#fernando probably doesn't even remember saying this

[rt3nenbaum]

nineteen years ago fernando alonso won his first f1 championship, a month later he was asking the fans in a balcony in oviedo to please never leave him alone, little did he know they would never leave his side, not even in the worst moments and that nineteen years later he still has the power to make a whole country go crazy just with a word 💙

[vetteltea]

Hurray for the 500!

Some breakfast Tea, the letter S and i would like to hear what you think about Seb, Lando, Carlos, Alonso or Lewis?

☕︎ breakfast tea

LN4, SV5, FA14, LH44, CS55 and 'S: Stamina: How many rounds can they go? How long can they last?'

LN4: Lando is stupidly horny when he's around you, and I mean stupidly. He's not sure what you're doing to him - whether you have some kind of spell over him, but there's so many times he's got you alone and just wants to ravish you.

He's an energetic guy, I feel like he can go for two or three rounds, but he's self aware. He struggles to last around you when you're looking that good, so will always make sure you finish first.

SV5: Sebastian, oh my goodness. There's a spark still in him, it's still there from his Red Bull days. He may come across as the sweetest gentleman, but when it comes to you, he's gone back 10 years.

He can easily go a few rounds, he's such a tease that he'll end up teasing himself, too. I'm saying probably three is his average. There are some days he will keep you pinned to the bed all day and have you over and over again.

FA14: Fernando is older, his stamina isn't what it used to be, but it doesn't mean he only goes for a little while. Remember this man back in his younger days? He's completely and utterly insatiable.

The whole thing about him is it's one round, but it's a round which will leave you shaking and quivering and so, so overstimulated. He's constantly edging you, making you hold yourself there and then pulling you back down.

LH44: There has never been a more passionate lover than Lewis; everything about him is deep; he's whispering the filthiest words to you and keeping his mouth so close to yours at every single moment. His breath on your skin is enough to send you into override.

Lewis does two rounds; the first is always with you finishing in his mouth, there's something about your taste which does something to him. Even if he's riling you up in every other way, finishing in his mouth is what he desires. The second is always in missionary, his lips pressed to yours as you both climax together.

CS55: If there's ever a man who can make you feel things you could never realise, it's Carlos. He's horny all the time, on the days he can hide away from the world with you, he's got you on every surface, in every bed, taking you over and over again.

This man genuinely has no limit to his rounds, he will go as long as you will. Sometimes a round is a few minutes, other times his dick is buried inside you for so long whilst his lips attack your neck, it can go for hours.

part of the vetteltea 500 celebration!

[skitskatdacat63]

Fernando Alonso & His Relationship With Cards

I'm sure we're all familar with the cards on the back of Fernando's Vegas GP helmet by now, but did you know his relationship with cards goes a lot deeper?

I. Magic Tricks

You've probably seen or heard someone at least mention Fernando's propensity for card tricks. As far as I can tell he was doing them(publically) as far back as 2003 all the way to as recently as 2018. Even once performing a card trick, with a condom and a teddy bear(!??!?!??!!), in front of Valentino Rossi who said "How was that possible?"(x)

But how did this start? According to James Allen, "Fernando admits to having been heavily influenced by his grandfather, a mercurial figure, who taught him magic and card tricks, still one of his passions away from the race track."(x) And I'm not sure the validity of this one, because I couldn't find an actual source, but apparently he once said: "My parents are responsible for the two things I like doing most - driving and magic tricks. They bought me my first go-kart and a magician's kit."

In several interviews he described it as his hobby off track, and that he loved learning new tricks and surprising others in the garage with them! So clearly cards are pretty important to him both as a hobby but also to who he is as a person since they've been with him just as long as racing has.

II. Card Symbolism in His Helmets

This is the reason I originally made this post, but I thought I should also explain the origins of his card fascination first. As I said, we probably all remember the cards on the back of his helmet in Vegas, but did you know that wasn't the first time he had cards on the back of his helmet?

From 2008-2013, he used to have a pair of cards on the back of his helmets. The symbolisms of the cards themselves as well as the evolution of their design is really fascinating to me! Even more so with the recent development of the card choice in 2023.

Fernando said he wanted to reference his two titles in some way on the back of his helmet and after his friend sent him several ideas, he decided on having two cards(an ace of clubs and an ace of hearts, sometimes pictured with 05 and 06 on them as well), saying: "I picked the cloverleaf [the ace of clubs - Ed] to give me luck, but the only pity is that it doesn't have four leaves!"(X)

2008.

Here's the very first appearance of the cards! They're displayed flat, with the 05 and 06 clearly visible

2009.

Very similar to 2008, but with a slightly different design, and they're maybe a bit more straight with less shadow?

2010.

This is the first major change! I was sad they didn't have the years on them anymore, but then I realized they're sparkly to match with his signature lightning bolts on the top of the helmet!!

2011.

Honestly I'm still somewhat unsure if this is the actual 2011 helmet? It's pretty difficult to find clear photos of the back of helmets from older seasons. It's easiest to find them on replica sites or auction sites so I'm not 100%? But anyways, I like that this has the championship years on the underside of the cards

2012.

This is when I started getting weirdly emotional about the helmets. Do you see how they've progressed from being a centerpoint to being curled up and sad at the bottom of the helmet? Not listing the year anymore??

2013.

Same thoughts as 2012. And after this season, they cease to exist (just like his ferrari chair in the garage, WOAH CALLBACK), until cards make a reeappearance in his Vegas helmet, albeit in a different form

2013 Monaco(Honorable Mention):

For some reason 2013 helmets were easier to find proper pictures of, so I happened to witness this absolute beauty. The creativity of this helmet genuinely blows me away??? Wanting to keep the card motif, but making sure to incorporate it into the rest of the puzzle piece design?? Mwah! There was another special 2013 helmet but they didn't change the cards at all so I really applaud this one

2023 Las Vegas(The Return of The King):

The magnificent return! But look! The cards are different cards! Instead of being two aces, it's now an ace of hearts, a four of hearts(his driver number of course!) and, the, now iconic, representation of himself as a Joker. I literally could not believe my eyes when this helmet was released and I saw the Joker card, what a fucking silly old man....I really wonder if he felt nostalgic having cards on his helmet again or if he didn't think about it all and was just like, "ah cards because Vegas!!!"

III. Why Does This Matter?

*The rest of the post was factual, this is moreso my personal thoughts on the symbolism of the cards/designs

This post spawned from me recently watching the 2010 Bahrain gp and noticing "hey wait a minute...are those CARDS ON THE BACK OF HIS HELMET!?" It's a really tiny detail that's unfortunately covered up by the HANS device pretty much whenever he's wearing the helmet, so it's really difficult to spot! But I became fascinated with the fact that he had cards on his helmet before that recent helmet, and now here we are!

There's something to me about how the design of the cards evolves over the course of six seasons from the cards being front and center to being smaller, more folded up and closer to the bottom of the helmet. As I said, the 2012-2013 ones genuinely made me depressed because it feels, symbolically, like his hopes for getting another Ace are becoming more and more unlikely and falling away until they eventually fall falt and fade away entirely after 2013 and disappear for basically a decade.

But when they return? They're not the same cards! Instead of representing Fernando's championships, they now represent him as a person, displaying his driver number and his persona of being a Joker!! Though I do think it's interesting he happened to keep the Ace of Hearts, even though he talked more about the Ace of Clubs before. I'm not sure it's actually this deep in reality, but I like to think that it's him not letting his championships(and the lack thereof) define him, but rather letting who he is as a person shine and be the centerpoint instead! But on a sadder note, as @suzuki-ecstar said to me, maybe the Aces aren't there anymore because he's lost all hope for a chance at a third Ace entirely :(

[leclerc-s]

big reputations - part eight

series masterlist // previous // next

charles leclerc i've decided that this week i will be driving like a menace.

daniel ricciardo i see track terror is making a comeback this week.

max verstappen no more inchidents please.

charles leclerc mate let it go already. it's been over 10 years.

max verstappen admit you pushed me into that puddle and i'll let it go!

oscar piastri i see why the entire internet is convinced you two are secretly dating

charles leclerc excuse me? max verstappen they're what? sabrina carpenter lestappen is lestappening

daniel ricciardo to be fair, they think k-mag and nico are in love with each other, have been since the whole 'suck my balls' thing

daphne jones didn't we have this conversation already?

max verstappen that was in the other group chat

sabrina carpenter YOU HAVE A GROUP CHAT WITHOUT US? THIS IS TREASON!

oscar piastri OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!

charles leclerc THIS IS TREACHEROUS!

daphne jones oh grow up, it was started before you three were even in the picture. we don't use it much these days.

sabrina carpenter good. otherwise i'd throw a fit.

max verstappen don't you always?

sabrina carpenter i will make your life miserable verstappen

max verstappen you already do by existing every day.

lando norris MR. RICCIARDO ARE YOU OR ARE NOT A MASTERMIND?! THE TWITTER GIRLIES WANT TO KNOW!!

daniel ricciardo the hell are you talking about lando?

pierre gasly so you saw the same twitter thread i did?

max verstappen i completely forgot daphne had performed at the 2016 austin grand prix.

lewis hamilton huh that did happen

lando norris DANIEL ARE YOU A MASTERMIND?

logan sargeant was going to ask why but then i realized what the song is about.

mark webber i don't get it? what's the song about?

oscar piastri forgive him, he's uncultured.

mark webber that's it, no more sabrina time for you. oscar piastri sabrina said you can't separate siblings. tell him charles! charles leclerc yeah! what she said! lando norris wait a fucking minute, are you all together right now?

carlos sainz is that family thing working for you guys?

max verstappen it actually is. you should've seen the group chat after texas.

max verstappen on second thought maybe not. daniel ricciardo yeah, that's not a good idea. oscar piastri things were said by sabrina. charles leclerc well when you say it like that you make it sound bad. nothing bad was said, they're being dramatic. although, she might be in love with fernando daniel ricciardo you do remember the spa inchident don't you? alex albon they call him fernando rizzlonso

lando norris renamed daniel ricciardo

mastermind hilarious lando. truely.

lando norris you never confirmed or denied it. i took matters into my own hands.

pierre gasly question for sabrina, how does one get a song like nonsense written about them?

sabrina carpenter what an odd question pear gasly, i'd say by dating a singer? which is better for me because that way i can steal your girlfriend with no obstacles.

aelx albon she's a menace.

max verstappen THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING!

oscar piastri it's not that great of a song. i don't get the hype?

sabrina carpenter added one person

sabrina carpenter oscar's been disowned. he didn't know the words to love story.

charles leclerc max doesn't either?

oscar piastri what the hell are you talking about sabrina?

sabrina carpenter i saw that mclaren video.

daphne jones it's one song sabrina, let it go. this is not going to turn into another spa situation.

yuki tsunoda excuse me while i go scream into the void

logan sargeant wait for me! lance stroll and me!

lando norris daniel probably

sabrina carpenter lando with all of his teammates

lando norris man fuck you sabrina

carlos sainz what's the spa situation?

daphne jones you don't want to know, trust me. oscar piastri for your sanity, you don't want to know. daniel ricciardo please don't get her started again.

sabrina carpenter mr. sainz, you truly do not want to get me started. as i said before, i may not have been present for spa but i can and will bite ankles for oscar.

mastermind so who's free to go to daphne's concert in argentina on the 11th?

lando norris SIGN ME TF UP!!

yuki tsunoda I'M IN!

alex albon depends, can i bring lily?

mastermind of course! - sabrina mastermind that's my wife! - sabrina

logan sargeant ready to dance along to the fearless era

mastermind bold of any of you to think you have a choice. I EXPECT ALL OF YOU THERE! - SABRINA

mastermind love the name btw - sabrina

charles leclerc to quote sabrina, "i expect ass shaking for vigilante shit."

oscar piastri dear i god i hope none of you do that.

lando norris well now i'm going to.

sebastian vettel well she's certainly something.

max verstappen she's a menace.

lewis hamilton huh, sounds like someone back in 2016 to 2018. max verstappen YOU TAKE THAT BACK! lewis hamilton i don't think i will

mastermind JUSTICE FOR ABU DHABI 2021 - SABRINA

oscar piastri she just likes to stir the pot.

mark webber sounds like someone else and the infamous alpine tweet.

oscar piastri okay, that was one time.

esteban ocon argentina right before vegas? doesn't seem like a good idea to me but i'm in.

lando norris BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER!

jenson button so is daniel dating daphne or not?

mastermind that's a secret i'll never tell - xoxo gossip girl.

alex albon something is brewing i can feel it.

taglist: @glow-ish @agustdpeach @msolbesg @spilled-coffee-cup @1nt3rnetgf @six-call @smol-scream @fernandoswarcrimes @arieltwvdtohamflash @Mimolovescookies @brekkers-whore @camdensreg @mycenterfold @dear-fifi @chiliwhore @tygecjjd @cataf1 @nothaqks @caipng @nataliambc @formulaal @prongsvault @kaa212 @anxxiousaries @julesbabey1 @julesbabey @georgeparisole @hobiismyhopeu @melissayalene @nikfigueiredo

strikethrough means i couldn't tag you

¡leclerc-s speaks! i’m back for 2024! i tried something different for this chapter and i think i liked it so i'm going to change it for all of the other parts, which is going to be a bitch because it's gonna take forever. it's also not that big of a change but i think it makes a difference.

¡disclaimer! this is in no way making assumptions about the people involved in this story, this is all fake. it is a fanfiction please don't take any of what is said seriously. this is all for entertainment purposes and as a creative outlet. enjoy!

[raapija]

Hi. Could you please write a little something about strollonso raising the two babies? Like their experience with the twins when they were just a few months old maybe? About being parents for the first time. And the older kids meeting the twins and interacting with them. Sorry if this doesn't make sense.

Thanks for this cute prompt ! <3 Have fun reading, and I hope you like it !

summary: It's a couple months into Lance and Nando having the twins. The house is a mess and both of them are dying from sleep deprivation, but other than that, it's going great ! Also, Charlos come to visit... warnings: no warnings babes <3

Fernando was spread on his and Lance's bed, every limb pointing to a different direction like a starfish. He was on the brink of falling asleep, when he heard the baby monitor go off, a small cry coming from the other end. He dragged his hands over his face and sighed, laying for a couple seconds more before heaving himself up and making his way downstairs.

Lucía had woken up and was now crying like a fire-siren, making Fernando's ears ring as he entered the babies' room. He carefully got the little girl into his arms, resting her against his chest and shoulder. He rocked her gently and shushed her, while walking over to Jayden's crib to check on him, too.

"Increíble..." he said under his breath as he saw the boy was still fast asleep, completely clueless to his sister's crying from before.

Fernando made his way towards the kitchen, opening the fridge to get a bottle of already pre-made baby formula. He then sat down at the dinner table, holding the baby girl safely on his lap and slipping the bottle into her mouth.

After Lucía had finished eating, he got her back up into his arms to burb her. And oh boy, did she burb.

"Ay, dios mío, mi pequeña niña." Fernando fanned the air around them with his hand. The little girl could produce some of the nastiest smells.

¬

After he had gotten Lucía settled back into her crib and she had fallen asleep, Fernando made his way to the living room to find his husband passed out on the couch. His hair was a mess, his shirt was probably on backwards and he was literally drooling. Fernando thought he looked a bit ridiculous, but in a charming, endearing kind of way.

Lance was clutching another baby monitor in his hand and Fernando gently got it out of his fingers. Lance stirred a little in his sleep, and Fernando's heart skipped a beat as he got spooked that he had woken him up. But alas, Lance was still far away in his dreams.

Fernando decided to stuff the baby monitor into the kangaroo pocket on his hoodie and then go prepare something to eat for the two of them. He was a terrible cook, but he figured Lance would appreciate the gesture either way.

He popped one of his favorite CD's in the kitchen radio, El Sueño de Morfeo was the band. He put the volume on low and danced around the kitchen, humming along with the melody and throwing together a mix of leftovers. He even chopped some fresh tomatoes to go with it. Fernando had always told Lance if there was someone he would marry instead of him, it was the lead singer of the band, Raquel. And Lance would always sneer at him and say he would marry some sleazy hockey player from the Habs that Fernando refused to remember the name of.

¬

Fernando gently poked on Lance's arm to try and wake him up. When the poking didn't work, he tried kissing him like a Disney princess that had fallen into a deep slumber. No luck there either. He looked at him a bit longer before growing impatient.

"Wake up, idiot." he barked and Lance jolted awake, looking around in a panic and then slumping back down when he saw Fernando smirking at him.

"Hello, churri. I made you dinner." Fernando cooed and Lance rubbed his eyes.

"How long was I asleep for? Are the kids okay?" he croaked and sat up. Fernando kissed him on the cheek and then hurried off to the dinner table to pull one chair from under it, beckoning for Lance to come over. After Lance had managed to drag his body over and sat down, he went to grab him his plate, placing it before him with unnecessary flair. Lance scowled at him and then started to pick through the food with his fork, trying to figure out just what exactly it was he was about to put into his mouth.

"Bebés are fine. I fed Lucy about half an hour ago, both sleeping." Fernando said and watched Lance's expression go from doubt to pleasant surprise when he tasted the food.

"I'm impressed." the Canadian said and took another forkful, seemingly hungry from his sleep. Fernando smiled and dug in himself.

¬

Next morning, Fernando was shuffling around the house trying not to make too much noise while tidying up. He had his arms full with a selection of milk bottles, rattle toys, teddies and onesies.

Carlos was coming over to see the twins for the first time in a month and he was bringing sweet and lovely Charles with him. Oliver was staying with Charles's parents, which had made Fernando's blood boil when they had told him last night over the phone. He wanted to hold his grandson, maybe steal him from them for good. He was so adorable; Oliver looked exactly like Charles with his itty-bitty little green eyes, long lashes and rosy pink cheeks.

"What are you doing?" he heard Lance whisper from behind him. Fernando almost dropped everything as he quickly twirled around, holding in a scream from being scared by him. Lance stared back at him, still groggy from sleep and his bathrobe sliding down off one of his shoulders. His shirt was all crinkled up and his pajama pants barely held onto his waist with the strings hanging loose. The hairband in his hair was hardly keeping his messy bun intact.

"Cleaning." Fernando hissed at him and went on to dump all the stuff from his hands into a big toy basket and slammed the lid shut. He'd deal with it later when the guests were gone.

"I see..." Lance raised an eyebrow at him. "Coffee?"

"Please." Fernando sighed and they both made their way towards the kitchen, avoiding stepping on loose duplos and little wooden cubes.

¬

"It's weird, how much they look like Lance." Carlos said as he stared at Lucía and Jayden on Fernando's lap on the couch. Carlos was squatting in front of them, examining the kids closely.

"Well, they are mine..." Lance noted from behind him but the younger Spaniard ignored him. Carlos reached out his hand and one of the babies grabbed onto his finger, making a babbling sound. He shook hands with the baby, saying a Spanish greeting as well.

"They're beautiful. Right, Carlos?" Charles nudged Carlos with his foot and the man grunted, presumably agreeing. Lance yawned, already craving for another cup of coffee after they had just stood up from the table and put their cups away.

"Tough being a dad, right?" Charles asked him and Lance nodded. Fernando smiled from the couch at them.

"These two are infinitely easier compared to Lando and Oscar." he said and then looked at Carlos. "Not to even mention you."

"Shut up." Carlos growled and stood up. Fernando smirked up at him, clearly amused by his reaction.

"I would love to know what Carlos was like as a child." Charles joined in and Carlos shot him an angry look. Charles furrowed his brows at him. "What? You never talk about that stuff..."

"Oh, he was a nightmare." Fernando said and earned himself an angry look, too. "There was nothing in the house he wouldn't break or steal or loose. And he would always rope Lando and Oscar into his plans."

"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" Carlos tried to drown Fernando's voice out and covered Charles' ears with his hands.

"He was horrible. I don't know how I managed turn him around." Fernando continued and Carlos threw a loose teddy bear at his head.

"Okay, enough, you two." Lance jutted in, gathering his babies from Fernando before they got mixed into the fight as well. Fernando threw the teddy back at Carlos, missing him by just a centimeter. Lance scurried off with Lucía and Jayden, hiding behind Charles for protection. The two Spaniards kept throwing toys at each other until Carlos got a hold of something with hard edges and Charles finally interjected.

"Jesus christ!" he chuckled, a little scared, and grabbed the kid's book from Carlos' hands. The Spaniard looked at him disappointed, as if he had spoiled all the fun. "Enough."

"Hah, I win." Fernando peeked from behind the couch and Charles had to actually hold his man back from charging at him.

"This is what I get from coming to visit you." Carlos huffed, while Charles straightened his clothes. Fernando giggled from behind the couch and the whole room could hear Lance roll his eyes. The twins were not impressed by the whole scene at all and were actually looking a bit droopy.

"Baby nap time." Lance announced and shuffled out the living room, leaving Fernando alone with Carlos and Charles.

"Okay, lo siento." Fernando said and patted Carlos on the back. The younger Spaniard glared at him, but accepted the apology. One thing Fernando always taught his kids was, that they should always apologize, no matter what.

He then turned to Charles and covered the other side of his mouth with his hand as if to block Carlos from hearing what he was about to say. "I'll tell you everything about him later. Don't you worry, mi cielito."

"Stop flirting with him, papá." Carlos stuck his finger between Fernando's ribs and made him squeal. Charles laughed and Carlos grabbed him to pull him away from Fernando, who was rubbing his side in pain.

"Someone has to, you're hopeless." Fernando croaked and Charles giggled more, making Carlos turn beet red. The younger Spaniard wasn't exactly the most romantic guy, and Fernando had always found it inconceivable that he had pulled someone like Charles. Perfect, handsome, sweet, talkative Charles... and then there was his son. Perpetually grumpy and unsociable.

"No, I like him just the way he is." Charles said and pecked Carlos on the cheek, making him blush even more. Getting kissed in front of your dad must still be universally embarrassing, even if you're past 30.

"Uh-huh..." Fernando hummed and looked at them. They did make a pretty good-looking pair. Opposites attract, right? That's what he and Lance had as well.

[blorbocedes]

it’s crazy that redbull use to love chopping drivers’ heads off mid season because they got the ick, but now they are just unwilling to sacrifice anyone, on top of promising lawson a seat and having another driver on the come up who’s a championship contender in f2. they don’t have solid plans for yuki, but keep extending his contracts with the sister team, they’re letting dr hoard the seat with his nasty asscheeks. checo seems to have his place secured too, but it will probably bite them in the future, because this gap between him and max will be punishing as others have been catching up

if you want 'my source: I made it up' take on it all it goes like this:

the redbull power struggle from earlier this year hasn't ended. it's merely at an impasse. redbull's thai owners stopped horner from getting fired, and max credibly threatening to leave and tying his contract to helmut's means CH can't get the old man fired either. and remember, helmut used to be in charge of who gets the seat when deitrich was alive and still holds considerable influence

if DR performed like yuki is this year, you would've absolutely seen him in the redbull car by now because he was brought in as Horner's pet project. they would happily mid season chop Checo's neck. then lawson who proved himself in the car could fill his seat in vcarb

you'll see conflicting narratives where redbull/DR sources like medland will say yuki's not in contention for redbull, yuki's shopping for other seats and he doesn't even want the seat

and then yuki himself saying he's happy to be in vcarb until he gets a shot at redbull, and helmut saying he is being looked at.

since yuki would be helmut's pick, horner doesn't want to consider him and thus lose out on the driver selection process. that's why you'll also hear so much "oh yuki goes wherever Honda will take him" yuki also has never been allowed to test in a redbull, ever. so whenever there's narratives of put DR in the car he's the fastest in the sim -- yuki hasn't ever been allowed to test for that car!!! and they've had everyone in their junior programme including f3 drivers test it!!!

so checo. the car is worse this year, and hes showing for it by being 5th in the standings rn. If redbull loses the constructors, esp with Ferrari catching up, it will be because of checo. but checo brings in the most sponsors after max and lewis, so the math horner has to justify to the board is he brings in more $ than losing first in the constructors will give us (around 20 mil). the redbull also being harder to drive means you don't want to risk an entirely new driver getting to grips with it when you have someone for the past few years who has reliably driven it where you want (checo was 2nd in standings last year).

checo getting the 1 year extension means once again he'll have to prove his worth for the team, and will be expendable after 2025. 2026 is when new regulations kick in! that changes the whole game... max allowing the merc flirtation to happen this year and redbull (horner) saying they're looking at fernando and carlos and whoever else is in chess when both sides make forward pawn moves. max is showing he's not married to redbull until 28, esp if the engines aren't good, and redbull going fine! we can look at other drivers too~ (not in their own junior programme tho 💀).

that's why they're keeping the status quo for 2025 and trying to keep EVERY driver available, cause then 2026 with new regs and Ford becomes the game changer.

[poorlywoventhread]

Task force 141 × Formula 1 Headcannons

ah yes let me just combine my

h y p e r f i x a t i o n s

Gaz

● Massive merc fanboy

● Got into the sport when Mercedes was dominating and instantly became a fan of Hamilton.

● Price gifted him tickets to the silverstone grand prix, was the best leave of his life.

● Abu Dhabi 2021 #neverforget (he's not a toxic fan, though)

● He threw his phone at the wall when he found out Hamilton is going to Ferrari.

● Pretty chill person to watch with, always prepares snacks and enjoys people company.

GHOST

● No one expected him to be a fan. Most of tf141 isn't even sure he is.

● He quietly supports the underdogs (Williams, Haas, Alfa Romeo - refuses to call them stake/kick)

● Sargent reminds him of rookies he's trained, so he likes seeing him do well. He also likes Nico Hülkenberg.

●Absolutely no one knows about this. He sometimes silently joins Gaz to watch, but no one knows why, or even if he has a favourite team/driver. Watching with him is like having a literal ghost in the room.

Price

● McLaren fan, but can't remember the newest drivers names. Mostly because he remembers the late 90's races most fondly. They played in the background in his childhood/early teens.

● Watched Senna live on tv, that's his favourite driver.

● Always took a passing interest in the sport, doesn't watch religiously unlike Gaz. Over the years he's seen bits and pecies of races.

● Supports Fernando Alonso the best because he's a familiar face. Price watched him win a couple times.

●When he sees Gaz watching the race, he stands there for about 10 minutes before realising he has something to do and goes on with his day.

SOAP

● Likes Daniel Ricciardo the best because vibes.

● He isn't much of a fan but likes to join in. All he does is try to annoy Gaz and Ghost (if he's present), then steal all the snacks.

● Dosent really have a favourite team. He's the most fun to be around, though. His reactions to crashes are priceless.

● Dosent really get how cars driving in circles can be entertaining but respects it. (Unless he's teasing someone about when lapped cars are allowed to unlap)

ALEJANDRO

● His favourite driver is Carlos Sainz.

●He doesn't have a favourite team per se, but more like a favourite driver. If you forced him to tell you, he'd probably say he likes Ferrari

● Constantly complains about Ferrari sidelining Sainz in favour of Leclerc.

●Aruges with Rudy about how Redbull are too good. (Rudy is a Redbull fan, having the time of his life)

FalloutNVxFormulaxCodxMolerats comingsoon alsotheotherthingtoo(hopefully)

[keepthedelta]

Wait can you share some lore on the Will Buxton / Nico Rosberg one sided beef?? I didn’t know about it til I saw you reference it!!

okay, please bear in mind that i am deeply biased about this because i love nico with my entire being and i wouldn't piss on will buxton if he were on fire, but.

so back in 2005 will buxton was the gp2 press officer. you know the guy who sits on the couch and asks the drivers questions in the media day press conferences? he was that for the gp2 series that nico was competing in.

in his The Contenders article, buxton says that he doesn't remember when he met nico, but that he hated him immediately. he thought he was arrogant and conceited and he SPECIFICALLY mentions the blonde hair, a nepo baby without any talent to back it up. in the article he sneers at "a handful of f3 wins" which is a very strange way of saying the joint 2nd highest number of wins in that series, 2nd only to the winner (and more than lewis, who nico was competing against and finished higher than). he says that he hated nico so much that he went out of his way to avoid him and got other people to get the necessary quotes from nico. so like, was nico actually arrogant and conceited or did buxton just decide that he was and then "confirmed" it with every interaction or lack of? when you consider how every other journalist/person that nico has worked with over the years described him, arrogant is not one of the words that comes up (if anything, people tend to say that he's shy or reserved). i can maybe see how you might think that if you only ever look at the surface because i do think nico's ice princess defence mechanism can come off like that, but the whole point of journalism is to look beyond that, and buxton is literally admitting that he refused to do that for reasons that probably aren't even there (because he refused to speak to nico).

and then later, will has this whole section on how nico manipulates his own image/presentation depending on what language he's speaking. and he frames it like an act of press manipulation (which buxton has already said that he disliked nico for when nico tried to take control of the questioning in press conferences). and idk, i just don't think it's accurate. like, personally, the way i speak changes slightly depending on what language i'm speaking and my confidence in that language. and will buxton was trying to judge nico's body language/demeanour whilst not understanding any language that nico was speaking other than english. i just don't think you can comment on how someone speaks a language or if they're being stubborn or sheepish or whatever if you don't actually understand the language. i think a lot of that section was just will buxton's fantasy interpretation of what he wanted nico to be like, arrogant and manipulative, so that he could justify his own weird hatred of a 19 year old that he'd never spoken to.

and then the whole thing ends with will buxton calling nico a dick or something and that being what finally breaks the barriers between them. it just reads so lonely nerd tells high school queen bee that she's got an ugly personality and then she falls for him because he's the first person to care about her personality not her looks to me.

idk, like i said at the beginning i'm incredibly biased. i hate will buxton for so many reasons outside of this article that i can never truly be objective about it, but i really don't understand how you can read it and think "oh yeah this is an accurate representation of a person" and not one man's bizarre incel-lite projection of a little blonde twink just trying to chase his dream. especially when you consider how weird buxton is about other drivers. his fernando article is equally weird and projection-y and shows that buxton is incapable of exploring beyond the surface. even his florida winter series diaries, which were supposed to be about him and his experiences still managed to save space for buxton being weird about max verstappen and lance stroll, both who were about 15 at the time. i just can't take him seriously as a person or a journalist, and i think that his writing shows more of who he is than who his subjects, like nico, are 🤷🏿‍♀️

[ravenadottir]

ok, so the other day my partner and i were talking about characters' names, the context being "oh, some characters don't match the names they were given" and it got me thinking... what would i name the love island characters if i had that power... or what they would name themselves... it gets a little mixed, don't worry about it.

i'm doing this or all seasons, especially the ones i didn't play because... it's fun and i already don't know/care about their grace.

alright, let's begin!

gary - SOLID KYLE, and i say this as a gary stan. he looks like someone who would chug on mountain dew and post those cowboy tik toks showing off his truck. i'm sorry but if you're american you know it's true and it's undeniable. idk what the british equivalent of that is... perhaps gary LOL

ibrahim - chadwick something the third. i remember seeing someone making fun of chadwick boseman (rest in peace) because his name is so white, and by rahim's behavior and way of talking it's giving carlton from 'fresh prince of bel-air. he's a fucking chadwick and you cannot convince me otherwise.

lucas - his father would want to name him fucking archibald because they're filthy rich, but his mom knows better, so she chose lucas. i think it's perfect for him and i wouldn't change it.

henrik - a solid andreas. look at him, he's an andreas! very sweet but still nordic enough to make you wonder.

bobby - probably the day of the week he was born, because if his parents are dumb enough to name him bobby, what would stop them from naming him friday? or maybe the season he was born, spring...

jakub - his name can stay the same because he looks like a jakub, HOWEVER, he would demand everyone to call him by his nickname: white shark

rocco - fernando. and not in the way you say it in english or spanish, but in portuguese. "faer-nã-doo", he would insist because... he's a douche.

graham - a hebrew name that means lovely, so like... jeremiah, or jebediah. probably jebediah. he does not give graham, he gives "catholic mother that is a little too lost in bible lore".

arjun - because he's conceited, (i like him but that smirk is so over-the-top) rahul. every fucking raul or rahul i've ever met was a conceited jerk so... call this based off life experiences.

elijah - it's giving william, maybe willard, even wilford. definitely a nickname that leads you to believe it's william but it's every other name under the sun except for the most common.

kassam is actually perfect, the right amount of exotic vanilla that he disperses.

carl - a nerdy name that wasn't necessarily born in the 40's, so leonard. it's a solid mix between young and old for me, and that's just who carl is. leonard is leo when he's younger, then stays solid for a 30-something-yo, then it's even more solid when you get old. granted, so is carl but i hate that fucking name.

noah - ambrose. um... SHOULD I JUST MOVE ON? it's perfect for him!

felix - (my partner said "lobster" without a second thought and i thought i would share with the class) but to me he looks like a solid martin, although he tries to make a nickname like max catch on, it's not successful.

the s2 girls:

lottie - she probably has a conservative name, like anne marie but lies about it saying she was named after a witch, like piper or sybil. final name would be piper (charmed fans will get it).

hope - viola. i love it, it's simple, small and it can mean so many things depending on what language you speak. in english is a type of violin, but in portuguese it's a type of guitar, and i love that for her. she's a very musical person so that's my name for her.

marisol - she's a solid valentina, the type of name that says a lot about personality. marisol, to me, is such a whimsical name. it doesn't say "intelligent, brave, bold", it says "i sell flowers by the road and wear a dress made out of hemp. also i call my vagina sacred temple." and that's not what homegirl is giving, so definitely valentina.

chelsea - i just hate the name chelsea, despite thinking she looks like one, so i'm naming her summer, because bright, hot, a little out there. everyone named summer (except the girl in The O.C) is a whimsical person, and that's how i feel she is.

hannah - she's a fucking daisy.

shannon - she's giving "my parents gave me the whitest name they could think of but i use a cool nickname" so i'm naming her madison but she calls herself "mad". her parents though? "maddie!"

blake - she's a fully-blown yasmin. it's the type of name that makes you second guess everything you thought about the person because you're not sure where that name is from, or what it means, and that's how i feel about her.

priya - i actually love that name for her, and i don't have as much contact with female indian names to have that... knowledge you know? i like it, keep it.

elisa - beatrice, but she uses "bea" and the bea-hive, because branding. WHY CALLING HER A NAME THAT CANNOT BE USED AS A BRAND, S2 WRITERS???? what was your thought process???

jo - every single girl i've met that is like jo was named angela. girls that will be like "i'll tell you one thing: i don't play games and i don't engage in drama" and baby, that's all they're doing, they're playing games and portraying an angel. fucking angela.

r!hannah - her name is still daisy but she corrects people, wanting to be addressed as "daze", because she's a bad girl now and fucking unbearable.

[leclerced]

Okay, I know im gonna get hated on massively but I need to speak my truth

I greatly dislike Daniel Ricciardo. Like idk he just makes insensible comments and jokes that just rub me the wrong way. And like I dont want to be rude but why is he even in the sport still?

Genuinely. Hes past his prime, he’s on a ‘B’ team, he even said himself that he was most likely not going to win a championship with Max/RBR’s dominance. And like? Idk because the same argument can be said about so many drivers but like, they’re taking away valuable opportunities for younger drivers on the F2/F3 grid to move up.

I don’t see anyone on the grid this year actually leaving anytime soon (maybe Sargeant if he can’t perform and MAYBE Fernando if he gets into another one of his retirement moods) but like? Idk

I’m not saying he’s a bad driver, hes obviously fan-fucking-tastic to be a F1 driver, but he just is not performing in the way he has in the past, and I am a very strong supporter of F2 drivers moving up and achieving their dreams (or at least being able to attempt to). I feel like he’s doing a detriment to his own mental health by being stuck in a situation where he cannot progress and get the results that he wants (because he’s in a fucking AT/Racing Bulls/Cashapp?? Seat)

Ik the Danny girls are gonna hate me but i’m a realist and I can/will totally make this argument for multiple other drivers on the grid😭

-🥰

honestly i saw danny when i got into f1 and latched onto him bc he is pretty and that still stands. i just love him. i haven't seen him say anything stupid really, not that i can remember, so i can't comment on that. i will be deeply heartbroken when he leaves the sport and i worry ab the state of this blog if it happens.

i think it makes sense for him to be on the second redbull team tbh, at least for the car developmentally. he's a seasoned racer who knows a lot about the sport and can easily give them his input on the car and what can improve it, whereas a newer driver doesn't have as much experience to draw from and they probably can't give the team as much information, or as detailed information. if they're struggling and need to bring in a seasoned racer to the b team to bring it up to par, i can understand that. it also makes sense if their plan is to get daniel in the redbull seat sometime this season or next, which it may or may not be, but either way they would want to keep his skills polished to keep him in contention for that seat.

i can't really comment on his performance- i just got into the sport this year, but i don't know if it really is a detriment to his mental health. i don't know the guy but i feel like this is where he wants to be, he wants the redbull seat and he wants to win with redbull, and i think he deserves that seat as much as anyone else does if they think he's worth giving it to. and i think he deserves the seat he has, especially if they want to keep him in good shape to be redbull's second driver if checo doesn't stay.

danny girls please don't fight in my inbox i will just stop answering asks thank u. be nice and we can chit chat, i'd love some race discourse but i dont want fighting thank u very much!!

[ms-taurusvenus]

SPA 2023 GP PREDICTIONS

Charles energy is very heavy here .. there's a chance that he can fuck shit up if he either listens to the team or they force him to do something/poor decision making by the team .. seeing that the moment that this were to happen or something that can/will/does put him at risk bellow the podium, he's just going to give up ..

Someones out for something, Max? Probably .. although, his energy seems low - not feeling it much?

Charles has to be resentful of the team and to stand his ground, if he listens to the team and doesn't trust his gut, this may go downwards. (He needs to listen to his intuition and make sure he does well or even win).

Someone has a plan and things they wanna do? I'm confused, I see this being built up? Perhaps relating to the race? They gotta be careful, smart and sly. Also I see them needing to push their ego aside.

I see something going well for Pierre? I keep feeling his energy - it seems .. hopeful and joyful? No clue what this is honestly. Could be someone else .. getting second thoughts on this ..

The past could be brought up .. could be related to the track in general? Seeing a journalist here?? Or the FIA. This could be public or private.

Is this Fernando? He seems like he wants to give up, he seems .. down? If he plays his cards right things can go well for him.

Someone has an idea or plan, they're doubtful of it .. it's either a Brit or .. Oscar?

Sensing some doesn't want to do the race, feeling multiple people. (Understandable).

There's a chance someone could do pretty well that may be unexpected .. seeing this being a younger driver? Yuki?

Someone might get a bit risky and this could result to them messing up badly. Could it be related to them being too cocky/egotistical?

Things could/will get better for a certain driver .. Oscar or Lando?

Also Max might be a bit hesitant about something? I see him wanting to do or say something that could be considered unfair but isn't to him?

NGL, the overall energy I've been getting for the rest of the race and grid is very .. meh. They might be fed up with the FIA lol. (Who isn't).

Remember energy changes and fluctuates depending on teams decisions and orders.

[garykingz]

I saw someone else do this so I wanted to as well

So. Could I beat f1 drivers in a fight:

Max: He would attempt murder without a second thought so probably not but if he started, I'd simply walk away like George did. If we actually had to fight, I'd just say Charles doesn't luv him and leave him to that

Sergio: I'll bring a knife from my womany kitchen. Try me, Q2-1 boy

Charles: Remember his angry growls at the French gp last year? He'd kill if he wanted to but he'd never bc he's an angel. I'm only fighting him in be—

Carlos: He could try. He'd almost win but then I'd give him a swift kick in the nuts n he'd be down for the count. "Nice fight" "Thanks" 🤝

George: FIGHT? IM ONLY HERE TO [REDACTED] (He could beat my ass n I'd let him)

Lewis: NO. Wouldn't win, wouldn't want to try. Maybe I'd try just to see where it leads but– 🤭

Alex: Probably but wouldn't fight him. Would kiss him on the cheek n tell him how wonderful he is

Logan: Absolutely. I'd ask him what a kilometre is and watch him crumble to the ground and whine in American

Lando: Maybe but I'd call him cringe and he'd call me cringe and that's abt it lbr

Oscar: I could beat his twink ass easily but mostly bc he's too nonchalant to even care

Daniel: KISSES HIM ON THE MOUTH– I mean, no, I wouldn't fight him bc he could probably beat someone's ass easily if he wanted to

Yuki: NO. That tiny man is filled with the rage of a thousand suns and would easily win a fight with anyone if prompted tbh

Kevin: He's too busy being a total dad to even acknowledge a fight

Nico H: BEATS HIM WITH A STICK BEATS HIM WITH A STICK BEATS HIM WITH A S–

Pierre: No, I feel like he's got some hidden anger issues n I don't wanna fuck w that either. Also Yuki would beat my ass even considering fighting his boyfriend

Esteban: NOOOO. I mean, he could kill me in one swoop if he wanted, but NOOO I WOULD SIMPLY HUG HIM TIL HE FORGAVE ME FOR WHATEVER I DID

Fernando: ...Do I even need to say it? That man could kill someone 6'5 if he felt like it. But he chooses to be silly instead. He could end my existence but we end up kissing bc he's a sexy old man

Lance: Maybe. I'd beat him up but he wouldn't care bc his dad is a billionaire so

Zhou: I feel like I could but he has kind eyes so I could never do that. He'd win by smile alone

Valtteri: No. I would go on a hike with him instead

[skitskatdacat63]

Finally got myself to start 2009 :D

Warning: long-winded ramble about gifing under the cut

Preface: this is one of those rambles that I have to myself in my head when I'm trying to fall asleep and I just keep repeating it to myself over and over and going over it like it's a monologue and then fall asleep unexpectedly

God I can already tell that gifing anything 2009 and beyond is gonna be an absolute nightmare for me 😭 I mean *positive* nightmare, but nightmare none the less. Basically this is because the more recent the race is, the better the production and camerawork is. Which is good for watching but bad when you're trying to condense all of the post-race into one gifset. Speaking of that, does anyone know exactly when the production improved btwn 2005 and 2009? I watched one 2008 race, I really can't remember how good the production/camerawork was. Also I hope you guys get what I mean by that LOL and it's not just me being overly specific

If you've seen any of my 2023 posts so far, you'll notice I'm able to make a pretty fulfilling set focusing on just one driver, and that driver isn't even the winner of the race. Trying to make a gifset of anyone but the winner in 2005 would be borderline impossible because the camera mainly only focuses on the winner, only really showing the p2 and p3 drivers when they accept their trophies. I mean from a viewers perspective, I obviously enjoy the enhanced production because it's really nice to see more of the drivers other than the winner. But how am I supposed to condense it into only 10 gifs AAAAHHHHHH!!! And like to worsen this, even if 2005 had the same production quality as 2023, I think it'd still be easier for me because there's fewer drivers I really like from that era.

But 2009-2013 is the era in which all of my favs are there and in the forefront, so it's impossible for me to take a 2023 approach to it in which I focus on one driver. Like bruh how am I meant to condense it when it's a Seb, Jenson & Mark podium, my folder for the race is gonna have like...30+ gifs. I have enough issues condensing 2023, one driver focused, to ten, and I had issues with 2005 sometimes, so AHHHHHHHH. It's like that meme of the woman getting fed too many cakes. I gifed a tiny bit of China 2009 if you remember, and even though I was only focusing on a relatively tiny section...I swear to god I made like 10 or some other inane amount.

Speaking of 2023 I gotta say, I'm so fucked when inevitably Fernando doesn't end up being on the podium. How am I supposed to make a gifpost when my number one boy isn't there :(( I'm not sure who else I'd end up focusing on? There's not as many drivers I absolutely love in 2023 compared to, for example, the V8 era. It's not like atp I'm predicting Oscar to get a podium so :,) I guess I'll probably end up just making a more general kind of post, focusing on everyone instead of just one driver?

[argentinesunshine]

Tbh I think Seb and Lance had a similar mentor relationship(as with Fernando) but much more low-key and private. I remember watching an interview with Lance where he said Seb taught him a lot. I think Nando and Lance have a much more "public" relationship because Nando enjoys the media and cultivating his reputation a lot more. I'm not saying that as if it makes it fake or disingenuous, but like it's undeniable that he as a person is much more interested in his public persona than Seb is/was, especially regarding interacting with social media. Like I think Seb would be the type to give advice in a private setting whereas Fernando is the type to give just as good advice but also doesn't mind it have the dual purpose of publicizing it, y'know?

i hope that's the case, and you're probably right on the money. i just hope seb & lance cultivated something. it does seem like lance is showing more personality than he ever has, at least overtly, and i guess i'm kind of...jealous? that nando gets to be a part of that, or even kickstarted that, rather than seb

[remapped-soul]

2023 season predictions

with the risk of me being a clown by the end of it, here are my 2023 season predictions. i tried to keep it tame, but I'm also delusional and a tifosi. Tinfoil hat on, rant under the cut, because it got long.

The WDC will be decided between Max, Charles and Merc (if they manage to get a better car this year). Things are uncertain at Ferrari with a new TP and their strategy department, so it will probably be between Max and Merc in the end. I'm saying Merc because George is good (when he doesn't apply what he learned in merc school of shunting people off the race track) so Lewis will probably forget all about "being a better teammate" and use phrases like "idk why George did what he did" when all George did was to win (and outpace/outqualify him). Merc will use team orders to get Lewis that 8th WDC (ngl i want him to get that 8th wdc). George will learn how it is to be a 2nd driver at merc and will commit crimes.

This or Max wins everything again and we're doomed for another RBR supremacy but not fun because it's not Seb. Yes, I'm very biased, what of it?

Max will get engaged. We won't get rid of Kelly Piquet, unfortunately.

There will be team orders at Ferrari. Charles would get more confident. We will get more porn couch videos and sexy ice baths to wash over the fact that their strategy is shit. Their engine will actually be the bomb, but it won't matter because the team does not what it takes to win. Charles will start hinting at future plans that do not involve Ferrari. RIP the little monegasque mouse. He will get a new girlfriend as well. The tifosi will storm Maranello probably.

Lando will get his first win. I hate Mclaren with a burning passion and Lando is an insufferable brat, but even I want to see him win. Oscar and Lando won't like each other.

Fernando will get a podium with the green tractor, will commit many crimes against Lance because no one fucks with Nando, not even the nepo baby.

Things will go well at Alpine in the beginning. They have a good car and manage to be in the points. They even manage a podium or two, and they will remember they hate each other and it will be hell. Can't wait.

Nico H. and K-Mag will murder each other and will not get into the points and it's what Haas deserves. Do it for Mick, boys.

Daniel gets to drive in Las Vegas. Checo will suddenly get sick and Daniel will drive their rocket ship ~(not in LV but sometime during the year) and actually get a win for the first time in forever (if RBR don't use team orders, which they will).

Will Checo be in his villain era? We will find out.

Mick will drive in FPs and he will drive so well and everyone will realise it wasn't him but the car. Fuck Steiner.

No one cares about Sargent.

Alex Albon gets his first win (much deserved - looking at you, Lewis). So does Nyck De Vries.

Nothing to say about Alfa Romeo. They are wholesome wholesome wholesome. Or Valtteri retires.

Everyone will be incredibly tired by the calendar is too packed and they hate it and they want Seb back. FIA will come with more outrageous rules or won't respect them. Pierre gets a warning each race because they hate him.

I will get a ticket to either Monza or Imola.

Last but not least (i did say i live in delulu land) we get Nico Rosberg back in the paddock. We get Nico and Lewis talking We get Nico and Jenson interactions. Seb goes AWOL. Luna will cry herself to sleep.

Tinfoil hat off, imma go touch some grass now.

[dimemasazucar]

From drum to guitar, Bachata takes Salsa in a different direction and tells a different story despite being considered the same as 'Bolero' at the time. (Spoilers though, it starts in Cuba- so we will go more into the genre itself and to our family in the DR.) "Despair is a part of failure" Joan Soriano's father says when discussing the dissimilarity between art and making it 'big'. There is a certain youth to both the genre of Bachata and the patience Soriano's father suggests because of his age. But what is the one thing that would help his family the most? Unfortunately the main crux (to no surprise) is- money.

Regardless of which island or country you're from, an unfortunate link between many of the arts and their evolution is starting off broke. But how does a genre from our family in the DR represent an evolution of the struggle? Well, incredibly so. I tell you what, if there's one thing that music does, it's have the power to connect people in a way that transcends time and culture. Even becoming a part of the culture- it's such a beautiful legacy that music leaves with us. Enough rambling though, back to the links- Bachata. Takes the drum of son and meringue and sets it in the mid-ground (if you'd work with me here) in favor of the guitar. If you haven't heard 'old school' bachata, I got you in a bit, but for now trust me when I say it's as expressive as any other latin genre of music.

See, before Bachata there was Meringue and Bolero, both different variations of latin music, dance, and expression.

For my meringue-heads of the 90's and early 00's your family was probably blasting Elvis Crespo's Suavemente or any splash of hits from El Zafiro Carlos Manuel 7 Orquesta and Fernando Villalona. The 60's was setting the stage, the late 70's to the 80's was when it was popping off though. Before this? The bolero's of the 60's were bringing us HOME. I`m talking Rolando La Serie, Altemar Dutra, or the BUTTERY vocals of Raul Marrero- if you know Bachata you probably know any of these (and MANY more) in rotation. Stories of love, loss, societal woes, and the pangs of artistry explored with an incredible amount of horns, emotion, and the (eventual, we're looking at Bachata mainly here) inclusion of the guitar front-and-center created something incredible. Why the name "bachata"? In short? Classism expressing a xenophobic subform within racist beliefs. Somehow 'Bachata' was the music of the lesser class because people were (checks notes) darker skinned and poor- wack. Boleros of rich areas had this whole ensemble, and the people rich enough to enjoy these thought that this was the only form of true (remember, this was before the term was used colloquially, so I'm using the term here despite it being considered 'Bolero' due to classism) Bachata out there. When the poor people in the bario were playing in much more humble groups, or trios. From those trios spawned that GOOD Bachata we know of today- that eventually evolved into, well, what we've been talking about. Side note: Imagine calling Bachata 'poor people Bolero' because it was different than what you expected, then it turns out to travel the entire world over the course of 40 years. All from the bario, to the radio. And again, from people taking something of nothing. Something that's interesting in The Duke's particular story (and one I am happy to have learned about) is how 'The classic' doesn't always translate to 'the hits'- at least not at first sometimes. Times change, you know? Sometimes it takes a minute for the original essence to make their waves again. But, as time is cyclical and water flows effortlessly, so too do the classics come back around. While The Duke finds his flow around this time and becomes the legend people know of today- the precursor to his success was built upon the foundation of groups like Aventura and Xtreme! We 'schmoovin when we dance to Bachata baby! The guitar part of bachata finds itself still included as we travel through time into the 00's, but I'm gonna be honest with you, it was the fusion of hip-hop that took Bachata to the next level in New York. (Probably because it's thanks to The Bronx that we even have the genre as prevalently as we do to this day, being a New Yorker is pretty cool I'm not gonna lie.)

At the height of Bachata you can see a large connection between our cultures, because- you know, we share history. Instead of focusing on the struggle-to-substance story instead I want to connect our distinct cultures in song because the song is crazy good.

If you haven't heard already, there is a bachata version of La Vida Asi from Puerto Rican legend Ivy Queen that I always suggest people listen to to capture the essence of our cultures at their height together in the 'Latin storm' of the 00's. As you enjoy the song I encourage you to think about Soriano's story and recognize it is not the story of one man, or one family- it's a representative look at how culturally some of our greatest works have to struggle the hardest to be shared the most. While I have my own personal feelings about the sharing and evolution of music, at its base-level I think all genres have a song for somebody to enjoy in it. You can learn much through how a culture struggles and succeeds through its music. So please, listen intently and remember that with the speed, guitar, and (more often than not) emotional songs of bachata comes an equally emotionally gripping history that adds another connection to the web of beautiful latin music worth exploring and learning about.