<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11953260" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="formula-one" source="Orion">Formula One</keyword> picked up where it left off last year with a dramatic opening race of the 2022 season.</li><li><keyword id="12103104" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ferrari" source="Orion">Ferrari</keyword>'s <keyword id="11975653" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="charles-leclerc" source="Orion">Charles Leclerc</keyword> won the race after an early battle with world champion <keyword id="11953263" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="max-verstappen" source="Orion">Max Verstappen</keyword>.</li></ul><p>Ferrari returned to the top step of the Formula One podium for the first time in 46 races as <a href="https://www.insider.com/charles-leclerc-formula-one-not-a-billionaires-boys-club-2021-7">Charles Leclerc</a> won a dramatic opening race of the 2022 season in Bahrain.</p><p>Leclerc started on pole and led for the entire race, but that does not tell the full story of a frenzied race at the Bahrain International Circuit. The Monaco-native battled with defending <a href="https://www.insider.com/max-verstappen-interview-formula-one-title-race-abu-dhabi-2021-12">world champion Max Verstappen</a>, whose race ended prematurely when he suffered an engine failure with just a handful of laps to go.</p><p>A furious Verstappen, who was in second place at the time, had to retire on lap 54 of the race, yelling at his engineers that he had an issue with his Red Bull car.</p><p>"What is going on with the battery?" — Verstappen asked angrily shortly before his retirement. The issue, however, appeared to be engine-related rather than battery-related, although exactly what went wrong is unclear. </p><p>The same issue befell Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez, who had to retire after spinning and losing power on the final lap of the race.</p><p>Red Bull's misfortunes benefited Ferrari, allowing the Italian team to take a one-two, with Leclerc's Spanish teammate Carlos Sainz finishing second and matching his highest ever finish in F1.</p><p>While Leclerc led for almost the entire race, there was a period early on when Verstappen put him under severe pressure. The Dutchman overtook Leclerc twice at turn one on consecutive laps, but Leclerc was able to regain the place quickly both times, and began to pull away as the race went on.</p><p>A late safety car threatened to change the outcome when Pierre Gasly's AlphaTauri caught fire in <a href="https://www.insider.com/fomula-one-romain-grosjean-once-halo-saved-life-wasnt-necessary-2020-11">almost the exact same spot where Romain Grosjean suffered a fiery wreck in 2020.</a> The safety car bunched the field, giving Verstappen an opportunity to take the lead late on, <a href="https://www.insider.com/lap-by-lap-breakdown-f1-2021-season-finale-max-verstappen-2021-12">just as he did in Abu Dhabi in December 2021.</a></p><p>Leclerc, however, marshaled the restart perfectly, pulling away easily from Verstappen and ultimately securing a comfortable victory, his third in F1 and his first since winning in Italy in 2019. The win was Ferrari's first as a team since Sebastian Vettel won the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix.</p><div type="image" title="Charles Leclerc sprays champagne in celebration after winning the 2022 F1 season opener in Bahrain." height="1665" width="2221" msid="90340685" hostid="261"></div><p>"The last two years have been incredibly difficult for the team," Leclerc said after the race. "We knew it would be a big opportunity for us and the guys have done such an incredible job in building this amazing car.</p><p>"Starting in best way possible. Pole position, victory, fastest lap, one two with Carlos, we couldn't have hoped for any better."</p>

F1 picked up where it left off with a dramatic season opener which saw Ferrari's first win in 46 races and a furious Max Verstappen forced to retire

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Over 50 million people tuned in to watch <keyword id="11953260" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="formula-one" source="Orion">Formula One</keyword>'s <keyword id="11892922" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="netflix" source="Orion">Netflix</keyword> series Drive to Survive last year.</li><li>Ahead of season four, which releases on March 11, Insider spoke to its two executive producers.</li></ul><p>Formula One's Netflix documentary "Drive to Survive" is on the face of it, just that. An F1 documentary that gives fans of the sport unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to their favorite teams and drivers.</p><p>Dig a little deeper, however, and you'll find that the show is much more than your regular <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword> docuseries. It's a cinematic phenomenon that has pushed the popularity of F1 to uncharted heights. </p><p>Launched in early 2019 and now in its fourth season, which premieres on March 11, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-drive-to-survive-audience-tops-50-million-mclaren-ceo-2021-9?r=US&amp;IR=T">over 50 million people tuned in to watch the show in 2021 alone.</a></p><p>At the same time, Formula One added <a href="https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/f1-1bn-fans-2022-audience-formula-one-drive-to-survive-study/">an estimated 73 million fans</a> last year in markets including Brazil, China and France.</p><p>Viewership figures for the sport in the United States are also at an all-time high, with over 400,000 fans attending the 2021 US Grand Prix in Austin, and one million more watching the race on television.</p><p>"When we finished season one, I don't think we had any expectations," Paul Martin, one of the show's two executive producers, told Insider. "We hoped people were going to like it and were going to see it as a fresh take on this world.</p><p>"We certainly didn't set out to land it with a particular audience or particular demographic. But, you know, we just became acutely aware, particularly in the United States, that people were just talking about it and that the audience is there."</p><h2>The show is as much about humans and relationships than tenths of seconds and aerodynamics </h2><p>A huge part of the appeal of Drive to Survive is that it forgoes most of F1's technical complexities.  </p><p>There are no explanations of how the cars are made and no scenes discussing the nuances of the sport's ever-changing technical regulations.</p><p>Instead, the series peels back F1 to what the average viewer really wants to see — action, drama, and more action. </p><p>In season one, we saw Carlos Sainz Jr. battle with his idol and countryman Fernando Alonso; Red Bull boss Christian Horner embroiled in a war of words with Renault's Cyril Abiteboul; and Roman Grosjean fight desperately to keep his seat with Haas.</p><p>Season two detailed Haas' disastrous relationship with former sponsor Rich Energy; Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc's intra-team rivalry at Ferrari; and the death of F1 icon Niki Lauda.</p><p>In season three, Lewis Hamilton opened up on his experiences of racism and Grosjean was involved in a fiery crash which produced an Oscar-worthy seven-minute segment of drama and tension.</p><p>"It was definitely a deliberate attempt to move away from that techy stuff," said Martin. "And that's not because we're not interested in that stuff, but it's hard to portray it in a relatable way.</p><p>"The audience don't need to know and understand that stuff to enjoy F1. If you do, I'm sure it enhances the experience if that's your thing, but the majority of audience, they don't want to know."</p><div type="image" title="Executive producers James Gay-Rees and Paul Martin attend the Formula 1 &quot;Drive To Survive&quot; Netflix Season 4 exclusive screening at Ham Yard Hotel" height="1333" width="2000" msid="90100296" hostid="261"></div><p>The human side of F1 was on display more than ever in season four — <a href="https://www.insider.com/formula-one-drive-to-survive-5-biggest-talking-points-s4-2022-3#the-end-of-nikita-mazepins-haas-career-was-a-long-time-coming-1">which Insider watched ahead of the show's release date.</a></p><p>Straight from the off, Horner mouths off at how desperate he is to stop Hamilton winning a record eighth driver's championship and Mercedes winning an eighth consecutive constructor's championship.</p><p>"Stay calm, we will get the fuckers," he says barely a minute into the first episode, setting the scene for his and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/toto-wolff-mercedes-f1-principal-ceo-mental-health-burnout-2022-3">Mercedes boss Toto Wolff's relationship</a> to become uglier as time goes on.</p><p>Episode two explores the <a href="https://www.insider.com/formula-one-drive-to-survive-5-biggest-talking-points-s4-2022-3#the-end-of-nikita-mazepins-haas-career-was-a-long-time-coming-1">difficult relationship between Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris,</a> who struggle to see eye-to-eye in their first season together at McClaren.</p><p>"That's not good news" said Ricciardo after finishing behind the young Norris in qualifying at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix.</p><p>Later in the series, we see Nikita Mazepin throw tantrum after tantrum because of his car and his father, whose company Uralkali was Haas' main sponsor last season, threaten to pull the plug on the team.</p><p>"It's a soap opera," James Gay-Rees, Drive to Survive's other executive producer, told Insider.</p><p>"Television works when it's relatable. So, you know, the fact that we basically humanize these drivers and take the helmets off, you realize they are not just units you stick in a car to make go, you know, they're kids who've just got x and y going on in their lives.</p><p>"It's the same with any sport, as soon as you kind of get away from the PR version of modern sport and get into the actuality of it, people invest in the characters.</p><p>"F1 has always been a very arm's length sport, but now it feels like it's up close and personal."</p><h2>Capturing the drama isn't always easy </h2><p>As, in the words of Gay-Rees, a notoriously "arm's length sport" — gaining the trust of F1's drivers and teams was, and remains, a challenge for the producers.</p><p>Mercedes and Ferrari, two of the F1's biggest teams, refused to be part of the first season, while Red Bull's Max Verstappen — whose world championship victory the series focuses on — did not take part in season four, <a href="https://www.insider.com/formula-one-drive-to-survive-5-biggest-talking-points-s4-2022-3#max-verstappen-is-absent-4">citing concerns that the series creates false narratives around drivers.</a></p><p>"The whole thing is always a trust building exercise," said Gay-Rees. "And you know, the thing, it just takes time, you can't fast forward that kind of relationship.</p><p>"The younger drivers who are more socially media aware or whatever, they get it, because everybody's filming everything all the time these days.</p><p>"It's totally normalized now, isn't it? So the younger generation, I think, are like, 'Bring it on.' Even ones you wouldn't expect, like, Charles [Leclerc] and Carlos [Sainz] at Ferrari are totally into it, even though they're part of this massive team.</p><p>"It's the older drivers who are like, 'I don't need it.' But at the same time, you do need to earn the trust and that's where the balance comes into it."</p><div type="image" title="Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and McLaren F1 looks on in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez" height="1333" width="2000" msid="90100298" hostid="261"></div><p>One man who certainly doesn't shy away from the camera during season four, as he hasn't in any of the preceding seasons, is Ricciardo.</p><p>The Italian-Australian driver is often on hand to lend a gleaming smile or funny comment for the cameras, none more hilarious than when claims the cockpit DJ should be "fucking shot" for playing the Bee Gees' "Staying Alive" ahead of the sprint race in Monza. </p><p>"Trying to get in the zone, and they take you right out of it," he said. "Seriously, who thinks this is a good idea?!"</p><p>For all his charm and confidence, however, Ricciardo also shows his vulnerable side, with one particular moment in episode two highlighting just what makes Drive to Survive so unique.</p><p>After finishing 12th in qualifying at the Monaco Grand Prix, the 32-year-old took a moment to reflect on his difficult start to life at McClaren, sitting down on the pavement with his head in his hands.</p><p>"It's embarrassing," he told two of his McClaren team members. "What if I'm just a cunt?"</p><p>Speaking about the moment, Gay-Rees said: "He didn't tell the cameras to stop rolling, and it's great because it's totally unvarnished, he's having a proper moment.</p><p>"He's this all-smiling, lovable character and you see him having an absolute fucking wobble, which can happen to anybody, right?</p><p>"That's what makes the show work."</p>

The creators of smash-hit F1 documentary 'Drive to Survive' say turning the sport into a 'soap opera' is the key to the show's success

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/max-verstappen">Max Verstappen</a> is on the brink of becoming the first non-Mercedes driver to win the <keyword id="11953261" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="f1" source="Orion">F1</keyword> title since 2013.</li><li>Verstappen is tied with <keyword id="11953262" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="lewis-hamilton" source="Orion">Lewis Hamilton</keyword> ahead of the final race of a truly epic season of racing.</li></ul><p>Of the 20 drivers currently competing in <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/formula-one">Formula One</a>, there are few who can claim to be as highly rated as <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/max-verstappen">Max Verstappen</a>.</p><p>The 24-year-old Dutchman made his F1 debut in 2015. A year later he became the youngest driver in the sport's history to win a race, taking victory in his debut outing for his current team, <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/red-bull-racing">Red Bull</a>.</p><p>He is of racing pedigree – his father Jos is a former <keyword id="11953260" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="formula-one" source="Orion">Formula One</keyword> driver and his mother, Sophie Kumpen, competed in karting – and it seems the family pastime has rubbed off on him.</p><p>Verstappen has often been described as a generational talent but up until this year, he did not have the car beneath him to show it.</p><p>In 2021, however, things have changed, with Red Bull finally providing a legitimate challenge after seven years of dominance by <keyword id="11953265" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mercedes" source="Orion">Mercedes</keyword>.</p><p>As the team's lead driver, Verstappen has been at the forefront of that challenge, and in just four days time will face off against Lewis Hamilton in what is effectively a straight shootout for the title.</p><p>The drivers are level on points ahead of the season's final race in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, meaning that whoever finishes ahead will take the most prestigious individual prize in motorsport.</p><p>When Verstappen jets off to Abu Dhabi this week, he knows he is heading for a winner-takes-all showdown against one of the greatest of all time.</p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/mercedes-red-bull-tension-threatens-boil-over-as-season-ends-2021-11">While others are showing signs of crumbling under the intense pressure</a>, Verstappen seemed unfazed as he spoke to Insider prior to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix last Sunday, <a href="https://www.insider.com/chaos-reigns-saudi-arabia-grand-prix-as-hamilton-verstappen-crash-2021-12">a race in which chaos reigned</a>, with Verstappen himself at the heart of proceedings.</p><p>In a wide-ranging interview, the Dutchman discussed his first year at the very top of F1, why he's no longer going to be on Netflix, and his desire to be remembered as nothing more than a "pure racer."</p><h2>2021 is the year that Verstappen finally became one of the sport's true elite</h2><div type="image" title="Max Verstappen" height="2663" width="3550" msid="88172926" hostid="261"></div><p>"Enjoyable." That was Verstappen's single word answer when asked by Insider to sum his feelings about the 2021 season.</p><p>It is not a surprising answer.</p><p>By pretty much every measure Verstappen has had the best season of his career. He has won nine races, taken nine pole positions, and finished on the podium 17 times in 21 races. Before this season he had won 10 races in six seasons, and taken just three poles.</p><p>While he has been involved in several high-profile crashes with Hamilton — most notably at <a href="https://www.insider.com/lewis-hamilton-max-verstappen-rivalry-collide-british-grand-prix-2021-7">Silverstone</a> and <a href="https://www.insider.com/lewis-hamilton-max-verstappen-crash-again-title-war-rages-on-2021-9">Italy</a> — the season can be deemed a success regardless of whether he seals the title on Sunday.</p><p>"Of course, some races didn't go our way but overall we've had a lot of success and great performance," he told Insider.</p><p>The greatest success, however, would be beating Hamilton to win the title, something that has only been done once since 2013.</p><p>It's a stressful task, and in Jeddah last weekend Verstappen's stress showed on the track. Off it, however, he rarely likes to talk <a href="https://www.insider.com/lewis-hamilton-calls-f1-title-rival-max-verstappen-crazy-2021-12">about the controversies which often define F1 races.</a></p><p>"I always think about the next race ahead and try to do the best I can there. I think that's the most important part and that's what can you control.</p><p>"[Disappointments have] happened to me so many times in my life. It's only in Formula One where everything starts to be dramatic. It's just another thing that happens."</p><h2>Verstappen and the subtle art of not giving a fuck</h2><div type="image" title="Max Verstappen looks at Lewis Hamilton from the winner's podium." height="2803" width="3738" msid="88172929" hostid="261"></div><p>His single-minded focus on racing has drawn praise from his boss, Red Bull team principal <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/christian-horner">Christian Horner</a>.</p><p>"Lewis [Hamilton] continually drops his subtle little digs or provocations. But I think the great thing about Max is he doesn't give a fuck," <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/formula-1/2021/11/30/christian-horner-exclusive-lewis-hamilton-vs-max-verstappen/">Horner told the Telegraph last week.</a></p><p>Asked about Horner's comment by Insider, Verstappen replied: "That's who I am." </p><p>"It's just how I am and how I want to be as well. I don't like to share a lot, I'm not a big fan of social media so I prefer not to be on it.</p><p>"I've always grown up like that. I'm pretty relaxed and just focus on myself. </p><p>"It doesn't matter what other people say at the end of the day because I know the people around me are very important and those are the ones you have to spend time with and listen to and work together with. </p><p>"All the other stuff, I don't really think about too much."</p><div type="image" title="A TV camera looks at F1 drivers." height="3479" width="4639" msid="88172931" hostid="261"></div><p>Perhaps this attitude to life is why he is choosing not to take part in Netflix's hit F1 docuseries "Drive to Survive."</p><p>"It's not who I want to be. A lot of the stuff is fake to make it more interesting and more dramatic," he when asked about that decision, <a href="https://www.planetf1.com/news/drivers-defend-drive-to-survive/">which was announced in October.</a></p><p>"Of course when you're producing something fictional and it's come up in someone's fantasy, that's fine.</p><p>"When you are documenting a real life with real stuff happening, you shouldn't be doing that. </p><p>"Everyone has their own opinion about it, I'm not like that, and I think more just a pure racer who doesn't want fake stuff around."</p><h2>The 24-year-old has become one of the biggest stars in the sport</h2><div type="image" title="Max Verstappen waves to the Dutch crowd." height="3760" width="5027" msid="88172933" hostid="261"></div><p>As Verstappen's ability and standing in the sport has risen, Formula One's popularity has grown in tandem.</p><p>The sport has become significantly more media savvy under the ownership of Liberty Media, with "Drive to Survive" in particular boosting F1 to a fresh audience.</p><p>As its popularity grows, Formula One drivers have become bigger celebrities than ever before. While previously only Hamilton and a handful of drivers were international stars, now even midfield drivers get mobbed wherever they go.</p><p>"You know certain places are a little more difficult. For me that's Holland [his home country] which is normal. It's difficult to just walk around in the street without having people ask me for stuff but at the end of the day, it's part of your life and you just have to deal with it.</p><p>"It's nothing dramatic but sometimes you would like to just be with your family, doing your thing and not getting disturbed but in some places that just doesn't happen anymore."</p><p>The ability to do your own thing is important to Verstappen who does not buy into the glitzy life of a racing driver. Instead, he prefers to spend his time at home.</p><div type="image" title="Max Verstappen and Kelly Piquet" height="2313" width="3084" msid="88172937" hostid="261"></div><p>"I try to spend as much time as possible with family and friends. Of course lately, with COVID, it's been a bit more difficult but I think that's always been very important between races and at the beginning and end of the season to spend time with your family and friends."</p><p>For Verstappen, the pandemic provided a rare opportunity for someone in a sport that travels to more than a dozen countries each year: the chance to stay at home for a while.</p><p>"Personally, [the pandemic] wasn't too bad. You have FaceTime and all this kind of stuff so you can stay in touch. Of course it's nice to be in person. </p><p>"At the other end, I was actually very happy to be at home because of the travelling you normally do and you are just away a lot so it wasn't too hard. </p><p>"You have to deal with life at that moment which was a bit more restricted but it's the same for everyone so you just have to get on with it."</p><h2>Verstappen said his F1 driver dad prepared him for the sport</h2><div type="image" title="Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen speak after sprint qualifying." height="3117" width="4156" msid="88172939" hostid="261"></div><p>While in Formula One, Verstappen has had six different teammates — Carlos Sainz, Daniil Kvyat, Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, Sergio Perez, and Daniel Ricciardo.</p><p>He has learned something from every one of them, he told Insider.</p><p>"It's always interesting to see how other people are working, and you are able to pick stuff up.</p><p>"Luckily I have a very good mentor in my dad so I think I was already very well prepared and there were not many things that I needed to learn but I think you can always look around and find something."</p><p>The preparation and learning from others has all built to this one moment as finds himself one race away from a glory achieved by so few who compete in the sport.</p><p>While the team is important, when Verstappen steps into his car on Sunday there will only be one thing on his mind: beating Lewis Hamilton.</p><p>It's a tall order against arguably the greatest driver in the history of F1, but in a straight one-on-one battle, Verstappen could just do it.</p><p><em>Verstappen spoke to Insider as part of a promotional campaign for payments firm <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZBoVYymlhg">CashApp,</a> one of Red Bull's sponsors. The Dutch driver has appeared in a series of commercials for the company, discussing financial education.</em></p>

Max Verstappen is a key protagonist in F1's most dramatic season in years. As it reaches its climax, all he cares about is being a 'pure racer.'

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/lewis-hamilton">Lewis Hamilton</a> said he is still battling the effects of long <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/covid">Covid</a> and has been 'fighting all year.'</li><li>The Brit was visibly unwell on the podium after finishing third at the Hungarian Grand Prix.</li><li>The 7-time world champion tested positive for Covid in December and had to miss the Sakhir GP.</li></ul><p>Seven-time <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/formula-one">Formula One</a> world champion <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/lewis-hamilton">Lewis Hamilton </a>said he is still battling the effects of long <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/covid">Covid</a>, having contracted the virus in December.</p><p>The Mercedes driver was visibly unwell on the podium at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday and had to be checked by the team's doctor before he could attend the post-race press conference.</p><p>"I have been fighting all year with my health after what happened at the end of last year, and it is still a battle," he said.</p><p>Hamilton was forced to miss the Sakhir Grand Prix last season due to the virus before returning to race at Abu Dhabi. He admitted he was not fully healthy at the time.</p><p>In reference to his illness being a symptom of suspected long Covid, Hamilton said, "I haven't spoken to anyone particularly about it, but I think it is lingering. I remember the effects when I had it. The training has been different since then, and the levels of fatigue you get are different, and it's a real challenge.</p><p>"Who knows what it is today? Maybe it's hydration, but I've definitely not had that experience. I had something similar in Silverstone, but this is way worse."</p><h3><strong>Esteban Ocon wins first <keyword id="9079" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="F1">F1</keyword> race after a chaotic start</strong></h3><div type="image" title="Esteban Ocon holding the trophy after winning the Hungarian Grand Prix" height="2854" width="3806" msid="84976912" hostid="261"></div><p>Sunday's race began in chaotic fashion when the wet conditions caused Hamilton's teammate Valterri Bottas to crash into the back of McLaren's <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/lando-norris">Lando Norris</a> and set off a chain reaction that saw three retirements. </p><p>Norris was powerless to stop himself as he then collided with Red Bull's <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/max-verstappen">Max Verstappen</a>, who led the driver's championship at the start of the day. Bottas also hit the other Red Bull driver, Sergio Perez, denting the team's championship aspirations. At the same time, Aston Martin's Lance Stroll took himself and Ferrari's <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/charles-leclerc">Charles Leclerc</a> out of the race.</p><p>Verstappen continued, but damage to his car meant he could only salvage a 10th-placed finish.</p><p>Meanwhile, his championship rival Hamilton lost significant ground when he was the only one not to stop and swap tyres made for wet conditions to ones made for dry during a pause in the race to clean up the debris from the crash. </p><p>The 36-year-old was soon overtaken by the whole field when he eventually pitted but fought his way back from 14th to finish third.</p><p>At the front, Esteban Ocon battled with <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/sebastian-vettel">Sebastian Vettel</a> for the lead, but the German could not overtake the French driver, who would win the first grand prix race of his career.</p><p>Vettel, a four-time world champion, was later disqualified for not finishing the race with enough fuel in his car, promoting Hamilton to second and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz to third.</p>

Lewis Hamilton says he's battled long Covid 'all year' and even felt dizzy on the Hungarian GP podium

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="18001" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Cristiano-Ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo</keyword> skipped <keyword id="76224" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Juventus">Juventus</keyword> training and went on a visit to Ferrari's factory on Monday.</li><li>The trip came just a day after Juventus' humiliating 3-0 defeat to rival AC Milan.</li><li>While he was there, Ronaldo bought a $2 million supercar, according to reports in Italy.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/cristiano-ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> skipped Juventus training and went to Ferrari's factory to buy a $2 million supercar on Monday, just a day after the club's <a href="https://www.insider.com/cristiano-ronaldo-made-juventus-worse-since-move-from-real-madrid-2021-5">humiliating defeat</a> to rival AC Milan.</p><p>The 36-year-old made the visit to Maranello by helicopter with Juventus president Andrea Agnelli and Exor president and Ferrari chairman John Elkann.</p><p>Exor is the holding company run by the Agnelli family, which controls both Juventus and Ferrari.</p><p>The Italian newspaper <a href="https://motori.corriere.it/motori/attualita/21_maggio_11/cristiano-ronaldo-ha-scelto-ferrari-monza-che-auto-come-va-quanto-costa-960d1760-b236-11eb-ad37-20fbbce36b88.shtml">Corriere Della Sera</a> reported that Ronaldo bought a red <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ferrari-monza-sp1-pictures-2018-12">Ferrari Monza SP1,</a> which is valued at $1.95 million and is only available to purchase by invitation. Others invited to buy the car include <a href="https://www.insider.com/zlatan-ibrahimovic-investigated-over-alleged-financial-ties-to-betting-firm-2021-4">Zlatan Ibrahimovic</a>, who played for AC Milan as they thrashed Juve over the weekend.</p><p>During his day out at the Ferrari factory, the Juventus forward also posed for photos with Ferrari Formula One drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who were both given a signed shirt with Ronaldo's name and number.</p><p>On Sunday, <a href="https://www.insider.com/cristiano-ronaldo-made-juventus-worse-since-move-from-real-madrid-2021-5">Juventus was beaten</a> 3-0 by Milan at the Allianz Stadium.</p><p>Goals from Brahim Diaz, Ante Rebic, and Fikayo Tomori, who is on loan from Chelsea, sealed a vital win for the visitors, pushing it up to third in the <keyword id="81077" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Serie-A">Serie A</keyword> table and Juventus down to fifth.</p><p>Andrea Pirlo's side, having already conceded the scudetto for the first time in a decade to Inter Milan, now has to rely on those above it in the Italian top flight to slip up if it's to qualify for next season's Champions League.</p><p>Juventus faces Sassuolo on Wednesday, though it is unclear whether Ronaldo will take part.</p><p>"Cristiano has played many games this year and has scored a lot," Pirlo told the club's <a href="https://www.juventus.com/en/news/articles/pirlo-we-are-angry">website</a> on Tuesday. "Today we will decide what to do, tomorrow is a delicate match and I hope to have everyone available."</p>

Cristiano Ronaldo skipped training and went to Ferrari's factory to buy a $2 million supercar the day after Juventus was thumped by a rival

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Aris Yeager shot to fame by parodying a spoiled, rich European caricature on social media.</li><li>Yeager recently told Business Insider about his online persona.</li></ul><p>The lines between reality and fiction have started to blur for Aris Yeager.</p><p>You may have seen the 24-year-old Belgian-American, better known as "The European Kid," at some point on your social media feeds.</p><p>Yeager has built a sizable online presence over the last couple of years — accumulating 1.7 million followers on TikTok and one million on Instagram — by making videos that parody a sort of spoiled rich European caricature through a French-accented persona named Louis.</p><p>"You don't know who you're messing with!" Louis shouts in one video, trying to persuade well-known New York City bouncer Fabrizio Brienza to let him into a club. "The richest family in Europe! Do you know who my dad is?"</p><p>The video, which has over 45 million views on TikTok, is a prime example of just how bizarre Yeager's life has become in a short time, he told Business Insider in a recent interview.</p><p>Many viewers did not pick up on the fact that his videos are satire, so some assumed he was the son of Bernard Arnault, the richest man in Europe who founded LVMH, the parent company of Louis Vuitton, Dior, Moët &amp; Chandon, and other luxury brands. Major French television station <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tf1info.fr/societe/tu-sais-qui-je-suis-le-fils-de-bernard-arnault-filme-en-train-de-se-mettre-en-colere-contre-un-videur-2274596.html">TF1 wrote a story</a> about the mix-up, and <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/alexarnault/status/1718665404384444593">Alexandre Arnault</a>, the real son of Bernard Arnault, had to clarify that it was not him in the video.</p><p>"Even when you looked up Bernard Arnault on Google, my video was one of the first videos that popped up," Yeager said. "To me, that is one of the craziest moments."</p><p>But the conflation between Yeager's and Louis' life goes further than being mistaken for billionaires' sons.</p><p>While his videos are a parody, Yeager is still personally in places like Saint-Tropez, St. Moritz, and the Hamptons, after all. Because of his newfound fame, he's mingled with celebrities like Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz Jr., actor Anne Hathaway, and snowboarder Shaun White.</p><p>"I could be a Formula 1 driver," Louis told Sainz in a video earlier this year. "I'm not saying I'm going to beat you, but I think I will."</p><p>Yeager said that brand sponsorships have allowed him to generate an income somewhere in the six-figure range.</p><p>Still, his life isn't exactly like Louis' might appear. Yeager said many of his videos shot in seaside villas, private jets, boats, and luxury city apartments are actually offered up by real-estate agents looking to promote a property, jet and boat companies looking to advertise, or friends.</p><p>"Everything on social media is exaggerated," Yeager said. "You need to always take it with a grain of salt."</p><p>He also said that on trips to exotic places, he usually stays only a few days and is primarily there to shoot several videos for his channel before returning to New York, where he's lived since graduating from Northeastern University in 2022.</p><p>That's because Yeager is busy building a business that seeks to pair influencers like himself with — perhaps ironically, given his big-brand, rich-kid persona — small businesses looking for promotion.</p><p>The platform is an app that launched in April called Storytime. Yeager founded it with Philip Davis, his former colleague at Lefty, another influencer-focused startup.</p><p>So far, Storytime has financial backing from Lefty founder Thomas Repelski, as well as around $150,000 from family and friends, Davis and Yeager said. It has 1,000 influencer users that they individually vet, they said, and over a hundred businesses that pay a $100-a-month subscription fee for access to the pool of influencers. The businesses can automate offers for free products in exchange for posts from influencers with localized, targeted audiences, as opposed to larger follower counts that may be irrelevant to a particular business.</p><p>One client of Yeager and Davis is Milano Market on Manhattan's Upper East Side. The duo recently filmed a video with its owner, where Louis attempts to buy an entire $2,000 wheel of parmesan cheese, only to be stopped by the owner who is concerned about Louis' intentions with his product.</p><p>"<em>Putain</em>, let me buy the parmesan," Louis cries.</p><p>"You can't," the owner replies. "Not here. Not here, my friend."</p><p>The video has 66 million views on TikTok.</p><p>"Those are the kinds of places. I walk in there, and I can tell there's so much passion," Yeager said, striking a different tone than an entitled Louis often carries — one apparent way Yeager's life doesn't appear to be blending with Louis'.</p><p>"When I'm there, I just want to give back because I just appreciate them."</p>

Social media's favorite fake rich kid opens up about his online persona — and his new real-life job 

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><span>Normally, with Motorsports Monday we tell you everything you need to know about what happened and will happen in the wonderful world of racing. </span></p><p><span>Over the weekend, however, so much happened at the F1's Australian Grand Prix that we've devoted the entirety of MM to the race.</span></p><p><strong>As Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes-AMG took the checkered flag at Formula One's season-opening Australian Grand Prix, it marked the end of an eventful and shambolic weekend of racing.</strong></p><p>First the shambles part of the weekend.</p><p>Ten teams and 20 drivers are set to compete in the 2015 F1 season, but like the opening night of a Broadway production in dire need of more rehearsal time, few teams seemed truly ready to race.</p><p>First there were the perennial backmarkers now known as <a href="http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/118072" target="_blank">Manor Marussia</a>.</p><p>The team, which had just narrowly escaped bankruptcy over the winter, showed up to Melbourne with a full complement of cars, drivers, and equipment.</p><p>But the Dinnington, England-based outfit chose not to turn a wheel in anger over the weekend, citing problems with its cars related to computer software. </p><p>McLaren Honda is the titan of the sport, and yet it could not even get both of its cars to the starting line. Kevin Magnussen's engine blew up while Magnussen was on his way to line up for the green flag. The team's other car, driven by Jenson Button, did complete the race. In last place.</p><p>Although Ferrari's new driver - four-time champ Sebastian Vettel - had a great race with a solid third-place result, the team left Melbourne embarrassed. Ferrari's 2007 world champ, Kimi Raikkonen, had to retire from the race because the pit crew sent the Fin back into the race before it could screw on his left rear tire.</p><p>Williams F1's lead driver, Felipe Massa, also had a great race, finishing in fourth place, but Williams' second car did not make the race after driver Valtteri Bottas injured his back Saturday and could not get clearance from F1 doctors to drive.</p><p><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></strong></p><p><strong>Then there was Sauber. </strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">As bad as Manor's money problems may have been, <a href="http://blackflag.jalopnik.com/how-one-driver-sued-for-a-sauber-formula-one-drive-an-1690905181" target="_blank">Sauber's legal troubles</a> may have been worse. The Swiss team began the weekend with the Australian courts threatening to seize all of Sauber's assets in the country. Why? Apparently, the team promised its two race seats to three drivers, which led driver Giedo van der Garde - the odd man out - to sue Sauber for breach of contract.</span></p><p>Only after a last-minute handshake deal with van der Garde's lawyers was Sauber allowed to continue with its planned driver lineup of Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr. Fortunately for Sauber, its weekend got better. (More on that later.)</p><p><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div></strong></p><p><strong>The rookies stole the show!</strong> Entering the season, critics were somewhat skeptical about the class of incoming rookies, believing they were way too young and way too inexperienced to compete. Boy, were they wrong! Sauber's 22-year-old rookie, Nasr, capped off a great weekend with a spectacular and somewhat unexpected fifth-place finish.</p><p>Both of Scuderia Toro Rosso's young guns  - Max Verstappen, 17, and Carlos Sainz Jr., 20 - proved their mettle with poise and speed beyond their years. But the team and the car prevented the young duo from achieving race results to match its performance. Verstappen's engine conked out while the high-schooler fought for a top-five finish. Sainz lost half a minute during a pit stop after his crew could not attach the car's left rear wheel.</p><p><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div></strong></p><p><strong>Arnold Schwarzenegger needs his own talk show.</strong> When it came time to interview the drivers on the podium, race organizers sent out the former Governator himself to do the dirty work. The result was both awkward and spectacular. As soon as the Terminator stepped onto the podium, the three millionaire pro athletes were immediately reduced to 12-year old movie fans. Lewis Hamilton seemed more ecstatic about shaking Schwarzenegger's hand than about the dominant race victory he had just delivered. <span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Here are the complete results from the 2015 Australian Grand Prix:</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table center"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div><br /></span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ferrari-car-0-62-three-seconds-geneva-2015-3">This supercar just unveiled in Geneva is the future of Ferrari</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="1neDRxczoKJOxUqMlxy1ya1nTynA3goF" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Motorsports Monday: F1's season-opening Australian Grand Prix was a hot mess of a race

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div>Here's everything you need to know about the wonderful world of motorsports this week.<span><br /></span></p><p><strong>Sebastian Vettel gets his first win for Ferrari at the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix.</strong></p><p>In just his second race in a Ferrari, four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel delivered the team's first victory in nearly 2 years - the longest drought in Ferrari history.</p><p>Ferrari had not seen the victory circle in 30 races - since the Spanish Grand Prix in May of 2013. </p><p>The 27-year old <a href="http://espn.go.com/racing/raceresults/_/series/f1/raceId/201503290602" target="_blank">German took the checkered flag</a> ahead of the Mercedes-AMG duo of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. After the race, both Mercedes drivers questioned the team's tire strategy after Vettel's Ferrari pulled away from the field.</p><p>Vettel's Ferrari teammate - 2007 champ Kimi Raikkonen - took home a hard fought fourth place finish. A tough qualifying session forced the enigmatic Fin to start in 11th place. Then a first-lap tire puncture put the Ferrari even further back in the field.  </p><p>Once again, McLaren and its new Honda engines struggled with speed and reliability. The McLaren duo of Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso - who qualified in 17th and 18th position respectively- failed to finish the race due to engine related problems.</p><p>On the other hand, Scuderia Toro Rosso's rookie duo of Max Verstappen, 17, and Carlos Sainz Jr.,20, continued to impress, finishing in 7th and 8th place respectively.</p><p>Formula One's next stop will be the Grand Prix of China on April 12.</p><p><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></strong></p><p><strong>Juan Pablo Montoya kicked off the IndyCar season with a win on the streets of St. Petersberg, Florida.</strong></p><p>Team Penske driver <a href="http://espn.go.com/racing/raceresults/_/series/indycar/raceId/201503290104" target="_blank">Juan Pablo Montoya took the checkered flag</a> ahead of teammate and pole sitter Will Power on Sunday to win the 2015 Grand Prix of St. Petersberg.  This marks Montoya's second victory since the 2000 Indy 500 winner returned to the series after more than a decade away in Formula One and NASCAR.</p><p>Montoya's win finished off a truly dominant weekend for Team Penske with its quartet of drivers taking four of the top five spots.</p><p>IndyCar's next stop will be the Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana on April 12.</p><p><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>Denny Hamlin wins for the 5th time in Martinsville.</strong></p><p>Joe Gibbs Racing driver <a href="http://espn.go.com/racing/raceresults/_/series/sprint/raceId/201503290015" target="_blank">Denny Hamlin crossed the finish line in first place</a> ahead of Brad Keselowski to win the STP 500 over the weekend in Martinsville, Virginia. The victory marks the 25th of Hamlin's Sprint Cup career and his 5th at the track.</p><p>Pole sitter and Daytona 500 champ Joey Logano finished the race in third.</p><p>The STP 500 proved to be an emotional event after Joe Gibbs Racing president - J.D Gibbs- was <a href="http://espn.go.com/racing/nascar/cup/story/_/id/12580734/joe-gibbs-says-son-jd-gibbs-my-hero-most-courageous-person" target="_blank">hospitalized last week </a>due to issues pertaining to the team bosses' brain function.  </p><p>The NASCAR Sprint Cup series' next stop will be at Texas Motor Speedway on April 11.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/smartphone-impact-brain-body-sleep-2015-2">This is what happens to your brain and body when you check your phone before bed</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="BvMjVqcjoHdZBG6tTpXy8UkhB5_46U_c" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Motorsports Monday: Ferrari is back!

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://pictures.reuters.com/Package/2C0BF1FAEFI80?PBC=2CKRYD1D85D:2C04082VM4GXA:2C0BF1FAEFI80#/SearchResult&amp;ALID=2C0BF1FAEFI80&amp;PBC=2CKRYD1D85D:2C04082VM4GXA:2C0BF1FAEFI80&amp;VBID=2C0BX4SVAME&amp;POPUPPN=2&amp;POPUPIID=2C0BF1FAYUC9M">Reuters/Marcos Brindicci</a></span></p><p class="caption">Carlos Sainz of Spain drives his Peugeot during the fifth stage Jujuy-Uyuni in the Dakar Rally 2016 near Uyuni, Bolivia.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Here's what you need to know on Jobs Day in America.</p><p><strong><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/guide-to-fridays-jobs-report-2016-1">Friday is jobs day</a>. </strong>The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its December nonfarm payrolls report. The US economy added 292,000 jobs, which was far better than the addition of 200,000 jobs that was expected by the Bloomberg consensus. The unemployment rate held steady at 5.0%. Additionally, average hourly earnings increased 2.5% year-over-year, missing the 2.7% YoY gain that economists were looking for. Average weekly hours worked matched expectations at 34.5.</p><p><strong><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-chinese-yuan-fix-is-stronger-than-expected-and-risk-assets-are-ripping-higher-2016-1?r=UK&amp;IR=T">It was a wild day in China</a>.</strong> China's Shanghai Composite surged to a gain of 3% before plunging to a loss of 2% within the first 15 minutes of trading. The bottom was put in amid speculation the country's so-called national team came in to support stocks, and the Shanghai Composite finished up 2%, its best gain in over three weeks. Friday's action was notable as the advance came after Beijing announced it would do away with the measures, called circuit breakers, that closed the market for 15 minutes after a 5% drop and closed the market for the remainder of the session on a 7% drop.</p><p><strong><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/german-industrial-production-nov-2016-1?r=UK&amp;IR=T">German industrial production missed</a>. </strong>German industrial production fell 0.3% month-on-month in November, missing the 0.5% gain that was expected. Meanwhile, a 0.4% MoM gain in exports wasn't enough to prevent Germany's trade surplus from narrowing to $19.7 billion from its previous print of $20.5 billion. The euro is weaker by 0.6% at 1.0871.</p><p><strong><a href="http://www.ft.com/fastft/2016/01/08/japan-earnings-fall-for-first-time-in-5-months/">Japan's average cash earnings were light</a>.</strong> Average cash earnings in Japan were unchanged in November, missing the up 0.7% YoY estimate. When adjusted for inflation, the number fell 0.4% YoY, dashing hopes the recent pickup in wages was sustainable. <span>Marcel Thieliant at Capital Economics, however, told The Financial Times this disappointing number was the result of a drop in bonus payments rather than weakness in regular pay. </span>The Japanese yen is weaker by 0.5% at 118.28 per dollar.</p><p><strong><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/you-have-to-go-back-to-the-1930s-to-find-a-worse-commodities-rout-2016-1?r=UK&amp;IR=T">It hasn't been this ugly for commodities since the 1930s</a>. </strong>Bank of America Merrill Lynch says the commodities rout is the worst since the 1930s. According to the bank's research, the sharp drop in oil prices helped push the 10-year annualized return for the commodities space to down 5.1%. This is the first time commodities have lost ground over a 10-year period since the 1960s.</p><p><strong><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-share-price-january-7-2016-1">Apple is below $100</a>. </strong>On Thursday, the tech darling Apple closed at $96.45, its first close below the $100 mark in 14 months. The stock had been below $100 as recently as August, but that came during the August 24 "flash crash." On that day Apple touched $92 early in the session before reclaiming the $100 level before the close.</p><p><strong><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/saudi-aramco-could-look-at-ipo-economist-says-2016-1">Saudi Arabia's oil giant might be going public</a>. </strong>Saudi Arabia's oil behemoth, Saudi Aramco, might soon be listed on the public exchange, according to The Economist. The kingdom will make a decision in the next few months on whether to bring the company public. The Saudis say Saudi Aramco is worth "trillions of dollars."</p><p><strong><a href="http://newsroom.united.com/2016-01-07-United-Provides-Additional-Update-on-Health-Status-of-CEO-Oscar-Munoz">United's CEO is recovering from heart surgery</a>.</strong> In a press release, United Airlines announced president and CEO Oscar Munoz was recovering from his heart transplant. The company says it expects Munoz to return to work near the end of the first quarter or the beginning of the second quarter. <span>Dr. </span><span class="xn-person">Duc Pham,</span><span> director of the Northwestern Medicine Heart Transplant Program, said, "<span>We are very optimistic about his prospects for a complete recovery."</span></span></p><p><strong>Stock markets around the world are mixed.</strong> Britain's FTSE (+0.3%) leads a mixed session higher in Europe. Overnight, Japan's Nikkei (-0.4%) lagged. S&amp;P 500 futures are higher by 7.75 points at 1,940.50.</p><p><strong>US economic data is heavy.</strong> Aside from the jobs report at 8:30 a.m. ET, wholesale inventories and consumer credit will cross the wires at 10 a.m. ET and 3 p.m. ET, respectively. The US 10-year yield is up 3 basis points at 2.17%.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-executives-keep-disappearing-stock-market-meltdown-anti-corruption-china-2015-12">Why Chinese executives keep disappearing</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="g3eWdveTpepeZ-LdZ73HZ6YlFXtKq3ZB" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

You Searched For "carlos sainz" and got 9 results

F1 picked up where it left off with a dramatic season opener which saw Ferrari's first win in 46 races and a furious Max Verstappen forced to retire

Will Martin

The creators of smash-hit F1 documentary 'Drive to Survive' say turning the sport into a 'soap opera' is the key to the show's success

Barnaby Lane

Max Verstappen is a key protagonist in F1's most dramatic season in years. As it reaches its climax, all he cares about is being a 'pure racer.'

Sam Cooper

Lewis Hamilton says he's battled long Covid 'all year' and even felt dizzy on the Hungarian GP podium

Sam Cooper

Cristiano Ronaldo skipped training and went to Ferrari's factory to buy a $2 million supercar the day after Juventus was thumped by a rival

Barnaby Lane

Social media's favorite fake rich kid opens up about his online persona — and his new real-life job

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