After the end of the 2021 season, Honda initially announced leaving Formula One. When Honda made the announcement, Red Bull Racing had to convince F1 to freeze powertrain development while they find a new technical partner.
In February last year, teams agreed to prevent further development of their hybrid power units. According to Red Bull Racing and Alpha Tauri, without the engine freeze, there is a change that they’d consider their future in F1. Both teams announced that they are unwilling to get a different engine or be racing with a disadvantage as rivals get to upgrade their power units.
F1 released a statement that “engine development will be frozen from the start of 2022”.
Now that Honda is back in F1, does it play to Red Bull’s advantage?
The original plan was for Red Bull Racing to use Honda’s intellectual property with their power unit. However, Honda was just going to provide power units for Red Bull for both 2022 and 2023. After which, Red Bull will have to rely on their newly formed Red Bull Powertrains division. Plus, Honda’s involvement was supposedly limited to just trackside and race operation support.
This deal would’ve helped Red Bull to transition from an engine customer to an engine manufacturer. But with the recent announcement that Honda will stay in F1 and continue providing power units until 2025, Red Bull Racing can have a breather.
Marko said that Max Verstappen’s victory may have convinced Honda to stay. He added, “In the course of our ever-greater success, a certain rethinking has taken place among the Japanese. And also that they could of course use the battery knowledge for their electrification phase”.
Honda initially wanted to quit F1 because the firm wanted to focus on developing technology that promotes carbon neutrality. In April 2020, Honda even built the Innovative Research Excellence, Power Unit & Energy.
According to their website, “Honda will allocate its energy management and fuel technologies as well as knowledge amassed through F1 activities to this area of power unit and energy technologies and take initiatives while focusing on the future realization of carbon neutrality. Toward this end, Honda made the decision to conclude its participation in F1”.
Marko said, “It was initially planned that they would only make our motor for 2022. Now it has been decided that this will continue until 2025, which is, of course, a huge advantage for us.” He said, “This means we only have to make fine adjustments and calibrations”.
Honda staying with F1 looks like an equalizer for the Red Bull Racing team as they expect to continue their rivalry with Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1.
Honda’s decision can also give Red Bull an advantage by 2026 when new rules are introduced. By 2026, Red Bull Racing will be considered as a new engine manufacturer and will get to enjoy privileges during the development stage of F1 engines. They can get more hours on dynos while other manufacturers such as Mercedes, Renault, and Ferrari are not going to get these perks.
]]>The Lebron James Family Foundation announced its partnership with the cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com. In a press release, the Lebron James Family Foundation said: “Building on a strong basis of education empowerment, the partnership will give students and families connected to the I PROMISE program access to the tools and educational resources needed to participate and succeed in building Web3, the future of the internet”.
The Lebron James Family Foundation also claims that Web3 “promises to deliver a more fair and equitable internet”. The idea of Web3 is a decentralized online ecosystem that combines the idea of blockchain and the World Wide Web.
With this partnership, around 1,600 children can benefit and could potentially learn what cryptocurrency is and how the technology behind it works. Plus, it could potentially lead to opportunities for them in the future.
The press release continued “Through this partnership, I PROMISE students and families will get a strong foundation in Web3 and the innovations behind blockchain-based decentralized applications powering the future of many sectors from finance to media to art”. It added that the partnership will bring “Web3 educational resources and workforce development”. However, there weren’t any details on what type of tools or educational resources will be used.
James believes that blockchain technology can help revolutionize the economy, sports, entertainment, and how people engage. He said, “I want to ensure that communities like the one I come from are not left behind”. He added that “Crypto.com and I are aligned on the need to educate and support my community with the information and tools they need for inclusion. I’m looking forward to working with them to bring these opportunities to my community”.
This is the latest Crypto.com venture that involved the NBA. Crypto.com gained the naming rights to the former Staples Center, successfully changing it to Crypto.com Arena. Plus, Crypto.com is also a jersey sponsor for the 76ers.
Crypto.com now has more than 10 million customers. Plus, it is doing its best to become a household name. Crypto.com even now has a commercial that features Matt Damon. With its partnership with Lebron James, Crypto.com can legitimize itself not only among crypto investors but even among sports fans who see Lebron James as a role model.
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In a partnership with eSports platform One Up, Ball has also announced that his brand will be hosting a Puma-sponsored NBA 2K Tournament due to start on February 5. The competition is open for all gamers aged 18 and above, with a total prize pool of $25,000 where the winner receives $20,000 as the grand prize. Ball will also offer merchandise giveaways and exclusive content through the One Up app.
All finalists will receive a pair of Ball’s Puma MB.01 signature shoes, recently released by the shoe company in December 2021. Four finalists will be competing in Cleveland for the final rounds of the competition during the NBA All-Star festivities on February 18. Ball mentions in a recent press conference that he intends to start an eSports team in the future and is excited to take the first step towards his ambition by starting his own eSports venture together with budding eSports start-up One Up.
One Up is an eSports platform founded in 2018 that lets gamers compete for money and bet on themselves to win against other players. Through the platform, players are allowed to cash in and play to earn through head-to-head wagering. More than 250,000 users are currently signed up on their platform, and the company continues to grow since raising $3 million in its seed funding round. Initial investors include NBA players such as Terry Rozier and Victor Oladipo.
Apart from NBA 2K, the eSports platform also hosts tournaments for other popular video games such as FIFA, Call of Duty, Madden and Fortnite. Former college baller Brandon Pitts founded One Up from his college dorm and got started in eSports as a side hustle. He aims to give gamers the infrastructure to either play competitively or launch their own eSports ventures through the app.
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Melo is one of many NBA superstars active in the gaming scene but has been in the basketball spotlight since being a freshman in high school as part of the legendary Chino Hills High basketball team. He teamed up with his brothers Lonzo and LiAngelo to win the California State Basketball Championship. Many doubted the youngest Ball brother’s journey to the NBA, yet he has sent a strong message by winning rookie honors that he intends to become a superstar of the league. LaMelo is currently averaging 19.6 points, 7.7 assists and 7.0 rebounds a game as the starting point guard for the Charlotte Hornets.
]]>But when every millisecond counts, it’s important to choose the right driver to drive your car.
What driver pairings can we expect for the 2022 Formula One season? Here are some takeaways from each team including their 2022 salaries (taken from Spotrac) and highlights from last season.
Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team
Lewis Hamilton – $40,000,000
George Russell – $5,000,000
The legend of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes transcends Formula One. However, recent speculation suggests that Hamilton might be retiring following his controversial loss in the last race of the 2021 season, where he was a lap away from winning his 8th driver’s championship. For now, his future with the team is unclear.
George Russell has been promoted to the other Mercedes seat following Bottas’ move to Alfa Romeo. Fans expect him to match the brilliance of Hamilton after already showing his ability at the Sakhir Grand Prix in 2020 – almost winning the race despite some mishaps.
2021 season highlight: Won the constructor’s championship
Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen – $25,000,000
Sergio Perez – $8,000,000
It is never an easy task to be partners with Max. Sergio Perez came in as an unexpected strike partner and redefined the role of the number two driver. Red Bull is known as a team that develops drivers within their system, but it appears that they made the best choice taking in Perez. Anyone who is a fan of F1 fully expects Verstappen to always be in the hunt for a title, or even replace Hamilton as the sport’s top dog.
2021 season highlight: Verstappen won the driver’s title in the last race of the season
McLaren F1 Team
Daniel Ricciardo – $15,000,000
Lando Norris – $5,000,000
The scenario is a little tricky since the younger driver seems to be the actual number one of the team. Despite Ricciardo’s years of experience, Norris has been with the team for far longer and has shown the potential to be one of the sport’s greats. The team will surely be a strong contender if both drivers are on top form and work as partners with clearly defined roles.
2021 season highlight: 1-2 result in Monza
Scuderia Ferrari
Charles Leclerc – $12,000,000
Carlos Sainz Jr. – $10,000,000
The team is finally on the rise after the dismal 2020 season and features one of the most talented partnerships for this year. The performance of Sainz last year exceeded all expectations, perhaps even surpassing them. Leclerc, however, is still one of the best on the grid despite recent struggles and we all know that he is capable of delivering moments of pure brilliance in the most clutch situations.
2021 season highlight: Four podium finishes for Sainz
Scuderia AlphaTauri
Pierre Gasly – $5,000,000
Yuki Tsunoda – $750,000
We have been spoiled by how good Gasly has been in the last few seasons. He has finally emerged from the shell of the Red Bull fiasco and is ready to take the team to a whole new level. Tsunoda, on the other hand, has been promising but needs more experience if he is ever expected be at Gasly’s level.
2021 season highlight: Gasly podium in Baku
Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team
Sebastian Vettel – $15,000,000
Lance Stroll – $10,000,000
Despite some strong outings for both drivers, their overall consistency is still in question after their first season in green. Vettel has been a great team leader, but fans are left to wonder if he still has it in him to get more out of the car. Stroll is in his 6th season and also has the potential to break out.
2021 highlight: Vettel podium in Baku
Alpine F1 Team
Fernando Alonso – $20,000,000
Esteban Ocon – $5,000,000
The relationship between F1 legend Alonso and Ocon has been unexpectedly positive. They have worked well together and have consistently pushed each other to get the best result for the team. If they get more improvements to the car’s performance, this pairing could really sneak up behind the others.
2021 season highlight: Ocon wins in Hungary
Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN
Valterri Bottas – $10,000,000
Guanyu Zhou – $1,000,000
Two new drivers line up for the team after Raikkonen’s retirement; one is Valterri Bottas fresh from his stint at Mercedes while the other is known pay driver Guanyu Zhou. Safe to say that fans wanted F2 champion Oscar Piastri to take the last place on the grid, but they will have to keep an open mind for now and see how Zhou performs in the top flight. Chance for Bottas to show how good he is as the number one driver of the team.
Uralkali Haas F1 Team
Mick Schumacher – $1,000,000
Nikita Mazepin – $1,000,000
The expectations are low for the team as the car will always be a backmarker, but Mick Schumacher is a bright spot with his reliable driving. He could get the team a possibility for a single point if he manages to improve on his rookie year. Mazepin, however, has been erratic last season and should improve to give the team a chance.
2021 season highlight: Mick Schumacher
Williams Racing
Alex Albon – $2,000,000
Nicholas Latifi – $1,000,000
Plenty of speculation around Albon’s return to the grid. Can he rebuild his career through Williams? His performance will surely be compared to how Russell did against Latifi in the previous seasons.
2021 season highlight: Russell podium in Spa + 8th in constructors
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