Formula 1
The height of European summer is always a fascinating time in Formula One.
The paddock is hot, sticky and sweaty. The organizers of the Hungarian Grand Prix, now back in its traditional place as the last race before the summer break, counter this by dotting the paddock with fans (the cooling kind), iced coffee on tap and, one year, even a paddling pool featuring an inflatable shark.
That build-up of heat and pressure often reflects goings-on in the sport, particularly when it comes to driver market ‘silly season.’ It’s around this point of the year the game of who goes where for the following season really steps up.
I’ll never forget having my quiet, peaceful brunch on the Monday after the 2022 Hungarian race ruined by Aston Martin announcing Fernando Alonso would be jumping ship from Alpine for the following year. One of the team’s press officers later told me she’d seen my Instagram story showing off my avocado on toast — I’m a peak millennial — minutes before the announcement. She knew full well they were about to change my day.
