London Marathon: AJ over the Line

AJ over the Line

We’ve done it!

With your help, support and donations, I completed my first London Marathon in 3h 41min 18sec on Sunday.

The atmosphere was insane. Going shoulder to shoulder with thousands of other lucky maniacs taking on the 26.2 miles was a pleasure. But the crowd was so amazing that my Apple Watch warned me of how loud the noise was. Wow!

Let’s not forget why we went on this journey. As part of a team of 100 RNIB runners, we have raised hundreds of thousands for people with visual impairments. @rnib have helped me, and now we have allowed them to help others. If you still want to donate, go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/AJfortheBlind

So thank you. Whether you donated, sent a message of support, shared my link or cheered my name while I ran, you’re a legend.

Thank you to the RNIB for allowing me to achieve a life goal and give back and for treating me well, from my coaching to my post-race massage and meal.

And thank you to Mum, Dad, Dave and Lin for coming out to support me through a tiring weekend. Sorry I missed you in that mile 25 video - my mental strength was being challenged at that moment for sure!

My purpose is to inspire, unite and excite through sport. So if my journey impacted you, I am grateful and encourage you to use that positivity towards overcoming your own challenges.

Will I do another marathon? Yes, I’d do it again but not until I can walk down the stairs without wincing again. All things going well, though; my next challenge will be in London.

Speak to you then,

Adam

Here's a message for Charlie: We need you.

Last Tuesday, Michael Masi left F1's governing body, the FIA, to spend more time with his family in Australia and pursue other goals. Regardless of the side that you fell in Abu Dhabi 2021, you will probably have an opinion on Masi, and it will likely be strong. While I don't agree with every decision he made, I feel for Michael as the one who had to fill Charlie Whiting's impossibly large shoes.

Charlie died suddenly on the eve of the 2019 Formula One season. While those who knew him felt a considerable gap emerge in their lives, his untimely passing left an equally large void within the FIA - and it still hasn't recovered.

Whiting's transparency and respect defined him as a man and a race director. Two crucial qualities as the referee of a competitive, complex, and constantly changing sport.

During the USA Grand Prix 2017, Max Verstappen was given a penalty immediately after the race for cutting a corner, which attracted much controversy. On the Thursday following the race, Charlie held a press conference in which he talked the world's media through decision-making alongside different camera angles. He explained the wording of the rules, and the case was closed as everyone had an answer.

“This clarity stopped controversy lingering.”

This clarity stopped controversy lingering.

The respect between Charlie, the drivers and the teams was clear for all to see. On YouTube, you can see some behind-the-scenes of drivers' briefings in which Charlie's strong relationship with racing drivers is evident.

These are qualities lacking within the current FIA format. Last week, at the Austrian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen said something interesting.

"I don't think it necessarily depends on (having) a single race director. I think it's more about working with the drivers rather than standing your ground and being stubborn".

Even Verstappen, who seems to benefit most from the opacity of the FIA as a driver who pushes the rules beyond the limit more than most, believes that the FAA requires changes.

I read a great article by Matt Kew on Autosport in which he compared the FIA since Abu Dhabi to the Conservative party in the UK since party gate. The solution seems to be bringing a new face rather than changing the underlying issues.

The new face of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem (MBS), became the president seven months ago. Since then, he seems to have thrown his political weight around in F1 substantially compared to his predecessor Jean Todt. But he seems to have been doing so in a weird way.

You can respect his drive to push for all rules to be followed to the letter to avoid a repeat of Abu Dhabi 2021. Yet, he seems to focus on rules that were never a pressing issue.

The whole pants and piercings malarkey of the first few races seemed and was bizarre when we have Sebastian Vettel literally walking out of drivers' briefings in frustration of racing rules such as track limits and forcing other drivers off the track still being debated.

The British Grand Prix last fortnight was one of the season's best races. However, some of the racing standards of Sergio Pérez and Max Verstappen raised questions. Between them, they were guilty of cutting corners to overtake and forcing other drivers off the track. Neither were penalised, and it left fans and drivers alike scratching their heads.

Just a week later, the Austrian Grand Prix would be an excellent time for the race director to explain why things were done to allow everyone to move on. However, neither the race director nor the stewards from Silverstone were present in Austria. While this allows for people to rest, it leads to no accountability.

“The decisions do not need to be perfect, but there needs to be consistency.”

This leaves drivers and fans in the dark as to where the line can be drawn. It's as though the drivers have to learn the rules of the sport as the weekend goes on, which is frankly ridiculous. The decisions do not need to be perfect, but there needs to be consistency.

Of course, times have changed. Formula One has become more popular, so the pressure has increased on those making key decisions during and after the race. But it is clear more than ever that F1 needs a Charlie Whiting figure to steer the ship in a direction that doesn't change weekly. This needs sorting out because people will quickly move on if nobody can get their heads around the game's rules.

The FIA said that Sebastian Vettel did not behave like a role model for walking out of the drivers' briefing, which is plainly ridiculous. Alongside Lewis Hamilton, Seb is a true champion on and off the track, genuinely looking to leave the world in a better place as a result of his platform.

There is also no nonsense with Seb, he respects others and commands respect, and he knows what he's talking about, given his current job. So perhaps the best thing that could happen to F1 is Seb joining the FIA.

“I'm putting Sebastian Vettel forward as the new FIA president.”

I don't know when he will retire, and he might not know either. But when the four-time champion does hang up his helmet, I'm putting Sebastian Vettel forward as the new FIA president.

Whether Seb’s presidency will come in time, I don't know. But I do know that the world doesn't deserve Sebastian Vettel, so while he is here, savour it. And if he can fix F1, even better.

The curious case of Pierre Gasly

When the F1 world thinks about drivers with uncertain futures, Pierre Gasly is a name that doesn’t necessarily come immediately off the tongue. However, he is on that list, which is frankly mad based on his performances over the past few years.

Despite being a race winner, team leader and fan favourite, news in recent days suggests that Pierre’s position at AlphaTauri could be under question.

Sergio Perez’s contract extension with Red Bull was announced last week following the Mexican clumsily mentioning the deal on the live feed following his excellent win in Monaco. The correct decision for Red Bull’s senior team, as proven by Perez’s performance on that wet day.

“So what next for the Frenchman?”

This news effectively closes the door to another promotion to Red Bull for Gasly. So what next for the Frenchman?

In reality, the status quo works for Pierre and for AlphaTauri. Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda are a great pairing of youth, speed and the ability to improve quickly. That is precisely what Red Bull’s junior team need in their drivers. It is also clear that Pierre is the team leader, happy and comfortable.

There aren’t any Red Bull drivers that obviously need promoting from the feeder series. Yet, Pierre’s position cannot last forever in what is a junior team. They say that once you are comfortable within your role, you should move on to something more challenging to develop further. So one way or another, it would be beneficial for the growth of Pierre Gasly to move on.

“Pierre was not just uncomfortable - he was out of his depth”

The issue is that when he last moved on, he was in a tricky car next to one of the quickest on the grid in Max Verstappen. Pierre was not just uncomfortable - he was out of his depth. And you can’t help but feel that a part of him may fear leaving his family in Florenza.

Where should Gasly go?

I wrote an article on Daniel Ricciardo’s future in F1, and McLaren will be critical in the driver market. If they ditch Daniel, all dominos will begin to fall. Zak Brown may have an interest in IndyCar drivers. However, the reality is that Pierre is a known quantity and rated well in the F1 paddock. So he will surely be on the shortlist.

Pierre would be an excellent signing for McLaren. He may be as quick as Lando Norris, but enough to ensure that both cars are up there and keep Woking’s leading man honest. It’s the same reason Gasly would be a suitable Mercedes recruit if Hamilton was to make a shock retirement (as much as this would disappoint Nick De Vries).

Crucially, something that counts against Pierre is that Red Bull’s top team seems to have a problem even considering Gasly returning to the team. It appears as though Pierre was more distracted by bad results and found it difficult to move on compared to Sergio Perez.

“other teams will have underlying concerns of history repeating”

While it is true that Pierre was parachuted into a demanding scenario at a young age, other teams will have underlying concerns of history repeating when considering his services.

While most people watching F1 would assume that Gasly will safely have a long successful F1 career, there is a fear that he will be left behind by his peers and replaced by someone new.

Pierre Gasly’s next career move will define his F1 legacy.

Daniel is in the driver’s seat, but he needs to take control

If there is one thing that a man my age doesn't enjoy but finds himself doing more often, it's admitting to his Dad that they were right and he was wrong.

I shall begin this article by doing just that. Lando Norris is better than Daniel Ricciardo. At least, during their time at McLaren, that has been the case.

“As is often the case in life, the dream move may not live up to expectations”

I cannot the Honey Badger out. However, nobody wants to admit it, but many in the F1 community are concerned about Daniel Ricciardo's pace in the past couple of years. He simply hasn't gelled with the car. As is often the case in life, the dream move may not live up to expectations. And that is a great shame for Daniel, F1 and the world.

The biggest worries will be coming from the top of Daniel’s McLaren team. CEO Zak Brown is an ambitious, impatient racer. The very fact that he admitted in the media that McLaren has the option to opt out of the third year of Daniel's high wage contract is a warning sign to the man from Perth. Brown is also driven to get a US driver in F1. As a marketing man and an American himself, he can see the opportunities that a driver from the States would bring McLaren and F1 as it expands rapidly in the US.

Colton Herta appears to be the chosen one if he impresses in a test with McLaren later this year. Herta has shown super speed in IndyCar. Having grown up racing in Europe, teammates with Lando Norris no less, you would think he knows what he is doing in a European style race car.

“if Colton Herta was coming to McLaren, it was always Ricciardo that would be on the back foot”

The way Lando Norris has driven in the past couple of years has been up there with the Verstappens, Leclercs, Russells and Hamiltons of this world. He is unlucky not to have a victory yet, and the way he drove through his tonsillitis in Spain was arguably the season's performance so far. In reality, if Colton Herta was coming to McLaren, it was always Ricciardo that would be on the back foot.

The thing is, Ricciardo bring many great qualities to the team. He is highly marketable as one of the most popular drivers globally. He knows how to win, as he showed in Italy last year. His positivity is undoubtedly a benefit to any team. So dumping Daniel is a big decision.

“The question is, where has Daniel got left?”

It is not over for Daniel Ricciardo, and he can improve his form. Even if it doesn't save his McLaren career, it could prove to another team that he still has what it takes to be in F1. The question is, where has Daniel got left?

The big three of Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari are unlikely, and he's burned his bridges with Alpine. So that leaves Alfa Romeo, Williams, Haas and Aston Martin. Alfa and Haas are happy with their new team leaders in Bottas and Magnussen, and Daniel probably wouldn't fancy Williams, which leaves Aston Martin. I can see Aston replacing a retiring Vettel with Ricciardo if the cards fall in the right place at the right time. So ironically, the man who Daniel embarrassed out of Red Bull in 2014 could be the man deciding Daniel's future in the sport. It's funny how life works.

Daniel's future is not strictly in Seb's hands, as much as one can trust the big-hearted German. Daniel's future is in his hands. His performances will dictate his future, and the months ahead will be telling.

Pants and Jewellery - a symbol of the F1-FIA split? (2 of 2)

The first part of this article was about F1's success in America. So it feels silly that one of the weekend's biggest stories was a four-time champion wearing boxers over his race suit and F1's biggest name wearing three watches to a press conference.

Since F1's governing body, the FIA, had a bit of a whoopsy at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year, it has changed two of the key people in the organisation - the president and the race director.

The presidential change was planned, swapping a retiring Jean Todt for a Motorsport UK backed Mohammed Ben Sulayem (MBS). The race director was less planned, swapping the controversial Michael Masi for Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas, the two of whom will alternate each weekend.

“The Abu Dhabi controversy is critical here”

The Abu Dhabi controversy is critical here because the F1 world, in the majority, felt that the FIA had stood by their decision to not follow its own rules and procedures.

Back in Miami, we heard that the FIA had begun enforcing the rule that disallows the wearing of jewellery or non-fireproof underwear while driving the car.

On the pants front, enforcing the rules had ruffled some feathers with key drivers, including Sebastian Vettel. We saw him ironically wearing boxers on top of his overalls at the start of Friday practice in Miami. I've just watched him holding his own on BBC's Question Time - what a difference a week makes.

“He has been given a two-race grace period for that”

The jewellery battle seems to be a bit trickier. Pierre Gasly wears a religious pendant during races, Kevin Magnessun wears his wedding ring, and Lewis Hamilton wears earrings and has a piercing in his nose. While Hamilton took out his earrings, the nose piercing remained. It seems that he needs a minor surgery to get that removed. So he has been given a two-race grace period for that.

The question is, will he book the op?

Going by the way Hamilton arrived at the drivers press conference, you wouldn't be surprised if, come Monaco, we are talking piercings again.

The seven-time world champion arrived, donning three watches, seven neckless and eight rings. You would be right if you thought Lewis was trying to make a point.

“You might argue that it seemed negotiable when F1 remained in Saudi Arabia”

It seems odd for the FIA to annoy the two most decorated drivers on the grid for a little thing like this. Yes, safety is non-negotiable. But you might argue that it seemed negotiable when F1 remained in Saudi Arabia following nearby missile strikes.

The offers from Hamilton and Magnessun to sign waivers to cover the FIA have been rejected too. So it's not for legal reasons that the FIA has this stance.

President MBS is said to be pushing hard for the ruling to be applied, with his reasoning being that those at the top should set a good example. F1 is the biggest motorsport in the world. However, other categories allow jewellery to be worn, and some of Lewis Hamilton's most iconic images have been seen him emerge from the car wearing his nose piercing.

Is it, as Sebastian Vettel suggested, personal on Lewis Hamilton? Maybe. Perhaps that explains why Lewis is so annoyed by this situation. From the exterior seems an unusual area of the sport about which to have an argument.

I prefer to assume the best in people. This means that the FIA must now be applying every rule without question so that they don't have another Abu Dhabi 2021. While F1 could have suffered heavily from the conclusion to last season, the FIA was the organisation that received most of the backlash - and it didn't help itself by being slow to respond.

“There is growing discontent and a disconnect between F1 and the FIA”

This brings me to the crux of the issue. There is growing discontent and a disconnect between F1 and the FIA.

In recent weeks, the FIA has asked F1 for a more significant sum of money to deliver more sprint race weekends in the seasons to come. Reports suggest that this didn't go down well at all. Especially as F1 provides the FIA with approximately half of its income already.

This dispute over money and sprint races seem to have spilt out into pants and piercings, creating a pattern of F1 being celebrated as a global success. At the same time, the FIA receives continued lousy press.

The issue is that they need one another. The FIA needs F1 financially and for relevance, while F1 needs referees to run the sport.

Let's not forget, as silly as it sounds, the FIA have the power to stop Lewis Hamilton from racing in Monaco if he is still wearing a piercing. That would hurt F1 as well as Hamilton and Mercedes.

The alternative to the FIA? There isn't, really. The good news is that we are not going to see a breakaway series because teams would be mad to leave F1 just as it's becoming profitable. In fact, heavyweights Andretti Racing are looking to join the party, so the dynamic may yet swing a different direction.

Watch this space, and leave the space below to let me know what you think.

BREAKING: America for F1? - Here’s how Formula 1’s tectonic plates are moving (1 of 2)

Last weekend‘s Miami Grand Prix was a tremendous success. However, there is more than meets the eye. Celebrities, sold-out grandstands, pants and jewellery were the talk of the weekend. On the surface, these are silly topics. However, they signify tectonic plates move in the F1 world.

BREAKING: America for F1?

F1 in the United States. It’s a topic that I am invested in a little more than most because I studied it for my dissertation. Since my dissertation, which I wrote in 2021, Formula One has exploded in the States and continues to expand.

The Miami Grand Prix, with the Las Vegas Grand Prix scheduled for next year, symbolised the arrival of F1 in the American mainstream. Just shy of 250,000 attended the event over the weekend, which saw the track wrap around the Miami Dolphins American Football stadium.

The Super Bowl got 99.2 million US TV viewers and F1, 2.6 million for context. So there is more room for growth. That said, the Dolphins get 65,000 turn up when they fill the stadium for a football game. So commercially, the stadium owner Stephen Ross won’t be short of a bob or two with F1 rocking up for the next decade.

“Stefano Domenicali will have had a few phone calls on Monday morning”

The thing is, Ross isn’t the only American Football franchise owner in the United States. Others will be looking on. Especially if they can charge hundreds if not thousands for tickets. The success of Las Vagas in 2023 will be defining. Still, it’s safe to say that Stefano Domenicali will have had a few phone calls on Monday morning asking for a chat about F1 coming to a new part of America.

There is no doubt then that F1 is booming in the United States like never before. But the sport needs to be careful. It is equally vital that F1 maintains its global fanbase.

The Americas North, Central and South seem covered by three US races, Canada, Mexico and Brazil. Although, you might argue another South American race would be good in a region that has historically embraced F1. Perhaps Chile - we know Santiago welcomed Formula E.

Asia and Oceania is a market that F1, particularly under Bernie Ecclestone, targeted for a while. We still have Singapore, Japan and Australia - races that F1 needs to stay on the calendar. I wonder whether the Asian market may be left behind, despite it being arguably as commercially important as the US. Toto Wolff has made comments suggesting that he feels similarly.”

The gaping hole on the F1 schedule is, of course, Africa”

The gaping hole on the F1 schedule is, of course, Africa. It’s the continent set for the most growth in the next century, and it has an audience interested in F1. South Africa is an obvious destination, but ideally, more races would occur. I can imagine Nigeria being an incredible atmosphere for a race.

Europe is the traditional heartland and will more than likely remain engaged, with drivers, teams and legendary tracks all heralding from that neck of the woods. However, if F1 is going to expand globally, it will need to drop some races in Europe.

“Monaco is under threat as a race”

The most troubling thing here is that Monaco is under threat as a race. The streets of Monte Carlo are part of the fabric of F1; we need a solution to ensure it remains. The two obvious ones are that Monaco pays more than the discounted fee that it currently does for a Grand Prix (it's the only one that doesn't) or widens the track to allow better racing. Although, the latter is a logistical nightmare. You could make the cars smaller and lighter, akin to the early 2000s. Yet that doesn’t seem likely with heavy hybrid power units and chassis the size of boats the order of the decade.

As F1’s success continues, the decisions made by Liberty Media will become ever-pertinent. We keep seeing long, multi-year contracts with countries. Perhaps, the best decision is to have core races in each continent that remain on the calendar but to rotate all of these other brilliant races year by year.

This would keep things exciting and engaging, balancing F1’s value without over-saturating the audience with too much of a good thing.

Let me know what races you think should stay on the calendar every season.

Part 2 coming soon.

Our F1 season predictions were probably wrong - and that’s tremendous

Last week, we did a podcast episode on AJontheLine, predicting the upcoming F1 season. And while it was enjoyable, with some exciting and amusing thoughts, I suspect that our predictions will be whole-heartedly wrong. But that’s tremendous.

While one may look at this poor foresight as a lack of knowledge or understanding, I look at it differently. It means that we are heading towards a fascinating season of Formula 1.

I put Red Bull as the fourth fastest car, but that looks wrong as they seem favourites now. Similarly, I put Alpine last, and they seem quick as I write during the first practice session of the season. 

I could see Charles Leclerc as one of the biggest favourites for the championship in that lightning-fast Ferrari, but how can I count out his teammate Carlos Sainz? He beat Leclerc last year and held his own against Max Verstappen back in their Toro Rosso days. The fastest Ferrari driver battle will be a spicy and tightly-contested spectacle - and it could decide the champion.

Mercedes look like they are genuinely struggling with ‘porpoising’ (listen to this podcast for more on that) but have a fast car if they can sort that out. Will they come back later in the season? Will their drivers, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, the legend and the apprentice, remain harmonious? They surely need to initially as they get their car back to the front.

McLaren is so hard to call as well. Surely Lando Norris can find his first victory and Daniel Ricciardo his form. However, those brake issues were less than ideal last week. Either way, it is so good to see the team in a good, stable place with plenty of sponsors.

Then there is the ‘midfield’, the most confusing of the lot. Any remaining team could be the best of the rest or better on any given weekend. Will Haas, having dropped their Russian money for an old friend, be the biggest surprise? Will Fernando Alonso get the championship battle he returned to F1 for? Will Alpha Tauri shock the world and be better than the midfield? Pierre Gasly was fastest in the first session of the year, and young Yuki Tsunoda looks ready to balance his unfiltered brilliance with maturity.

There are so many questions, and those above are just the tip of the iceberg. This is a new F1 season feeling, but this time it is all-new. The shakeup in the regulations means that we can’t call anything. And that’s more than okay. Sit back, enjoy this season and join us on AJontheLine for all of the biggest talking points.

He's back! - How somebody posting a photo from the Grand Canyon nearly broke the internet

If you hadn't heard, the Abu Dhabi Grand at the end of last year's enthralling F1 season was a little bit controversial. Lewis Hamilton was dominant. However, Max Verstappen stole the race and the championship on the final lap thanks to some weird decisions from race control. 

Whatever your opinion - check Twitter, there are many - Lewis Hamilton was left heartbroken and "disillusioned". He had lost the championship that would elevate him to undisputed 'greatest of all time' status through no fault of his own. The other elephant in the room was that the FIA needed to ensure that never such a thing would happen again. 

Hamilton's team, Mercedes, protested the race result - a protest rejected by the FIA. Mercedes then appealed this before retracting the appeal, given that it knew the FIA would be the ones "marking its own homework," and there isn't much satisfaction in winning a championship in court. Mercedes did say, though, that the FIA needed to make changes.

The intriguing thing throughout all of this was the complete silence from Lewis Hamilton. He only spoke briefly after the race to congratulate Verstappen. He appeared in public twice to be knighted and celebrate Mercedes' team championship win. 

Silence is powerful.

The muteness accompanied by rumours of retirement has been the biggest talking point in the F1 community since then. The driver, who is arguably bigger than F1, may have been pushed away by the sport that he loves and to which he has given everything. 

But then, on Saturday evening, up pops Lewis on Instagram and Twitter, posting a photo of him turning and smiling at the camera in a desert. The caption: "I've been gone. Now I'm back!".

To say that this post caused a stir would be an understatement. It was the trending topic on Twitter, it made a Sky News bulletin, and t received more interaction than Max Verstappen's world championship celebration post. Yes, it's all a bit silly. But what does this all mean?

On the surface, it appears that Lewis Hamilton is not retiring, which is great news for Formula One, British sport and the world in general. You want the best in the world doing what they are the best at - otherwise, it feels a little bit like a waste.

Below the surface will be more intriguing. Lewis was said to have needed some assurances from the FIA before committing to another season in F1. So what deal has been agreed? 

Firstly, changes would need to be made in the FIA, as we have already said - this is a world-class sport and cannot be run by primarily ammeters. Many people call for Michael Masi, the race director, to be sacked, but I don't think that is helpful. As obtuse as he was immediately after the race in Abu Dhabi, he was put under extreme pressure and needs more support. 

Secondly, I suspect Lewis, like many, would have been calling for the laws of racing to be made clear and consistent. Last season, Max was over the limit and unpunished on multiple occasions. For drivers' safety and the fans' understanding, this needs to be addressed, and Lewis has the bargaining power to have that impact. 

Finally, he may have used his bargaining power to promote the long term goals of Lewis in the sport. F1 is elitist. Despite the 'we race as one' messages, it needs to do more for sustainability and be more accessible for competitors of all backgrounds. I wonder whether Lewis has encouraged a more effective strategy in this direction. 

Let me be clear. Lewis' silence was not simply a calculated move to change the sport. He was hurt, so taking time away from the public eye will have been extremely healthy and necessary after that draining season. The way that Lewis conducts himself and speaks this season will be fascinating. And his pursuit of title number 8, which he understandably feels should be his, will be enthralling to watch.

I am buzzing for F1 2022, and I hope you are too. Join us on AJontheLine for every twist and turn.

BIG NEWS: I’m taking on the London Marathon

This is a different blog post from what I usually put on AJontheLine. Rather than telling you my thoughts on other people's sporting journeys, this one is about my own.

Like you, I am human, and we all have our strengths and challenges. One of my challenges is called Optic Atrophy. Yes, I know, I hadn't heard of it either. In layman's terms, I have a poor signal between my eyes and my brain. This makes the quality of what I see closer to a TV set from the 80s than the high definition that most people see. Just to answer the inevitable question, glasses and laser eye surgery won't make it better. 

In reality, I am incredibly fortunate. I am not entirely blind, I have supportive family, friends and colleagues, and I live in a part of the world and time in history where there are the tools available to make normal life more accessible to me. 

The Royal National Institute for Blind People (RNIB) is one reason that I and so many others are lucky. It is a charity pushing to remove barriers that people with sight-loss may face. This might be through counselling support, the creation of talking books, or in my case, making books available electronically for studies. 

I believe that I have a responsibility to inspire, unite and excite. That is why I have done the projects and pursued the goals that I have achieved this far. Whether coaching tennis,  running or making a podcast and blog, I have pushed myself and others to be better and show the world that positivity can overcome anything. 

I've got big goals. 

A goal that I have had for eleven years, since seeing my friend, Dave Bottomer, achieve it, has been to complete the London Marathon. In 2022, I am thrilled to be making that happen as a part of team RNIB.

The marathon takes place in October, but my competitive nature means that the training is already underway. This is because I am focused on achieving two objectives. Firstly, I am aiming at breaking the three-hour barrier. Secondly, and more importantly, I aim to raise £2,000 for the RNIB charity to change people's lives for the better.

I really appreciate you reading this piece. And I would be incredibly grateful if you could go to the link below, donate what you can and share what I am doing. 

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ajfortheblind 

#AJfortheBlind

Quality vs Quantity: Are we watching the Premier League and Formula One reach their limit?

A few months ago, I wondered aloud whether holding major sporting events like the Olympics and World Cup on a more regular basis would be a good idea. I decided that other than it working nicely from a commercial perspective, it was a bad idea. 

News stories floating around during this festive period have pointed towards two of the most talked-about sports in recent weeks - at least in the UK - reaching their limits. What’s going on, what are the potential ramifications, and how do I see it ending?

Good news! COVID-19 might save the Premier League from itself

It’s ironic that in a week that has heard Premier League managers complain of the intense schedule for players, Manchester United played their first game in sixteen days. English football finds itself in a difficult position. Teams are committed to league games, the two domestic cups and European club competitions (between which players might play for their country). Annoyingly, COVID outbreaks mean that clubs cannot play due to a lack of players. 

English football is unusual in Europe’s top leagues in two ways: it has no winter break and still has two domestic cup competitions. Yes, it’s great to watch loads of games, but if the games cannot be played, delaying them will undoubtedly lead to further flooding downstream. Klopp and his Manchester City rival, Pep Guardiola, have used the same word to describe the impact of the high workload players face. Guardiola says it’ll ‘kill the players’, and Klopp says it’ll ’kill the beautiful game’. Either way, the top league in world football is at a crossroads and must make changes to continue its success. 

You may scoff at this. Football players are paid extraordinary amounts and have world-leading medical science on their side. True. But they are human, and we all need breaks. While COVID outbreaks this winter will probably cause issues later in this season’s schedule. Hopefully, the problems will be so much so that it leads to positive change to help sustain the Premier League’s position as number one globally.

It’s not just the superstars that suffer

COVID-19 has meant that F1 has done 39 races in 18 months, which is a lot. Once again, the pandemic has highlighted issues in the sustainability of the sporting setup.

Autosport published a fascinating article last week that gave an insiders’ perspective from an anonymous mechanic in F1, speaking of the mental and physical challenges faced by team members during a gruelling season on the road. F1’s desire to increase the number of races on its calendar and increase competition through cost caps has led to team members with the most demanding jobs working more without getting much more in return. 

The result is that more team members than ever are giving up on the sport that they love. Like the Premier League, F1 is considered the pinnacle of motorsport and thus, attracts the best in the business, leading to more greatness. If the demands of the sport start to drive the best in the world away, these competitions may find themselves in a dangerous and vicious circle. 

Are changes coming?

The first episode of Netflix’s Drive to Survive is named ‘Cash is King’. That might help give us an answer to the above question. The leaders of a sport will make decisions based on money because they are businesses. Call me a pessimist, but it’s true. There must be a way in which positive changes can come. For example, intelligent decision-making could allow for more sporting events to lead to more employment, with greater rotation of people avoiding widespread burnout.

I don’t claim to have all of the answers, but as long as these leagues are considered the best and have the best people involved, they will continue down this path of quantity. As soon as the quality starts walking away, no longer wanting to play, that is when changes will come. But by then, it may be too late. The people that made the league what it was are no longer there. 

The European Super League may not have been as far-fetched as it initially sounded.

Sustainability in sport is vital for a whole host of reasons. It is also crucial that we push the limits and change sports to make them even better - that is what all great entertainment businesses must do. However, if we can learn anything from the last two years, it is this: sports must know their limits or risk losing it all. And that’s easier said than done.

Happy New Year from everyone at AJontheLine.

Britain’s love affair with losers has helped Lewis’ UK popularity - but at what cost?

Last week, from the train to the pub to the water cooler (if they are even safe nowadays), the world was talking about Formula One. As somebody who had watched, talked about and introduced people to F1 since I was seven, the lead up to the weekend was many emotions. Mostly pride. 

Sadly, F1 has a habit of shooting itself in the foot. Last weekend, it chose a rocket launcher, forgetting meritocracy in pursuit of drama and creating controversy in the final laps of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - listen to more on that here. 

As the world watched on, the victim of Sunday's cock up was Sir Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion led 57 and a half of the 58 laps of the final race in which he needed to win to become champion. In the penultimate lap, decision-making by the Race Director (referee) gave Max Verstappen the advantage that he needed to overtake Hamilton and snatch the championship. Did Max deserve the championship? Yes. Should Lewis have been the champion? Unquestionably.

This week, F1 has been on the news and trending on social media, with a public outcry for an apparent injustice within the meritocratic realm of sport. From Piers Morgan to Samual L Jackson, the world was upset on Hamilton's behalf. The 'next goal wins' analogy has been thrown around and is a great way to describe what people who love F1 as much as I still don't understand. 

“What people love even more is seeing a champion fall, which is what happened on Sunday.”

People love a young champion who defies odds to represent their people on the world stage. Lewis Hamilton has been that and more for the past 15 years. What people love even more is seeing a champion fall, which is what happened on Sunday.

This wasn't a fall from grace or a question of being outclassed by a young buck. Lewis Hamilton has what it took to take on Max Verstappen in what is widely agreed to have been a minimally inferior car. Moreover, a broken Hamilton congratulated the Verstappen camp, losing with the dignity many would have not blamed him for putting to one side. Lewis' sportsmanship in the face of adversity was almost as awe-inspiring as the audacity required by the Race Director to break his own rules. 

“However, that pessimism might well have been the reason that the British public has never really taken to arguably their greatest sporting champion.” 

One of the first blog posts I wrote talked about how Britain's negativity niggled with its success in a sporting arena. By no means did the UK's pessimistic mentality impact the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. However, that pessimism might well have been the reason that the British public has never really taken to arguably their greatest sporting champion. 

Something changed on Sunday. The outcry in this country for the injustice (yes, I know there are more significant problems in the world) was massive. On top of this, you never heard anyone criticising Hamilton - something that has become the norm. But how could you? The guy has done everything, from driving to sportsmanship, perfectly. For once, there wasn't really a way that the media could spin it in a way that would make Lewis look bad. Like the England team in the Euros this summer, he had looked destined to win until it fell apart cruelly in the closing minutes. 

“But what impact has this daylight robbery had on the British superstar, who we forget is still a human?”

While he lost the championship, Lewis Hamilton seems to have finally won some British hearts. But what impact has this daylight robbery had on the British superstar, who we forget is still a human?

Lewis hasn't been on social media all week, he chose not to go to the FIA prize-giving gala and, other than the interview that he did immediately after the race before going to the podium, he has not done any interviews. He returned to his team's headquarters to celebrate Mercedes' team championship victory on Friday. Oh, and he got knighted at Windsor Castle on Wednesday. So it's been quite a week. 

He has no obligation to talk about the pain he may feel as he processes last weekend in his own time. However, it means that we can only glean information about his state of mind from what those close to him have said. His boss, Toto Wolff, is an excellent example of this. And probably the only one too. 

In a media session following Mercedes' decision not to take the Sunday's events to court, Wolff explained that neither he nor Lewis would ever get over the pain and stress. While this may sound dramatic from the outside, it makes you think. Imagine you have dedicated your life to something. You have plenty of other things that you could be pursuing. Still, your passion for that something is so great that you reach the verge of becoming the undisputed greatest. At that moment, the world watches on, and through no fault of your own, somebody changes the rules to let someone else beat you. 

“Changes are required in F1 if it wants to keep Lewis Hamilton and the spotlight that he brings.”

I fear that F1's biggest asset and ambassador is disillusioned. You wouldn't blame Lewis for walking away. However, you wouldn't blame him for living up to the 'bad loser' image that so many Britons seem to have of him when he lost on Sunday. Changes are required in F1 if it wants to keep Lewis Hamilton and the spotlight that he brings.

2022…

So long as he is mentally healthy and enjoying himself, I hope, and I believe that Lewis Hamilton will return next year. Worryingly for his competition, he is going to be stronger too. As we saw in Brazil this year, when his back is against the wall, that is when he shines the brightest. You then have to factor in Max Verstappen, who will be his biggest challenge next season, now armed with the experience of fighting for a championship. Let's not forget that significant changes are coming in terms of the cars, hopefully bringing them closer. With such changes, you can't rule Ferrari or McLaren out. All four drivers for those teams are top operators, but, for me, Charles Leclerc is the real deal.  

So while the final chapter of 2021 may be filled with controversy, do not despair with Formula One. If we had stopped watching football after Maradona's 'hand of God' intervened, we would have missed magical moments that include Lionel Messi. Like life, sport is unfair, injustice and can stab you in the back no matter how much love you show it. But with troughs come incredible peaks - I am grateful not to have missed Hungary, USA and Brazil, this year.

I can't guarantee another winner takes all decider, like this season. However, all being well, we will see the best driver on the planet fighting it out - this time, with more than two going for the championship. You wouldn't want to miss that. 

2021 has been a season for the ages, and I already can't wait for 2022. See you then.

Listen to the AJontheLine F1 2021 Season Review - out soon.

Turkish GP Race Report: World Porridge Day

On World Porridge Day, it was only fitting that Valtteri Bottas took a commanding victory in a cold and slippery Turkish Grand Prix. After all, porridge and coffee are what he puts his pace down to. 

These were conditions made for a man from Finland, who brushed off pressure from the wet weather specialist who is Max Verstappen. He wasn’t, however, the fastest in qualifying. Lewis Hamilton would have been on pole position were it not for the decision to change a part of his engine to alleviate any reliability concerns. But that didn’t matter. Valtteri wasn’t on pole for the same reason in Italy, so it was his time to shine. And he did just that.

The top three of Bottas, Verstappen and Leclerc stayed in formation for most of the race, with each driver comfortable enough to hold off the next. The exciting part of the race was going on behind them in the form of Lewis Hamilton and below them in the form of the wet track. 

Starting 11th after his groin penalty, Hamilton slowly but surely slices through the field, remaining conservative to not have a crash while Verstappen, his main rival for the championship, was ahead. Hamilton’s Mercedes was the fastest on the track, but he couldn’t make use of it for two reasons. He lost time looking for a way past slower cars such as Tsunoda and, consequently, eroded his tyres at a much higher rate than those at the front. 

A pivotal moment came when Hamilton caught Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez. The Mexican driver gave it his all to keep Hamilton behind and succeeded with some incredible defensive driving. This was hard and fair racing, right on the edge, reminiscent of Hamilton’s battle with Jenson Button in 2010 and the highlight of the race. It was critical for the championship too because it gave Bottas and Verstappen the chance to pit for fresh tyres ahead and secure second position. 

Soon after, Perez pitted, freeing Hamilton into fourth position. Of the leaders, it was just Hamilton and Leclerc not to have stopped for new tyres. It looked as if they could hold on, as though Leclerc could win and Hamilton could take fourth. But as the laps went on, the tyre life dropped off, allowing Bottas to retake the lead and causing Leclerc to abort the mission for fresher tyres. 

Mercedes, at this point, had already called Hamilton into the pit lane to avoid a similar story. However, the Brit had disregarded the call, believing that staying out would be the bolder but ultimately better decision to take third. Conservatism, however, prevailed, and eventually, Hamilton listened to Mercedes’ call to bring him in. This lost Hamilton places to Perez and Leclerc and a release of frustration over the radio by Hamilton. He would finish fifth, losing 8 points to Verstappen and falling 6 points behind in the championship - sub-optimal but better than a DNF due to an engine failure.

Happier were Ferrari and, in particular, Carlos Sainz. They outscored and outperformed their title rivals McLaren, despite the Spaniard of Sainz starting the race from the back with an engine penalty of his own. The fight for third in the Constructors Championship will be close, and McLaren will be nervous. 

Weekend Awards

Biggest Winner - Valtteri Bottas

Biggest Loser - Pierre Gasly

Moment of the Weekend - Hamilton vs PereZ

Honourable Mention - Ferrari
AJontheLine Line of the Week - I TOLD YOU (Lewis Hamilton)

The Turkish Grand Prix was no thriller, despite the rain. However, it was a tense and critical twist in the title fight, with many talking points. For analysis and an explanation on my choices for these awards, listen to our latest AJontheLine podcast, which will be out in the coming days.

Game Changer: Emma Radacanu

On Saturday 11th September, the sports world, and even those outside of it, watched with bated breath. It was the Women’s US Open final in Flushing Meadows, but no Williams sister or Osaka was in sight. Inspiring though these titans of the women’s game they may be, our imaginations were captivated by the fact that this was an all-teenager final. 

For reference, the US Open is one of the four biggest tennis tournaments in the world. It’s a championship that everyone wants to win, and somehow, two of the youngest competitors had pushed their more experienced and accomplished counterparts aside. Britain’s 18-year-old, Emma Raducanu, and Canadas 19-year-old, Leylah Fernandez, had made it to the first of what will surely be many final dances.

This was special. 

Canada being slightly closer to New York than Britain, Fernandez had more of the crowd on side. Radacanu, less so, but she spoke with purpose and maturity beyond her years. This steely determination meant that Radacanu could get through to win the final. It wasn’t without a fight. Fernández made her work for it over the two hours, with the first set on a knife-edge for a while and Radacanu slipping and hurting leg in the final moments. 

There genuinely was blood, sweat and tears.

Whoever you were supporting, this was a victory for Women’s tennis and Women’s sport. The fact that the Women’s final attracted 17% more viewers than the Men’s final at the US Open demonstrates the ripple that these girls made. The likes of Billie Jean King have created the path for the likes of Emma and Layla to play in their own right. Still, inequality continues to exist in tennis and sport in general. Moments like this can be pivotal in forcing change, so let’s not stay quiet about it.

Let us not forget either the message behind this. Just because someone is young or less experienced doesn’t mean that they cannot achieve incredible things. Whatever you do, help your team grow and see what you can learn from them. 

The simplest things can spur us on. Emma Radacanu lost her AirPods in the changing rooms early during the tournament. She and her team used the tournament as motivation so that Emma could use the prize money to buy a new pair. How many pairs do you reckon she could have bought? 

Emma’s story isn’t over, and nor is yours. Even if it’s not winning a grand slam, sport can inspire, unite and excite us to do great things, so let’s go and do just that.

Well done Emma.

3 Things to look out for as the 2021 F1 season resumes

F1 in 2021 has been scintillating so far. This year is one for the ages, with past legends returning to glory, new stars rising, and one of the fiercest battles for the championship ever. And we are only half of the way through. Here are the three things that you need to watch out for, from the end of the summer break in Belgium to the curtain falling with a chequered flag in Abu Dhabi. 

The Driver Market

‘Silly Season’ has begun - it’s time for those without contracts to sort out what they are doing next year. In this game of musical chairs, the music tends to stop once the most competitive seat is taken. Toto Wolff, therefore, has control of the pause button - when he decides between Valtteri Bottas and George Russell, the puzzle will fall into place. Who will he pick? Most think Russell and I tend to agree. 

If that’s the case, Bottas will be in high demand. There only seems to be spaces at Williams and Alfa Romeo, two of the least competitive teams this year. Will the Finn take a risk on the regulation changes next year, shaking up the grid, or will he call it a day in F1 and go rallying? Perhaps the answer to that question will impact the future of another Finn, Kimi Raikkonen. Or perhaps not. I sense that this, sadly, will be his last season in F1. New talent will join F1 next year, and there is plenty to choose from. I can see Nick De Vries going to Williams and Callum Ilott joining Alfa Romeo if there is room at an inn. 

When will Toto make the call? Will he leave it late to avoid a demotivated Bottas, or will he announce it early to give his driver time to find a new employer? I suspect Russell’s contract has been signed already, but it won’t be announced until Bottas’ future is sorted.

The Ferrari Resurgence

From what I hear, Ferrari has an engine upgrade on the way, just in time for Belgium and, crucially for them, Italy. The Prancing Horse’s engine being pegged back was why Ferrari lost so much ground to their rivals in 2020, so any improvements for Ferrari may allow them to catch McLarens and even the Mercedes and Red Bulls. 

Ferrari has shown decent pace in the first half of the season, but a tendency to go through their tyres too quickly has held them back. Despite these issues, Ferrari could have won in Monaco and Silverstone. F1 needs Ferrari at the sharp end of the grid. If the Scuderia can get their act together, they could add an Italian ingredient to the already exquisite concoction in the battle for Grand Prix victories.

The Title Battle

The bout between the legend of Lewis Hamilton and the pretender that is Max Verstappen has been compelling throughout the season so far, and it doesn't look set to end. We should expect more fireworks between the two drivers and controversy between the two teams. I have already predicted that there will be a coming together at the next race in Spa - you can read or hear more of that in the Hungarian GP report and podcast. 

The drivers' championship is on a knife-edge, making it very difficult to call. If I had to choose one, Hamilton just pips Verstappen - he's rich in championship battle experience, meaning that he will play a better percentage game in however many races remain. You've also got to factor in the looming engine penalties that Red Bull and Verstappen seem destined for. That being said, Mercedes could hit similar trouble as the season goes on. I wonder, too, whether a resurgent Ferrari will take points off the rivals, making the supporting cast just as essential to the conclusion as the protagonists.

Whoever comes out on top in this battle of the ages will deserve the title. We have the pleasure of watching how it unfolds, so enjoy it and come back for more news and views from the other analysts and me as Hamilton vs Verstappen resumes.

Should the Olympics and World Cup take place more often?

Gary Lineker recently tweeted an interesting thought that many have probably had a few times during the summer of an even year (unless there's a pandemic). Should the Olympics and Football World Cup take place on a more frequent basis? 

Utilitarianism is the idea that since humans gain happiness from having certain things, increasing that utility would lead to greater happiness. In our case, Lineker seems to apply this logic to say that since we all seem to enjoy World Cups and Olympic Games, we will surely be better off for having more of these events. While one national treasure might think this, I thought I should consider it from a few different perspectives. Here are my results.

Athletes 

Surely, this is a shut and closed case - players want to play. 

On the one hand, yes. These major sporting events are the most significant moments in athletes' careers. To have more opportunities to compete on the world stage is certainly an attractive opportunity. If an athlete doesn't win or has an injury one year, they don't have to wait as long to have another bite of the cherry. It also means that there is a higher chance of seeing a team or individual at their peak. Many athletes in the Olympics make most of their money through the Olympics, meaning that more Games will likely increase athletes' income.

On the other hand, you have to consider the well-being of athletes. They'll be knackered if they compete throughout the year for their clubs and then for their countries in the summer. Yes, I know it's their job, and they get paid well to be trained for these events, but everyone needs a break and some time with their family.

I sense then that opinions of athletes will be divided. If that is the case, you may have a situation where some athletes don't compete in certain years. Would that take away from the majesty of the events? Potentially. 

Clubs

This is an easier one. We learned more about what clubs really wanted when some of the biggest ones tried to break away with the European Super League. The players they employ are their assets; why would they want them to risk injury while playing for their country in major tournaments? They wouldn’t. I suspect it would be a similar situation for most sports clubs. 

I imagine, also, that for sports without clubs, other competitions, such as the Athletics world championships, will likely oppose the idea that the Olympics may take priority.

Governments 

Countries host major sporting events to promote the nation in the form of soft diplomacy. More of these events mean that more countries can tell the world how great they are and invite them to visit. Naturally, governments will be onboard. 

Except will they? Major sporting events are costly to put on, and they are not always politically popular within the country. The Olympics cost Japan an estimated $15.4 billion. This sort of spending by hosts often results in taxes increasing alongside debt to compensate. 

Major sports events are therefore controversial from a political perspective. In a world where the narrative is perhaps more important than the numbers, possibly more governments would be up for the idea.

Sports fans

I suppose that the general feeling among sports fans will be that of Gary Lineker’s - the more, the merrier. 

However, we will never know the actual perspective of fans until the frequency of major events is increased, by which point, it’ll probably be too late. The biggest issue will be whether events feel as special as they do now. Fan satisfaction will be directly proportional to athlete involvement. If the superstars don’t turn up, neither will spectators. I can also imagine that, due to the expense, the fans that travel to every tournament will be less able to afford to travel the world as frequently. If the fans don’t go to the stadiums, the profits for the host nation will be less handsome. But does the high interest in Tokyo 2020 on television, despite a lack of capacity crowds, show that fans may still be interested in global sporting events with fewer live fans? Maybe. I think it would be a considerable risk.

Football-wise, I think we are set with a World Cup and then a Continental Cup every two years, but I could see another Olympic Games being a success. A Winter Olympics might be good, where winter sports are competed instead. Oh, wait… 

My Verdict

I believe that the way things are is perfectly fine. These major sporting events are special, and I don’t see a reason to change that. What I do think, though, is that more sports being added to the Olympics and increasing the length of the Games would bring even more interest. Naturally, I am drawn to motorsport being added, with track racing in the summer and rallying in the winter. I also don’t know why Cricket, American Football or Squash aren’t part of the schedule either. What else am I missing?

Also, you’ve got the Commonwealth Games, which are essentially a semi Olympics, so adding more would be frankly mad.

Never mind all of that, though. It’s easy to point out the flaws. The Olympic Games left us wanting more, and that’s a true sign of a successful summer in Tokyo. 

Leave a comment below to let me know what you think - should we have more frequent Olympic Games and World Cups?

Hungarian GP Report: Sacre Bleu!

The Hungarian Grand Prix was being hyped up after the title-defining British Grand Prix, and I was concerned that it wouldn't live up to it. However, like a chocolate brownie, the battle of Budapest is impossible to overrate and delivered again. With a first time winner, crazy weather, a comeback drive, battles between the best and underdogs succeeding, this race had it all. 

Lewis Hamilton started from pole position after a scintillating lap in qualifying, giving him his 101st pole position. Behind Hamilton was his teammate Bottas, and then the two Red Bull's, who were seeking revenge after last time out. Drama on the horizon? Surely.

How do you complicate a Grand Prix? A downpour of rain just before the start of the race, of course. That's precisely what happened. Tension built, and when the lights went out, there was minimal grip. It was anybody's race.

Hamilton got away well but, his rear gunner certainly didn't. Verstappen, Norris and Perez all muscled their way through, but in a bid to make up the places, Bottas braked later than those ahead. Unfortunately, it was ambition ahead of the physics of friction. The Fin sailed into the back of Norris, leading to several drivers either being knocked out of the race or heavily damaged. Crucially for the championship, Verstappen was one of those who took on significant damage. 

Bottas was out.

Perez was out.

Norris was out.

And so too was the red flag.

As the drivers emerged from the pit lane, they were still on wet weather tyres, but the track had dried much quicker than anyone had predicted. Who was going to take the risk to pit for dry tyres and lose track position? As it turned out, everyone. Everyone except for the race leader Lewis Hamilton. Incredibly, Hamilton was the only one to line up on the grid. He had to race around the track and then pit on his own while everyone else, all on the right tyres, went past him. After avoiding all of the drama at the start, Hamilton was last.

So who led now? George Russell - I'm not joking, but only for a few corners before he was told to let these that he'd overtaken in the pit lane past. Somehow, Estaban Ocon was leading from Vettel, with Williams' Latifi in third. The championship protagonists of Hamilton and Verstappen were out of the points. 

If Lewis Hamilton was going to win his 100th Grand Prix, he would need to pull out one of his best ever performances. After making his way past the Alfa Romeos and Mick Schumacher, he pitted to undercut Verstappen and, crucially, Daniel Ricciardo with a brilliant move around the outside of the Aussie driver at turn 1. This allowed him to push into the clean air and get up to fifth position, but he was stuck behind the one-stopping Carlos Sainz on fresher tyres.

Ahead, Alonso led while Ocon and Vettel pitted. Given the searing pace of his out lap, Vettel should have taken the lead. However, his slow pit stop was enough to allow Ocon to remain ahead - just. 

Hamilton's tyre charge had allowed him to close in on Fernando Alonso for the battle that we all wanted to see for fourth position. Oh, and it did not let us down. The ten lap battle was pure, clean and hard racing. That was what it looked like to see the two most outstanding of their respective generations battling it out. Alonso may have just turned 40, but he still has it. He also won the race for Estaban Ocon. Alonso's defence meant that Hamilton only had three laps to catch and pass the two leaders by the time the Brit got through Alonso and Carlos Sainz for third. While he was only two seconds off the lead, it was enough. 

Estaban Ocon also spent 70 laps in the race lead with Sebastian Vettel, a four-time champion, pressuring him. Ocon is the guy that beat Verstappen in Formula 3. He's the guy who got dropped from F1 for a year. The Frenchman comes from humble beginnings, and now he is a Grand Prix winner for a French team in Alpine. To say he deserved that win is an understatement. 

More than half on the grid are now race winners in F1. I think that speaks of the incredible era of Grand Prix racing that we live in. 

Following the race, heart-breaking news arrived in the form of a Seb Vettel disqualification - his car didn't have enough fuel remaining in the car for a sample. Unfortunately, that's a slam dunk. Vettel was a champion on and off the track. Along with Hamilton, he fought against the proposed law that threatens the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary. Love is love. And we love Seb.

Further back, Verstappen managed to rescue two points for ninth position - incredible given that he was driving with so much damage. To the delight of many, the Williams pair of Latifi and Russell managed to bag a remarkable ten points to get them above Haas and Alfa Romeo in the championship. Finally, Russell has scored some points for Williams. His tears following the race showed what that meant to him. 

Biggest Winner: Lewis Hamilton

Going into Silverstone with a 33-point deficit to Verstappen and then coming out of Hungary, two races later, with an eight-point advantage, has to be a win for Hamilton. 

Lewis was lucky that Max got caught up in the pandemonium that was turn one. Still, he made that luck by qualifying on pole and was unfortunate to lose so many positions with the fast-drying track at the restart. Either way, it was a storming drive back to what is now second. He drove his heart out and will deserve a break in the championship lead.

Biggest Loser: Valtteri Bottas

Bottas had a tremendous weekend until he threw out the anchors too late at turn one. But the mistake could be integral for his future.

A stellar driver from Russell will be vital in helping his cause for the Mercedes seat next season. Especially when he is compared to Bottas, who was playing a game of ‘bowling’ at turn one, to quote Charles Leclerc. Ouch.

Moment of the Weekend: Lewis Hamilton vs Fernando Alonso 

It was the battle that got me into Formula One - King Lewis vs Rey Fernando. It was tense, it was exciting and vital for the race winner. Neither would give in, and it looked like a stalemate until Alonso made a slight mistake at turn one. You can’t give Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso an opportunity like that. Alonso is in the top four drivers on the grid for me.

Honourable Mention: Estaban Ocon 

He won! Arguably, Estaban should be the biggest winner, and I imagine Jimmy or Joe will rightly argue so. I didn’t choose him because I wanted to look at the big picture. Nevertheless, to hold off Sebastian Vettel for almost the whole race is remarkable. Ocon is underrated, and now he has led more laps than all but Hamilton and Verstappen this year. Let us also not forget that Ocon out-qualified Alonso, despite qualifying just 17th two races ago - what a turnaround that is. 

AJontheLine Line of the Week: 

Daniel Ricciardo: F***

David Croft (Commentator): Sorry for Daniel’s language.

Nico Rosberg: No, but it was the right word.

 Martin Brundle is a world-class commentator, and I always miss his voice when he isn’t there - I know I’m not the only one. However, it was less difficult this weekend when his replacement was the one and only, straight-talking Nico Rosberg. He offered brilliant insight all weekend, and on Saturday, his inner racing driver came out, and it was very amusing.

Well, there is your chocolate brownie of a Grand Prix - probably the best race of the season. Our hunger for F1 will ramp up now with a four-week summer break until Belgium. At least silly season will keep us occupied. Will Lewis Hamilton’s new teammate be announced? I’ll let you know.

Listen to the Hungarian GP Review Podcast on AJontheLine, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

British GP Report 2021: “It takes two to tango”

The British Grand Prix is always a momentous occasion, with its classic track boasting some of the world's fastest and most challenging corners flowing through the sea of emotion that is one of the most passionate crowds in sport. I'm bias - I know. This year, the weekend had it all: a trial format that worked well, moments of brilliance from all of the home drivers and an era-defining race that had us on the edge of our seats (and often off them) from lights to flag. 

Friday saw the teams go straight from a late practice one into an evening qualifying. This was a fantastic way to get people excited on a Friday and allow people to get home from work to watch. The event didn't disappoint. We had George Russell being cheered around the lap to qualify a remarkable 8th position and Lewis Hamilton shocking Red Bull by snatching pole position with a remarkable lap. The energy was already high, and that's what we all love to see.

Saturday was the day of the 17-lap sprint qualifying race, which would decide the starting order for Sunday's Grand Prix. The championship leader, Max Verstappen, managed to beat Lewis Hamilton off the line to take the lead and eventual win. But the star of Saturday was Fernando Alonso, who managed to climb from 11th to 5th position in the first lap. While he did drop places to the two McLaren drivers, that lap showed that he's still got it, and  7th was a great starting position for Sunday's Grand Prix.

Speaking of Sunday, explosive would probably be the best word. 

When the lights went out, the battle between the seasoned champion Hamilton and young star Verstappen was awesome. You felt like there was something in the air. Dicing and banging wheels, the crowd were roaring as the two went head to head. As they headed towards the high-speed Copse corner, Hamilton dummied left and pulled alongside Verstappen on the right. Verstappen squeezed Hamilton against the wall, nobody yielded, Verstappen turned in, and the result was inevitable. The cars collided. Verstappen flew into the tyre barrier, and Hamilton continued, albeit in second position as the incident allowed Charles Leclerc to seize the lead. 

Who was to blame? I believe that it was a racing incident. If nobody goes for a gap in a race, then no overtakes will happen. Neither driver pulled out. Therefore, they were both responsible. Max's crash was a big enough penalty, and so Hamilton received a ten-second penalty. Listen to more on that on the podcast.

Out came a red flag and a race restart beckoned. 

Charles Leclerc is arguably as good a driver as Max Verstappen. He showed it on Sunday in his less competitive Ferrari, controlling the race brilliantly, leading for fifty laps. 

Meanwhile, Hamilton dropped back to fourth position but had been pumping in scintillating laps to catch the Monegasque. The champion overtook Norris at Copse, was waved by Bottas. He threw it down the inside of Leclerc on the penultimate lap, snatching the lap to a roar on home soil. 

It was one of the drives of the season from Leclerc and heart-breaking for him not to have won for an Italian team in England - a rare occurrence.

Bottas followed Hamilton and Leclerc home for the podium, with the McLarens of Norris and Ricciardo scoring a solid fourth and fifth. Sadly Russell dropped back out of the points, but some great drives by Alonso, Tssanoda and Stroll also saw them in the points. 

Is the British Grand Prix the best race in the world? It's hard to argue otherwise.

Biggest Winner: The F1 title fight

While Lewis Hamilton is an obvious contender for this award, winning at his home track for the eighth time and catching Verstappen in the championship a significant amount, he is still behind. I believe that this race and that incident are crucial in bringing the two drivers closer together on points, heating the ferocious rivalry between them. Max is uncompromising, and Lewis will be smart but not bullied.

Biggest Loser: Christian Horner

I would say that those who racially abused Lewis Hamilton during and following the Grand Prix are the biggest losers, but that would be going easy on their vile behaviour. They can sod off, and social media companies must do better.

Christian Horner was the biggest loser this weekend. His emotional reaction to the crash showed the signs of a team that had just lost 25 points in their lead, had their car written off and driver involved in a 51 G accident. It was scary, and the most important thing is that Max is okay. Nevertheless, Red Bull’s defence of Max’s part in the crash became an attack on Lewis Hamilton’s sportsmanship or right to celebrate winning his home Grand Prix. Naturally, they were upset, but those people that know Formula One know that Lewis Hamilton has won in a fair way for almost 15 years. Unfortunately,  the word that Horner continued to use, ‘desperate’, was what he appeared on Sunday. As for his argument that you can’t overtake at Copse, Lewis Hamilton took the race lead at the same corner. The difference was that Charles Leclerc gave racing room to avoid an incident.

Moment of the Weekend: George Russell’s Friday night flyer

There were many stand out montes, and the incident between the two main championship protagonists was perhaps the moment of the year.  

A special moment was watching George Russell driving a lap in Q3 on his own around Silverstone being cheered the whole way around the lap. What was more was that he qualified in eighth - staggering given that he is in the ninth fastest car. The guy is undoubtedly a future world champion. Even I am beginning to think that his move to Mercedes will need to be this year, even if it will give Mercedes a big headache in the next couple of years.

Honourable Mention: Charles Leclerc

Charles has been on it all weekend, qualifying in P4 and finishing the sprint race in the same position. He took the opportunist move into the lead when the gap arrived following Hamilton and Verstappen’s clash, Allowing him to start from pole after the red flag. While many might have thought Hamilton would dash past, Leclerc held the lead and created a comfortable gap. He led 50 out of 52 laps and showed his composure and racecraft to be up there with the best. Is Charles better than Max? Not yet, but I believe he can be and will be when Ferrari create a proper challenger.

AJontheLine Line of the Week: “I won’t be bullied”

I loved Toto Wolf’s request to Michael Masi that the F1 race director checked his emails as Mercedes had sent him something of interest. But the line of the week has to be from Lewis Hamilton, who said that he wouldn’t let Max bully him. Lewis winning this battle against Max, who tends to get his way due to his aggressive reputation, is what caused such anger at Red Bull. Still, it could change the way that Max sees racing with Lewis. F1 is a fascinating mental game, and I love it.

So, next up, Budapest. I believe that Red Bull and Ferrari will be better suited to the track than Mercedes but is Lewis in Max’s head? Follow the action in 2 weeks to find out.

Styrian GP Report: Like an old friend

After the double-header in Austria that kicked off the 2020 season, the Red Bull Ring feels like an old friend to which to return. And maybe the familiarity was a reason for the unspectacular race. There is still plenty to discuss, though, so here’s your race report.

It seems as clear as a window now that Red Bull has made a step forward with their straight-line speed, leaving Mercedes behind. Max Verstappen was supreme all weekend, dominating in practice, storming to pole position in qualifying and walking away with it on race day.

Mercedes had a weekend similar to their race in France or an experience you may have in a museum - they weren’t far from Red Bull, but they couldn’t get close enough to touch them. This upturn in Red Bull pace is putting the world champions under pressure, leading to silly things like Valtteri Bottas spinning in the pit lane during practice. The spin gave the Finn a three-place grid penalty, which dropped him to fifth after he had initially qualified ahead of his teammate Hamilton. 

That meant that Verstappen and Hamilton started in front and drove off into the distance as they usually do. Lando Norris’ brilliant qualifying meant that he was in third position and a roadblock for Perez and Bottas. Perez did get through on the first lap, but Norris swept back around the outside with a bold move. Eventually, the number two drivers did get past before Bottas capitalised on a slow Red Bull pit stop to take third position. However, it was too late for them to catch Verstappen and Hamilton, who were already almost half a minute up the road.

Further back, Charles Leclerc was clumsy and drove into Pierre Gasly’s rear wheel as they jostled for position. This caused arguably the biggest drama of the race as a helpless Gasly tried in vain to avoid his competitors before retiring from the race. Leclerc needed to pit and then spent the rest of the race fighting his way back through the field with some great moves to finish seventh, just behind his teammate, Carlos Sainz.

George Russell was the drover keeping most fans on the edge of their seats as he looked on for his first points finish for Williams with genuinely good pace all weekend. Heart-breakingly, though, engine troubles hit, causing him to lose what would have been at least a ninth-place finish. Sadly, it was another would’ve, could’ve, should’ve situation for the young Brit.

There was no question who the winner was. Max Verstappen extended his lead by a further six points after a brilliant win over Lewis Hamilton, who minimised the pain by taking the fastest lap of the race.

Round 1 of 2 in Austria goes to Red Bull. Fitting, given that they own the circuit.

Biggest Winner: Ferrari 

After a dreadful French Grand Prix, Ferrari outscored their main rivals, McLaren, with a solid P6 and P7 finish. Carlos Sainz was close to catching Lando Norris. You can only wonder what Charles Leclerc could have managed had he not had his scruffy lap one incident. Ferrari needs to ensure that they maximise their performance next weekend at the Austrian Grand Prix because this is encouraging. It’s just a question of whether they can coax the softer tyres home.

Biggest Loser: Pierre Gasly 

Pierre and Alpha Tauri as a whole were on fire this weekend and were it not for his lap one retirement, which wasn’t his fault, I believe Pierre would have been in the fight with Norris and Sainz for fifth position. I predict a strong showing next weekend from Pierre, and I’m looking forward to it.

Moment of the Weekend: George Russell’s brilliance

Another shining light this weekend was George. In another weekend where rumours of him replacing Bottas at Mercedes swirled, George did his reputation no harm by qualifying 11th, narrowly missing out on the top ten shoot out. A penalty for Tsunoda meant that George then started 10th with a free choice of starting tyres. All things pointed to the Brit scoring his first points for Williams with a super start, running comfortably in the top 10. However, engine issues hit, forcing him to retire from the race. Gutting.

Honourable Mention: Hamilton’s save in the race at turn 4 

It was a moment that you may have missed, but Lewis was giving it everything to catch Max in his slower Mercedes, and it was showing. Exiting turn four, the champion ran slightly wide and nearly lost the rear of the car. But like Odell Beckham Jr, Hamilton had a great catch in his locker, and he delivered it.

AJontheLine Line of the week: Valtteri Bottas after his pit lane spin

“How’s the tyre warm-up”

It was a dry piece of Finnish humour that caught my attention. After spinning in the pit lane, most of us would have been rattled but not Valtteri. He inquired about the warm-up of his incident with his tongue firmly in his cheek - the answer: sub-optimal.

So Styria goes to Max but will the potential wet weather spice things up in the same neck of the woods this weekend? Let’s find out together.

Monaco GP 2021 Report: Max masters the streets

The Monaco Grand Prix didn’t set the world alight, but it did throw the championship back open. Here’s all that you need to know about what happened in the streets of Monte Carlo.

In a nutshell…

Saturday is often the most important day during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, with overtaking as easy to come by as a British Summer without rain. Remarkably, it was neither a Mercedes nor a Red Bull to take the all-important pole position. Instead, the hometown hero, Charles Leclerc, snatched the pole on his first run and confirmed it when he crashed heavily in his second run. The reg fall that came out meant that nobody else would set a time, and Leclerc had one hand on Sunday's trophy.

It wasn't meant to be, though. Just minutes before the race, Ferrari confirmed that Charles would not compete in the Grand Prix. This left the door open for Max Verstappen to lead away from the lights to flag. Max and Red Bull's biggest rivals, Mercedes, had a nightmare weekend. They couldn't warm up their tyres, meaning the drivers were as confident as Bambi on ice. A flawed strategy for Hamilton didn't help, but a disastrous pit stop where one of Valtteri Bottas' tyres got stuck to the car was the final straw. Bottas didn't finish, and Hamilton struggled home to seventh. 

Former McLaren teammates, Norris and Sainz, joined Max on the podium with excellent drives. Sergio Perez made the best of his strategy to get from ninth to fourth position, and Sebastian Vettel was the driver of the day with a solid fifth-place finish. 

It wasn't the most exciting race, but it certainly throws open the championship. Bring it on!

Biggest Winner: The Championship

While this race wasn’t one for the ages, it certainly has significant implication for the championship. Max and Red Bull were supreme while others around them crumbled, both deservedly taking control of the championship. Just four points separate Max and Lewis in the points table, and you sense the temperature and tension between the two protagonists rising ever-greater. Red Bull needed to win here and will need to again in Baku due to Mercedes’ traditional strong second half of the season - it’s going to be close, but that’s exactly what we ordered off the menu.

Biggest Loser: Mercedes

Yes, Red Bull were plain quicker Burt Mercedes are usually so good at minimising damage, and this weekend it felt as though they had taken the gun to their own head. It was as bad as it could get for the world champions, which only took home seven points. Bottas’ pit stop was a disaster, and his tyre is probably still attached. At least he had some pace; Hamilton did not and had no confidence in the car. You need belief and track position in Monaco. The early stop strategy ensured that Mercedes and Hamilton had neither. For a team that is so used to winning, wishing for its starting positions of third and seventh to have been the outcome shows all you need to know. Mercedes are the champions, though, and we shouldn’t forget that. They will be back. You can imagine Toto Wolff saying that last sentence in his Austrian accent now. 

Moment of the weekend: Leclerc applauding Sainz’s podium

After Charles Leclerc didn’t make the start of his home Grand Prix from pole position, you wouldn’t have blamed him for heading home for a beer or a mope. Instead, though, he returned to the track to applaud his teammate, Carlos Sainz, who finished on the podium, knowing full-well that he could have won on Sunday. A sceptic would say that he only died this because Netflix was filming Ferrari this weekend. However, I believe that it was genuine. Charles is a through and through Ferrari man and showed class in abundance.

Honourable Mention: Sebastian Vettel

Speaking of class, Sebastian Vettel had his mojo back this weekend, and isn't it great to see? The former world champion converted his second top 10 grid position of the year into his first points finish of the season with a mega fifth position. Monaco is only one, quite weird, race, but this could still be something to build on for the driver and team that almost everyone has been worried about since the season's start. Seb is a great driver. It's nice that he reminded the world that he's still got that spark.

Line of the week: Toto Wolff

“Only Tiny Tweaks on the current car with the main focus on 2022".”

Wolff’s comments here are intriguing more than anything. Is he playing mind games with Red Bull, or are Mercedes really that confident? Based on his team’s performance this weekend, Toto may be regretting these laid back words. However, Wolff doesn’t say things a million miles away from the truth, and Mercedes’ pace advantage in Spain suggests that Monaco could be a blip. The championship is open, and the battle is on and off the track, so let’s wait and see.

Monaco was brilliant, beautiful and, predictably, boring. But that’s okay because we’ve got a championship on our hands. Hamilton vs Verstappen is back on. See you in Baku.

Spanish GP 2021 Report: The king of Spain is a British knight

This weekend in Barcelona, Lewis Hamilton managed to achieve a staggering 100th pole position, beating Max Verstappen by 6 hundredths of a second, establishing himself as F1’s king of Spain. Mightily impressive - and he isn’t done yet.

When the five lights went out on Sunday, though, Verstappen got his elbows out and snatched the lead from Hamilton at the first corner with a bold dive down the inside. Given the difficulty of overtaking at the Circuit de Catalunya, many felt that Verstappen had the race in the bag, and that their roast dinners could be eaten earlier than they had planned. However, Hamilton managed to stay close to the young Dutchman, putting him under immense pressure throughout. A brilliant Mercedes strategy allowed Hamilton to pit for fresher tyres before catching Verstappen in the closing laps to take the win and extend his championship lead.

Hamilton and Verstappen were in a league of their own in this race, as has become the norm. Valtteri Bottas completed the podium in a distant third. A strong fourth-place finish was the best Charles Leclerc could do, despite being ahead of Bottas on lap one. Sergio Perez recovered from a wretched Saturday to finish fifth, pulling off, arguably, the overtake of the day on Daniel Ricciardo with a fantastic dive around the outside. Despite being overtaken by Pérez, McLaren's Aussie driver put in a solid weekend performance to recover from last weekend's woes and finish sixth, beating his teammate.

This Spanish Grand Prix was intriguing by any standards, not least, its own.

Biggest Winner: Charles Leclerc 

Charles showed his class once again on Sunday with a perfect drive, maximising his car's potential. It may be slightly controversial, but the more I see of him, the more I believe that he could be the one to take Lewis' crown at the top of F1 before Verstappen.

Yes, Max is more experienced than Charles. Still, in terms of raw speed, potential and racecraft, there is something about Charles that reminds me of a young Lewis, and I love it.

Biggest Loser: Yuki

For someone who is in their fourth F1 race, you could regard Yuki Tsanoda's sweary outburst and subsequent blaming of the car in qualifying as either brave or naive. He is a talented driver, and many are excited about what he can do but, even if you are the most experienced and successful driver, blaming the team so publicly helps nobody. 

I suspect that some of Yuki's comments were lost in translation as pressure continues to mount upon him. Nevertheless, the team put him in his place, as evidenced by his apologetic Sunday morning interviews, in which you could see his tail between his legs. Yuki is one of the best in the world - but everyone in F1 is the best in the world, so Yuki just needs a little patience and more hard work, and then his time will come.

Moment of the Weekend: Bottas ‘letting by' Hamilton

As Hamilton tore into Verstappen's lead on fresher tyres, he had to close their 22-second gap in as many laps, meaning that he had no time to spare. So, as Lewis came up to the back of Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes asked Valtteri to not hold up his teammate. The Finn had other ideas, though, wanting to run his race, irrelevant of the team orders that he had received. It was ironic that Toto Wolff had complained of Nikita Mazapin's slowness to let Hamilton past minutes before his own drivers were tripping over one another. 

Fortunately for Lewis and Mercedes, the Brit was eating into Max's lead at a rate of 2 seconds per lap and had a similar pace advantage over Bottas. Hamilton breezed past Bottas at the tight and high-speed turn 10, at which nobody else was daring to try an overtake. There were just millimetres in it, but Lewis was through.

It was an odd time, though, for Bottas to start being aggressive. There little point in this, given the deficit in pace, so it felt like a half-hearted subliminal message towards both the Mercedes management and Lewis. I wondered whether this might signal the start of the end of the Bottas-Mercedes relationship. But the reality is that Bottas is still doing the job Mercedes needs him to do, and he would simply be mad to leave what is still one of the best seats in Formula One.

Watch this space.

Honourable Mention: Mercedes' strategists

Last week on the podcast, Joe made the excellent observation that the Red Bull pit crew could always be relied upon to do a tremendous job. I am inspired by Joe - not for the first time, might I add - and I feel that similar praise can be attributed to the Mercedes race strategists. While they are aided by an incredible car and driver combination, Mercedes never ceases to keep everybody, from their opponents to the viewers at home, on their toes. They always seem to choose the correct route to victory - and when they don’t, they find another one. 

Race strategy is a job that many people feel they could do until they stop to think about it. Maybe that's because Mercedes make it look so simple.

AJ on the Line Line of the Weekend: Carlos Sainz - "This Hamilton guy is gonna give us a hard season, I think."

Tongue-in-cheek? Absolutely. 

It always amazes me how insightful and witty drivers can be at high speeds. Carlos didn't let any of us down with this one. With that Hamilton guy on 100 poles and 98 wins, Carlos not far from the truth there either.

So Lewis leaves Spain with a 14 point advantage over Verstappen. Surely Max needs to win the next race - that's easier said than done, though, around the streets of Monaco? Speak to you then.