After this weekend I just have to take a moment and acknowledge:
Callum Ilott for being so freaking strong after seeing 4 of his friends crash at the same corner in Spa and not taking any bs from random people claiming their entertainment is more important than a life.
Sebastian Vettel for standing up for what he sees as right and just being an ICON for all the young LGBTQ+ kids and even adults watching him walk around freaking Hungary in an array of rainbows and blatant love and support. This man was willing to have his P2 taken away from him because his message of support was worth it. And that’s everything.
Esteban Ocon for never giving up, even when all seemed impossible. That man, whose family believed in him enough to live in a caravan and would take tyres other parents had thrown out after one race and piss everyone off by being the fastest on them and has been cast aside before, he’s finally made it to the coveted top step of the sport — a French driver in a French team with a French engine. Poetry.
Nicholas Latifi and George Russell for sticking with it and getting it done. George, willing to sacrifice his points — his entire race — for Nicky to keep his position. They fought till the very end for that team, and fought as teammates. That shows the love and dedication these guys have for their team through all the bitter lows and near highs and the support they have for each other. Like George said, it’s not about the points. It’s about the team. And in the end, they’ve finally made it.
Jack Aitken for being in such a dreadful accident, the kind that would be sure to make anyone fear even thinking about getting in even a roadcar again, and YET just being so so grateful to everyone supporting him and ready to recover and jump back in the car. All with a broken collarbone, fractured vertebrae, and a lung contusion. But still having that same funky lil smile on his face.
And a bit unrelated but an extra appreciation for every single freaking marshal that goes out there and volunteers to make these races happen, risking life and limb for the sport. My heart goes out to those affected by the tragedy at Brands Hatch. 🧡
After the chaos of the last few weeks, this weekend was a solid reminder of the real reasons we race as one, why we race for something bigger as the FIA says. To make the sport safer, so accidents like the Brands Hatch and Spa ones won’t happen again. To make the sport freer, so those who want to race or work in Motorsport can, regardless of socioeconomic status, gender, sexuality, or race. And to make the sport kinder, where acts of unwavering confidence even in the view of entire governments like Seb’s (and Lewis’s! Remember Breonna Taylor?) or sportsmanship like George and Nicky’s become the norm, not the outliers.
We race as one.
Because sometimes, we actually do.
