Author: quyen1

Mike Tyson, the legendary boxing icon, celebrated his 57th birthday in extravagant style, gathering an array of A-list celebrities, fellow athletes, and close friends. The event, held at an opulent venue in Las Vegas, featured a star-studded guest list, with attendees ranging from Hollywood actors to renowned athletes.

Among the highlights of the evening were the rare photos capturing the presence of special guests, providing a glimpse into the exclusive celebration. One such image showcased Tyson alongside fellow boxing legend Evander Holyfield, sparking nostalgia among fans of the sport who remembered their epic clashes in the ring.

Adding to the glamour of the affair were appearances by prominent figures from various industries. From music mogul Jay-Z to Hollywood superstar Denzel Washington, the event boasted a diverse guest list that reflected Tyson’s widespread influence and popularity.

The atmosphere was electric as guests mingled, shared anecdotes, and toasted to Tyson’s enduring legacy. The evening culminated in a heartfelt speech by the man of the hour, expressing gratitude for the love and support throughout the years.

As the festivities came to a close, the rare photos captured the essence of the night, immortalizing a momentous occasion in the life of one of boxing’s greatest champions.

Oleksandr Usyk refused to watch back Anthony Joshua‘s brutal knockout of Francis Ngannou from earlier this month.

Joshua knocked down Ngannou for the first time in his career in the first round before putting him on the canvas again early in the second.

The fight was over when Joshua put Ngannou to the floor for the third time with a powerful right hand in the second round, with the former UFC fighter unable to get back to his feet after the knockout.

WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight world champion Usyk was handed a laptop to watch back the fight during a filming with DAZN this week.

The Ukrainian did not say anything but was left grimacing as he cast his eye over Joshua’s dominant performance.

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Anthony Joshua saw off Francis Ngannou in just two rounds with an explosive knockout

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Oleksandr Usyk grimaced as he struggled to watch the fight on replay

After seeing Joshua knock down Ngannou for a second time, Usyk closed the laptop to avoid seeing the brutal knockout that followed moments later.

The 37-year-old didn’t explain his reaction but in the past expressed his preference of beating opponents on points instead of a knockout.

Asked why he didn’t knockout Joshua during their first bout in 2021, Usyk responded: ‘Why are you so bloodthirsty?

‘There is victory, everything is fine. Why is it necessary for a person to fall?

‘He has a mother and father. This is a big chunk of health if a person falls. I’m not for that.’

Usyk will finally meet Tyson Fury in the ring on May 18 as part of Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia to crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era.

He could face Joshua for a third time if he succeeds in beating the Gypsy King.

Credits: IMAGO / Motorsport Images

Oliver Bearman had a stellar debut with Ferrari at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix last weekend as he finished a solid seventh, ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. Following his brilliant drive, the 18-year-old has revealed how he also received praises from Hamilton himself. Now, Bearman hopes that Hamilton can help Ferrari grow from strength to strength when he joins the team in 2025. And while Bearman will not be working with the seven-time champion directly next year, he still hopes to learn a thing or two from his experienced compatriot.

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While reflecting on his exchange with Hamilton after the Saudi Arabian GP, Bearman said in a Twitter video, “He (Hamilton) came to congratulate me. I joked that he was pulling me out of the car because I struggled”.

After stating the same, the 18-year-old added, “Although I won’t be working directly with him, I’m sure his knowledge and experience will rub off in all departments. I am doing a lot of sim work with him. So, hopefully, I can learn a thing or two from him and his wealth of experience”.

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Hamilton indeed has several years of experience as he is currently in his 18th F1 season, having debuted in 2007. Moreover, he is arguably also the most successful driver in the sport’s history, having not only won a record-equalling seven championships but also registered several other landmarks in the process.

Although Hamilton will join Ferrari in 2025, he still will not be working with Bearman directly. The 18-year-old is only a reserve driver for Ferrari and currently has a full-time role with Prema Racing in F2.

Hence, Hamilton will instead be partnering with Charles Leclerc in 2025. Ferrari will hope that the duo can work well together and bring back the glory days to Maranello.

Lewis Hamilton’s arrival is likely to add pressure on Ferrari

Since Lewis Hamilton is so used to winning, Ferrari will be under massive pressure to build a strong car in 2025. Although the Italian outfit has made steady gains from the beginning of last season, they are still nowhere close to fighting reigning champions Red Bull at the moment.

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The Milton Keynes-based outfit dominated both the opening two races of the 2024 season in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Max Verstappen won both the races while Sergio Perez finished second in the other Red Bull. Meanwhile, Ferrari had to settle for the final podium spot in both Grands Prix.

Carlos Sainz secured the final podium in Bahrain while Charles Leclerc finished third in Saudi Arabia. Since the difference in pace between Ferrari and Red Bull continues to be massive, the Italian outfit has a lot of work to do to close down the gap to the champions before Lewis Hamilton arrives next season.

Credits: IMAGO / HochZwei

When Lewis Hamilton confirmed earlier in February that he would be leaving Mercedes after a long-standing partnership to join Ferrari, it came as something of a bombshell for many. The timing of this action led many to speculate that Charles Leclerc might have taken this news as a surprise. However, during that period, the Monegasque clarified things by asserting that the team informed him of these discussions. Now, according to recent sources, the 26-year-old has revealed fresh details. Leclerc stated that even though he was aware of Hamilton’s talks, he was never certain the Briton would actually finalize the contract.

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According to FormulaPassion, the Monegasque said, “I honestly never thought that Hamilton would arrive. Obviously, I knew what was happening before you, but when I was told that he was signing, I was speechless. It was a real surprise for me.”

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Hamilton has been associated with Mercedes since he was 13 years old. However, with many twists and turns in his career, he became the Silver Arrows’ lead driver in 2013 and has maintained a strong relationship with them ever since. Nevertheless, given the team’s struggles over the previous two seasons, Hamilton may have decided to leave the squad.

However, this isn’t the sole explanation for the seven-time champion’s decision to quit the team. Given that the #44 driver has always wanted to race for Ferrari and that this opportunity came from a man Hamilton has known since his junior career, he may have decided to finally say goodbye to the Brackley team.

Lewis Hamilton’s exit might prompt a mass exodus from Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton’s exit has certainly prompted a handful of Mercedes members to follow suit. While the performance director of Mercedes, Loic Serra has already departed, Jerome D’Ambrosio will be the most recent to do so. After leaving the German team as the director of driver development, Ambrosio will assume leadership of Ferrari’s young driver program, according to Motorsport.com.

Besides him, rumors say that Riccardo Musconi, Mercedes’s head of trackside performance, will also be joining Ferrari. Observing these departures undoubtedly reveals something about the allure of the Prancing Horse. However, in Charles Leclerc’s opinion, it is the magic of Frederic Vasseur that has attracted so many high-profile individuals.

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As per FormulaPassion, Leclerc said, ” This shows the vision of our boss Fred Vasseur, his plans for Ferrari. We want to bring the Red team to the world title.” Leclerc went on to say that Vasseur’s approach to working truly impresses him.

Given that Ferrari is a team that functions differently from other teams, the #16 driver has claimed that the Frenchman has picked up basics far quicker than anticipated. Vasseur does appear to have led Ferrari fairly skillfully.

Leclerc, for example, stated in a previous interview that the Scuderia, who had fallen behind Red Bull last season by significant margins, now only trails them by three to four-tenths.

Credits: IMAGO Motorsport Images

The F1 2024 season has already begun but that has not stopped Max Verstappen from engaging in virtual racing. While recently sim racing with his friends, the Dutchman recreated his overtake on Lewis Hamilton from the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. That overtake was arguably one of the most important moments in his life as it not only helped him win the race but also his maiden championship. Because of the controversy that preceded this moment, Hamilton fans continue to express their displeasure towards Verstappen and Red Bull. However, the 26-year-0ld does not seem too bothered by them as he has once again rubbed salt into the wounds of Hamilton fans by recreating the moment of his overtake on the Briton.

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As seen in a YouTube video, Verstappen explains how he needed to make instinctive decisions to pull off the move on Hamilton. Similar to how he overtook Hamilton, the Red Bull driver once again made a lunge down the inside during his recent sim race.

However, because he lacked the grip to complete the move, Verstappen needed another corner to breeze past the Mercedes driver, who was on much older and worn-out tires. While it was a clean move from Verstappen to overtake Hamilton, the decisions from the stewards that led to this moment were nothing short of controversial.

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The stewards made a bold decision to allow only the lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves as compared to everyone that were lapped.

This decision undoubtedly did not go down well with Mercedes, Hamilton, or the Briton’s fans as the rules state that the stewards can either allow all lapped cars to unlap themselves or none. [Back in 2021, the wording of this rule read “any lapped cars”, which the FIA changed later to avoid a repeat of Abu Dhabi 2021]

While the stewards accepted their mistake and the FIA claimed they made a “human error,” the damage was already done.

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have struggled ever since the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP

Although more than two years have passed since the controversial season finale in Abu Dhabi in 2021, the wounds still have not healed. The Briton has time and again highlighted how that race continues to be a dark moment in his career.

Another major concern that Hamilton is facing at the moment is where Mercedes find themselves at the moment. The Silver Arrows are far off the pace at the moment to challenge Max Verstappen and Red Bull for wins.

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It is for this reason that the 39-year-old has failed to win a single race ever since the 2021 campaign concluded. Hamilton and Mercedes’ struggles seem to have continued into the 2024 season as the seven-time champion has only managed a seventh (Bahrain) and a ninth-place (Saudi Arabia) respectively in the two races thata have so far taken place this year.

However, Hamilton’s struggles with Mercedes are all set to end at the end of the 2024 campaign as he will move to Ferrari in 2025.

Credits: IMAGO / eu-images

A commotion between the Ferrari and Mercedes personnel has begun ever since Lewis Hamilton announced the move to Maranello. Many believed the 7-time champion would take his trusted confidante, Peter Bonnington with him. However, a contractual technicality has forced Hamilton’s race engineer to stay with the Silver Arrows. The 39-year-old does not need to sweat it, though, as he is in good hands given the vast experience his soon-to-be race engineer possesses.

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Quoting Funo Analisi Tecnica, Deni on X (formerly Twitter) claimed an anti-poaching clause has blocked Bonnington’s move to Ferrari. However, Lewis Hamilton, in consultation with team principal Frederic Vasseur, has chosen Riccardo Adami to take over his race engineer’s duties. Adami is currently Carlos Sainz’s race engineer. The Italian engineer holds prior experience of working with a world champion through Sebastian Vettel.

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Adami has been working with Ferrari since 2015. The 50-year-old started his career in F1 13 years before the move, though. Adami started his F1 career with Minardi in 2002 after obtaining a diploma in the chassis area in 2001. He worked in several departments with the Italian outfit before being promoted to the position of race engineer in 2005.

Adami stayed with the team after the takeover by Red Bull. As the Toro Rosso race engineer, he worked with Sebastian Vettel, Sebastien Buemi, and Daniel Ricciardo. He worked with Vettel again after the duo reunited at Ferrari.

Lewis Hamilton and Bono’s split marks the end of an era

Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington shortly worked with Michael Schumacher as his performance engineer. In 2011, Bono became Schumacher’s race engineer, replacing Mark Slade. As the German left Mercedes at the end of 2012, Bonnington continued in the role, working with Lewis Hamilton.

After a disappointing first season in 2013, Mercedes aced the hybrid engine regulations starting in 2014. The advent of the new regulations marked the start of an unprecedented dominance. Lewis Hamilton won 6 world championships while the Brackley outfit bagged 8 to its name. Bonnington, who was Hamilton’s trusted confidante all this while, played a crucial role in his success.

Facing the heat in the cockpit, Hamilton may have snapped at Bono on a few occasions, but the 49-year-old is known for keeping a calm demeanor. The camaraderie between the duo gave birth to the iconic radio message, “It’s hammer time!”

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The phrase is a play on Lewis Hamilton’s last name and also a reference to the lyrics to the song ‘U Can’t Touch This’, that Bono uses when he wants his driver to push to the limit.

Hamilton’s fierce response on the track following the three words have given birth to the most iconic moments in the sport’s modern history. Will Adami repeat those words to make Hamilton feel at home? Will it have the same impact on the Briton?

Credits: IMAGO / HochZwei

The Las Vegas GP was a big deal for F1, not just in sporting terms but from a commercial vantage point too. Having purchased land worth $500 million, Liberty Media knew it was betting big on the success of the Las Vegas spectacle. And they succeeded in these efforts massively. F1 Maximaal reports that the revenue and profit numbers for the final quarter of 2023 have got a big boost owing to the financial success of the Las Vegas GP.

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F1’s revenue for the last quarter went to $1.23 billion, relative to $754 million in 2022, amounting to a 63% growth. This boost also helped improve the annual revenue for the sport – growing from $2.57 billion to $3.22 billion, a 25% improvement.

The profit figures have also experienced good growth, as F1’s bottom line rose to $392 million last year, a 64% YoY growth. However, F1 is not the only beneficiary with this improved financial health. All 10 teams will benefit as they get an increased share of prize money as per the Concorde agreement.

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Among this distribution, Red Bull and Ferrari will be the biggest gainers in 2023. After dominantly winning the championship last year, Red Bull will earn the highest in terms of prize money – $184 million as per F1 Maximaal estimates.

However, Ferrari also earns an additional bonus (for being the oldest constructor) on top of their regular prize money share. This additional bonus boosts their total share of the prize pot to be the highest among all teams. As per the estimates for 2023, the Italian team will earn about $208 million.

How does the F1 Prize Pot distribution work?

The prize pot share for all teams accounts for 50% of the commercial rights’ profits of F1, according to Motorsport.com. Although this varies according to F1’s share of the profits which changes, in turn affecting the value of the teams’ prize pot. In 2022, this prize pot value stood at $1.157 billion.

In 2023, there are estimates this pot will increase up to $1.215 billion approximately. Reports suggest that Ferrari’s bonus for being involved in the sport since 1950 is around 3 to 5% of the prize pot value. Post this, teams mainly get their prize money based on their championship position from that year.

Some old teams like Alpine (previously Renault and Benetton), Williams, and McLaren may also have some bonus structure like Ferrari. Although given these teams came in F1 in the 70s and 80s, it won’t affect their prize pot share to that extent.

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Meanwhile, teams like Red Bull and Mercedes who have been extremely successful in recent years also reportedly receive a bonus on top of their regular prize share. Thus, Mercedes may earn up to $179 million for finishing P2 in 2023. Meanwhile, McLaren’s estimated earnings may be around $117 million for finishing P4.

Credits: IMAGO / Motorsport Images

Oliver Bearman became the hero of the F1 world, after putting in an incredible shift for Ferrari on his debut as Carlos Sainz’s replacement in Jeddah. Among the people who praised the young Briton were Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. Reflecting on the weekend and his idols’ praises, Bearman can’t help but be proud of himself.

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As reported by BBC, Hamilton stated that Bearman has a bright future ahead. Alonso on the other hand praised the 18-year-old’s driving skills, which were commendable especially because he jumped into the SF-24 practically unprepared.

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Bearman, who is just 18 years old, grew up watching his idols like Hamilton and Alonso battle it out on the track. This is especially why praise coming from the multi-time world champions means so much to him.

“It was a proud day for me,” he said as quoted by the BBC. “For them to say these kind words was really nice – especially the older guys like Fernando and Lewis.”

Bearman started the race from P11, nearly knocking Lewis Hamilton out of qualifying in Q2. In the race, he made some strong moves to finish four places in front of where he started – P7. However, despite his strong debut weekend, Bearman’s focus doesn’t lie on F1.

Oliver Bearman shifts focus away from F1

While Oliver Bearman’s debut weekend created waves in the world of F1, he sits rock bottom in the F2 championship which is his main forte of 2024. Bearman was already linked to an F1 seat before the campaign, but performing well in F2 is a crucial way to announce one’s arrival.

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He finished without points in the opening weekend in Bahrain and despite making amends by securing pole for the Saudi Arabian feature race, Bearman couldn’t take part. Why? Because he had to fulfill his duties as Carlos Sainz’s replacement. The 18-year-old didn’t take part in the sprint or the feature race and ended the weekend in the bottom of the standings.

As of now, it is not clear whether Oliver Bearman will take part in the Australian GP for Ferrari or not. If not, his focus will 100% be on getting his F2 season underway. He admitted that everything will be “forgotten” if he doesn’t improve his position in the feeder series.

IMAGO / Motorsport Images

Max Verstappen publicly stated that he could not think of continuing at Red Bull without Helmut Marko, signifying the close bond they share. Now, Formula Passion published a report, where the close bond between Verstappen and Marko is being compared to Michael Schumacher and Jean Todt’s friendship.

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Schumacher joined Ferrari in 1996, two years after Todt became their manager. From the very get-go, this partnership was destined to be successful. Together, they kickstarted one of F1 history’s most dominant spells. Schumacher won the world championships in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. He became a legend in F1, one of the greatest drivers of all time, and was on top of the motorsport world, as was Todt.

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Fast forward to 2024 and Todt and Schumacher remain close friends. Even though Schumacher hasn’t made a public appearance since his skiing accident in 2013, Todt is one of the few people allowed to visit the seven-time world champion’s home.

Formula Passion reports that the bond between Marko and Verstappen is “like Michael Schumacher and Jean Todt”. Earlier this season, Marko was put under investigation by Red Bull. When rumors of him getting the sack emerged, Verstappen (as reported by Sky Sports) insisted that “there would be a problem” if the Austrian left.

Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen’s bond

When Verstappen was just 16 years old, he got his first F1 shot. He joined Toro Rosso, Red Bull’s sister team. And it was none other than Marko, who got him into the sport. Just a year later, he managed to sign for Red Bull, and since winning his debut race in Spain in 2016, he changed the landscape of F1 forever.

Throughout the years, Verstappen has gotten closer and closer with Marko. The latter, known for his eye for talent, has mentored and nurtured the Dutchman, who today, is a three-time world champion. In fact, Verstappen wants Marko, wherever he goes.

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When reports of Marko’s suspension were ramping up, both were linked to Mercedes. Team principal Toto Wolff also offered both entities a place at the Silver Arrows.

Fortunately for Red Bull, Verstappen and Marko will continue with them for now. However, if internal issues keep plaguing team morale, we could see a shock transfer soon.

Credits: Imago

Following Red Bull’s dismissal grievances against Christian Horner, everyone thought the saga would be over. However, a new angle emerged when the team reportedly decided to suspend the female employee who appealed against Horner. Despite following the correct procedure and reporting the matter internally instead of going to an outside authority, the employee faced dire consequences. Stemming from the same, Independent.co.uk reports that the female employee is now appealing the decision.

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As informed by a friend, the suspended employee is “disappointed with how it’s all gone.” Having done everything by the book, the treatment from her ex-employer has left her disappointed. She faced suspension from a job she loved and in a sport where she was supposedly highly regarded. Furthermore, the lack of support from within the team also played a part in weakening her morale.

“The lack of support is noted and she’s just so disappointed with the treatment from her employer.”

Following the unsatisfactory resolution, the suspended employee will now reportedly be appealing the decision. She has also changed her legal representation and hopes for a better outcome this time around. Red Bull is yet to comment on the appeal as the situation continues to evolve. The last two months have been a rollercoaster ride for the Austrian team, and it seems like the ride is far from over.

It all began when the female employee reportedly accused Christian Horner of inappropriate behavior. A three-week internal investigation followed, where rumors emerged of a potential sacking of Horner should the allegations be true. However, the British engineer was cleared of any wrongdoing. Two days after the verdict, alleged WhatsApp leaks between Horner and the employee leaked on social media. The screengrabs carried text messages of sexual nature, but the credibility of the texts was questionable. Since then, there has been little to no comment from Red Bull on the leaks.

Geri Halliwell has her friends’ support amid the Christian Horner situation

Christian Horner’s wife Geri Halliwell has become an unfortunate victim of the entire situation. The former Spice Girl is even reportedly questioning her marriage to the Red Bull team principal. Amid the saga, Halliwell has received support from her former group. Speaking on behalf of all the members, Mel B (quoted by GB News) took center stage, and they were all supporting her. On a more personal touch, Mel B added she felt “really sad for Geri [Halliwell].”

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Halliwell has mostly stayed away from the public ever since the controversy began. She did make an appearance in both races so far, standing in solidarity with her husband. The couple even kissed each other in front of the cameras as a gesture of support. Halliwell attended the Commonwealth Day Service, where she stepped in front of the public without her husband for the first time.

There have also been various reports suggesting major shareholders at Red Bull are in favor of dismissing Horner. Max Verstappen’s father also wants to see the 50-year-old gone from the team. Despite this, Horner remains confident that he has full support from the management. The contrasting reports and opinions only add to the uncertainty around the situation.