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

Lauren Theisen

Max Verstappen on the podium with both pieces of his trophy

Racing

There Is Only One Way To Deny Max Verstappen His Trophy

Luis Paez-Pumar

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

Kathryn Xu

There Will Be No Surprises

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

Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 19, 2022 in Montreal, Quebec.

Max Verstappen Is A Brick Wall

The FIA Safety Car leads the field on the formation lap during the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 29, 2022 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco.

The Monaco Grand Prix Was A Rain-Soaked Quagmire

Carlos Sainz of Spain driving (55) the Ferrari F1-75 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at the Miami International Autodrome on May 08, 2022 in Miami, Florida.

Miami Was Ready For Formula 1, But The Track Was Not

Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing retires from the race during the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit on March 20, 2022 in Bahrain, Bahrain

Red Bull’s New Engines Started The F1 Season With A Wet Fart

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)