CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

Logan Sargeant drives a Williams car in the Qatar Grand Prix.

Racing

The 2023 Qatar Grand Prix Was An Atrocity

Kathryn Xu

Lance Stroll of Canada and Aston Martin F1 Team looks on in the FIA garage during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar.

Lance Stroll Is The Weakest Part Of His Father’s Team

Luis Paez-Pumar

Race winner Carlos Sainz of Spain and Ferrari celebrates with Second placed Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 17, 2023 in Singapore, Singapore.

Carlos Sainz’s Best Teammate In Singapore Wasn’t Even On His Team

Lauren Theisen

Max Verstappen on the podium with both pieces of his trophy

There Is Only One Way To Deny Max Verstappen His Trophy

A flooded street is pictured in Cesena on May 17, 2023 after heavy rains caused major floodings in central Italy. Trains were stopped and schools were closed in many towns while people were asked to leave the ground floors of their homes and to avoid going out, and five people have died after the floodings across Italy's northern Emilia Romagna region.

Formula 1 Cancels Imola Grand Prix Due To Deadly Floods

Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes hugs LL Cool J on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 07, 2023 in Miami, Florida.

Miami Grand Prix Driver Intros As Narrated By LL Cool J, Ranked

Kelsey McKinney

A screenshot showing Alex Albon's vehicle entering the pit lane, which is blocked by many photographers. On the left is a long graphic showing the race car standings.

Just My Opinion: Don’t Let People Stand In An Active Pit Lane

Fernando Alonso of Spain driving the (14) Aston Martin AMR23 Mercedes spins after a collision at the second restart during the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit on April 02, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia.

The Australian Grand Prix Was A Mess Of The FIA’s Creation

Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Ferrari looks on after retiring from the race during the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit on March 05, 2023 in Bahrain, Bahrain.

The Bahrain Grand Prix Was Chaos For (Almost) Everyone

Defector Staff

Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes talks with Valtteri Bottas of Finland and Alfa Romeo F1 during Day One of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on March 10, 2022 in Bahrain, Bahrain.

2023 Formula One Drivers, Sorted Into Sweeties And Enemies

Second placed Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Ferrari celebrates with teammates following the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on November 20, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Ferrari Backed Its Way Into The Right Strategy

Pole position qualifier Kevin Magnussen of Denmark and Haas F1 talks to the media in parc ferme after qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 11, 2022 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

An Exciting Outing Doesn’t Redeem Formula One’s Obsession With The Sprint

Race winner and 2022 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with Second placed Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on October 09, 2022 in Suzuka, Japan.

The Formula One Title Race Got The Anticlimactic Ending It Deserved

Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on from the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on August 28, 2022 in Spa, Belgium.

Max Verstappen Is The Fun-Killer

These Ferrari Bozos Can Make A Mess Of Any Situation

Fernando Alonso of Spain and Alpine F1 looks on in the Drivers Press Conference prior to practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 17, 2022 in Montreal, Quebec.

F1’s Silly Season Is Here, So Let’s Make Sense Of The Chaos

Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Ferrari looks dejected as he walks in the Paddock after retiring from the race during the F1 Grand Prix of France at Circuit Paul Ricard on July 24, 2022 in Le Castellet, France.

Ferrari Is Choking On Its Own Incompetence

Ferrari’s Worst Enemy Is Itself

Third placed Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes talks to the media in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 19, 2022 in Montreal, Quebec.

F1 Races As One, Except When An Old Racist Comes For Lewis Hamilton

An F1 Car Is Not A Porpoise

Ferrari Engines Go Boom Again

David Roth

The McLaren pit crew gets ready for a driver during the Miami Formula One Grand Prix.

Podcasts

Porpoising In The Speed Zone, With Luis Paez-Pumar

Second placed Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP waves from the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 12, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Sorry About The Screwjob, Lewis, But Here’s A Knighthood, Old Chap

Patrick Redford

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Giri Nathan

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 12: Race winner and 2021 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates with his team after the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 12, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)