Last year BYD made history by becoming the first brand to surpass Tesla as the world's leading manufacturer of electric cars with more than 2,260,000 units sold, a figure that rises to 4,550,000 electrified cars if we add the sales of hybrid cars.

"As long as we have it, nobody else will." This phrase was often repeated by former president Artur Mas in debates and meetings about the future of Formula 1 in Catalonia. Since the Circuit de Montmeló – now the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya – hosted the race for the first time in 1991, the Catalan government considered it a priority to maintain the circus in Catalonia, even though the cost was high. But the various changes in government and F1's multi-million euro demands strained the situation and generated doubts among the organizers, who weren't entirely sure if it was really worth investing in this competition, even though the financial return was also very high.

As a child, there was no more effective way to detach myself from the TV than when they were broadcasting Formula 1 races. The combination of hyper-speed vehicles—which my limited vision could barely detect—the crazy commentary of the commentators, and the imagined stench of gasoline kept me away from the screen for weeks. Formula 1 and my life have moved forward like two parallel rivers, with no feasible or latent possibility of getting closer. The change came thanks to a birthday present for Marcel's sixth birthday, a spare until then. As soon as the controls were properly charged with batteries that had to be fished out of remote drawers, the cars made a few reconnaissance laps around the living room before entering the darkness of the hallway.

Everyone knows that Max Verstappen is one of the most talented drivers in Formula 1. And that he has a lot of character, too. Sometimes the two combined have helped him achieve seemingly impossible goals. But when he gets his act together, everything goes wrong. That's what happened to the Dutchman at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where he ended up furious with the world and penalized for his poor performance following a non-sportsmanlike maneuver. He finished tenth and only scored one point. Oscar Piastri, on the other hand, won the race and widened the gap in the championship even further.

Formula 1 arrives this weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with many uncertainties about the future of the competition in Montmeló. For now, there is an agreement until 2026, and negotiations are underway to extend the contract for several more years. However, the arrival of Madrid on the calendar is a thorn in the side because it is very rare for a country to host two World Championship events. However, the managers of the Catalan track are optimistic and trust that the talks will come to a successful conclusion.

Max Verstappen won his first Formula 1 World Championship on the final lap of the final race of the season. A move ahead of Lewis Hamilton allowed him to begin his F1 reign. It was 2021. He was champion the following two years with almost insulting authority. Last year, he was also on the same path, but after winning seven of the first ten races, his Red Bull lost its potential, and Mad Max went ten Grands Prix without reaching the top step of the podium. He ended up being proclaimed champion, yes, although very close to Lando Norris (McLaren). This 2025, Verstappen will try to win the fifth consecutive crown, although it will not be easy, as Norris began to demonstrate in his debut in Australia, whose victory would have been easier if not for the rain and the multiple safety car calls.