#abu dhabi open 2025

[nadiapodoroska]

Game. Set. Masterpiece ✨🎨

[lanf1an]

SEASONS lando norris x fewtrell sister pt.1 - january 5 2025 The annual family ski trip was finally here, and you could barely contain your excitement. There was something about this trip that always felt like coming home—the crisp mountain air, the cozy lodge that hadn’t changed a bit since you were kids, and the chaotic mix of your two families under one roof.

hope people will find this, made a sideblog for this, havent used tumblr in a while, feel free to send any suggestions to improve the lay-out/blog etc. Also let me know if you think this chapter is too long. I've already written many parts so will update regularly if people like it.

pt.2 pt.3 pt.4 pt.5 pt.6 pt.7 pt.8 pt.9 pt.10

wordcount: 2322

The annual family ski trip was finally here, and you could barely contain your excitement. There was something about this trip that always felt like coming home—the crisp mountain air, the cozy lodge that hadn’t changed a bit since you were kids, and the chaotic mix of your two families under one roof.

You hadn’t seen your twin brother and Pietra in weeks, since they had decided to spent the holidays in Brazil, and you were itching to catch up. You also hadn’t seen the whole Norris family since Abu Dhabi, which had been an absolute blast. You’d meet up with Flo and Cisca regularly in London, having spent Christmas and New Years together, but the whole family being together was a rarity. This year felt extra special, though—it was the first time Dylan was coming along.

Your boyfriend of nearly a year had fit seamlessly into your life back home, and now he was finally meeting the entire crew. Max already got along with him like a house on fire, and you couldn’t wait for him to meet everyone else.

“Stil the same old place. Can’t wait to hit the slopes” Max said looking around with a grin. “You better teach me some sick board tricks this trip Dyl” he continued. “Only if you’re ready to fall on your ass,” Dylan shot back with a laugh. “Careful, Max is competitive,” you teased, they all laughed, Dylan was actually a professional snowboarder, making it that much funnier. 

The Fewtrells had arrived at the lodge first, giving you a chance to show Dylan around before everyone else got there. The house was as you remembered—wood-paneled walls, mismatched furniture, and warm fires crackling in every hearth.

“This is where you grew up skiing?” Dylan asked as you led him upstairs, his snowboard bag slung casually over his shoulder.

“Pretty much. Max and I used to share this room—” you pushed open a door, looking at him slyly, excited to share the room with him this time. The room smelled faintly of cedar, its twin beds still adorned with the same plaid comforters you’d had as kids.

“It’s nice,” Dylan said, setting his bag down and pulling you into his arms. “Cozy. Definitely feels like you.”

Before you could reply, his lips brushed yours, a warm and familiar kiss that made your heart flutter as his hands brushed through your hair, leading you towards the bed. Before things could go further, a loud voice broke the moment. “Fewtrell!” Cisca called from downstairs, followed by Flo’s laughter.

You turned, rolling your eyes affectionately. “Let’s go. You’ll love this chaos.”

Downstairs, the Norris family was filing in, luggage and snow-dusted boots piling up in the entryway. Lando appeared last, hauling a duffel bag with one hand and ski equipment in the other.

“Landooo!” you and Max called out in unison, both running to greet him.“Can’t even drop my stuff first?” Lando teased, dropping the bag with an exaggerated groan as you pulled him into a hug.“Ah, our world champion has arrived,” your dad said, stepping forward with a warm smile. “Welcome back, Lando. Well-deserved break, eh?” “Something like that,” Lando said, grinning as he accepted the handshake. “Nothing beats this place, though.”

“Lando, this is Dylan,” you said, gesturing between them. Dylan extended a hand. “Good to finally meet you. She’s told me a lot about you.” “All good things, I hope,” Lando replied with a polite smile, shaking his hand.“Mostly,” Dylan teased, earning a laugh from everyone. Max threw an arm around Dylan’s shoulders. “You’re in for it now, Lando. Dylan’s a beast on the slopes. Red Bull-sponsored and everything.” “Oh, so I’m not the only sponsored athlete here?” Lando said, his tone light but with a playful edge. It was a miracle Max and Lando hadn’t killed each other yet, being as competitive as they are. Dylan grinned. “Guess not. Maybe we should race to see who’s faster.” “Careful what you wish for, even beat Red Bull this year” Lando shot back.

That night, as wine flowed and the parents went to bed early, the kids stayed up playing cards, laughing over inside jokes, and planning the next day’s ski routes.

—

The next morning, you woke to the sound of muffled voices drifting up from the kitchen and the faint smell of coffee brewing. Dylan was still sound asleep, his arm draped over your waist. Careful not to wake him, you slid out of bed, threw on a sweater, and made your way downstairs.

Max and Lando were already up, bundled in their ski gear, arguing over who would get to claim the fastest run of the day.

"Morning," Lando said, looking up from lacing his boots. His grin was warm and easy, the kind of smile that had been the same since he was a kid.

"Morning," you replied, grabbing a mug of coffee and leaning against the counter. "You two sound like you're gearing up for a war, not a ski day."

"It is a war," Max declared dramatically, waving a spatula he’d been using to flip pancakes. "Do you remember the incident of 2016?"

"How could I forget?" you said, laughing. "Lando sulking for hours after you beat his time."

"Exactly. Redemption arc starts today," Lando shot back, a playful glint in his eye.

You rolled your eyes but couldn't help smiling. It was moments like these—carefree and full of banter—that reminded you why these trips meant so much.

After breakfast, you, Dylan, and the rest of the group gathered outside, ready to hit the slopes. The sky was a perfect shade of blue, the snow pristine under the morning sun. The energy was contagious, with everyone laughing and joking as they strapped into their skis or boards.

You and Lando split from the main group, both opting for skis while the others took their boards, eager to get tips from Dylan.

“Still as bad at snowboarding as you were at 12?” you teased as the two of you rode the lift up the mountain.

“Not everyone can be a prodigy like you,” Lando quipped, pretending to be offended. “Besides, I’d rather stick to what I’m good at—like beating you down this run.”

“You wish,” you shot back, nudging his arm as the lift slowed.

When you reached the top, it was as if no time had passed at all. Skiing with Lando had always been your thing, a tradition as old as the ski trips themselves. You raced down the slope, weaving between trees and laughing like kids again. At the bottom, you both collapsed into the snow, breathless and grinning.

“Still got it,” Lando said, brushing snow off his jacket.

“I let you win,” you replied, but your smile gave you away.

“I’ve missed this,” you said, lying back in the snow.

“What, losing to me?” Lando teased, throwing a handful of snow in your direction.

You took a break at a skilodge for drinks, glad it wasn’t crowded, texting the rest of the group to join them if they were close.

“It’s so weird how we haven’t actually caught up properly since Abu Dhabi,” you said, getting comfortable and sipping your drink.

— Abu Dhabi december 8 2024

The club was electric—music pulsing through the air, bodies packed tight, and the sharp tang of spilled drinks mingling with the faint scent of expensive cologne. It was the kind of night where everything felt larger than life, McLaren world championship, even as it blurred at the edges.

Lando wasn’t entirely sure how many drinks he’d had. Enough that the world tilted slightly, enough that his usual sharp instincts were dulled to a pleasant fuzziness. He wasn’t really thinking about anything in particular, just letting himself float with the energy of the room.

That’s when he saw her.

She was by the bar, her hair catching the lights in a way that felt achingly familiar. Without even realizing it, his feet carried him toward her. The closer he got, the more the resemblance struck him.

“Hey” he called softly as he approached.

The girl turned, and for a moment, he was convinced it was her. But then she smiled—wide, flirtatious, not the kind of smile she would have given him—and he blinked, the illusion shattering.

It wasn't her. Not exactly. But the resemblance was uncanny enough to send a strange shiver through him.

Still, they started talking. She was funny in a way that felt effortless, her voice cutting through the pounding bass of the music. It wasn’t long before they moved to the dance floor, their movements fluid, fueled by alcohol and the frenetic energy of the night.

Somewhere in the haze of music and lights, Lando leaned in and kissed her.

The kiss was brief but intoxicating, her lips soft and eager. For a moment, Lando let himself sink into it, into the rush of the night, the distraction she provided. But something far away tugged at the edge of his drunken consciousness.

“Lando!”

He pulled back sharply, turning to see Max weaving through the crowd toward him. His expression was one of mild exasperation but mostly confusion.

“Mate,” Max said, his voice slightly slurred, though his amusement was clear. He looked from Lando to the girl, then back again, his eyebrows shooting up. “What the hell are you doing?”

“What do you mean?” Lando asked, putting his hands up in the air, suddenly self-defensive.

Max gestured at the girl, a bemused grin tugging at his lips. “I thought you were kissing my sister! She looks like my sister. Like, exactly like my sister. But—” He looked at her again, his grin faltering. “Also not. It’s weird, mate.”

The girl frowned, her arms crossing over her chest. “Okay, rude.”

“No offense,” Max said quickly, raising his hands in mock surrender. “You’re gorgeous, but I mean, come on.” He turned to Lando, shaking his head. “How drunk are you right now?”

Lando blinked, his mind scrambling to catch up. He looked at the girl again, his stomach twisting uncomfortably. Now that Max had pointed it out, the similarities felt too stark, too deliberate, explaining why it had felt weird.

“I wasn’t—” he started, but Max cut him off.

“Relax, mate,” Max said with a laugh, clapping him on the shoulder. “I get it. Long season, wild night. Just...you know, maybe cool it before you confuse yourself more.”

The girl rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I’m getting a drink.” She disappeared into the crowd, leaving the two of them standing there.

Max watched her go, then turned back to Lando, his grin softening into something more understanding. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” Lando said quickly, still in a confused haze.

Max tilted his head, studying him for a moment before shrugging. “Let’s go find my real sister,” he said, steering Lando toward the other side of the club. “She’s way better company than, uh...that.”

Lando didn’t argue, but as they walked, his thoughts remained tangled. Max was right—the resemblance had been unsettling, bothering him for a moment until Max handed him another tequila shot.

—

Lando smirked. “Well, whose fault is that? You disappeared halfway through the after-party. Left me stranded with Max and his endless tequila shots.”

You laughed, holding your drink in both hands. “I didn’t disappear! I was there—you just didn’t see me because you were busy being... you know, Lando.”

“Excuse me,” he said, mock-offended. “What does that mean?”

“It means you were too busy making rounds like the social butterfly you are. Max told me you didn’t even remember half the night.”

Lando groaned, tipping his head back. “That’s fair. I think I blanked out the moment Christian Horner started karaoke.”

You grinned. “See? That’s why I disappeared. I had better things to do, like chatting with some of the Red Bull team.”

“Ah, fraternizing with the enemy,” Lando teased. “You’re lucky Max didn’t disown you.”

“Oh, Max was fine. But you know what?” She leaned forward conspiratorially. “There was this moment… when I was talking to a certain very famous actor.”

“Who?” Lando asked, curious.

Your lips curved into a sly smile. “Not telling. But for just a second, I thought, Wow, if I weren’t with Dylan, this would be my chance.”

Lando froze mid-sip, raising a brow. “Wait, seriously?”

“Totally kidding,” you said quickly, though the grin didn’t falter. “Kind of. I mean, it’s not every day you get hit on by a Hollywood A-lister.”

Lando set his glass down, leaning forward. “Okay, now you have to tell me who it was.”

“Never,” you said, laughing. “I’ll take that secret to my grave. But don’t worry, Dylan has nothing to worry about. Besides, you were the one getting up to trouble that night.”

“Trouble?” he asked innocently.

You gave him a knowing look. “You know, with that girl who looked like me.”

Lando’s grin faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. “Oh, come on. Max won’t let me live that down. And for the record, I wasn’t the one who said she looked like you. He did.”

“Still, Lando,” you said, shaking your head with a teasing smile. “That’s a bit weird, even for you.”

“Hey, I was drunk,” he defended, running a hand through his hair. “And she didn’t look that much like you.”

“She could’ve been my long-lost triplet!”

“Okay, maybe a little,” he admitted sheepishly. “But I wasn’t exactly seeing straight. You can blame Max and his tequila shots for the whole situation.”

You laughed again, shaking your head. “Fine, fine. But if Max thinks you’re weird, you know it’s bad.”

Lando sighed dramatically. “Remind me why I put up with you again?”

“Because you love me,” you quipped, raising your glass in a mock toast.

“Yeah, yeah,” he said, clinking his glass with yours. You settled back into your seats, the laughter fading into a comfortable silence, both of you enjoyed, relaxed, content and tired after skiing.

—

Let me know what you think!!

[lxndonorris]

happy suits you - Esteban Ocon

Y/N x Esteban Ocon Theme: Fluff you join Esteban during post-season testing x word count: 1830+ taglist: @game-set-canet @cloud-55 open for requests :)

The 2024 F1 season has been a whirlwind. The races, the travel, the highs and lows—it was all a blur now.

For Esteban Ocon, your boyfriend, this year has ended with an unexpected twist. He had been driving for Alpine, but things hadn't gone as planned. Tensions within the team and a string of unlucky races had left him disheartened. The last few months had been tough, but now, a new chapter awaits him.

Haas F1 Team has come calling, offering him a fresh start for the 2025 season. Esteban signed the contract just a few weeks ago, and now he is getting his first chance to test their car during post-season testing in Abu Dhabi.

You are in his motorhome, seated on the couch with a cup of coffee in your hands, watching him get ready. His excitement is palpable. Esteban was usually calm and composed, but today, he is practically buzzing.

Your eyes are fixed on him as he pulls the crisp, new Haas racing suit from its hanger. The colors—white, black, and red—suit him perfectly, a bold statement of the fresh chapter he is beginning.

You watched him put on a racing suit countless times before, but today, something is different. 

He seems different.

Esteban seems lighter, more excited, like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders. There is an energy about him, an eagerness that makes the room feel brighter.

As he slips one leg into the suit, then the other, you can't help but admire the way the fabric clings to him. He smoothes it over his thighs with one hand, a small, thoughtful smile tugging at the corner of his lips. His fingers linger, brushing along the material as if he is savoring the feel of something new, something promising.

You smirk, watching him from across the room, amused at how lost in thought he seems. His gaze is distant, but there is a faint glimmer of excitement in his eyes.

Sliding his arms into the sleeves, Esteban adjusts the fit of the snug suit around his shoulders. He gives the fabric along his chest a quick tug, a faint squeeze, smoothing it out before letting his hand drift over the Nomex shirt beneath.

His movements are almost subconscious, a quiet moment of appreciating how it all feels—how right it feels.

He catches you staring then, his lips curving into a sheepish smile. 

"What?" he asks, his voice warm and playful.

"Nothing," you reply, leaning back with a grin. "You just seem... different. Happier."

His smile softens, a flicker of vulnerability in his expression before he zips up the suit in one smooth motion.

"I feel different," he admits, running his hands down the front of the suit one last time. "It's good, though; it feels good."

You smile, enjoying the sight of him standing there, all suited up.

"So," he said, turning to face you with a boyish grin, his hands on his hips and his chest puffed out, "how do I look?"

He strikes a mock superhero pose, radiating confidence. 

You can't help but giggle, the sound filling the cozy space of the motorhome.

"You look amazing," you reply, your voice soft but genuine. "Happy suits you."

Esteban chuckles, the sound warm and infectious. 

"Happy, huh?" 

He extends a hand toward you, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

You set your coffee down on the small table and place your hand in his. He pulls you to your feet with a gentle yet firm tug, his other arm sliding around your waist as you stumble forward. Your hands instinctively land on his chest, steadying yourself.

"Careful," he murmurs, his voice dropping into a softer tone. He leans in, his lips brushing yours in a kiss that is both tender and electrifying. His cologne, a mix of woodsy and citrusy notes, envelopes you, grounding you in the moment.

You melt into his embrace, your arms winding around his neck as he deepens the kiss. His hands rest lightly on your waist, holding you close but not too tightly. It is one of those moments where time seems to stop, where the world outside the motorhome doesn't exist.

As you part from the kiss, your hands linger on his chest, fingers tracing the smooth fabric of his new racing suit. You can feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath your touch, and the warmth radiating from him makes you smile.

Esteban lets out a soft hum, closing his eyes briefly as if savoring the moment.

"You're dangerous, you know," he murmurs playfully, his voice tinged with affection.

"Dangerous?" You tease, raising an eyebrow. "How so?"

"You make it hard for me to leave now," he says, his boyish grin returning as his hands rest gently on your waist.

You chuckle, leaning up to kiss his cheek before stepping back slightly, though your hands still linger on his chest.

"Mind me taking a few pictures? Of you, in your new suit," you ask, your tone light and teasing. "Just for me."

He raises an eyebrow, feigning suspicion.

"Just for you?"

"Just for me," you repeat with a smirk.

Esteban laughs, the sound filling the small space with warmth. 

"Alright," he agrees, stepping back and adjusting his stance. He stands tall, chest puffed out and his hands on his hips, striking a dramatic pose.

"How's this?"

You laugh, reaching for your phone. 

"Perfect. Don't move."

As you snap a few photos, he shifts into different poses—some serious, others utterly ridiculous, making you laugh so hard you have to steady yourself against the table.

"Alright, one more," you say, trying to keep your voice steady through your laughter. "Something genuine this time."

Esteban relaxes, his smile softening into something more natural. He looks directly at you, his dark eyes warm and full of love. You capture the moment, knowing you will cherish it forever.

"Happy now?" he asks, stepping toward you.

"Very," you reply, slipping your arms around his neck as he pulls you close again. "But I think I'll need more pictures later. You know, for the collection."

He chuckles, pressing a kiss to your forehead.

"Whatever you want, mon amour. Anything for you."

Esteban pulls you closer again, his strong arms encircling your waist as if he can't bear to let you go. His warmth is intoxicating, his scent and presence wrapping around you like a blanket. 

Your hands slide to the zipper of his racing suit, slowly pulling it down just enough to slip your hand inside.

Your fingers brush against the smooth, fireproof Nomex shirt beneath, feeling the heat of his skin through the thin fabric. His chest is firm, his heartbeat steady and strong beneath your palm. 

You trace slow, deliberate circles, savoring the way his muscles shift under your touch.

He exhales softly, leaning into the moment, his eyes fluttering shut. A faint hum of contentment escapes his lips, the sound sending a wave of warmth through you.

And then, the sharp trill of his phone alarm breaks the spell.

His eyes open, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face as he sighs.

"Time to go," he murmurs, reluctant to move.

You step back, your fingers lingering on him for just a moment longer before letting go. 

As he adjusts his suit, zipping it back with a practiced motion, you grab his Haas cap from the counter nearby. 

With a mischievous grin, you plop it onto your head and tilt it at an angle.

Esteban glances over and chuckles, nodding approvingly.

"Looking good," he says, his voice full of warmth as he steps toward you again.

He reaches out, his hand brushing against your cheek in a tender caress. You lean into his touch, your heart swelling at the look in his eyes.

"Happy suits you so well," you say softly again, letting your hand slide into his hair, the dark strands silky beneath your fingers. From there, you trail your touch down his face, your fingertips grazing the roughness of his stubble.

"I missed your smile," you add, your voice barely above a whisper.

His cheeks flush a soft pink, the color blooming across his skin as you remove the cap from your head and place it onto his. You adjust it carefully, letting your fingers linger just a moment longer.

He grins, his boyish charm shining through.

"I don't deserve you," he says, his tone light but laced with sincerity.

"You deserve so much more," you reply without hesitation, straightening the brim of his cap.

His gaze softens, and for a moment, the bustling world outside the motorhome feels distant. But the sound of voices and movement outside reminds you both that the day's responsibilities can't wait much longer.

Together, you exit the motorhome.

You walk hand in hand toward the Haas garage, the soft buzz of the paddock growing louder with every step. The air is thick with the distinct scent of fuel, rubber, and anticipation. 

Esteban seems to come alive as you enter the space, his presence commanding yet easygoing.

His new team is already smitten with him. He laughs and jokes with the mechanics, playfully jabbing at one of them for a comment about his height and sharing a chuckle with his race engineer over the new car's quirks.

Watching him like this—confident, relaxed, and truly himself—brings a smile to your face.

You linger at the edge of the garage, soaking it all in. 

This is his world, his element, and it is a privilege to witness. 

Your eyes meet across the space as he tugs on his gloves, his face glowing with excitement. Your chest warms with pride; this is the Esteban you love—passionate, driven, and utterly captivating.

As he finishes adjusting his gloves, he strides over to you, his expression softening into something more intimate. Without hesitation, he takes your hand in his, his fingers intertwining with yours.

"Ready?" you ask, though you already know the answer.

"Always," he replies, his voice steady.

You let your free hand glide across his chest one last time, feeling the reassuring firmness beneath the suit.

"Show them what you've got," you say, your voice filled with quiet encouragement.

His eyes sparkle, and he leans in to kiss your temple, the gesture tender and grounding.

"For you," he whispers, his breath warm against your skin.

And then he pulls away, heading toward the car with a newfound determination. You watch as he slips on his balaclava, the snug fabric framing his face before he reaches for his helmet. 

He gives you a quick glance and a subtle nod before putting it on, the visor snapping into place.

With practiced precision, Esteban climbs into the car, his movements fluid and sure. The crew bustles around him, making last-minute checks as the engine roars to life. 

You stay rooted in place, watching as he adjusts himself in the cockpit, his focus laser-sharp.

And then, with one last look my way, he is off, the car rolling down the pit lane and out onto the track.

[nothingelsematterswrites]

Because I'm feeling petty, and it is the anniversary of The Tweet That Rocked The Grid, I decided to compile the most important piece of Oscar Lore.

I present to you: the most complete timeline of how alpine fucked up their handling of oscar piastri, aka, the piasco, to the best of my knowledge

(information compiled from multiple sources)

March 2021: Oscar Piastri makes his F2 debut in Bahrain, at the first round of the season. He immediately makes a splash by finishing fifth in the first sprint race and winning the second.

May 2021: Monaco. Oscar again impresses, collecting an 8th and two 2nds (including one in the feature race). Meanwhile, in Formula One land, Laurent Rossi offers a four year deal to Esteban Ocon, which he signs.

Rossi did not consult with any of the Alpine board about this offer, which is unprecedented for a driver who had not yet even won a race and unusual even for a race-winner who was not a champion.

What this does do, however, is effectively block one of the Alpine seats until 2025.

June-July 2021: Oscar continues to collect consistent points finishes at Baku and Silverstone, including podiums, keeping him in the championship hunt.

August 2021: Esteban Ocon wins the Hungarian Grand Prix.

September 2021: Oscar and Daniel win in Monza on the same day, with Oscar taking out the F2 feature race on the same day Daniel wins the Italian Grand Prix. Oscar follows this with another feature race victory in Russia, solidifying his points lead.

It is about this time that Alpine sit Oscar and Mark Webber down and explain that no matter what Oscar does now, he will not be in F1 next year. Alpine will have him as a reserve driver only and will not make the effort to put him in a race seat, despite Williams publicly saying they no longer require the money Nicolas Latifi brings in and are open to other drivers for 2022.

November 2021: Alfa Romeo announce that Zhou Guanyu, third place in the F2 championship, will be replacing Antonio Giovinazzi for 2022. This causes quite the uproar, as many despise the idea of Zhou getting a seat before Oscar, the talented rookie champion-elect.

The Piastris (Oscar and his father Chris) and Mark sit down with Alpine and agree to terms for 2022 and beyond, outlined in a terms sheet. This terms sheet is not a contract, but an agreement to sign a contract. The terms sheet outlines that Oscar will be the Alpine reserve driver for 2022; that he will be given practice sessions, certain private tests, and two FP1 sessions; and that Alpine guarantee him a seat on the 2023 grid, presumably with Williams. The terms sheet specifies that the actual contract will follow in 10 business days.

December 2021: Oscar wins the F2 championship in Jeddah after winning the second sprint race and the feature race. He then follows this up with a podium in sprint race one and a win in the feature race at Abu Dhabi, only serving to make Alpine look even more stupid. He is announced as the reserve for Alpine for 2022 and participates in the end of season test for Alpine.

No contract has appeared.

January 2022: Mark follows up with Alpine about the reserve driver contract, and is told, "it's coming".

No contract has appeared.

February 2022: Mark begins to hassle the legal team at Alpine about the contract. At some point, he has an exchange as follows: "I can't keep telling them that the contract is coming." The lawyer replies that she is the only one in the entire legal department, and that she has to do everything before the season starts.

No contract has appeared.

March 2022: During pre-season testing, Daniel Ricciardo tests positive to COVID-19. Alpine make arrangements with McLaren that if Daniel is not fit for Bahrain, Oscar will drive for him. Oscar still does not have a contract at this point. Alpine realise that without a contract, he does not have a superlicence (thereby making him ineligible to drive even if Daniel isn't fit.)

Panicking, the lawyer in Alpine's legal department writes "legally binding" across Alpine's copy of the terms sheet and submits that to the FIA in order to grant him his superlicence.

Five days before the Bahrain Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri finally sits down and signs a contract with Alpine to be their test and reserve driver for the 2022 season. This contract very explicitly only covers 2022, and does not contain any provisions for 2023.

Daniel finishes 17th in Bahrain, ahead of Lando Norris, and is running ahead of Norris and in the points when his gearbox fails in Jeddah.

April 2022: Oscar fulfils his duties as test and reserve driver, including being paraded around in Australia. Daniel finishes 5th in Australia after a nasty team order keeps him behind Norris' ailing car. At Imola, he is sixth in the sprint, only just behind Norris, but finishes 18th in the race after an uncharacteristically clumsy T1 move.

May 2022: Oscar conducts a private test with Alpine at Paul Ricard, using the 2021 car. No times are published, but there is a whisper on social media from the spectators who were there that Oscar was faster than Esteban Ocon had been the previous year. Daniel finishes 13th at the race in Miami after mechanical issues in qualifying and strategy issues in the race, which Andreas Seidl publicly apologises for. He finishes 12th at Spain, due to a broken rear end (which McLaren do not acknowledge until several days after the race).

After the Spanish Grand Prix, Zak Brown conducts an interview where he calls Daniel "disappointing" and lays the blame for their substandard results squarely at Daniel's feet. Daniel is then harassed by the media all through the Monaco weekend, where he finishes 13th.

It is also about this time that Alpine begin to publicly state that they are courting Fernando Alonso for a contract extension for 2023, meaning no seat will be available for next year at Alpine.

June 2022: It is about this time that Zak Brown begins shopping Daniel's seat behind his back. There are several interested parties involved, including Alex Palou and Pato O'Ward of Indycar.

Alpine continue to insist to Mark and Oscar that the 2023 deal is in progress. However, at about this time, rumours start to fly that Oscar is going to replace Nicolas Latifi at Williams after Silverstone. Williams angrily deny this, stand by Latifi, and publicly state that they are done being used as a dumping ground for other teams' juniors when they have their own - a seemingly firm statement that Oscar will not be welcome while he is attached to Alpine.

Mark makes contact with McLaren, and negotiations begin.

5 July 2022: On this date Oscar Piastri signs his contract with McLaren. The contract is initially as a reserve driver with mechanisms to make him the race driver if McLaren can negotiate an exit with Daniel. Oscar informs Otmar Szafnauer and Laurent Rossi shortly afterwards, and does so a second time at some point in the next three weeks.

11 July 2022: Zak Brown states to the media that Daniel Ricciardo will be driving for McLaren in 2023. About this time, Daniel visits the factory, and makes a tearful, impassioned promise to the team members that he is working incredibly hard and will be driving for them next year.

28 July 2022: Sebastian Vettel shocks everyone by announcing his retirement from Formula One at the end of the season, throwing the grid into disarray.

30 July 2022: Lawrence Stroll contacts Fernando Alonso and offers him the drive for next year. Unlike Alpine, Lawrence does not hesitate to put a paper contract in front of Fernando, and offers him a 2+1 deal where Alpine had been pondering a 1+1. Fernando, tired of the games of Alpine, signs immediately.

1 August 2022: Aston Martin announce that Fernando Alonso will join the team from 2023.

Either 1 August 2022 or 2 August 2022: Otmar Szafnauer corners Oscar in the simulator, in front of several other Alpine staff, and informs him he has the Alpine drive in 2023. Oscar is aware that if he challenges Szafnauer he will make a scene and does not say anything.

2 August 2022: Alpine announce that their 2023 driver lineup will consist of Esteban Ocon and Oscar Piastri. Eagle-eyed fans note that there are no quotes from Oscar in the press release, which has a very strange vibe. They are right, because...

A few hours later, Oscar sends The Tweet. There is immediate uproar.

August 2022: Otmar Szafnauer and Laurent Rossi proceed to go on a smear campaign against Oscar, calling him disloyal and questioning his integrity. Even other team principals (unwisely) get involved, despite not knowing the full story. Alpine is threatening court action, and the matter is scheduled for a Contract Recognition Board hearing. Oscar and Mark do not say a word, and nor do McLaren, who everyone assumes is the team that got him.

24 August 2022: McLaren announce that they have agreed with Daniel to part ways for the 2023 season. They do not announce his replacement and Daniel does not have a drive for 2023 arranged.

2 September 2022: The Contracts Recognition Board hearing takes place. Alpine are savagely humiliated as the full extent of their incompetence is laid bare. The mediators express their clear disdain for Alpine's actions, including their incredulousness that a lawyer possibly thought it acceptable to write "legally binding" on a terms sheet, the fact that the lawyer had pleaded with Laurent Rossi for more help several times and Alpine's "shilly-shallying" over even getting Oscar his reserve contract, let alone a race one. They find that the only valid contract Oscar had for 2023 was the one with McLaren, and Alpine are ordered to pay Oscar's, Mark's, and McLaren's costs.

After all of their bluster and slander, it turns out that Otmar Szafnauer and Laurent Rossi genuinely believed the terms sheet was a contract that entitled them to Oscar's services for 2023.

Alpine fire the lawyer. (So I guess nobody is in their legal department, now?)

[chussyracing]

What has been happening in the world of motorsports lately?

this is very long overdue (at least 2 months worth of news), because i simply didn't have time to put it together. i tried to split it into categories that make sense, so you can only focus on what you are interested in. all mistakes are my own and there has been so much happening i probably forgot something as well :))

Women in Motorsport and F1 Academy

Alisha Palmowski was the F1 Academy wildcard entry for Qatar GP (and did amazing)

for the last race weekend in Abu Dhabi, it is Logan Hannah in a special F1 Academy livery

A bizarre situation happened in F1 Academy: the second race was cancelled in Qatar because of track reparations after a Porsche Cup crash into the barriers, then in Abu Dhabi, they added a third race but instead of taking the positions for it from the last quali in Qatar, they took a third time in Adu Dhabi’s quali and awarded two more points for it – therefore they stripped Abbi off her title that weekend and she had to earn it again which she did of course, so technically she became a champion of the same series twice within the same season

Michele Mouton got Lifetime Achievement Award at FIA gala

as a champion, Abbi gets full funded 2025 GB3 championship seat

Luna Fluxa became karting champion in Senior category of the Champions of the Future Academy Programme

there is also 400% increase of female karters in BIKC finals this years with the help of Discover Your Drive F1A programme

again, this is very late but here is a list of all drivers that took part in the Women's test in FE in Madrid: Marti and Chambers for Andretti, Buhler for Mahindra, Chadwick and Wadoux for Jaguar, Edgar and Visser for DS Penske, de Silvestro for Kiro Race, Koyama for Lola Yamaha, Gabča Jílková <3 and Garcia for Porsche, Pulling and Flörsch for Nissan, Bustamante and Lloyd for McLaren, Calderon and Schreiner for Maserati and Palmowski and Powell for Envision

Hitech is also joining F1 Academy as 6th team from 2025 onwards

Michelle Gatting officially became Porsche factory driver as a part of Iron Dames/Porsche collab

oh and Iron Dames have a new face joining: Celia Martin

Karen Gaillard won the national junior shootout as the first woman ever and became a part of Porsche Junior Programme

Doriane Pin appeared as a guest on Jimmy Kimmel (idk how to explain in F1 terms how huge this is)

All confirmed 2025 F1 Academy drivers so far:

Lia Block for Williams

Doriane Pin with Prema and Mercedes (and she will also reace in Freca as part of Iron Dames)

Chloe Chambers for Red Bull Ford

Alisha Palmowski for Red Bull Racing

Nina Gademan for Alpine

Rafaela Ferreira for Racing Bulls

Ella Lloyd for McLaren

Alba Hurup Larsen for Tommy Hilfiger

Courtney Cobe for Haas

Emma Felbermayr for Sauber

Rules, FIA and its president

After Red Bull’s protest, FIA banned protective skid blocks on the plank of the car which affected 7 out of 10 teams

The controversial McLaren rear wing with “mini DRS” is now officially illegal and new tests will be added from next season onwards to prevent other teams using it (because it wasn’t open when the car was still, only when moving and particularly at straights)

Mohammed Ben Sulayem wants to change up the rules/governing in FIA which comes down to him having more direct power and preventing him from getting backlash from it (update since the last time I wrote this down: he passed it through the voting and FIA moves even more towards autocracy)

Liberty Media might be in trouble for the MotoGP take over (let's wait for European Union to give more details)

FIA showed the new 2026 car concept after some clarifications

Sulayem said if drivers want paid full time professional stewards, they should pay for them (as their predicted operating result is 2,2m which is a big jump after -24m in 2021... it is a non-profit organization btw)

Pirelli is (as per usual) from the post season tyre testing when they found out the C6 tyres are essentially useless because they do not even hold on for a full lap

F1 st up a diversity and inclusion charter to help marginalized group into F1

Juniors

F2 and F3 will race in Madrid from 2026 onwards

Kimi and Ollie were meant to take part in Super Formula Suzuka test but Kimi had to pull out last minute due to illness (which forced him to skip the last race as well), from other names you might know Correa or Frederick too

Carrie Schreiner, Zane Maloney and Theo Pourchaire leave Sauber junior academy (Carrie will be their ambassador for 2025, Theo is development driver for Peugeot in WEC and Zane is in FE)

Williams signed karter Will Green for their junior academy

F2 confirmed line up so far:

HITECH: Luke Browning, Dino Beganovic

INVICTA: Roman Staněk (round of applause for my boy please) and Leo Fornaroli

AIX: Joshua Durksen, Cian Shields

CAMPOS: Arvid Lindblad, Pepe Martí

PREMA: Seb Montoya, Gabriele Mini

TRIDENT: Sam Meguetounif, Max Esterson

RODIN: Christian Mansell

MP MOTORSPORT: Richard Verschoor, Oli Goethe

ART GP: Ritomo Miyata

DAMS: Jak Crawford, Kish Maini

F3 confirmed line up so far:

MP MOTOSPORT: Alessandro Giusti, Tim Tramnitz, Bruno del Pino

HITECH: Joshua Dufek, Martinus Stenshorne, Gerrard Xie

PREMA: Ugo Ugochukwu, Brando Badoer, Noel Leon

RODIN: Callum Voisin, Roman Bilinski, Louis Sharp

DAMS: Matias Zagazetta, Nicola Lacorte

TRIDENT: Rafa Camara, Noah Stromsted, Charlie Wurz

CAMPOS: Nikola Tsolov (rip), Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak, Mari Boya

ART: James Wharton, Laurens Van Hoepen, Tukka Taponen

VAR: Theophile Nael

Other racing series

Mick leaves the role of Merc reserve driver at the end of this year, but he got confirmed for Alpine’s WEC line up for 2025

Mitch Evans had technical issues in qualifying of the first race of the new season, so he was dead last on the starting grid and then he used up a bit of good luck and climbed up to P1 to win the race from the last place

Jamie Chadwick and Logan Sargeant will be driving LMP2 car number 18 in the 2025 European Le Mans Series with IDEC Sport

There is a rumour Toyota wants Ricciardo in Supercars or Nascar for next year

super old news i forgot to share: Ugo Ugochukwu won Macau GP (even with the 1000 red flags)

Jorge Martin won the Moto GP championship for the first time ever

Alpine will sponsor Pramac Yamaha in MotoGP from 2025 onwards

Andre Lotterer will continue with hypercar for Genesis

and Robert Kubica will continue with AF Corse

Iron Lynx switched from Lamborgini to Merc in LMGT3 WEC for 2025 onwards

Future of F1

Monza and Monaco both got extended till 2031 with Monaco moving places to let Canada come after Miami, also with some rumours about the hosting fee being significantly higher for Monaco after years of paying the least of all venues, Chinese GP got extended until 2030 and Zandvoort got one year extension till 2026 which will be the last edition of the GP for some time and as a “celebration” it will be a sprint weekend

General Motors’ application to join F1 from 2026 onwards came through and Cadillac/GM confirmed Mario Andretti as CEO? Whatever. And they also appointed Guanyu’s manager Graeme Lowdon as team principal

Cadillac will be using Ferrari engine for multiple years after they enter in 2026, they want to use their own engines by 2030 though

also Andretti Racing Limited changed its name to Cadillac Formula Racing Limited (objectively hilarious)

oh and Rob White will joing Andretti Global as chief of operations

With the FIA gala 2024 taking place there, Rwanda officially announced their bid to host an F1 race

Este will have the first female race engineer (or so everyone claims and i was too tired to check at this point but wasn't Ruth a race engineer at some point) in Haas next year with Laura Muller

Qiddiya circuit should host Saudi Arabian GP from 2027 onwards

James Vowles admitted that the crashes this year will probably negatively influence them in 2025 as well

Argentina wants to get a GP in their country but so far there is a lot of work and a lot of talks so it wouldn't be anytime near

Czech Republic would also like to host F1 gp after motogp is returning here, Masarykův circuit in Brno is in talks (but we are talking 5 years plan at least), there would be a lot of work done again BUT the owner (rights holder? idk the position) is good friends with Mohammed Ben Sulayem so there is that

this is also old but idk if i mentioned it in previous round ups: from 2025 the minimum driver weight is increased to 82 kgs to try to avoid drivers going throught extreme dieting as there is more talks about how big of a toll it takes on them

Andretti said that F1 is now open to 12th team as well

Teams and drivers

Jack lost the fight for race number 12 with Kimi for next year and will be racing under number 7 (but he raced under 61 during the last weekend)

Kimi also isn’t doing too well tho, he had to miss out both on the sprint race and the feature race this weekend as he has been diagnosed with food poisoning and the doctor advised him against racing)

Gabriel Bortoleto will be running under number 5 starting next year

Charles won the overtake of the month of November (and you can vote for his overtake in Abu Dhabi in the overtake of the month poll, which gives you opportunity to win 2025 Miami GP tickets)

Haas signed a new sponsorship deal with Chicago uni (wow)

Santander is leaving with Carlos meaning they signed a multiyear sponsorship deal with Williams from 2025 onwards

Yuki admitted he spent about 3 hours in interrogation room when he arrived to the usa (just days after fans got mad at Charles saying, “maybe try in Spanish” and calling it racist – you have to see the difference at this point and realize there are poc on the grid and Carlos is not one of them but alas)

George and Charles both confirmed none of the drivers were informed about the race director’s change before they saw it in the media

Checo apologized (or like. Tried to) for his father’s homophobic language towards Ralph Schumacher

Lewis will test F1-75 for the first time on 22nd January in Fiorano

Ferrari made a send off for Carlos by letting him and his father drive F1-75 together today (Charles came to watch over the cars)

Guanyu randomly participated in a gaming event (CS GO?)

Aston Martin signed Dani Juncadella as a simulator driver

this is pure gossip at this part of the season but Guanyu is in talks to be Ferrari reserve driver (which to be fair. there are many signs poiting to this and f1 is always about the subtle signs so)

McLaren is apparently "taking brave risks" with the 2025 car

Ferrari will unveil their car on 19th February (the day after the London show) in Maranello :))

Silly season

There are some rumours Briatore is interested in Franco, and this is Jack’s one chance to prove himself but you know it is Alpine so…

Este wasn’t allowed to finish the season with Alpine or visit the factory to say goodbye to the workers he worked alongside for 5 years – all in exchange for the post season test with Haas (he posted the special helmet he had ready for the last GP though and he came to the usual drivers’ dinner in Abu Dhabi)

Helmut Marko said that Checo doesn’t have his seat guaranteed and they will meet with the board after the season to discuss the second seat

today multiple even more credible sources are reporting he is officially out of the seat and being replaced by Liam Lawson (which would probably include Hadjar in the second Racing Bulls seat)

also Hadjar was kinda speaking about this back in Qatar saying that he knows he doesn't need to stress about F2 anymore and hinting at an F1 seat

OK UPDATE: i will not be rewriting everything but Checo is officially out of red bull racing seat for 2025, expect the second seat to go to Liam probably and the announcement coming this week, probably tomorrow

Valtteri lowkey spilled the tea about Sauber, he was promised that the team would be built around him in Audi, but then it quickly became apparent they have no real plans, and any aims and targets Fred had went into the bin as he left

he should probably head to Mercedes as a reserve driver as per multiple rumours

he also said he turned down an Indycar offer

Frederic let Carlos go one day earlier than planned so he could do Williams filming day on Monday instead of just testing for Williams on Tuesday

a lot of noise about what "could have been" with Toto claiming he would get Charles if he knew sooner that Lewis is leaving, Max claiming he got an offer from Ferrari, Briatore claiming Fernando got an offer from Williams before signing to Aston and Carlos claiming he was 90% (or was it 99%?) sure he would re-sign with Ferrari again

Kevin Magnussen got confirmed as WRT's driver in WEC hypercar for 2025

lots of people have been speaking about Max potentially retiring after winning another championship, announcing the pregnancy and organizing a part for all Red Bull staff in Abu Dhabi where he appeared as a speaker (but it is unfounded for now)

Ted Kravitz thinks that Alex Albon has a Red Bull exit clause in his Williams contract

Michael Manning (Max's trackside control engineer since 2016) is leaving F1

End of the season

Based on reports, Lewis organized the dinner again and Valtteri paid for everyone (and someone poisoned Charles there rip)

To add to Charles’ misfortunes, his battery cannot be saved anymore so he missed a part of the FP1 with his brother Arthur, then they announced they are taking a new battery so he will get 10 places grid penalty, then he had a slight PU issue at the start of fp2 (and then Jean Alesi broke out he has food poisoning and almost didn’t sleep) and then they had to change his plank because of extreme wear and give him a new one, then his time in Q2 (which put him to provisional p1) got deleted for track limits (while two other drivers with the same track limits violation in the same turn got their laps reinstalled)… fastforward a few hours and he made it to the podium from p19

It wasn’t enough to get McLaren tho, so McLaren grabbed their first World Constructor’s Championship win in 26 years

Abu Dhabi was an outing for many juniors (Arthur in Carlos’ car to make history as first time brothers drove for the same team in F1, Luke Browning in Williams, Isack Hadjar in Red Bull, Felipe Drugovich in Aston Martin, Ayumu Iwasa in VCARB, Ryo Hirakawa in McLaren and technically also Jack Doohan in Alpine)

also arthur was displayed as LEL to avoid confusion with LEC

Many drivers did after season young driver testing in Abu Dhabi although there was a change: Kimi Antonelli still wasn’t feeling well after he got food poisoning so after withdrawing from the last sprint race and feature race, he had to follow doctor’s orders and also withdraw from the testing (so Fred Vesti jumped in)

Max served his community service at the FIA Gala in Rwanda with young drivers

oh Max also randomly tested GTP and Yuki indycar while in the US

fun fact, remember the punctures in qatar? pirelli believes they had nothing to do with the debris on track which just raises more question marks imo

Alex and Guanyu swapped their helmets in Abu Dhabi (also idk if i mentioned but Goerge made a special helmet for lewis and Charles made one for Carlos)

Other news

Formula E donated 250k to More than Equal and Wings for Life charities as part of the bet that Max will win the championship

Alex Jacques is ending as F2 commentator

Ollie will now has his own merch line with his bear logo

[this is actually very sad, illness TW] Eddie Jorden admitted he was diagnosed with cancer and urged everyone to get their checkups

Oscar's trainer Kim Keedle is leaving F1

Tyler the Creator's Gold and Lewis' 44+ partnered for a capsule ahead of Las Vegas GP

Ollie was fangirling over Jannik Sinner at ATP finals

Franco and Guanyu both had their respective magazine photoshoots (GQ Spain Men of the Year and Man About Town) slayed them

Sophia Flörsch tried to cancel Lewis for not investing into diversity or whatever (completely missed the mark there tbh)

Christian Horner received a CBE for his services in motorsport????

there is a bit of mess behind the scenes about the F1 75 event in London because the tickets famously sold out it minutes and the official F1 rules state that the only valid tickets are from them and people who buy them from resellers won't be let in, that didn't go unnoticed by viagogo that posted about ticket resale being legal in the UK and banning their tickets would go against the anti-monopol rules :)

Older gossips I forgot to share months ago:

Oakes has primary buying rights if Alpine were to sell, it has been a part of the deal to make him the team principal of Alpine – he is Hitech CEO (or team principal? I always get all these positions twisted) and played a crucial role into signing Paul Aron as an Alpine reserve since he was Hitech driver as well

Binotto has been desperately trying to gain staff from Ferrari, but not many workers are interested in the project that doesn’t seem to have a strong position among the upcoming new regs so far

Pierre was looking for a place elsewhere before he found out that he doesn’t have a chance anywhere else – due to history like with VCARB or other candidates already being on the list in front of him like with HAAS – so he did the only possible thing and signed contract extension with Alpine

If Max were to follow Newey to Aston Martin in the future if they somehow manage to nail the new regulations for 2026 for example, Lance is said to be looking at WEC options

Domenicali wanted Zandvoort to include other “entertainment measures” besides racing (whatever that may be to him) and the investors weren’t willing to do that so there was a mutual agreement to end the partnership

Checo does have a contract with red bull but not neccesarily to race with the f1 red bull racing team so expect something like "ambassador" role or 3rd driver etc.

most of the george/max beef is made up, esp the quotes because a photograph was present when they had a conversation in front of the stewards room (max told george that he will get him back the next day into t1) and as for stewards everyone goes there individually (only with team representative/representatives)

Ferrari was the last constructor (so along with their customer teams, although Sauber already changed it) to use push rod front suspension and they will be changing to pull rod for 2025 onwards

allegedly FBI was at Las Vegas GP as part of investigation into Andretti (i call bullshit)

you know how F1 told no to Andretti? apparently there is personal beef between the CEO of Liberty Media Greg Maffei (yes the one who is leaving the moment GM are confirmed) and Andretti

Yuki moved to Milan, he lives SUPER close to Pierre and they had a party when he officially moved in as a part of "housewarming"???

Random “fun” facts I learned recently:

Fangio was once KIDNAPPED so he couldn’t drive in a GP in Cuba (it was someone from Fidel Castro’s party that kidnapped him)

In the upgrades, you only need to announce changes that are visible (aka once you change something “inside” it is not on the list of upgrades for each weekend)

Charles can never tank a random number of liters into his car, it always has to be some nice round up number and he has “a huge car that drinks a lot, so he can fit 150 liters into it)

Gio got married!!! (they grow up so fast)

Ollie will race with number 87 next year and his father David Bearman raced in GT racing under the same number

this one's really not fun and pretty old news, someone stole a steel statue of Gilles Villeneuve from Canada

Las Vegas had a huge problem last year with many areas of the track being easily accessible by random bystanders for viewing the race for free and for this year they stepped up with different barrieres and coverage at places that were "vulnerable" last year - YET there was a part with escalators that had view of the track so some people spent hours going up and down those to see the race

[boxboxblog]

Driver Profiles: Lando Norris

Updated December 2024

Name: Lando Norris

Age: 25

Nationality: British

Years in F1: 6 (Mclaren 2019-Present)

Number: 4

WDCs: N/A

Driving Style: Norris is known for his smooth drives and string control over his car. He rarely overdrives the car, and this allows his lap time to remain consistent throughout the race. This smoothness is particularly noticeable around corners, where he rarely compromises his speed while keeping the car steady. While not as aggressive as some other drivers can be, he is rather a thoughtful racer, overtaking strategically. He is also known for his patience as he races, and rarely gets in crashes. He remains relatively level headed throughout races and has great communication with his race engineer. There have only been a few times Norris had had friction with the pit wall, and seems to be a strong team player. The only negative I have about his driving style is that this reserved style can lead to him getting overtaken often. As he grows as a driver, his confidence and aggression has grown, however.

History:

Scion of the wealthy British Norris family, he started karting at age 7, competing in national events. In 2013 he competed in the KF-Junior class, winning the CIK-FIA European Championship and the CIK-FIA International Super Cup, as well as the WSK Euro Series. The following year he won the CIK-FIA World Championship in KF.

(Lando Norris, age 11)

In 2014 Norris debuted with his first car in a support series to the British Touring Car Championship. He finished third in the championship and won the rookie cup. he then appeared in a variety of F4 events, regularly getting podiums and pole positions. For 2015, Norris signed with Carlin Motorsport to drive in the newly established MSA Formula Championship (now the F4 British Championship). Norris took eight wins, ten pole positions, and fourteen total podiums to win the championship

(Norris in 2015)

Norris raced full-time in the 2017 European Formula 3 Championship, and finished on the podium in twenty of the thirty races, including nine wins, and recorded eight pole positions. He clinched the title with two races remaining, marking his fifth racing championship title in four years.

 In 2017 Norris made his FIA Formula 2 debut with Campos Racing, racing in the final round. Norris competed full-time in the 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship and won the opening race at the Bahrain  from pole position, however, this would prove to be his only race victory of the season. He scored consistent points and podium finishes to hold the lead of the championship until the sixth round, and ultimately ended up in second.

(Norris in 2017)

In 2017 Lando Norris had been signed as Mclaren Junior Driver, was reserve driver in 2018, and it was in 2019 that he made his F1 debut. As part of a lineup with Carlos Sainz, Norris and Mclaren had a mixed year, with some good results but many bad (not untypical for Mclaren at the time). That year, Norris reupped his contract with Mclaren to extend to 2022.

(Norris in 2019)

In 2020 he achieved his maiden podium, and for the next three years results for both driver and team would get constantly better (getting his first pole in 2021). Every year he would achieve more and more podium finishes, a very steady increase as the years went on. His teammate was switched multiple times, until landing on the current lineup with Oscar Piastri in 2023. In 2023 he resigned again with Mclaren, extending to at least 2025.

The 2024 season is where the magic really starts to happen for Norris. Ahead of the season he signed yet another contract negotiation with Mclaren (i'm not sure till when) and the 2024 seasons saw Mclaren finally having a top car. After a series of good results (regularly on the podium), Norris won his first GP in Miami, a day long awaited by driver and team. He then went on to win in Zandervoort, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi. This also put him in a championship battle with Max Verstappen, his first real title fight in F1, but by the end he did finish 2nd that year.

(Norris at 2024 Miami GP)

Major Races:

2019 Belgian GP - While he didn't get the result he wanted due to an engine failure in the last lap, Norris had a strong race, holding on to fifth position for a majority of it. This was in his rookie year.

2020 Austrian GP - His first podium, after a late penalty to Lewis Hamilton, Norris was able to take 3rd place. It was a strong drive, his first real battle with the top teams.

2020 Styrian GP - In the last lap of this race, Norris executed a series of overtakes, taking him from 8th to 5th. A gutsy move for the usually reserved driver, he showed he can pull out the moves when needs be.

2021 Imola GP - His best result of 2nd place, Norris showed good race craft in wet conditions. He showed great adaptation skills.

2024 Miami GP - His maiden win on a relatively new track, Norris showed the new pace Mclaren had and was the first win for his team that year.

2024 Zandervoort GP - Norris' second win, it was a dominant display, winning with a 22 second gap to 2nd place. This was his first win where he was inarguably the fastest, and although he lost his place in the first turn, he eventually overtook Max Verstappen and was race lead for the rest.

2024 Singapore GP - Possibly the smoothest F1 win for Norris, he started on pole and held it the entire race, winning with a healthy margin.

Cheers!

-B

[ontrackwithelisha]

𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀

▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄ ▀▄▀▄▀

In celebration of Lando's 100th race this weekend, I think it's only appropriate to recap the amazing years he's had in his f1 career.

▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄ ▀▄▀▄▀

2019

In February 2019, The British-Belgian driver was contracted to drive for Mclaren in the 2019 Formula One World Championship, meeting his first teammate of his career Carlos Sainz Jr, later becoming a beloved duo in Formula One.

Scoring his first Formula One points when he finished sixth at the Bahrain Grand Prix. However, at the Belgian Grand Prix the rookie missed out on his best career finish yet due to a power failure on the final lap.

In his rookie season he finished with three consecutive point finishes, finishing the season eleventh in the drivers' championship, with 49 points.

This year he also re signed with Mclaren to stay with them until 2022 due to such a successful rookie year.

2020

In 2020, the first race of the season was the Austrian Grand Prix where Norris qualified in fourth place, but was later elevated to third place due to a grid penalty for Hamilton, making this the highest grid position of his career yet and the highest grid position for Mclaren since the 2016 Austrian Grand Prix. Norris set the fastest lap of the race, and due to the 5 second penalty for Hamilton infront, Lando Norris had achieved the first podium finish ever of his career, making him the third youngest driver to finish on the podium in Formula One History.

Norris got six consecutive point finishes in the season between the British and Tuscan Grand Prix. He finished fourth at the Bahrain Grand Prix and fifth at the closing race of the season, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Alongside his teammate Carlos Sainz, they brought Mclaren to third place in the constructors' championship. Ending the 2020 season in ninth in the drivers' championship with 97 points, just 8 points behind Sainz.

2021

Norris met his new teammate for the 2021 season, Daniel Ricciardio, as Carlos Sainz left Mclaren to join Ferrari.

At the season-opening, he finished the Bahrain Grand Prix in fourth place. At the following race of the season, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Lando was set for second before being overtook by Hamilton with just three laps remaining, however he still achieved his second Formula One podium finish as he passed the chequered flag in third place. Lando also equalled his highest-grid position at the Styrian Grand Prix, starting third as Bottas recieved a Grid Penalty.

The following weekend at the Austrian Grand Prix, he started in second place after setting a time of just 0.048 seconds behind Verstappen. He finished the race to claim his third podium of the season, coming third.

At the British Grand Prix, Norris set the fastest time in the Friday Qualifying, also finishing fifth in the sprint qualifying and fourth in the Grand Prix, meaning he moved up to third place in the drivers' championship.

At the Italian Grand Prix, Lando finished fourth in the sprint qualifying, soon becoming third as Bottas recieved an engine penalty. The driver managed to finish the race second, behind his teammate Daniel Ricciardio, achieving his fourth podium of the 2021 season and securing a one-two finish for Mclaren for the first time since the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix.

He finished the 2021 season in sixth in the Drivers' Championship, and this impressive year of racing led to Lando signing with Mclaren once again, staying with the team until 2025.

2022

For Norris the 2022 season brought a new era of Formula One with it, a chance to further develop himself and his Formula One career.

Lando took third in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, which ended up being his and Mclaren's only podium finish of the season. At the Monaco Grand Prix Norris came sixth and secured the fastest lap while doing so.

Despite only securing one podium, Lando still finished the 2022 season seventh in the Drivers' Championship, with 122 points, Mclaren finishing fifth place in the Constructors' Championship.

2023

This year for the 2023 season, Lando has stayed with Mclaren where he has met yet another new teammate Oscar Piastri, a rookie in Formula One. For the first few races of the season the Mclaren team had not been performing as well as other teams, finishing seventeenth at Bahrain. In Saudi Arabia Lando was eliminated in Q1 while qualifying.

However at the Australian Grand Prix, Norris finished sixth and Piastri finished eighth, scoring their first points of the season. The British Grand Prix meant that Lando had got a new best start with a second place qualification. In this race Lando Norris even held the lead for the opening laps after having such a successful start, further managing to hold off Lewis Hamilton for the race and taking a well-deserved second place after such an incredible drive. This finish meant that Lando had become the first Mclaren driver to finish on the podium at the Silverstone Track since Lewis Hamilton in 2010.

In Hungary, Lando started third and finished second, scoring a back-to-back podium for the first time in his career.

And in Singapore fans saw the bond of Carlando return to their screens as Carlos Sainz assisted him in holding off the Mercedes drivers until the end of the race, allowing Lando to gain yet another podium finish for this season and doing it alongside his close former teammate Carlos. His result at the Japanese Grand Prix, taking his fourth podium of the year, meant he took the record of the driver with the most career points without a win.

The success of Lando Norris makes it clear to see that his win is just within his grasp, a truly incredible driver with the full potential to become a World Champion in the future. Congratulations to Lando as he races in his 100th race this weekend, what an amazing couple of years this driver has had, and although he hasn't had the most smooth-sailing couple of years, the potential of Lando Norris should not and can not be ignored.

[sportskeeda-updates]

Abu Dhabi Open 2025: Emma Raducanu vs Marketa Vondrousova preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/abu-dhabi-open-2025-emma-raducanu-vs-marketa-vondrousova-preview-head-to-head-prediction-odds-pick?key4=sktumblr&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

[topluxuryproperty]

How Do Short-Term Rentals Boost the UAE Economy?

Short-term rentals drive economic growth by transforming hospitality services and real estate development throughout the UAE's marketplace. These rentals achieve unmatched flexibility and privacy while remaining affordable because of advanced government rules. The UAE's real estate and tourism markets have experienced significant transformation due to new offerings that satisfy family and professional requirements.

A Booming Sector

The UAE experienced a 30% growth in short-term rental bookings because customers sought distinctive yet adaptable lodging options. Platforms, including Airbnb and other local companies, enable travelers to easily locate personalized accommodation options, from cozy apartments to luxury villas.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi have led these developments due to favorable investor laws that manage tourism expansion and adequate housing availability. The structure provides economic advantages across tourism sectors, benefitting travelers and homeowners simultaneously.

Economic Benefits

Boosting Local Businesses

Short-term rentals take guests outside hotel areas to explore areas where locals live. Local cafes, neighborhood grocery stores, and retail shops receive direct economic stimulation when small businesses benefit from spanning economic effects throughout the region.

Job Creation

The short-term rental system generates employment across property management services, cleaning staff positions, maintenance workers, and high-tech support. Local technology providers concentrating on property management experience stable financial gains and company development opportunities through these ventures.

Increased Income for Property Owners

UAE property owners can achieve an income increase of 20% to 30% through short-term rental arrangements compared with traditional leasing. The adaptable rental structure lets owners enhance their pricing when travel activities peak. People use extra earnings from property rental businesses to improve local services and property improvements, stimulating economic expansion.

Real Estate Growth and Urban Development

Short-term rental markets are changing how real estate functions across the UAE. Property prices climbed by 41%, while the UAE capital saw more than 43,000 real estate transactions make up their numbers in 2024. Short-term rental properties show rising demand, one of the main drivers behind this growth.

The UAE Central Bank expects the economy to expand by 6.2 percent annually until 2025, thanks to real estate expansion projects, including short-term rental facilities. By 2026, developers will finish delivering 182,000 new residential units to satisfy increased market needs and advance city development. Dubai will develop a population size of 5.8 million by 2040, resulting in ongoing growth in demand for short-term rental solutions.

Cultural and Social Impact

Through short-term rentals, tourists can access authentic experiences around their travel destinations. Through residential area stays, travelers can engage with nearby societies and rich cultural elements, which go beyond standard tourist destinations to add value to their experience. The UAE emerges as an open and internationally friendly travel destination by embracing diversity throughout its cities.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Property owners navigate an increasingly competitive environment as the short-term rental market moves towards an 18% growth projection by 2025. Successful operation in this competitive market depends upon regulatory adaptation and quality upkeep over time.

Final Thoughts

The UAE’s hospitality industry, together with its real estate market has undergone a revolution because of short-term rentals. Airbnb hosts travelers budget-friendly and adaptable places to stay, supporting neighborhood businesses by generating jobs and strengthening real estate values. As long as the government supports and develops urban structures, this sector will remain vital to the UAE's economic progress.

The UAE continues to lead globally by harnessing short-term rentals, which shape its future hospitality and real estate markets.

[jacob-jack-2025]

CALL FOR SPEAKER Join us as a Speaker at the 11th International Cancer, Oncology, and Therapy Conference on September 02-04, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, UAE Leading the Fight Against Cancer Your Voice Matters Elevate Oncology Innovations  Call for Speakers Open Leading the Fight Against Cancer.   Register here: https://cancer.utilitarianconferences.com/registration WhatsApp Us https://wa.me/+447723493307

[nadiapodoroska]

KATIE VOLYNETS [d. S. Kartal] | 2025 Abu Dhabi Open

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] GG News Bureau New Delhi, 28th Jan. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met with Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in a key meeting this morning aimed at enhancing the robust partnership between India and the UAE. Following the meeting, Jaishankar shared a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Nice to meet Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the President, UAE this morning. Discussed our special partnership and its further progress.” Nice to meet @AnwarGargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the President, UAE this morning. Discussed our special partnership and its further progress. pic.twitter.com/W0OChrkHux — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 28, 2025 Jaishankar is on an official visit to the UAE from January 27 to 29, focusing on strengthening the historic ties and deepening bilateral cooperation across various sectors. India and the UAE share a long history of diplomatic relations, which began in 1972 when both nations established formal ties. The UAE opened its embassy in India in the same year, followed by the Indian embassy in the UAE in 1973. Over five decades, these ties have evolved into a Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership, marked by mutual respect, frequent high-level exchanges, and a focus on economic and cultural collaboration. The relationship reached new heights with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2015 visit to the UAE—the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 34 years. This visit paved the way for strategic cooperation in areas like trade, energy, defense, and technology. Prime Minister Modi has since visited the UAE several times, most recently during the COP28 World Climate Action Summit in Dubai in late 2023. Similarly, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed (MBZ) has played a pivotal role in advancing relations. As Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, he visited India in 2016 and 2017, followed by a state visit as President in September 2023 to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi. The Indian expatriate community in the UAE, which numbers around 3.5 million, forms the backbone of the bilateral relationship. Representing approximately 35% of the UAE’s population, Indians are the largest ethnic group in the Emirates. Spread across key cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai, they contribute significantly to the UAE’s economy and serve as a bridge between the two nations. Ministerial visits have further strengthened bilateral relations. EAM Jaishankar has visited the UAE multiple times, underscoring India’s commitment to fostering stronger ties. His counterpart, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, has also made frequent visits to India, promoting cooperation in trade, energy, technology, and defense. Jaishankar’s current visit is part of India’s broader strategic vision to build closer ties with the Gulf nation. Discussions with Anwar Gargash centered on enhancing collaboration under the Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership framework, with a focus on emerging areas such as renewable energy, climate action, and digital innovation. As the visit continues, Jaishankar is expected to meet other UAE officials and business leaders, further solidifying the India-UAE partnership—a cornerstone of India’s engagement with the Gulf region.   The post EAM S Jaishankar Meets UAE Diplomatic Advisor Anwar Gargash, Discusses Strategic Partnership appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates. [ad_2] Source link

[news365times]

[ad_1] GG News Bureau New Delhi, 28th Jan. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met with Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in a key meeting this morning aimed at enhancing the robust partnership between India and the UAE. Following the meeting, Jaishankar shared a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Nice to meet Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the President, UAE this morning. Discussed our special partnership and its further progress.” Nice to meet @AnwarGargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the President, UAE this morning. Discussed our special partnership and its further progress. pic.twitter.com/W0OChrkHux — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 28, 2025 Jaishankar is on an official visit to the UAE from January 27 to 29, focusing on strengthening the historic ties and deepening bilateral cooperation across various sectors. India and the UAE share a long history of diplomatic relations, which began in 1972 when both nations established formal ties. The UAE opened its embassy in India in the same year, followed by the Indian embassy in the UAE in 1973. Over five decades, these ties have evolved into a Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership, marked by mutual respect, frequent high-level exchanges, and a focus on economic and cultural collaboration. The relationship reached new heights with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2015 visit to the UAE—the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 34 years. This visit paved the way for strategic cooperation in areas like trade, energy, defense, and technology. Prime Minister Modi has since visited the UAE several times, most recently during the COP28 World Climate Action Summit in Dubai in late 2023. Similarly, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed (MBZ) has played a pivotal role in advancing relations. As Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, he visited India in 2016 and 2017, followed by a state visit as President in September 2023 to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi. The Indian expatriate community in the UAE, which numbers around 3.5 million, forms the backbone of the bilateral relationship. Representing approximately 35% of the UAE’s population, Indians are the largest ethnic group in the Emirates. Spread across key cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai, they contribute significantly to the UAE’s economy and serve as a bridge between the two nations. Ministerial visits have further strengthened bilateral relations. EAM Jaishankar has visited the UAE multiple times, underscoring India’s commitment to fostering stronger ties. His counterpart, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, has also made frequent visits to India, promoting cooperation in trade, energy, technology, and defense. Jaishankar’s current visit is part of India’s broader strategic vision to build closer ties with the Gulf nation. Discussions with Anwar Gargash centered on enhancing collaboration under the Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership framework, with a focus on emerging areas such as renewable energy, climate action, and digital innovation. As the visit continues, Jaishankar is expected to meet other UAE officials and business leaders, further solidifying the India-UAE partnership—a cornerstone of India’s engagement with the Gulf region.   The post EAM S Jaishankar Meets UAE Diplomatic Advisor Anwar Gargash, Discusses Strategic Partnership appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates. [ad_2] Source link

[itsicn]

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: PCB Confident Rohit Sharma will Defy Government Orders and Visit Pakistan

Champions Trophy 2025: There is growing suspense surrounding whether Team India captain Rohit Sharma will travel to Pakistan for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opening ceremony. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) remains hopeful that Rohit Sharma will attend the captains' photoshoot and pre-event press conference.

The opening ceremony of the event is set to take place on either February 16 or 17. The PCB is awaiting confirmation from the International Cricket Council regarding the schedule for the captains' photoshoot and press conference. All eight team captains are expected to attend the ceremony in Pakistan.

Read Also: AFG vs UGA Dream11 Prediction T20 World Cup

Pakistan Hopeful of Rohit Sharma’s Visit for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

According to a PTI report, the Pakistan Cricket Board is hopeful that Rohit Sharma will attend the Champions Trophy event in Pakistan. The PCB has received the necessary government approvals to issue visas for all visiting captains, players, and team officials attending pre-tournament events.

"This obviously includes Rohit or any other Indian team player or official or board official," the source said.

Read Also: AFG vs SA 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction

BCCI Yet to Issue Official Statement on Rohit Sharma's Visit to Pakistan

If it happens, it will mark the first time in over a decade that an active Indian cricketer visits Pakistan. According to ICC rules, all team captains must attend the opening ceremony of the Champions Trophy.

There were earlier speculations about Rohit traveling to Pakistan for the opening ceremony and captains' photoshoot. The discussions about his possible visit arose because India will not be playing any matches in Pakistan. However, the BCCI has not yet issued an official statement on the matter.

Read Also: AFG vs SA 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction

SportsTeam India Set to Play Champions Trophy Matches in Dubai

The Indian national cricket team will play its Champions Trophy matches in Dubai rather than travel to Pakistan due to ongoing political tensions. The marquee tournament will be held under a hybrid model after the Indian government and the BCCI declined to send their team to Pakistan, citing security concerns.

Pakistan agreed to host all events by India from 2024-2027 at neutral venues. The eight-team tournament will run from February 19 to March 9, with matches taking place in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, while all India-related games will be in Dubai. India and Pakistan will face each other in Dubai on February 23.

Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali urged Rohit Sharma to visit Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Basit expressed doubts about whether Rohit will attend the opening ceremony. He said that while Rohit might want to go, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may prevent him.

"When the World Cup happened Babar Azam and Kane Williamson took a flight and went to Australia together. Will Rohit Sharma come to Pakistan? He should. He should come to the ICC event. I want him to come and he would have the wish to come too. Maybe he will give a reason that the ties with Pakistan are not good. Maybe the BCCI will give that reason," Basit said.

Read Also: AJMB vs BGT Match Prediction Abu Dhabi T10 League

[abudhabimgzn]

SUSHI SAMBA Abu Dhabi Opens at Conrad Etihad Towers with Bold Flavors

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 23 January 2025: Ringing in the New Year with unparalleled style, SUSHISAMBA Abu Dhabi has officially opened its doors at Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers. As the second UAE location of this global dining phenomenon, the vibrant new venue promises to elevate the capital’s culinary scene with its bold blend of flavours, cultures, and artistry. Guests are invited to embark on a…

[jspairservices]

Job Opportunities in Abu Dhabi – Apply Now! JSP Air Services, approved by the Government of India Ministry of External Affairs, is conducting interviews for multiple job openings in the Oil & Gas Industry. Gulf experience is required!

Interview Dates: 28th January 2025 – Chennai Open Positions:

Rigging Supervisor – 40 vacancies – Up to AED 6500

HSE Officer – 50 vacancies – Up to AED 6500

Scaffolding Inspector – 20 vacancies – Up to AED 5000

HSE Engineer – 30 vacancies – Up to AED 10000

QA/QC Inspector Civil – 20 vacancies – Up to AED 6500 ...and many more positions listed.

Food & Accommodation will be provided

Venue: 11, Arul Malar Convent Road, KK Nagar, Madurai - 625020, Tamil Nadu

Contact us: +91 93637 51845 | +91 99942 93267 Email: gulfjobs389@gmail.com