Author: quyen1

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Soon after the Miami GP, the boss Tom Garfinkel had to take a stand for the weekend’s experience. A viral photo highlighted the exorbitant prices of the food items, specifically a $280 Lobster roll. He explained the photo was out of context as the price was for a suite and could feed 10 people. Now a fan on Reddit has posted a photo in response to the American football executive supporting his argument.

The photo going viral on X posted by user @rubendeal showcased items on the Hard Rock Bites from $120 to $400. However, the item on the menu for $400 was 1oz of add-on Caviar. These are the prices Garfinkel was defending. So the fan’s post on Reddit showcasing their $20 meal at the circuit supports his argument.

The $20 meal appears to consist of a serving of black beans with rice, plantains, and chicken. This photo supports the boss’s argument regarding the unreasonably high prices. This update debunks the comments made about the Hard Rock Bites menu and supports the pricing around the circuit for the general public.

Fans in the comments of the Reddit post highlighted how there are affordable options available at all venues. The F1 fans highlighted their experiences from Las Vegas, Australia, Austin, etc where they purchased affordable meals and a drink. One fan summarized by saying, “Yeah, the prices were no worse for food and drinks than I pay at MLB or NFL games.”

Miami GP brings the stars to F1

All the races in the US always attract the biggest stars. However, Miami has a special lure and always brings out the A-listers. This has been the case since the inaugural Miami GP. It seems this reception will continue with celebs like Tom Brady, Camila Cabello, ASAP Rocky, and Kendall Jenner, among others visiting the circuit in 2024.

Although Las Vegas is Miami’s biggest rival in terms of star attraction now. The first-ever Grand Prix in the Vegas Strip became a star attraction as celebrities flocked to the paddocks. With the race staying on the calendar for 10 years, there is no doubt the star factor will only increase in future events.

The nightlife of Vegas and the beaches of Miami, both make for a perfect excuse to add the excitement of F1 to it. With Vegas hosting Saturday night races, the fans sometimes even spot drivers around the clubs. On the other hand, Miami has made and marketed itself as a fun-filled party race weekend. Only time will tell which of the two gains more popularity.

Credits: IMAGO PanoramiC, IMAGO Eibner

Max Verstappen has been linked with a move to Mercedes ever since Lewis Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari got confirmed earlier this year. Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff wants to sort his driver lineup for 2025 before it is too late, and his favorite driver of choice remains Verstappen, to whom he keeps sending mixed signals.

Speaking to AS, Wolff highlighted how his team made significant improvements in Miami last weekend. He pointed out how the W15 was faster than Sergio Perez’s RB20 on the same tire. Encouraging signs like this were likely thrown out to get the attention of Verstappen, about whom Wolff spoke next.

Wolff feels that Verstappen shouldn’t leave the best team in F1 (which is Red Bull at the moment). At the same time, he says,

“I wouldn’t leave the team, at least not in 2025, but it’s in his hands. He’s the best driver now, and that’s why he’s the one to make the choice.” 

He feels that Verstappen has a huge role to play in how the driver market pans out in the months to come. However, it is no secret that he wants to sway the three-time World Champion away to Mercedes. For that, he keeps sweet-talking Verstappen, which Red Bull took note of.

Red Bull annoyed with Toto Wolff’s antics

Toto Wolff has been flirting with the idea of signing Max Verstappen for months now. This is something Red Bull GmbH boss Oliver Mintzlaff doesn’t appreciate.

He called Wolff out of meddling in Red Bull’s affairs, especially because the team feels that Verstappen has a contract until 2028 which should be respected. Wolff, however, shut these accusations down by stating that they have no “relevance”.

“I don’t know what the guy is commenting on,” he said per OE24. “That has no relevance to me. Maybe he still wants to be on TV. We’re a little in observation mode. But it’s not my decision, it’s Max’s.”

Red Bull’s internal turmoil has made it easy for Wolff to take direct shots at the Milton-Keynes-based outfit. Adrian Newey’s departure (which was confirmed earlier this month) has put the team’s continued dominance in question as well. This, in turn, could influence Verstappen’s decision-making in the months to come.

Credits: IMAGO Michael Potts, IMAGO / PanoramiC

Mercedes-backed Andrea Kimi Antonelli has been the talk of the town ever since Lewis Hamilton announced he would move to Ferrari in 2025. Since the 17-year-old is one of the fastest-rising stars, there were reports that Mercedes are desperate to help the Italian secure an F1 seat this year to prepare him to replace the outgoing Briton next year. However, because of a “Max Verstappen rule,” Antonelli cannot secure an F1 seat until he turns 18.

This rule came into effect because Verstappen secured an F1 seat when he was 17, an age deemed ‘too young’ by many to compete in the pinnacle of motorsport. However, Verstappen himself is unhappy with his FIA rule and has voiced his concerns regarding it.

As quoted by racingnews365.nl, Verstappen said, “Yes, that rule was, of course, created because of me. But in the end, it does not stop what it is intended for. It’s not specifically against him (Antonelli), but in some cases, it can, of course, prevent talent from being kept in Formula 1“.

The three-time champion believes that a driver’s pace should determine whether they are ready to compete in F1 instead of age. As a result, he added that he is “not a fan” of the current system. While he wants this rule abolished, he clarified that it is not his call to make.

Verstappen believes that the FIA needs to rethink this rule and decide whether it is necessary. Verstappen was asked about the same when reports emerged that Mercedes had applied for a “special dispensation” for Andrea Kimi Antonelli to compete in F1 this season.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli could potentially replace Logan Sargeant

According to several experts, Williams is desperately looking to replace Logan Sargeant. Although the American is in his second season, he is still underperforming.

When it comes to the intra-team battle between himself and Alex Albon, Sargeant has just managed to outqualify the Thai driver on one occasion, and they have now been teammates for 27 races. Moreover, Sargeant has never managed to beat Albon when both have finished the race (18 GPs).

Since Sargeant has still not gotten up to speed, experts like Joe Saward believe Williams may consider replacing him with Andrea Kimi Antonelli if the Italian receives the “special dispensation” from the FIA. “Antonelli could be loaned out to Williams, which is looking for a driver right now,” Saward wrote in his Green Notebook.

Saward added, “This might all sound brutal, but F1 is about excellence – Top Gun, the elite, the best of the best. And Sargeant has had plenty of chances“. However, Williams’ team principal, James Vowles, seems in no rush to make such a decision.

During the Miami GP weekend, Vowles claimed their lineup is not the issue if a driver as talented as Albon cannot score points for them. Since the 44-year-old believes that Williams needs to improve the pace of their car first, Antonelli may have to wait on the sidelines until at least 2025.

Credits: IMAGO / PanoramiC

The longevity of drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso has become a celebrated factor of F1. Both drivers have been at it for decades and show no signs of stopping anytime soon. However, Max Verstappen doesn’t want to follow in their footsteps, as he clarified while appearing on The Fast and The Curious podcast. Per the Dutchman, he wants to do other things and enjoy life while still in his prime and not when he is 50. 

Speaking ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, Verstappen detailed how he had been racing internationally since he was 12. The 26-year-old always knew what his entire year looked like, with each week planned out to the T. Hence, the three-time world champion isn’t in favor of prolonging his career like Hamilton did. 

“I do love racing a lot. I do love Formula 1 but I do think that at one point, for me, it’s enough.”, he said.

Furthermore, chasing a record eight world championships isn’t on Verstappen‘s bucket list. Having already won three world championships, the Dutch driver is happy with his achievements.

Verstappen never thought it was possible to be so successful in the sport. So, he has already exceeded his expectations. And now, all he is looking for is a bit more peace to spend more time with his friends and family. 

Sim Racing would continue playing a crucial part in the life of Max Verstappen

Aside from F1, Max Verstappen spends a lot of his time doing sim racing. Not only does the Red Bull driver race himself, but he is also honing other drivers to be better in the realm. Hence, the venture is more than just a hobby for the #1 driver on the grid.

Owner of Team Redline, Verstappen often logs in for sim racing even a couple of hours before he has to race in real life. Hence, the Dutch driver believes it is more of a full-time thing and wants to dedicate more of his time to honing the sim racing world’s significance. 

A man of simple taste otherwise, Verstappen doesn’t indulge in most other things. Leisure activities are also a rarity for the 26-year-old, who doesn’t watch much TV.

The most common thing for him to do on TV is watch other sports and nothing else. Rather than investing his time in regular television, the defending world champion prefers watching movies or series.

Credits: IMAGO / HochZwei

The first-ever 24-race season in the history of F1 is reaping huge rewards for the entire Formula 1 group (FOM). Per a recent update from Fox Sports, the group recorded revenues of $553 million in only the first quarter of 2024. However, the amount isn’t enough for the FOM, which continues to see circuit organizers go toe-to-toe so they can earn higher profits. 

Ahead of Liberty Media’s Q1 investor call, the organization released the numbers that show a 45% jump in the company’s revenue from 2023 (in the same window). The operating income amounted to over $206 million, which is a 289% increase. Meanwhile, team payments rose to $247 million from last year’s $170 million. 

With 24 races on the calendar, there is no more room to add another Grand Prix. Hence, if a new race wants to enter the foray, they have to do it at the expense of another. Japan and Singapore are secure for five more years, while seven other events have a contract that runs till 2030. Meanwhile, Madrid will join the calendar in 2026 and stay for the next 10 years. 

As such, the remainder of the races need to ensure the highest profit margins for F1 to stay afloat. Additionally, they would have to pay an annual accelerator, which increases the hosting fees by five percent each year, as per Speedcafe.

As for the events expiring soon, the hosts are expected to pay an inflated market rate so they can continue hosting events. If not, they will certainly be replaced by another host willing to accept the terms. 

Global presence of F1 aiding FOM in their demands

Apart from Africa and Antarctica, there are F1 races on every other continent, making the sport a global phenomenon. Reportedly, efforts are being made to bring Africa back on the F1 calendar after over 30 years.

The last time an African Grand Prix took place was back in 1993 in Kyalami. Other events are also under consideration to make the calendar. For example, trademarks are in place for the Chicago GP, indicating another American race in F1.

Speaking about the future of the sport, Stefano Domenicali expects new venues to debut soon. Per the F1 CEO, these new venues will further add to the business of the sport, increasing the revenue even more.

“I would say in the next couple of years, I’m expecting to see, and we expect to announce also, some new venues that could be very attractive to grow the business of Formula 1.”, he said.

Credits: IMAGO / Motorsport Images

It has been the same recurring story for Mercedes in 2024. The W15 is throwing up similar concerns as its previous two ground effect predecessors and it is not helping the Silver Arrows move up the pecking order. At the Miami GP, the Brackley team brought some upgrades, but it did not seemingly give them a significant uptick. The team’s trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, has pointed out two core issues that are preventing them from making progress.

In the Miami GP Debrief video on Mercedes’ YouTube channel, Shovlin explained, “The issue at the moment is everyone else is developing their cars. So, you saw McLaren with a big package and they look to have moved forward.”

He then also added how the W15 also has a few “handling issues” that were prevalent in the W14 as well. Shovlin mentioned that these handling issues are “making it really hard to see all that performance as a straight sort of step forward.”

The first issue that Shovlin highlighted becomes a moot point, as rival teams will keep on improving in the developmental race throughout the season. It seems odd how Mercedes are not able to keep up and lose in the car development battle, something they have done exceptionally well in the late 2010s.

Meanwhile, the handling issues are a problem of their own making. It seems plausible that these issues are limiting Mercedes from bringing effective upgrades as the car is not in an ideal and stable state to respond well to these upgrades.

At this stage, Mercedes need to make a desperate push to make the 2024 car better. Or else, they will have to shift its focus to next season’s car and return to the drawing board. However, Toto Wolff is still not willing to give up hope.

Toto Wolff assures how Mercedes is pushing really hard to overturn the 2024 car

Toto Wolff has been the optimist of the Mercedes squad, despite such tough times in the past three years. With the 2024 car struggling as well, the Austrian is still not willing to give up hopes in overturning the team’s form.

As Shovlin explained that the Miami GP floor upgrades did not work due to some fundamental issues, Wolff acknowledged the same. However, the Mercedes team principal has assured that they know and understand these issues and their cause.

According to Motorsport Week, Wolff said, “I think we understand much more what is needed to get the car in a better place because it’s so clear now what it does and why we struggle and where we struggle”.

The 52-year-old mentioned how both factories of the German team are working  “flat out”.  He said, “All of the factories are really sixth gear in order to bring stuff to the car that we believe can be very helpful”.

Regardless, Mercedes desperately need results on track, as their effort has unquestionably been there to improve their position in the pecking order since 2022. The real issue is how they are steadily losing ground to teams like McLaren and Ferrari every season.

Currently, the Brackley outfit is fourth in the constructor’s standings, which is two places worse than its second-place finish in 2023. If they cannot catch up with Ferrari in P2, that would be quite a disappointment for Wolff and Co. in 2024.

Credits: IMAGO / Motorsport Images and IMAGO / PanoramiC

Everyone took part in Lando Norris’ maiden Grand Prix win celebration. Frederic Vasseur sprayed some champagne on him. Almost the entire grid also congratulated him either in person or via social media. However, only a handful made it to the post-race party in a Miami club including Max Verstappen. During this party, the Dutchman reportedly consumed 18 Gin and Tonics, according to a veteran F1 photographer.

Kym Illman often reveals an unseen side of the grid on his YouTube channel from watches to bags and everything else. So, with his ear to the ground, he reported the reigning champion’s drinks order during Lando Norris’ celebrations.

On his latest YouTube live, he revealed, “I can tell you that Max Verstappen, I’m told, had 18 G&Ts last night. Gin and Tonics! Eighteen! He was on fire. Good luck to him. He deserves to let his hair down.”

Max Verstappen relaxing so much during the celebrations is a once-in-a-blue-moon occurrence. Illman highlighted that by saying he deserved some downtime away from the track. Being part of the hectic and stressful F1 environment, the drivers tend to take a break. The 2024 calendar having 24 races is also contributing to increasing stress.

The drivers also need to adhere to a strict diet throughout the season and even before to maintain their physical health. The physically demanding nature of F1 leaves little to no room for slip-ups. So, the drinking spree is perhaps the Red Bull man just pouncing on an opportunity to enjoy.

The bender Lando Norris and Max Verstappen went on in Miami

Norris appeared to be intoxicated even before he could change out of his Papaya overalls as seen in Daniel Ricciardo’s Instagram post. The Australian made it evident with his caption, a part of which read, “And not sure if he is alive today but very happy for @landonorris on his first win”

However, this was just the start as soon after the race the pair of Norris and Verstappen were spotted at a club in Miami. The Dutchman was spotted throwing his hands in the air.

In fact, the win warranted such a celebration that his boss Zak Brown changed plans for Norris. The McLaren CEO informed the race winner they would stay back on Sunday night so he could celebrate instead of flying out to Georgia. This meant the Golf enthusiast would miss out on playing in a tournament he was supposed to take part in.

Credits: IMAGO / eu-images

Brazil’s southern state of Rio Grande do Sul is reeling under devastating floods. The South American nation saw unusually heavy rainfall last week which resulted in the flooding of the southern state. As help starts pouring in from every corner of the planet, Max Verstappen has made a generous contribution as well.

As per GE.GLOBO, Verstappen gave away a signed Red Bull Racing T-shirt for an auction to Bazaar for Good. The proceeds from the auction will go for flood relief in Rio Grande do Sul.

Bazaar for Good is a collective of 30 women with a strong social media presence from different countries. The collective raises funds to support underprivileged children in different countries. Verstappen’s partner Kelly Piquet is one of the 30 members of the host committee.

Kelly, daughter of three-time F1 world champion Nelson Piquet, hails from Brazil herself. An advocate for children’s rights, she has often raised her voice against the Israel-Palestine conflict, citing atrocities faced by the young. Piquet once again made an appeal recently, this time calling for help for the flood victims in Brazil.

Through an Instagram post in Portuguese, she wrote, “At this moment, all help is important! Many families are homeless and in need of rescue due to heavy rains in Rio Grande do Sul. There are a lot of people making a difference and you can too.”

More F1 personalities besides Max Verstappen join the rescue effort

Another F1 personality to join the rescue efforts for floods in Brazil is model Francisca ‘Kika’ Cerqueira Gomes. Kika, who is dating Alpine F1 team’s driver Pierre Gasly, shared a video released by renowned supermodel and Tom Brady’s ex-wife Gisele Bundchen. Gisele made an appeal for donations towards the relief operations carried out in the affected area.

Bundchen said, “My home state in Rio Grande do Sul, south in Brazil, has had its worst tragedy in its history. Heavy rains flooded entire towns in most parts of the state. It’s not just one city, it’s more than 350 cities affected. People are not only losing their houses, their jobs, they’re losing everything and there are many still to be rescued.”

The Brazilian model shared devastating visuals from ground zero while making an emotional appeal. She also shared snippets of rescue operations but urged her followers to contribute more to help the locals affected.

Brazil is one of the most iconic places where Formula 1 races year after year. The country also has a special connection to the sport through Lewis Hamilton, who got honorary citizenship just two years ago.

While the seven-time world champion is expected to make an appeal soon, many other F1 drivers can join him too. A similar effort was seen in 2023 when Italy went through devastating floods resulting in F1 calling off the Imola race.

Credits: IMAGO / Nordphoto

The three American F1 races have some of the costliest tickets in the world. Among these three, the Las Vegas GP has by far the most expensive tickets. For example, a particular $65,000 ticket for the Las Vegas GP is likely to put the luxury that the Miami GP provides to shame.

Wynn Las Vegas are providing a three-day club package for the entire race weekend. The tickets starting at $65,000 will not only provide accommodation for all three days but also the best spots to watch the race.

This hospitality suite will allow fans to have the best look at turns one and two. Moreover, fans purchasing these tickets will also be able to enjoy premium cuisines and beverages, among several other things.

Even though the tickets for the Miami GP are also expensive, they come nothing close to that of the Las Vegas GP. According to f1destinations.com, a high-end ticket, including accommodation, will cost fans approximately only $8,500 in stark contrast.

This will provide them with accommodation at a four-star hotel for three nights and the best spots to watch the race. Since the Las Vegas GP is so much more expensive, it was in the news for all the wrong reasons last year.

Locals slammed F1 authorities over hosting of Las Vegas GP

Although F1’s ambitious Las Vegas GP project helped generate immense business, several of the locals were yet far from happy. At a time when reports emerged that the Las Vegas GP race generated $1.3 billion in revenue, a local explained how they lost $2 million.

Vasil, who works as a manager in Jay’s Market, shared, “We’re down maybe by two million at this point in sales since the construction they have been working on since summer“. The local then explained how the resulting increase in traffic because of the construction affected their business all the more.

“They tore up the road, they closed the entrance, they closed the other entrance. At 12:01 AM on Saturday, I think we’re going to have to close, which means there will be no sales. This is devastating“, Vasil added.

However, when it comes to the Las Vegas GP weekend, it was a huge success. F1 invested about $500 million on their ambitious project to host the race in Sin City and earned a revenue of more than double.

Credits: IMAGO / Pro Shots; IMAGO / ABACAPRESS

Lewis Hamilton wore a Burberry jacket with an excerpt of a heartfelt poem stitched into it at the 2024 Met Gala. The outfit took Hamilton to the 12th most visible attendees’ spot, with $1.3 million worth of Earned Media Value (EMV). Shakira, whom he was rumored to be dating not too long ago, bagged a spot above him with $1.4 million.

Hamilton wore an all-black outfit with a golden neckpiece with a depiction of thorns. Following the theme, “The Garden of Time,” the 39-year-old paid tribute to John Ystumllyn. In the 18th century, Ystumllyn was abducted from West Africa as an eight-year-old and brought to Wales to work in the gardens.

Speaking on the Met Gala red carpet, Lewis Hamilton said, “I did a lot of research and I came across this 18th Century gardener who, through slavery times, came across from Africa to Wales and became the first black gardener in Wales. Through adversity, he really triumphed, so that’s where the inspiration really came from.”

Shakira made an equally starry appearance wearing an all-red ‘sculptural rose cape’ designed by Carolina Herrera creative director Wes Gordon. The Colombian singer furthered the theme with “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion”, which Gordon admits was “really about making Shakira feel like the best version of Shakira”.

Burberry bagged the second spot among the top brands with $335,000 worth of EMV, behind Indian designer Sabyasachi ($471,000). Actress Alia Bhatt, who wore the top designer’s outfit, also bagged the top spot on the attendees’ list ($4.2 million). For the uninitiated, EMV is a metric that measures influencers’ organic value earned through unpaid social media interactions.

The history between Lewis Hamilton and Shakira

Rumors suggesting a romantic connection between Lewis Hamilton and Shakira began doing the rounds of the internet shortly after the 2023 Miami GP. The pair spent time together on a boat with a few close friends. Later, they headed to a restaurant for a dinner date.

Ever since her appearance in the Miami GP paddock, Shakira became a regular in the realm of F1. At one point, some mutual friends of the two suggested they shared a relationship that transcended just friendship.

The dating rumors, however, died as quickly as they picked up. Reports quoting Shakira’s entourage suggested mistreatment by Hamilton.

The seven-time world champion allegedly barred the pop star from entering Mercedes’ motorhome during the Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone. Soon after the incident, Hamilton’s links with model Juliana Nalu re-emerged. Her name for the first time popped up during the Briton’s Antarctica vacation with Nina Dobrev and partner Shaun White.

Speculations resurfaced when Hamilton visited Brazil for a vacation and Nalu posted pictures from the hotel he was staying at. Despite fans putting two and two together, neither Nalu nor Hamilton have confirmed or denied the dating rumors.