from the previous race. While Alonso took the lead momentarily from Perez, he suffered a time penalty due to lining up in his grid spot incorrectly- to which he was penalized further when it was determined that his rear jack mechanic touched the car prior to his original penalty being served- which would have pushed him to P4 but the stewards ruled that his P3 finish would stand. Our retirements in this race were Williams’ Alex Albon (Lap 27) who suffered issues with his terminal break issues and Lance Stroll (Lap 16) who was going strong in the front before being told that he needed to stop his Aston Martin and could not continue early on.
Australia:
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) (25)
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) (18)
3. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) (15)
- Notable Actions: They say 3rd time is the charm and this race sure didn’t disappoint. Max Verstappen, while losing the lead to both Mercedes was victorious in the end thanks to several safety cars and a few red flags. We saw eight retirements in this race from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (Lap 0) who crashed into Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll in the first lap- Stroll would place P4 in the end. Williams’ Alex Albon was retired for his second race in a row after a crash out on lap 6. Mercedes George Russell was the third to retire early on (Lap 17) with engine failures. On lap 56, Pierre Gasly, in an attempt to avoid a collision, ended up crashing into his Alpine teammate Esteban Ocon forcing them both out of the race on the spot. Additionally, the other Williams’ driven by Logan Sargeant (Lap 56), Alpha Tauri’s Nyck De Vrys (Lap 56) and HAAS’s Kevin Magnussen (Lap 51) were all retired before the end of the race for multiple issues caused by collisions.
Azerbaijan:
1. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) (25)
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) (18)
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) (15)
- Notable Actions: Perez had a perfect weekend with his P1 finishes in both the first sprint of the season and the GP. Ferrari saw it’s first podium of the season with a P3 finish after a late battle with Alonso’s Aston Martin. This race was not without drama- even from the start. HAAS’s Hulkenberg and Alpine’s Ocon were sent to the back of the grid due to changes made to their suspensions under parc ferme conditions which is a no-no. Due to track conditions, mandatory pit stops where in place which caused several drivers to lose places at the end of the race- strategy being that there would be more safety car action. We only had two retirements in this race: Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu (Lap 36) who had unspecified technical issues and Alpha Tauri’s Nyck De Vries (Lap 11) (for the second consecutive race) after he clipped the wall on turn 5 causing his car to stop just before turn 6.
United States (Miami):
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) (26)
2. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) (18)
3. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) (15)
- Notable Actions: Verstappen had one of the best drives of the season thus far. Starting out the race in P9, he hustled his way through the field of eight in front of him and came to rest behind his teammate Perez before he got a fresh set of tires on with 10 laps left. He was able to comfortably take over the lead from Perez and held it until the checkered flag was waved. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz who finished P5 was the only one to receive a 5-second penalty this race due to speeding in the pit lane. We had no retirements in this race.
Emilia Romagna: Cancelled due to inclement weather
Monaco:
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) (25)
2. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) (18)
3. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) (15)
- Notable Actions: Estie Besties Rejoice! Monaco did not disappoint. It had it all. Mother Nature decided to add some fun to the race with an unexpected storm causing chaos as teams scrambled to get intermediate tires on their vehicles which threw many one-stop strategies into the fire. Max Verstappen and Red Bull made the crucial decision to switch to intermediate tires as soon as the rain began to fall which helped him keep his lead throughout the race. Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin made a slight error in switching to medium tires as the rain began but quickly had to re-pit for intermediate tires when the rain started to come down harder. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon kept the momentum from his impressive qualifying- giving Alpine their best finish of the season with P3. We had two retirements in this race: HAAS’s Kevin Magnussen retired late on in the race (Lap 70) after they wet-tire gamble failed. Lance Stroll brought up the back of the pack with his second retirement of the season (Lap 53) after he incurred various run ins with other drivers and barriers.

Sector 2:

Spain:
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) (26)
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) (18)
3. George Russell (Mercedes) (15)
- Notable Actions: It has become extremely apparent that Red Bull and more specifically, Max Verstappen will be the team to beat this season. Mercedes had their best race of the season, finishing with a double podium behind Red Bull. Mercedes George Russell arguably had the best race of the day after starting the race in P12. The biggest shock of this race was prior to its start when Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was relegated to the pit lane to start due to having his entire back end replaced under parc ferme conditions- Logan Sargeant of WIlliams Racing was also sent to the pit lane with suspension set up and brake cooling adjustments. No drivers retired during this race.
Canada:
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) (25)
2. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) (18)
3. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) (15)
-Notable Actions: Max Verstappen continued Red Bull’s reign this weekend with a lights-to-flag win. Giving Red Bull their 100th team win. Fernando Alonso regained his spot on the podium with a P2 finish for Aston Martin. Followed by Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in P3. These two battled it out for P2 with Alonso besting Hamilton with differing strategies. Hamilton’s teammate George Russell missed out on a possible podium finish after he hopped a curb and crashed into the wall early in the race. While repairs were made and he went back out, he would eventually retire (Lap 53) with too much damage being done to the car. Williams’ Logan Sargeant was another casualty and was told by his pit wall to stop his car immediately due to a “critical message”- leading to a safety car. Penalties in this race went to Mclaren’s Lando Norris for unsportsmanlike conduct during a safety car (which cost him his points finish).
Austria:
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) (26)
2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) (18)
3. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) (15)
- Notable Actions: Red Bull was again triumphant- and at their home track no less. Verstappen made a clean sweep of pole positions and race wins in both the sprint race and grand prix. What was most notable for this race was the sheer number of time penalties handed out during and post race due to a protest lodged by Aston Martin. Which had an impact on who ended up where in the final standings. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was the hardest hit with a post race 10-second penalty for track limit violations which saw him drop form P4 to P6. Also caught up in the complaint, Williams’ Logan Sargeant and both Alpha Tauri’s Nyck De Vries and Yuki Tsunoda were handed 5-second penalties. Nyck De Vries along with Mercedes Lewis Hamilton, Williams’ Alex Albon and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly were handed 10-second penalties. But the most penalized racer was Alpine’s Esteban Ocon who received two 5-second and two 10-second penalties. Our only retirement of the race was HAAS’s Nico Hulkenburg whose car lost power causing him to park on the side of the track.
Great Britain:
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) (26)
2. Lando Norris (Mclaren) (18)
3. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) (15)
- Notable Actions: It was a good day for the home town kids Hamilton and Norris who both ended on the podium behind yet another Red Bull and Max Verstappen win. Mclaren and Mercedes did incredibly well finishing P2-P5 (P2: Norris, P3: Hamilton, P4: Piastri, P5: Russell). Williams’ saw their best finishes of the season with Logan Sergeant finishing P11 which is a personal best and Alex Albon finishing P8. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll finished P14 after receiving a penalty for his collision with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly causing him to retire later on (Lap 46). This just compounded Alpine’s bad luck as Esteban Ocon was forced to pit early on (Lap 9) due to technical issues. HAAS’ Kevin Magnussen was also forced to retire (Lap 33) after his car started smoking.
Hungary:
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) (26)
2. Lando Norris (Mclaren) (18)
3. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) (15)
- Notable Actions: Max and Checo kept Red Bull’s winning 100% win streak in tact this weekend with help from a struggling Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes. Unable to convert his 104th pole position into a 104th win, Mercedes’ Hamilton would end up settling for P4. In the first lap, Alfa Romero’s Zhou Guanyu attempted to make up some speed after taking it slow inside turn 2 but ended up hitting Alpha Tauri’s Daniel Riccardo who then ricocheted into Alpine’s Ocon and Gasly causing them both to retire, for the second consecutive weekend, with significant damage to both vehicles. Williams’ Logan Sargeant was the third retirement (Lap 69) after spinning out.
Belgium:
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) (25)
2. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) (18)
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) (15)
- Notable Actions: Verstappen started the race P6 after receiving a gear box penalty post qualifying but it did nothing to stop him from winning his 10th victory this season and Red Bull’s 12th consecutive. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was originally able to hold his pole position when the lights went out but it would not last against the relentlessness of the Red Bull team. While Ferrari would end up on the podium, their luck would take a turn after Sainz would get into a tangle with Mclaren’s Oscar Piastri causing the rookie to clip the wall and stop on the side of the track and retire due to damage. Sainz would also retire later (Lap 23) from damage.
Netherlands:
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) (25)
2. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) (19)
3. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) (15)
- Notable Actions: The hometown kid brought it home again. As been the theme of the season, Max Verstappen was once again dominant no matter what Mother Nature threw at him but it was not without its challenges. With rain making an appearance late in the race, and a red flag after Zhou Guanyu’s Alfa Romeo crashed, the Dutchman’s win was much closer than he and Red Bull probably would have liked. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was back on the podium for the first time since Canada (also gaining the Fastest Lap point). Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, who technically crossed the finish line 4th, was promoted to the podium in 3rd place after Red Bull’s Sergio Perez was issued a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane. We had three retirements in this race: Williams Logan Sargeant (Lap 14), Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (Lap 41- floor damage from crash) and as stated earlier, Zhou Guanyu (Lap 62).
Italy:
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) (25)
2. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) (18)
3. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) (15)
- Notable Actions: The streak continues for Red Bull Racing with a 1-2 finish from Verstappen and Perez. Ferrari came in next with a 3-4 finish and a long fight between it’s drivers for that third podium spot. Sainz would eventually come out on too in the last milliseconds of the race due to an unfortunate lock-up by his team mate in the final lap. Mercedes would follow up Red Bull and Ferrari with their own 5-6 finish between Russell and Hamilton respectively- both serving five second time penalties. Russell for leaving the track and gaining an advantage and Hamilton for crashing into Mclaren’s Oscar Piastri. We had one retirement this race from Alpine’s Esteban Ocon (Lap 39) due to a technical issue. The other notable action was the non-start of AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda who didn’t make it to the start of the race after an engine failure during the formation lap sidelined him.

Sector 3:

Singapore:
1. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) (25)
2. Lando Norris (Mclaren) (18)
3. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) (16)
- Notable Actions: “That’s on purpose.”! In a shocking turn of events, Red Bull, the racing powerhouse’s winning streak has come to an end. Carlos Sainz had arguably one of the best races of his career and if you listened to the team radio, Sainz wasn’t just racing for himself, he was doing his level best to get former teammate Lando Norris on that podium next to him with a little DRS help in the final laps. Red Bull’s Verstappen had his worst race to date, finishing 5th and being overtaken by the race leaders for the first time this year. Four drivers did not cross the finish line in the race, Mercedes George Russell (Lap 61), while fighting for a podium spot, ran into the barrier in the last lap. Alpha Tauri’s Yuki Tsunoda saw his race end early for the second race in a row after he sustained a puncture on the opening lap. Additionally, Alfa Romeo’s Valteri Bottas (Lap 51) had to retire due to hydraulics issues and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon (Lap 42) was retired after stopping on the track due to a gear box issue.
Japan:
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) (26)
2. Lando Norris (Mclaren) (18)
3. Oscar Piastri (Mclaren) (15)
- Notable Actions: With Verstappen returning to the top of the podium this weekend, Red Bull secured the Constructor’s Championship for the 2023 season after fending off both Mclarens who have seen a turn in their season. This race was dramatic from the start with Williams’ Logan Sargeant being sent to the pit lane to start since it was determined that Williams had essentially built a new car after his qualifying crash. Once the lights went out, even more drama ensued when Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, swrving to avoid a run in with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz sent Mercedes Lewis Hamilton onto the grass. At the same time, the back of the pack experienced a chain reaction started by Williams’ Logan Sargeant that saw his teammate Alex Albon go airborne and also involved both Alfa Romeos and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon. All four were sent to the pits for repairs and Sargeant was called in to serve his time penalty. His day wouldn’t get any better though when he ran into the back of Alfa Romeo’s Valteri Bottas- causing him to retire (Lap 7)- and giving the Williams rookie another time penalty before retiring in lap 22 due to damage. Bottas and Sargeant were eventually joined on the sideline by three other drivers, Red Bull’s Sergio Perez (Lap 15) because of damage sustained from his run in with the Mercedes in Lap 1 and a later incident with the HAAS of Kevin Magnussen, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll (Lap 20) becaue of a rear wing issue and the other Williams’ driver Alex Albon (Lap 26) due to damage he sustained in the lap 1 collision.
Qatar:
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) (26)
2. Oscar Piastri (Mclaren) (18)
3. Lando Norris (Mclaren) (15)
- Notable Actions: This was by far one of if not the toughest race of the season and brought into question the driver’s safety in conditions like these. First and foremost, this race is a prime example of why Formula 1 is considered an elite sport. The heat alone was a struggle as multiple drivers either retired due to becoming sick and even passing out during and after the race. Nonetheless, Red Bull pulled out in front and maintained for yet another P1 finish. However, the heat aside, the main talking point was the crash between Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and George Russell at the very start of the race when the former made an attempt to pass his teammate and Verstappen- causing the 7-time World Champion to retire then and there and set the challenge for his teammate after having to pit for front wing repairs. He would still make an impressive finish in fourth behind the team of Mclarens. Ferrari did their best with their only driver in the race, Leclerc finishing 5th- his teammate Sainz did not get to race after fuel system issues could not be resolved in time. The only other driver to retire was Williams Logan Sargeant (Lap 40) who became so sick that he could not continue and required assistance getting out of his vehicle and to medical personnel for evaluation.
United States (Austin):
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) (25)
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)- DSQ
3. Lando Norris (Mclaren) (18)
- Notable Actions: I would say that Max Verstappen, who started 6th on the grid (his second lowest start this season) looked like a lion stalking his prey. He would hunt down the other drivers one by one to eventually come out on top- but it was a hard fought race by all drivers involved. The big notes for this race was the post race disqualifications of P2 finisher Lewis Hamilton if Mercedes and P5 finisher Charles Leclerc of Ferrari after post race inspections deemed the wooden floor of their vehicles to not be within regulations. That would move Mclaren’s Lando Norris into second place and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz into 3rd. We had three drivers not cross the finish line in this race: Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso (Lap 49) due to a rear suspension failure, Mclaren’s Oscar Piastri (Lap 10) and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon (Lap 6) both having to retire after they collided with each other earlier in the game.
Mexico:
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) (25)
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) (19)
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) (15)
- Notable Actions: AHHHH! This race was heartbreaking in so many ways. With Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, the home town great was expected to end on the podium, if not the very top step. But in the opening seconds of this race, in the first turn, pole position driver Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was doing his best to fend off Max Verstappen when he collided into Perez’s advancing Red Bull. Sending the home town hero into the barriers and out of the race. Mclaren’s Lando Norris had the best drive of the day by far, finishing P6 after starting 17th on the grid. Joining Perez on the DNF list were four other drivers; Williams’ Logan Sargeant (Lap 70) because of fuel pump issues, Aston Martin’s teammates Lance Stroll (Lap 66) and Fernando Alonso (Lap 47) due to a collision with Alfa’s Bottas and speed issues respectively, and HAAS’s Kevin Magnussen (Lap 31) crashing into the barrier and the back catching fire.
Brazil:
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) (25)
2. Lando Norris (Mclaren) (19)
3. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) (15)
- Notable Actions: Ferrari’s season long struggles continued when Charles Leclerc went out on the formation lap after losing hydraulics- causing the Monegasque to retire before the race even began. Once the race started, red flags were almost immediately waved after a big collision between Williams’ Alex Albon and HAAS’s Kevin Magnussen-causing both to be retired from the race. Red Bull continued their dominance with a sweep of the weekend from Max Verstappen who held off Mclaren’s Lando Norris- taking 2nd place. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso added to his impressive season by besting Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez to secure the final podium spot. At the end of the race, only 14 drivers crossed the finish line with retirements from Mercedes George Russell (Lap 57) with oil temperature issues and the Alfa Romeo team of Zhou Guanyu (Lap 22) and Valteri Bottas (Lap 39) who experienced similar technical problems.
United States (Las Vegas):
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) (25)
2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) (18)
3. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) (15)
- Notable Actions: In it’s debut on the F1 circuit, this race brought the drama that Vegas is known for. Starting off, we had the qualifying session cut short after Carlos Sainz Ferrari hit a lose man hole cover, destroying the floor of his car and subsequently receiving a ten position grid penalty for the needed repairs- even as a Mercedes fan, I now that that is just not fair. Any who, I digress. This race, despite it’s pre-start challenges was spectacular. we saw the teams really have to work their tire strategies on new track that is arguably the coldest one they have encountered all season. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc had one of if not the best race he’s had all season- consistently fighting it out with both Red Bull’s for the lead spot but ultimately, Max Verstappen came out on top. The real notable action though was the overtake that Leclerc performed over that of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez on the last lap to claim the second place podium finish. Our retirements for this race came from Mclaren’s Lando Norris whose car locked up, sending him spinning into the barrier on the second lap, HAAS’s Niko Hulkenburg (Lap 45) and Alpha Tauri’s Yuki Tsunoda (Lap 46) both had to move themselves off the track with technical issues.
Abu Dhabi:
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) (26)
2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) (18)
3. George Russell (Mercedes) (15)
- Notable Actions: And with that, the 2023 season comes to an end. But when I tell you that Ferrari is doing a disservice to Charles when he, while racing can be more of a strategist than his entire race wall, I mean it. Now, whether or not Red Bull won, it wouldn’t have mattered. By this time, they had already secured the Constructors championship as well as the 1-2 spots in the Drivers Championship. This race was the decider for 2nd and 3rd in the Constructor’s Championship between Mercedes and Ferrari. Coming down to the final laps of the race, Ferrari’s Leclerc requested an update on his team’s placement in the championship and what he could do to assist, he came up with a strategy- knowing that Mercedes George Russell would have to serve a time penalty from an earlier incident- to try and create a time gap between Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and the Mercedes in order to give them the advantage when it was determined they would not be able to catch them. In the end though, Sergio Perez, who crossed the line after his teammate would be given a time penalty- essentially negating Charles brilliant strategy. Ferrari would also be hampered by the DNF status of Carlos Sainz whose late pit stop strategy left him well out of the points. This means that Mercedes was able to keep their second place Constructors Championship place and Ferrari came in third.

We now have just about three months until the 2024 season gets underway- which will be the longest season to date with an additional race being added to make it a total of 24 races. All of the teams have some work to do to get their best cars out on the track.

MLB Free Agency Watch: Update 1

With stars like Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell, JD Martinez and Shohei Ohtani most likely on the move, the multi-million dollar question (or multi-hundred million dollar questions) is where will they end up? Who should they end up with? With the first 30 days of the off season in the books, let’s take a look at where our top (12) agents have landed or are rumored to be landing so far:

12. Teoscar Hernandez: Remains a free agent as of today. The rumor for him is that Boston is incredibly interested.

11. Lourdes Gurriel Jr.: Great news for AZ fans this off season being that Postseason hero Gurriel Jr. will be staying with team after agreeing to a 3-year $42 Million dollar deal that also includes a club option for 2027.

10. Jorge Soler: Like several others on this list, he declined his mutual option from the Marlins and is now a free agent. The rumor mill is that he is drawing interest from Seattle and Arizona.

9. Matt Chapman: A qualifying offer for Matt Chapman was extended by the Blue Jays but he declined. Rumor is that he is a high priority for the Giants after they lost out on Ohtani to the Dodgers.

8. J.D. Martinez: The slugger remains a free agent. Rumors for where he may land are all over the place with little to actually go on.

7. Jordan Montgomery: The Texas Rangers Ace is still a free agent as of now but no doubtedly has interest from multiple teams after putting on a show this past postseason.

6. Sonny Gray: Gray is leaving Minnesota for St Louis. Signing a 3-year $75 Million dollar contract- hopes being that he can help elevate the team to be a contender in the NL Central.

5. Josh Hader: Hader decided to leave San Diego and pursue free agency (possibly paving the way for

4. Aaron Nola: After an absolutely spectacular performance in Philly this past season, Nola will be staying in Philadelphia. He signed a 7-year, $172 Million dollar deal in early November.

3. Cody Bellinger: Belli remains a free agent as of now- declining the mutual option extended to him by the Cubs. The former MVP has had interest from multiple teams all over so where he will end up is anyone’s guess at this time.

2. Blake Snell: Blake is also a free agent as of now. Rumors circulating are that he is incredibly interested in San Fransisco where he has had incredibly success in his career. And let’s face it, the Giants need some good news after losing out on both Ohtani and Yamamoto to the Dodgers.

1. Shohei Ohtani: If you say you didn’t see this coming, you don’t know the baseball world well enough. Shohei announced earlier this month that he has signed a record breaking contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers: 10-year $700 Million dollar contract with deferrals that will be discussed at a later date.

Formula 1: The Basics of the Grid

As someone who, until recently, has never been into any kind of motor sports, Formula 1 is probably not the sport I should have started out with. A lot of the information I have gathered in the past few months has largely been from my brother and the internet. I know there are plenty of F1 reporters, dedicated blogs and podcasts but I wanted to create a literal basics post that anyone who is just getting into the sport can follow along to and not feel so lost. So we will stick to the basics: introductions to the teams and their current drivers, how grid position is determined, how Grand Prix weekends are set up, most used terms/phrases and their meanings, the difference in the types of tires, what sprint races are and their purpose, and a few other common parts of this multibillion dollar sport.

Teams and Current Driver Introductions:

Red Bull Racing:
- Max Verstappen (26): 3x World Champion (‘21, ‘22', ‘23)- 8th season
- Sergio (Checo) Perez: 12th season
Mercedes AMG Petronas:
- Sir Lewis Hamilton: 7x World Champion (‘08, ‘14, ‘15, ‘17, ‘18, ‘19, ‘20)- 16th season
- George Russell: 5th season
McClaren:
- Lando Norris: 5th season
- Oscar Piastri: 1st season
Scuderia Ferrari:
- Charles Leclerc: 6th season
- Carlos Sainz: 10th season
Aston Martin Aramarco Cognizant:
- Fernando Alonso: 22nd season
- Lance Stroll: 7th season
BWT Alpine:
- Pierre Gasly: 7th season
- Esteban Ocon: 8th season
Williams Racing:
- Alex Albon: 5th season
- Logan Sargeant: 1st season
Alpha Romeo:
- Valteri Bottas: 11th season
- Zhou Guanyu: 2nd season
MoneyGram Haas:
- Nico Hulkenberg: 14th season
- Kevin Magnussen: 9th season
Scuderia AlphaTauri:
- Yuki Tsunoda: 3rd season
- Daniel Ricciardo: 13th season

Most Commonly used Terms and Phrases:
- Grid: The Grid refers to the formation (positions 1-20) the drivers take at the beginning of a race.
- Paddock: Refers to the area behind the team pits at every Formula 1 circuit that is home to the teams’ technical staff and equipment, catering, media, race officials and other important functions that contribute to the successful running of the race weekend.
- Pits: The area at a circuit that houses the team garages. The pits are accessed by a special section of the circuit called the pit lane where speeds are limited (from pit entry to pit exit), and drivers stop during the race in front of their team’s garage for pit stops to change tires or repair mechanical issues. Senior members of each team sit at special stations with banks of computers on the pit wall – located on the track side of the pit lane closer to the circuit – to monitor their car’s performance during practice, qualifying and the race.
- Pole Position: The first position on the grid for the Grand Prix race. This position is earned by the fastest lap time in qualifying rounds.
- Podium: Term used to describe the first three drivers to finish a Grand Prix.
- Box: Short hand term used by drivers and engineers when a driver needs to come into the pits immediately.
- DRS: Drag Reduction System is an advantage that drivers can use in certain sectors by opening an adjustable flap on the back of their car. This is to help make overtaking easier and can only be used in certain sections of a course and the driver has to be within one second of the car in front of them.
- Retire: Term used to describe a driver who cannot finish a race for a number of reason (mechanical, personal, crash, ect.).
- Safety Car: An official car that is used during a race when there is a danger on the circuit, generally resulting from an accident or extreme weather conditions. The Safety Car runs in front of the leaders to slow the cars down until it is safe to resume racing.

Flags and their Meanings:
- Green: used to indicate that the track is clear, whether this is at the start of a warm-up lap, practice session or qualifying session, or immediately after an incident that necessitated the use of one or more yellow flags
- Blue: Used to let a driver know that they are about to be overtaken or to inform a driver leaving the pits that there is traffic coming on the course.
- White: Used to inform drivers when there are significantly slower drivers ahead.
- Yellow: Used to signal danger on the track in two ways:
1 wave: Drivers are required to reduce their speed, are not allowed to overtake and must be prepared to change direction if necessary, due to a hazard beside or partly on the track. It must be evident that a driver has reduced their speed during the relevant sector/s- drivers can be penalized for going too fast in these sectors.
2 waves: Drivers are required to reduce their speed significantly, are not allowed to overtake and must be prepared to change direction or stop immediately, due to a hazard wholly or partly blocking the track and/or marshals working on or beside the track.
- Red: Waved at the start line – and at each marshal post around the circuit – when officials have decided to stop a practice session, qualifying session or race, with reasons ranging from a serious incident to poor weather conditions-In practice and qualifying, all drivers are required to reduce their speed and proceed slowly back to their respective pit garages, while in the race, all drivers are required to reduce their speed and proceed slowly to the pit lane, line up at the exit and await instructions
-Black: used to disqualify a driver and orders them to return to their pit garage at once. The decision to show this flag rests solely with the stewards.
-Black w/ Orange Disc: Used to inform a driver that their car has mechanical problems which are likely to pose a danger to themselves or others, and means they must stop in the pits as soon as possible. If and when the mechanical problems have been rectified to the satisfaction of the chief examiner, the car may rejoin the race, otherwise it must remain in the pits.
-Black and White: Shown as a warning to a driver that they have been reported for unsportsmanlike behavior. It is accompanied by the driver’s race number.
-Checkered: Waved from above the pit wall – marks the end of any practice session, qualifying session or race, and is waved until all competing cars have reached it.

Tires: Types and Conditions:
- Soft: Designated by the C5 and C4 and colored white- these tires are typically used on low-severity and street circuits where quick warm ups are necessary and tire degradation is kept to a minimum. You will see C4 tires used extensively throughout the race season.
- Medium: Designated by the C2 and C3 and colored yellow- you will see these tires used on the more abrasive and hotter circuits. The C2 is often used on new circuits to get verification of real time race conditions. C3 is the most versatile of the tires and can be used as any of the three compounds.
- Hard: Designated using C0 and the new C1 and colored red- these tires are designed for maximum resistance to heat and extreme environments. These tires can be used for long periods but will cost in peak performance.
- Intermediate Wet: These are designated using their green color. They are designed to be used in wet conditions- like wet circuits with no standing water and circuits with surfaces that are in the process of drying.
- Full Wet: Designated with the blue color- these tires are to be used in heavy rain conditions as they are designed to disperse massive quantities of water as well as offering more grip and giving the driver a lesser chance of hydroplaning.
- Blistering: Is caused when the tire overheats causing the rubber to soften and break off from the body of the tire. This can happen if the wrong compound of tire is being used dependent on the track surface, weather conditions and tire pressure.
- Compounds: Refers to the different types of tires used in F1. Tire supplier Pirelli produces five compounds of slick tires for dry running, which are designated C0 to C5. In general, harder compounds (C0,C1) are more durable whilst offering less grip/speed, while softer compounds (C4, C5) are less durable and offer more grip and faster lap times.
- Degradation: Refers to a thermal process where the tire loses performance either from over or under heating which effects not only performance but grip level as well.

Race Weekend Set-ups:
Race weekends are set up over three days- usually Friday-Sunday.
- Free Practice Rounds: Unless it is a sprint weekend, there are three free practice rounds- two held on Friday and one held on Saturday. Free Practice 1 is usually used as time for the drivers to get the car going and get a feel for the track as well as begin to think about any change that need to be made. Free Practice 2 tends to be used for longer stints of time on the track, test out any adjustments made and start running simulation laps for the qualifying round. Free Practice 3 is more of a warm up as it is held a couple hours prior to the qualifying round.
- Qualifying Rounds: Qualifying is split into three rounds. Round 1 is 18 minutes long. Round 2 is 15 minutes long. Round 3 is 12 minutes long. After each round (except the third), the five slowest drivers are eliminated from the next round. So round 1 will see all 20 drivers competing for 15 spots in round 2. In round 2, those 15 drivers will then compete for 10 spots in round 3. In all off these rounds, drivers are going for the fastest lap time. After round 3, the starting grid is set based on lap times- Pole Positions (or P1) is the fastest time in round 3 and positions after are awarded from fastest to slowest. However, drivers can be penalized during qualifying for breaking rules which could cost them positions in the starting grid.
- Race Day: Race Day will start with a few reconnaissance laps so drivers can get a barring on the track conditions and do a few last minute checks to ensure everything is running smoothly. Before the start of each race, the National Anthem of the country the race is taking place in is played and then drivers get in their cars to perform the formation lap. This is a lap where you will see drivers doing a lap while weaving across the track to warm up their tires before taking their positions on the starting grid- determined in the qualifying round the day prior. Once all cars are in their respective starting points, the count down to the start of the race begins with 5 lights at the beginning of the grid that count down with 1 light going out at a time. When all the lights are out, the race starts. The races last about 2 hours but are done based on distance. The race laps are determined on the least amount of laps it takes to exceed 305 kilometers (Approx. 190 miles). The number of laps is dependent on the tracks and their total distance. The first driver to complete all necessary laps wins the race.
- Points: For Grand Prixs’, points are awarded to the first 10 finishers of the race. The higher the driver places, the more points they receive for them and their team:
1st: 25 pts
2nd: 18 pts
3rd: 15 pts
4th: 12 pts
5th: 10pts
6th: 8pts
7th: 6 pts
8th: 4pts
9th: 2pts
10th: 1 pt

Links:
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.the-beginners-guide-to-the-formula-1-grand-prix-weekend.20OGbgZCWKj9ML79gBzfoX.html

https://www.pirelli.com/tyres/en-ww/motorsport/f1/tyres

https://f1experiences.com/blog/f1-glossary-a-z-most-commonly-used-terminology

MLB Offseason: Manager Signings

With the 2023 baseball season in the books, we have come to the part of the season where change is inevitable and anything can happen. Very similar to a baseball game except we are talking about front office changes, manager moves and big signings from the game’s biggest stars. For now, we are going to take a dive into the signings and movements the Captains of these ships. The Managers.

Chicago Cubs:
Craig Counsell: Counsell was not expected to stay within his division. Rumor had it he was in deep talks with the Mets and that was where many thought he would end up. However, he shocked everyone by signing with the Chicago Cubs. He comes from the Milwaukee Brewers where he was their manager from 2015 through this past 2023 season. Prior to that, he was a player for various teams from 1995 to 2011. During his tenure at Milwaukee, he took the team to the postseason 5 out of his 9 seasons. The Cubs are looking for that kind of drive. Will he be able to help them find the identity they have been desperately lacking since their historic World Series win in 2016?

San Fransisco Giants:
Bob Melvin: Coming from the division rival San Diego Padres, Melvin comes to the bay with an impressive and extensive resume with managerial and coaching experience dating back to 2003. He started managing with the Mariners from 2003-2004 before moving to the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2005 to 2009. He was then the long time manager of the Oakland Athletics from 2011 to 2021 before moving down the coast to the San Diego Padres from 2022 and 2023. Melvin is inheriting a team that has made valiant attempts at post season runs under Gabe Kapler but came up short 3 of the last 4 years. Is Melvin the veteran presence this team needs to lead them against their powerhouse rivals to the south?

New York Mets:
Carlos Mendoza: Not a whole lot is known about Mr. Mendoza. He was a player in the minor leagues for 13 years before becoming a coach in the Yankees Minor League system in 2009. He was a manager for a couple years (2011 and 2012) before becoming a roving defense instructor in the organization after 2012. Mendoza was promoted to the Yankees staff in 2018 as their infield coach and then after the 2019 season was again promoted to Bench Coach. Replacing Josh Bard. Given the recent disappointments that have been plaguing the Yankees, was keeping this position internal the right move?

San Diego Padres:
Mike Shildt: Shildt was hired on to fill the vacancy left when Bob Melvin went North to take over the Giants. He has served as the manager for the St. Louis Cardinals from 2018 to 2021- winning Manager of the Year in 2019. During his time with the Cardinals, he took the team to the postseason 3 of the 4 seasons he was there. The Padres are another team in the NL West that are looking to make an honest effort at dethroning the Dodgers. With Shildt’s playoff experience, are we about to see a turn in the tide for the NL powerhouses?

Houston Astros:
Joe Espada: After one of the most impressive managerial careers and a World Series title, Dusty Baker called it a day. So the Astros needed to fill his very big shoes. Who better than the man whose been Dusty’s right hand since 2020? Espada brings both coaching and managerial experience having been a third base coach for the Marlins and the Yankees organizations before being hired by the Astros in 2017 as their bench coach. He has interviewed for managerial positions in the past (Texas Rangers 2018 and Chicago Cubs 2019). Can Espada keep the success train chugging along or is the beginning of the end for the Astros reign in AL West?

Los Angeles Angels:
Ron Washington: Oh man- when you need a veteran managerial presence to get a team moving in the right direction, Ron Washington is the guy you call. Washington managed the Texas Rangers from 2007 to 2014 where he took the team to the World Series in back to back years. Since 2014, he’s been a third base and infield coach for the Oakland A’s and Atlanta Braves- winning a World Series with the team in 2021. This is going to be a very interesting season coming up for the Angels with the possibility of their biggest names on the move- can Washington take this team from last place duds to first place studs?

Cleveland Guardians:
Stephen Vogt: With Terry Francona retiring at the end of the 2023 season, the Guardians were in need of not only a new manager, but someone who knows how to connect to the players. Who better than a recently retired catcher who has some albeit minimal Major League coaching experience? Vogt retired from the game in 2022 after spending 11 years with 7 different teams. In 2023, he served as the bullpen and quality control Coach for the Mariners. He will become the second youngest manager in the league behind Oli Marmol who runs the Cardinals.

Milwaukee Brewers:
Pat Murphy: With Craig Counsell’s departure to the cubs, Bench Coach Pat Murphy has been promoted to Manager. He comes with decades of coaching experience both at the collegiate and professional levels. Prior to his hiring with the Brewers in 2015, he was with the San Diego Padres from 2010 where he held various managerial positions within the organization and it’s affiliates. He even served as interim manager after the manager Bud Black was fired in 2015. The Brewers are a team that have struggled to take their regular season success into the postseason. Is Murphy going to be the one to get them over the hump and possibly a titale?