SAO PAULO — It’s possible that Formula One will become addicting. It is appealing to a diverse range of persons, and it does so in a diverse range of ways. I first became hooked on racing over 35 years ago, and since then I’ve competed in over 600 different events. The Grand Prix of Sao Paulo, which took place on Sunday, not only served to bring to my attention the fact that it is still every bit as effective as it has ever been, but it also brought to my attention the fundamental reasons why I will never give it up.
And of course, I adore the racing, that physcial symbiosis of man and machine, the control of some wild mechanical beast when a driver is out there seeking a fast qualifying time, and then the cut and thrust when they are racing, preferably wheel-to-wheel. I feel like I’m a part of something bigger than myself when I watch racing. Even while there is nothing that can rival the sound of an ancient V12 or a V10 in terms of acoustic quality, it goes without saying that I like automobiles—their appearance, their gorgeous elegance, and the noise they produce.
However, more than anything else, it is the people here that keep drawing me back. Since all of my closest friends now work in the racing industry or have done so in the past, it would seem that we are forced to congregate in close proximity to one another in order to get the most out of our habit. There would be no autos, no cut and thrust, and no epic stories if there were no people there to experience any of these things.
And, my, my, didn’t we have a respectable quantity of it throughout the course of the course of the weekend? Derring-do. It is a phrase that gives off the impression of being rather astute. The meaning of this phrase that is included in my vocabulary is “action demonstrating heroic courage.” Wow, it seems like we could have stumbled into a fantastic chance here. Could that be right?
Kevin Magnussen has always been one of my favorite actors. KMag. The people from Scandinavia. Because he is a veteran of the sport, and for the same reason, I have a soft spot in my heart for the wild Guenther Steiner, who, thanks to Drive to Survive and Netflix, has become one of the most immediately recognizable figures in Formula One around the globe. I have a soft spot in my heart for the wild Guenther Steiner because he is a veteran of the sport, and for the same reason. Go figure! Strange as it may seem, we both have a love with rough US sprint cars. Guenther is the owner of a company that creates seats for them, and Kevin really cherished his time spent driving one of these vehicles.
The story they told about what happened on Friday, when he unexpectedly secured the pole position for Saturday’s Sprint Race, was the kind of thing that dreams are made of. There may be moments when those who are considered to be the underdogs will have their opportunity to bray and bite.
And then there was George Russell, who eventually broke through to win not just the Sprint, but also the Sao Paulo GP itself. This was Mercedes‘ first victory of the season, which had been a somewhat difficult season up until this point.
In the process, he was victorious against the best driver in the world, and he led his outstanding teammate Lewis Hamilton across the finish line by 1.5 seconds despite the fact that Hamilton was right on his tail for the last 12 laps of the race. In addition, he was able to beat the driver who had previously held the record for the most career victories. Russell never lost his calm, remained level-headed throughout, and finally delivered on all of the potential that we had been looking forward to seeing in him all those years ago.
When you buy into someone else’s dream and start sharing it, then watch as they begin to realize it, and then experience it, it can bring a lot of pleasure because it’s a lovely side effect of this fantastic thing that we’re hooked on. When you watch as they begin to realize it, it can bring you a lot of joy. I’ve seen a lot of racing car drivers reach that moment of Nirvana when they finally establish, not just to the outside world but also to themselves, that all of their self-belief was merited. I’ve seen a lot of race car drivers reach that moment of Nirvana. It’s a mind-blowing experience to take it all in.
As a result of circumstances such as this one, covering Formula One with my own money has cost me more than one million pounds ($1.6 million), but I do not regret a single one of those purchases.
Since the two men first met in 2015, Russell’s mentor James Vowles, who is also the chief strategist for Mercedes, has said that the man from Kings Lynn in Norfolk, United Kingdom, has been extremely analytical, exhibiting no signs of nerves but rather an inner confidence. Vowles is also the man who first introduced the two men to one another.
When all of the screaming and commotion finally subsided on Sunday evening, when he had finished congratulating his team in parc ferme and giving the immediate post-race interviews, and when he finally had a moment of peace and quiet to himself, the most recent Grand Prix winner for Great Britain sat down and bowed his head, just as he had done in Sakhir in 2020.
Back then, when he was standing in for Hamilton, he had been cheated out of the victory by a string of unlucky occurrences. Back then, he was stepping in for Hamilton. On the other hand, this time around he was successful in climbing all the way to the top of the mountain. You have exacted your vengeance on that awful misfortune. He has shown that he is capable. And everything finally got to the point where it was too much to handle.
A few poignant moments after the victory, the man who had just defeated his seven-time world champion teammate in mano a mano combat at 200mph (322km/h) gave in to the emotion and shed some tears.
A fundamental understanding of mankind, such as the one that may be gained from that little scenario, is a very significant component of the addiction. This is by far the most significant reason why I will never give it up, which is why I will never give it up.