This week we’re in Azerbaijan. Or as our Fat Controller says, Azkaban, the moniker of the best Harry Potter book and we’re for a treat this weekend with Harry Potter themed tips.. how does F1 x Harry Potter you ask? We’re not too sure either but which ever way you cut it, long live Sirius Black!
Speaking of Sirius Black, do we all agree that Obi-Wan Kenobi is the Sirius Black of the Star Wars universe? Fiercely loyal and moral to a fault, handsome, mysterious, everyone’s favourite. While I’m at it, highly recommend Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+. Beautifully written and shot, Ewan McGregor is truly at career best when stomping around the galaxy far, far away. Episodes drop every Wednesday. Anyway, I digress lol.
Baku. Thank god you’re here. We love you! It was at this circuit merely a year ago that this writer fell in love with formula 1 (I’m a fast learner), as did f1natic family member Amelia Clifford (my second favourite Clifford after Rob. And probably Steve. Oh wait, and Olive) a couple of years earlier.
There’s something divinely bonkers about this track that houses the best of both worlds: tight street circuit sections and long, daunting straights. Tyres magically pop when championship contenders are comfortably leading the race. Seven time world champions miraculously lock up after tense, 11th hour restarts. It’s moto racing sorcery!
But *sigh*. Have we all recovered from the meltdown that was Charles Leclerc’s weekend? I feel so sorry for him, you guys. Why are Ferrari so atrocious at pit stops? How is it that we have come to expect them to just naturally and efficiently shit the bed when they’re faced with even the most minor strategic decision? It really was his to lose, and having qualified fastest at this track last year, I really do hope this weekend is better for ol’ CLC and his team can help him make the most of his fast car and talent to boot.
The winner of this race last year was the winner of our last race: Checo Perez. The loser from last week’s gossip columns: Checo Perez. Turns out this fella is more Slytherin than Hufflepuff. It’s always a sad moment when your fave becomes your problematic fave, but I feel like Red Bull feed off the Voldemort vibes they give off, so it will be interesting to see how they bounce back. Horner is nothing if not cut from the same cloth as Lucius Malfoy.
As for our leaderboard, it’s heating up! One of our New York correspondents, Ellen “E-Dub” Williams, has been mounting a consistent slow-burn of a campaign, and has found herself sitting nicely in third place, behind Jake Drew, who pipped ABJ by a point to win Monaco last week. I’ve been told Jake loves a froffie as much as he loves a cheeky Beef Rendang (which is a lot, as his love for this gorgeous dry curry has now led him to move his life to Malaysia). Delish.
With less than 30 points splitting 3rd and 10th, this season’s still very much fair game so be bold in Baku, baby! Uğurlar, and happy tipping!
HOUSEKEEPING:
Tips are due:
> Melbourne/Sydney/Brisbane: Sunday @ midnight (as in, Saturday night!)
> New York City: Saturday @ 10am
> London: Saturday @ 3pm
> Barcelona: Saturday @ 4pm