#Competitive Advantage with Big Data

[techtoio]

The Impact of Big Data Analytics on Business Decisions

Introduction

Big data analytics has transformed the way of doing business, deciding, and strategizing for future actions. One can harness vast reams of data to extract insights that were otherwise unimaginable for increasing the efficiency, customer satisfaction, and overall profitability of a venture. We steer into an in-depth view of how big data analytics is equipping business decisions, its benefits, and some future trends shaping up in this dynamic field in this article. Read to continue

[ghostytoad]

* Fun n' Games *

ROTTMNT Boys x GN! Leo-esque reader who enjoys drama, making jokes, and being overall awesome

Summary: The Hamato brothers unexpectedly fall for the smug, but genuine, fun-loving reader despite their egocentric habits Headcanons for: Donnie

GN! Reader; Romantic; Fluff || Words: 1.6k

Raph | Leo | Mikey | Bonus!!

Donnie:

his first thoughts upon meeting y/n is that literally nothing could be worse. he could be boiling alive in one of meatsweat's fancy culinary stews and be less bothered by that than having to endure not one, but TWO LEOS

there goes the fleeting days of being able to complete his work in peace and quiet; o call back yesterday, bid time return

really tho, all his eye rolling and indifference is just an act that he refuses to let up on (he has a REPUTATION to uphold after all!!)

it doesn't take much time for donnie to warm up to y/n though; he's more or less used to his twin's antics and smug behavior and with y/n being almost exactly the same, it's like they've known each other their whole lives

he chalks it up to being comfortable with the familiar, but his brothers can definitely see it for what it is: a crush

he enjoys the competitive tension between y/n and him, it keeps him on his toes and gives him a boost when he feels out of it and needs the motivation

doesn't much care for the whole ego thing, but it doesn't bother him as bad as leo's does; at least y/n has good reason to be as cocky as they are. they're funny, they're charming, they're cool, they're incredibly perceptive

in fact, he's secretly made a list of all the good qualities y/n has and all the things he likes about them… it's like a whole 10 spreadsheets worth of data

to be fair, he does keep a similar list for his brothers and april, so it's not like he's stalking y/n or anything; it's just his way of "bonding" with his loved ones

but y/n's list is a lot longer than anyone else's; there's just so much to like about them. it only makes sense that their list of good traits happens to match up pretty well with his list of "things to look for in a potential mate" (a secret list that he will take to his grave)

whenever they go on missions, he makes sure to fit y/n in all his latest gear he's made them for their protection; they might talk big game, but donnie still has to take precautions!

he may or may not have taken y/n on a few purple dragon-related missions - AKA "let's go put whipped cream in all of their hard drives and cover their hideout in tinfoil wrapping just to fuck with them"; turns out that the police do not find it funny

"let me just say for the record that nothing's illegal unless it can be proven beyond reasonable doubt. and you can't prove that y/n and i were there so…"

y/n ain't no snitch, so don can trust them to keep their mouth shut if anyone ever gets suspicious of their misdeeds; this also makes them his go-to for some of the more emotionally heavier things that he can't talk to his brothers about

yeah, donnie's not great with emotions, but that doesn't mean he doesn't feel them - he genuinely finds y/n to be a comforting presence, especially considering their amazing emotional perception and how well they can read him

he finds it much easier to work when y/n's hanging around the lab with him; they don't have to interact much, all it takes is a visit from y/n and he's hit with a burst of motivation

gets more work done with y/n around than he usually does and takes advantage of this productivity by making y/n stay with him for literal hours even if they don't actively take part in his work

he's even made them a little corner with all of their favorite things in the lab so they can keep busy while he works; they might be good for motivation and all, but he knows better than to leave y/n alone with one of his inventions considering their… impulsive behavior (rip stun-bo feature, we hardly knew ya)

"w-what, leaving? you can't leave yet! i've only just started on this upgraded micro-transmitter for the tank and i need your help! what do you mean you just sit there for hours doing nothing? that's entirely false, you are helping me out immensely! now sit right there and don't touch anything until i tell you to-"

their easy-going nature really complements his more rigid and particular personality; together, they are an unstoppable and wildly chaotic duo

he might be the funniest turtle of the group, but y/n has him in tears with their lame little jokes and one-liners; he mostly only laughs at the roasts and teases directed at his brothers though

overall, his brothers have an ongoing bet over how long it'll be before donnie finally realizes he has a MAJOR crush on y/n; leo has his bets on "not in my lifetime", april predicts it'll be sometime after casey jr's time, mikey's a little more generous and says "maybe in the next decade or two", and raph is just fed up with it and wants it over with NOW

The buzzing and whirring of various tools occupied the otherwise silently uneventful lab as Donatello worked away on his latest project, completely absorbed in his work. Tucked away in the corner, sitting snug in the soft embrace of a plush beanbag, Y/N busied themselves with another round of Smash Bros on their purple (totally not Genius Built branded) Switch. Most days in the lab were spent in comfortable silence, as the purple coded brother did his best work when there were minimal distractions. But for Y/N, that meant keeping all audible cries of excitement or groans of defeat to a minimum while gaming. And sure, that was a reasonable request for a while, but had it really already been four hours?! As Y/N glanced down at their phone for the time, they let out a loud, heavy sigh as boredom overwhelmed their usually active mind.

"Don, how much longer do I gotta sit here? I'm practically dying of boredom. I'm terminal now. Terminal!" They slumped themselves back over the cushion, causing it to wheeze under the shifted weight.

"Just a few minor adjustments left and we'll be as good as gold." Donnie hadn't even looked up from the tester bot he was tinkering with, something which Y/N met with a frustrated scowl.

"And by a few, you mean…?"

"I still need to work on recalibrating the external displays to account for the large-"

"UUUGH, no, how long! I've been here so long that my leg's've atro- asta-… ASTROFIELD!"

Donnie could hardly contain the snort that sounded from under his welding mask.

"I think the term you're looking for is 'atrophied' and no, I seriously doubt that the mere act of sitting is enough to deteriorate muscle tissue."

"Whatever. I'm dying here and you wanna lecture me on-"

They were interrupted by the soft thudding of approaching footsteps, the unmistakable sound of Raph entering the lab.

"Heya, D. Y/N. Sorry to barge in on y'all, just wanted to check in and see if y'guys needed anything. It's been, uh… A while and it's gettin' dark so-"

"Raph, will you tell Dorkie here to quit holdin' me hostage and let me go? He's been keeping me prisoner here and I haven't even gotten my one phone call!" Y/N teased. Their moniker was successful in tearing Donnie's attention away from his desk across the room to shoot them a bitter glare.

"Heh, y'know Y/N, you could leave anytime you wanted, right? It's not like he's actually gonna trap you here. Er… Right?" Raphael's playful expression tinged itself with a hint of concern as he, for a moment, considered the possibility of a hostage negotiation with his little brother.

"Nah, I'm actually good here. I just want something more to DO when I'm here. I can't just be here for moral support, y'know." They stuck their tongue out at the softshell as they rolled themselves off the bag and plopped softly onto the tile floor.

The eldest mutant scratched at the back of his neck with a chuckle. Of course Donnie would tell them it's for 'moral support'.

"Uh, Y/N. You do know he only really keeps you in here because he's got a thing for you, right? That whole moral support thing's a load of crock."

It was at that moment that the ambient hum of tools stopped and tense silence flooded in its place. Y/N propped themselves up on elbows and craned their neck towards Donatello who sat faced away from them with tense shoulders bunched up.

Sensing the awkward situation he'd now put them in, Raph let out a small hiss of regret between his teeth and slowly shuffled his feet back towards the door.

"Riiight… So, you guys good? Yeah? Yeah. I'm gonna just-"

And with that, he practically bolted for the door, leaving Y/N and Donnie to stew in the thick air of their own embarrassment.

"D-Donnie…" Y/N could barely squeak, their eyes fixed to the empty doorway as if they were pleading for Raph to come back and take the awkward with him.

Donnie took in a sharp breath and in one swift motion, pushed his work chair back and spun to face his companion with only his iron-will keeping him from running out of the lab himself.

"I-" He started, his face dark red and his lip quivering with anxiety as his mind parsed through the many scenarios in which this sort of confession could've gone.

"I knew it couldn't have been just for my good looks." Y/N's smug grin and flirtatious wink did little to alleviate the mutant's humiliation.

"Huh?"

"For the record…" Scooting up to Donnie's hunched form, Y/N gently took his hands into theirs and kept their gaze locked to the floor as the faintest blush dusted their cheeks, "I have a thing for you too."

Out of every scenario he'd managed to file through, this one was one outcome he didn't anticipate. But one he would happily accept.

[misfitwashere]

ROBERT REICH

FEB 7

Friends,

I wanted to make sure you saw this piece by Lina Khan, who until a few days ago was chair of the Federal Trade Commission. IMHO — as someone who was once an official of the FTC — Khan was one of the wisest and most courageous of its leaders. She wrote the following in the February 4 edition of The New York Times.

Stop Worshiping the American Tech Giants

By Lina M. Khan

When Chinese artificial intelligence firm DeepSeek shocked Silicon Valley and Wall Street with its powerful new A.I. model, Marc Andreessen, the Silicon Valley investor, went so far as to describe it as “A.I.’s Sputnik moment.” Presumably, Mr. Andreessen wasn’t calling on the federal government to start a massive new program like NASA, which was our response to the Soviet Union’s Sputnik satellite launch; he wants the U.S. government to flood private industry with capital, to ensure that America remains technologically and economically dominant.

As an antitrust enforcer, I see a different metaphor. DeepSeek is the canary in the coal mine. It’s warning us that when there isn’t enough competition, our tech industry grows vulnerable to its Chinese rivals, threatening U.S. geopolitical power in the 21st century.

Although it’s unclear precisely how much more efficient DeepSeek’s models are than, say, ChatGPT, its innovations are real and undermine a core argument that America’s dominant technology firms have been pushing — namely, that they are developing the best artificial intelligence technology the world has to offer, and that technological advances can be achieved only with enormous investment — in computing power, energy generation and cutting-edge chips. For years now, these companies have been arguing that the government must protect them from competition to ensure that America stays ahead.

But let’s not forget that America’s tech giants are awash in cash, computing power and data capacity. They are headquartered in the world’s strongest economy and enjoy the advantages conferred by the rule of law and a free enterprise system. And yet, despite all those advantages — as well as a U.S. government ban on the sales of cutting-edge chips and chip-making equipment to Chinese firms — America’s tech giants have seemingly been challenged on the cheap.

It should be no surprise that our big tech firms are at risk of being surpassed in A.I. innovation by foreign competitors. After companies like Google, Apple and Amazon helped transform the American economy in the 2000s, they maintained their dominance primarily through buying out rivals and building anticompetitive moats around their businesses.

Over the last decade, big tech chief executives have seemed more adept at reinventing themselves to suit the politics of the moment — resistance sympathizers, social justice warriors, MAGA enthusiasts — than on pioneering new pathbreaking innovations and breakthrough technologies.

There have been times when Washington has embraced the argument that certain businesses deserve to be treated as national champions and, as such, to become monopolies with the expectation that they will represent America’s national interests. Those times serve as a cautionary tale.

Boeing was one such star — the aircraft manufacturer’s reputation was so sterling that a former White House adviser during the Clinton administration referred to it as a “de facto national champion,” so important that “you can be an out-and-out advocate for it” in government. This superstar status was such that it likely helped Boeing gain the regulatory green light to absorb its remaining U.S. rival McDonnell Douglas. That 1997 merger played a significant role in damaging Boeing’s culture, leaving it plagued with a host of problems, including safety concerns.

On the other hand, the government’s decision to enforce antitrust laws against what is now AT&T Inc., IBM and Microsoft in the 1970s through the 1990s helped create the market conditions that gave rise to Silicon Valley’s dynamism and America’s subsequent technological lead. America’s bipartisan commitment to maintaining open and competitive markets from the 1930s to the 1980s — a commitment that many European countries and Japan did not share — was critical for generating the broad-based economic growth and technological edge that catapulted the United States to the top of the world order.

While monopolies may offer periodic advances, breakthrough innovations have historically come from disruptive outsiders, in part because huge behemoths rarely want to advance technologies that could displace or cannibalize their own businesses. Mired in red tape and bureaucratic inertia, those companies usually aren’t set up to deliver the seismic efficiencies that hungry start-ups can generate.

The recent history of artificial intelligence demonstrates this pattern. Google developed the groundbreaking Transformer architecture that underlies today’s A.I. revolution in 2017, but the technology was largely underutilized until researchers left to join or to found new companies. It took these independent firms, not the tech giant, to realize the technology’s transformative potential.

At the Federal Trade Commission, I argued that in the arena of artificial intelligence, developers should release enough information about their models to allow smaller players and upstarts to bring their ideas to market without being beholden to dominant firms’ pricing or access restrictions. Competition and openness, not centralization, drive innovation.

In the coming weeks and months, U.S. tech giants may renew their calls for the government to grant them special protections that close off markets and lock in their dominance. Indeed, top executives from these firms appear eager to curry favor and cut deals, which could include asking the federal government to pare back sensible efforts to require adequate testing of models before they are released to the public, or to look the other way when a dominant firm seeks to acquire an upstart competitor.

Enforcers and policymakers should be wary. During the first Trump and then the Biden administrations, antitrust enforcers brought major monopolization lawsuits against those same companies — making the case that by unlawfully buying up or excluding their rivals, these companies had undermined innovation and deprived America of the benefits that free and fair competition delivers. Reversing course would be a mistake. The best way for the United States to stay ahead globally is by promoting competition at home.

[thetimesofindia]

Advantage India! As West moves away from China & Bangladesh, India’s apparel exports see big growth; $120 billion US market biggest opportunity

India's apparel exports are experiencing robust growth, driven by Western buyers seeking alternatives to Bangladesh and China. A significant 11.3% year-on-year increase in May signals a recovery from post-pandemic stagnation. Duty advantages over China and political instability in Bangladesh are further fueling this surge,

India is fast emerging as an alternate destination for reliable apparel sourcing for buyers in the West, as they move away from Bangladesh and China. India's garment exports maintained robust growth, showing an 11.3% year-on-year increase in May, according to data from the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI).This export growth provides relief to India's apparel sector, which experienced two consecutive years of difficulties following the pandemic. In the US market, India's share stands at $10 billion, whilst China maintains a $30 billion share.Buyers from developed countries are encouraging Indian manufacturers to increase production capacity and obtain necessary certifications. This push comes as India stands to benefit from duty advantages over China, resulting from reciprocal tariffs implemented during the Donald Trump administration.Advantage IndiaThe sector witnessed significant growth following political instability after Sheikh Hasina's government was removed in Bangladesh last August, according to an ET report. Export figures rose by 17.3% in September, followed by a 24.35% increase in October.Also Read | ‘Dramatic decline…watch out…’: China’s exports to US dip sharply amid Trump trade war; why India needs to be on the guard"There was a fall in India's apparel exports after Covid, as consumers bought fewer newer clothes due to excess purchases made during the Covid period.There was a period of stagnation or degrowth for about two years post Covid," said Sanjay K Jain, chairman, National Textile Committee, Indian Chamber of Commerce.The apparel sector began showing signs of improvement after the political changes and unrest in Bangladesh. Industry experts noted that due to the continuous nature of apparel production, buyers seek stability in their supply chains.Bangladesh's apparel sector has substantial manufacturing capabilities, enabling them to fulfil large orders quickly, which differs from Indian manufacturers.Also Read | Big win! China companies now exporting ‘Made in India’ smartphones & electronics to US, West Asia; notable shift for Chinese brandsThe export growth is expected to continue for Indian manufacturers due to duty advantages compared to China. "There is a big window of opportunity for Indian apparel exporters. The $120 billion US market is the biggest opportunity. All we need is to get the raw material at competitive rates," said Jain.Whilst apparel exports continue to rise, raw cotton imports are increasing as domestic prices exceed international rates. The projected cotton imports for India in 2024-25 are set to more than double compared to the previous year.The Cotton Association of India reports that the nation's cotton imports are expected to reach 3.3 million bales of 170 kilograms each in 2024-25, an increase from 1.52 million bales in the previous year.

[charles-leclerc-official]

2024 Austin Grand Prix Race Analysis

Charles brought home his third victory of the 2024 season with an impressive drive going from P4 to P1 in the first corner of lap 1. Behind him Max and Lando continued to battle while this weekend set up a very tight race for the WCC.

Table of Contents Ferrari - Charles - Carlos - Data Analysis Red Bull - Max - Max vs Lando: footage analysis - Data Analysis Mclaren - Lando - Oscar - Data Analysis Mercedes - George Conclusion

The Austin GP set the stage for the final stint of the 2024 season, and it’s looking like it has promised 3 way battles through Abu Dhabi. 

The thing I want to note before getting to the individual team sections is the yellow flag in qualifying. In Q3 George spun out in the middle of the session. After most drivers had put in one lap, but before most could complete their second lap. This impacted the qualifying results of many teams and drivers. Most notably Max who was looking like he was on track to score pole. Both Ferrari drivers were in the middle of good laps as well. And Lando and Oscar were also trying to improve. It interrupted what was already a competitive qualifying session, so it’s impossible to say what might have happened if qualifying hadn’t been interrupted. Max might have been on pole, but either Ferrari might have been able to get there, Lando might have kept it. I just wanted to point this out because I don’t think the qualifying results really reflect the best most of the top 10 had to offer for the session. 

Going off that I won’t be going over too much quali data. Because it wasn’t definitively representative, and it ended up not mattering that much with the race results. 

Final note, I don’t have much to say about the sprint. It happened. The points gained will be important in the WCC, and Max’s win is an important reminder that wins are on the table for him and Red Bull again. 

Ferrari

First thing to note about Ferrari is that while it was widely reported that Ferrari did not bring any upgrades, that isn’t quite true. Yes no aerodynamically new parts were brought to the track, however the front wing in Austin was not the same as the one used in Singapore. Since the FIA gave clarification on the permissible flexibility of the front wings Ferrari made a new wing with a more flexible composite. This wing is the same design as the one used in Singapore, but it’s more flexible. Since nothing about the design changed no upgrades were reported, but this was a key change to the car. 

Overall the car performance at Austin was strong. From free practice, to the sprint, to qualifying to the race itself the SF-24 was in fighting form. 

The pace both drivers extracted from the car this race really showed what the car is capable of, and I think highlighted all of the work the team has done to recover post triple header. Apart from that pesky fastest lap point Ferrari maximized results in the race. 

Charles

Charles qualified P4 and finished in P1 securing his third win this season.

As stated above, Charles’ qualifying was compromised by the yellow flag in Q3 he looked like he was on an improving lap from his first Q3 lap, but he had to abort and ended up qualifying P4.

This ended up working because come the race he was poised to pull off one of the moves of the season. Stealing the lead into turn one, overtaking the top 3 and securing P1 until the finish line. 

The move itself was more than a snap reaction. Charles noted after the race that he’d considered being able to gain places based on what he knew about how Max was going to drive into turn 1. The positioning on turn 1 on this circuit can be big in terms of who controls the front. There’s a lot of space to lose the lead and with the wide runoff a gap can be left. 

Charles made a pretty good prediction about what his opponents ahead would do into that turn and planned on how he wanted to take advantage of that. Excellent strategy. It’s an overlooked aspect of race strategy, it does matter who you are racing and what the stakes are for them, and you can use that knowledge to your advantage if you are really paying attention. 

Now an inside start at COTA is best. So Charles was positioned to be able to pull a move like this. 

I think the footage speaks for itself as far as the execution of this overtake goes. Smooth, perfect line.

Once Charles took the lead the race was over. The SF-24 had excellent pace all weekend, that combined with Charles’ tyre management really allowed him to build a sizable gap to comfortably lead the rest of the field. 

Another stellar performance from him, that brilliant overtake followed by masterful tyre management won him the race. 

Carlos

One of Carlos’ best weekends in some time. He was also on the pace this weekend, which I think highlights that the SF-24 was really suited to conditions on track and the team really got the setup right for both drivers. 

Carlos qualified P3 and again, that might have been better or worse if he’d been able to finish his lap. But a P3 start is solid. He started P3 and finished P2. 

In turn one at the start he was overtaken by Charles when Charles took the front. However because of Max and Lando’s fight going so far off track and Lando falling back Carlos did gain a place on Lando at the start, which would be important later in the race. He stayed P3 with Max ahead, but he was ahead of Lando in the Mclaren, which was a win for Ferrari because keeping the Mclaren cars behind in dirty air is crucial. 

Carlos had a minor problem with his car in the early laps. It was fixed pretty quickly, but that made it so the focus of the team was split on making sure his car was good instead of being able to focus on track strategy. Since he was struggling with power in the car on turns he lost roughly 1-2 seconds which notably dropped him out of Max's DRS.

The interesting thing about Carlos' race that I will dig into a little more with Max’s section is when he undercut Max in the pits. That was when he jumped from P3 up to P2, securing the front of the field for Ferrari. 

After that it was about maintaining the correct pace behind Charles. 

What we saw from this point onward was basically the same pace intervals Ferrari set in Australia just reversed(Australia had Carlos in front, whereas this time Charles was in front, but strategically it’s effectively the same scenario). Where Carlos stayed roughly 5 seconds behind Charles. He needed to stay in clean air, but also be close enough he’d be able to react if something did happen to Charles. Once they were in control of the front they went back to the same strategy and management they used before for the same situation and it worked perfectly. Carlos kept the correct pace, catching up to Charles and then hitting those lap times, and coming in for the 1-2 finish. 

Good drive from him, some of his best tyre management all year I would say.

Data Analysis

Comparison of Charles and Carlos race pace. 

Their pace on the hard tyres was pretty much identical. You can see the way the team were managing to keep them roughly on the same pace through that stint. This is when both drivers had the benefit of clean air. Carlos was far enough back he didn’t have to worry about dirty air off Charles which made things easier for him as well. This is one of the benefits of having control of the front so you can make it so both drivers are getting good conditions to set pace. 

Carlos on the mediums was slower by an average of 3-5 tenths of a second. This is mostly explained by the fact he was further back and needing to deal with more dirty air. Also the mechanical issue as mentioned earlier.

Here is a look at the top 4 on the first stint which I think highlights how powerful that clean air was this race. Carlos, Max, and Lando all getting similar pace on the mediums, while Charles is able to just keep a healthy gap ahead. 

Red Bull

Max

Max had his best weekend in some time. The RB 20 has had some improvements and they seem to have solved some of the issues with the car that were hindering it’s pace and raw speed. He started off with a win in the sprint, starting from pole there. 

Max qualified P2 and finished P3.

As stated above the qualifying interruption forced him to abort a lap some believe would have put him on pole, it was looking like a good lap, but it’s impossible to say for sure as others could also have improved. Nevertheless it doesn’t take away from the fact that Max was back competing at the front this weekend. 

At the start of the race Max went for a move to overtake Lando on the inside. Both ran wide, and Max did overtake Lando into turn 1. Because of how wide he and Lando went that opened the door for both Ferraris and specifically Charles to jump ahead. Max did manage to keep Carlos behind, but importantly Carlos did jump ahead of Lando here.

I will cover his turn 1 overtake in the footage analysis section below. But in short Max was ahead at the apex and had the right to the racing line at that point. 

Max was in P2 until the second stint of the race when he was undercut by Carlos in the pits. I found this to be a strange strategic oversight on Red Bull’s part. They didn’t seem very concerned about that undercut. Which I don’t see the advantage to be gained there. I don’t think this was intentional but instead was a pretty significant mistake on the part of the team. They seem to have underestimated Ferrari’s race pace this weekend. So that is how Max lost the place to Carlos.

While Max was running his best race in a few rounds the car was far from perfect. It struggled with race pace in terms of the tyres. 

Max vs Lando

Turn 1 lap 1: this was the first incident between these two when Max attacked off the line going into turn 1 and ran Lando wide. This was allowed because it was the first turn and first lap so there is a lot more leniency when it comes to incidents like this. Now Max had completed the overtake before Lando went off the track. He was ahead at the apex and stayed on the racing line. He ran wide but not wide enough for it to be penalty worthy.

Here are the key moments of his turn 1 overtake. The key moment is in panel 2 when he has his wheels clearly ahead at the apex of the corner. He also stayed ahead in panel 3, so it's pretty clear he did have the right to the corner and was ahead when it counted.

Lap 52: On lap 52 going into turn 11 Max was the defending driver. Lando on fresher tyres had caught up to him and was trying to make a pass. He’d already made quite a few attempts which Max expertly defended.

Lando stayed ahead and this was rewarded with a 5 second penalty from the stewards. Because of this he finished ahead of Max, but was dropped down a place due to the penalty because he did not finish more than 5 seconds ahead of Max.

Let’s take a look at the footage. This interaction has already been torn apart by many others but here is a quick breakdown of the key moments.

The thing to note here is that Lando was not comfortably ahead of Max in the lead up to the corner as shown in panel 1. He was oscillating with Max's pace, which is pretty normal when you see cars go side by side on these long straights. To say a moment when he was ahead for maybe a second was a complete overtake is not accurate and would completely change the definition of a successful overtake.

Another key moment is shown in panel 3 where Max's wheels are clearly ahead at the apex, again giving him the right to the corner.

Finally the moment that defined this exchange is in panels 5 and 6, where Lando was completely off the track, got ahead of Max. He overtook Max off the track. Which is a very clear cut penalty, especially after Max was ahead.

Max was in the right. He was racing according to the current standard of the rules. Lando did not have a right to that corner, and he overtook off the track. This is a well established precedent that Max and all the other drivers were well aware of. You can take issue with the current rule all you like, but drivers are supposed to drive according to the rules as they are currently understood, and they permit for this kind of maneuver from Max.

I will cover more about Lando and Mclaren’s side of this in his section below.

Data Analysis

Here is Max vs Lando on race pace

I think this shows the lacking pace Mclaren were having on the mediums. They were the weakest out of the top 3 on that compound. The thing to not on the hard stint is that Lando pit later, so when he was chasing Max he was on 6 lap newer hards. But you can see that Max was setting a much slower pace compared to Lando, even before Lando pit, so that was the target pace Red Bull were aiming for, and given Max noted a lack of performance on the hards it makes sense they'd need to slow down to extend the life of the tyres. Max didn't have much of a choice, the tyres and the car decided the pace.

Max's P3 finish and sprint win were important for Max's WDC bid because finishing ahead of Lando in both the sprint and the race itself allowed him to keep his gap to Lando and even increase it by a few points.

Mclaren

Another messy race for Mclaren, which seems to be their calling card this season.

The most notable parts of Mclaren’s race happened on lap 1 and lap 52. 

Lap 1: Lando started on pole, but lost the lead into turn one, to Max and Charles and Carlos. So right away Mclaren lost their lead and had to play catch up in the race.

Lap 52: Lando overtook Max off the track and the team told him not to give the place back. 

The biggest error from the team came with the order they gave Lando to keep the position after he overtook Max off the track. This was an extremely risky call and one they should not have made if they were not willing to face the very likely consequences.

I think the radio exchange between Lando and the team is very telling here.

Here the team is telling Lando he is in the right. And they maintained this after 2 laps when they would have had time to look at the footage and see Max was ahead. I think at this point they were hoping that it wouldn't stick because both cars went wide, not because they actually thought Lando was ahead.

The thing at the end is Lando kind of reviewing what they should have done, and he's right. They took a massive risk and it didn't pay off and it wasn't worth taking. The team should not have supported Lando in a risk like this, he needs them to give him the best information and there was no way for Lando to know any differently until he was out of the car what that pass actually looked like. So jsut bad support and a horrendously bad strategy call from the team.

Mclaren appealed the stewards decision of the 5 second penalty. And they changed their opinion in the documentation. Stating that Lando had already overtaken Max before reaching the corner, and thus Lando was the defending driver. Well during the race they were saying that Lando was ahead at the apex. So they changed their opinion based on the footage. Because they could not argue that Lando was ahead at the apex, he wasn't. But their argument also falls apart because if Lando had already overtaken Max he would have been ahead at the apex now wouldn't he? He wasn't, the footage is very clear on that front.

So they really just wanted to try to bend the rules in their favor. And got very upset when the stewards and FIA didn't do that for them.

Lando

This wasn’t all the team’s fault. Lando is responsible for a lot of the circumstances that led to this issue in the first place. He qualified on pole and finished in P4. 

Lando’s driving this race was sloppy and again showed his lacking abilities at wheel to wheel. First he lost the lead going into turn 1. And again, he didn’t just lose the lead, he lost the lead to three other cars. His pole win in Singapore was aided by the fact the rest of the field saw a drop in performance. When he needs to actually defend the lead it’s fairly predictable how this will go. 

He ran wide in an attempt to defend from Max (which was a very predictable outcome, everyone knew what Max was going to try)

However the other issue came when he was trying to pass Max which eventually led to the lap 52 incident. He was attempting the same pass multiple times and Max easily defended. I don’t know why he kept trying what was essentially the same move. He had a pretty big tyre advantage at that point so his chances of passing Max eventually were high, but he was still struggling. 

I think one issue with his wheel to wheel in this case is Lando seems to assume if there is a big enough pace difference between his car and the defending car then the defending car will go easy or simply roll over. Max was not in a great position pace wise, but he still defended expertly. 

Assuming that a pass should happen or should be easy is not a good way to approach these battles. Especially when a championship is on the line. Max had no reason to make this easy, even if it meant driving harder and burning through his own tyres more. 

This race was a replay of Austria in many ways. Again Lando’s lacking ability at actually competitive wheel to wheel battling on track was the main issue here. 

The rest of the problems came from the team making a very bad call to not give the place back. 

Overall a mixed to lacking race from Lando. 

“Lando was ahead of Max before they entered the turn, therefore he’d already overtaken Max”: That’s not how that works. You need to have the car you’ve overtaken behind you. Being side by side and slightly ahead does not constitute an overtake on a straight. I recommend watching Lando’s overtake of George in the COTA sprint opening lap, he was ahead before the turn, but the overtake was not complete until he managed to make it stick. I also would recommend paying attention to the Ferrari’s (and the Ferraris vs George) that sprint as well to see some examples of when things get close before the overtake sticks. Going side by side and even being ahead does not mean the overtake has stuck, you need to be able to stay ahead at the corner. Or get the defending car fully behind you. Lando did neither of those things. It was not a complete overtake and thus Max remained the defending driver. 

To overtake a car must be ahead of the defending car at the turn (Lando was not in this case)

And the overtaking car must be capable of making the corner (again Lando did not make the corner) A defending driver is allowed to defend their line, so that is part of the necessity to make the corner. Lando did not fulfill. These are well known precedents that Mclaren should be aware of. 

Furthermore this is a harder overtake to make. That corner is one where an overtake on the inside is significantly more advantageous. Max knew that so that’s where he defended. Lando tried for the same less successful overtake approach and it’s not surprising it was difficult to make it stick. This comes down to an issue with his wheel to wheel skills. 

“Max forced Lando off the track!”: Max was the defending driver, he made the apex under control, and thus he gets to determine his racing line. Lando took a risk going around the outside, that is a well known risk on that particular move. 

Oscar

Oscar's weekend was middling. I think that after looking at his first 2 years on this track that Austin overall is not a strong track for him.

He qualified P5 and finished P5.

Now his race was somewhat hobbled by the fact he was asked to slow down by the team. Mclaren did not want him to get the fastest lap (which Lando was holding until it was taken by Franco and then by Este) and also they didn't want him to be too close to Lando in case Lando did get a penalty.

So his race results were a result of his own qualifying and then sealed by team strategy as a result of what was going on with Lando further up the field.

Data Analysis

A comparison of Lando vs Oscar's race pace.

Very similar. Lando got slightly better results out of the medium tyres, but overall they were pretty much matched.

Comparison of Oscar vs Lando's qualifying laps.

The places where Oscar lost the most pace compared to Lando in quali was the low speed corners. Looking at the more detailed telemetry I think Oscar's main problem here was his timing. His throttle, and brake applications were just not timed right at certain corners.

Mercedes

This was a rough weekend for Mercedes. Both George and Lewis had incidents. George spun out in qualifying at turn 19, and Lewis spun out at the very same corner during the race.

The car had been difficult all weekend. With both drivers struggling with the car. The upgrades Mercedes brought to the weekend don't seem to have added any performance to the car and in fact have made it more difficult.

Lewis spoke about how he's never had issues like this at this track before. And I think that is telling. He noted bouncing in the car, making it too unstable.

I think that the current Mercedes car is very sensitive to conditions. There were pretty strong winds at Austin and I think the car was struggling all week being destabilized by the crosswinds. With unstable upgrades and a car that is very sensitive to the wind neither driver had a strong chance to succeed this weekend.

George

After he crashed in qualifying George had to start from the pitlane because his car needed repairs. He managed to finish the race in P6 which made for an incredibly strong recovery drive from him. An underrated drive of the race.

Conclusion

Overall I think this race strengthened Max's WDC bid. It also brought Ferrari closer to the WCC. Not only that Charles is now in the fight for P2 of the WDC. Interesting race from the standpoint of quite a few cars and how they are adjusting to upgrades changes to the cars. This has set the stage for a very competitive final 5 races this season.

That's all I got, see you in Mexico!

[superm4ks]

I think this a good time as any to share what I think H0rners big brain been cooking for some time, especially after the Spa fiasco wid Danny ric and allegedly big sponsors having to step in to save Checos seat ((Im skeptical of those reports but they not really the point, Checo bringing Liberty, and rbr, a lot of money from very intense LATAM pockets never been a secret, and it does matter in the cost cap era, its just how things are. Plus replacing Checo not something that keeps Horner up at night believe it or not, and that's where my word vomit comes in)).

I been sitting wid this 1 for some time, but mind u its all speculation on my part and mostly incoherent because my brain is completely fried these days. But stay wid me 😭😭. Adrian Newey leaving-- not just because of how it was announced, the way it was dealt wid internally, the shit he's been saying to press now ((he's tired and needs a break but been shopping around for teams like he's bored on hinge)) -- was , imo, more of a statement of distrust. In the rbr project, but mainly in Horner. He no longer believes Horners ability to succeed, he prolly already knew the rb20 as an evolution of the rb19 had its set of obvious limitations when it came to suspension once the field closed up, he knew they were headed down a difficult type of season, he took a step back, he saw the cracks begin to delve deeper and deeper into nastiness between the Verstappen camp and Horner, he saw Horner refuse to take accountability while Max very pointedly and UNLIKE all the other red bull drivers refused to express his unconditional support for Horner. Quite the opposite, Verstappen began making threats. Centering the importance of the car ((!!!)) and a stable environment, not Horners innocence or lack thereof. He doesn't care about that, as long as hes got the people and the car to work wid. Keep that in mind.

But back to the Newey divorce . Adrians one of the most important figures in motorsport period, he knew he had better options, perhaps some financial motivations, why not, he said thank you, I don't trust you anymore, goodbye. So here falls a core, original pillar of Milton Keynes, arguably one of the most successful aerodynamicists of all time. 1 of Red Bulls bishop, gone. Still, they rallied behind Wache, they said Adrian hadn't been part of development for some time, their factory remains strong, they can fill in the gaps, rbr is STABLE, sure sure sure.

Imola, Canada, Spain. We all hold hands wid Max and play pretend for a lil bit. Verstappen factor and all that bullshit. But for some reason, Max delivers the same conclusion every post race presser. This car is falling behind. We are starting to struggle. The sim data and the on track data don't correlate. This car is not gonna win constructors. Idk how the fuck its even the WDC. CHECO of course appears to be driving for my cousin's bumper cars themed birthday party so we can all point and laugh and marvel at how a driver known for his experience and who's won races and gotten poles to suddenly drop to fucking p6 in the standings. Surely this is the worst driver of all time. Surely.

Austria. Rbr pit stops, already looking kinda iffy since the beginning of the season, hit a new low. Lando, wid a single good overtake, wins the race, effectively beating Max on track. Max didn't let him. And he came out of it with a points advantage too, because he made a choice regarding his driving and how he wud defend his position. In a better car, that's never a choice he has to make. But the car isn't on par wid Mclaren. Rbr factory development has, quite clearly, stalled. Upgrade packages go backwards.

Hungary. Yeah. Everything is stable and the car was good and Max was beyond delighted of course.

So, that's stable environment gone, competitive car gone, and now off goes Wheatley to fulfill his tp destiny. Somebody , who, once upon a time, was rightly identified as the guy who wud replace Christian Horner due to the severity of the allegations made against him. Yeah, remember when Horner shud have fucking been fired? But Horner stayed, Newey left, and Wheatley left. To disconnect these events is, imo, a lil bit insane. Wid Wheatley gone, that's red bulls bishop n2 fallen. I think its fairly reasonable to assume somebody wid 2 cats in Monaco is straight up not having a good time anymore.

So, where do Checo and Danny ric and that fucking seat come in. They're all part of this dance, but I think in a way that's been fairly misinterpreted. See for a long time now, prolly since he signed Danny ric to do tiktoks, even before Vcarb became a thing, Horner has not been looking for a replacement for Checo. He's been looking for a replacement for Max. Ik, again, this is me letting the voices take over. Lemme say some unhinged shit before u call the cops. Max is an impossible teammate. U cant match Max on pace over an entire season, u cant prioritize a driver over Max when it comes to development, u cant tailor a car to somebody like Checo ((which , because Im so fucking money on this, is what Horner has just claimed he's gonna start doing post Spa)) and not Max, because, simply put, the car will be slower. Max can drive faster cars, he can deliver the poles, he can give rbr a fighting chance, he's been doing that shit, wid more or less success, all season, most of his fucking career actually. Now, who do y'all know who also qualifies very well, likes a pointy car wid a shit ton of oversteer and recently been caught discussing rb20 failings wid Verstappen himself. Danny ric. And Danny ric, like Checo, is very much in the Horner camp side of things. Danny ric, rn, comes wid bonuses of loyalty and trust and maybe a lil chip on his shoulder that Verstappen quite simply does not have, or cares to have because that brother is trying to get his fourth championship, not survive f1. Danny ric comes as a success story for red Bull amidst very trying times for the brand, the silver son who bent the knee and came home to warm hugs and big smiles after nearly getting fucking taken out back in a farm by Zak brown. U put that brother next to Checo or Lawson or whoever u also have the bonus of not having one of the best drivers of all time absolutely refuse to finish behind them, which can be a lil bit annoying if the car is shit too.

Horner is a stingy, extremely egocentric asshole, who prolly shudve been fired a long time ago, and he's not the team principal I thought he was. Horner's strength as a tp came from standing on business for his WDC once the going gets hard. He's doing none of that this season, at least not for Max. He's just a man, and at the end of the day, he's got the pride and insecurity of one, too. If he thought Newey was expendable, well sure u already have a bald man in the team who gives a fuck ((????)), if he thinks Wheatley is expendable, that's pointing towards a more personal type of dutch centric trend, because if he thinks MAX is expendable ... if this 2023 Merc stinking ass fucking season is headed the way I think its headed baby. I wish him good luck .

[usafphantom2]

The F/A-XX 6th Generation Fighter Announcement That Never Happened

ByKris Osborn4 hours ago

F/A-XX Fighter from U.S. Navy

The Pentagon, the Navy, the aerospace industry, and much of the world closely watch the US Navy’s ongoing source selection for the 6th-Gen F/A-XX carrier-launched fighter. Due to the program’s secrecy, little information is available. It was supposed to occur days ago according to some solid reporting. So why the delay?

The F/A-XX Fighter: When Is the Big Reveal?

F/A-XX Fighter for US Navy

F/A-XX Fighter for US Navy. Navy graphic mockup.

Weapons developers, the defense community, and the public anticipate the expected announcement, and some might wonder why the decision is taking so long. The program is expected to move into Milestone B and transition to the well-known Engineering, Manufacturing, and Design (EMD) phase at some point this year, and only Boeing and Northrop Grumman remain alive in the competition.

Boeing is famous for the F/A-18 Super Hornet and was, of course, just selected for the Next-Generation Air Dominance F-47 6th-gen Air Force plane. Northrop is known for building the F-14 Tomcat.

Both companies have extensive experience engineering carrier-launched fighter jets, and both vendors are doubtless quite experienced with stealth technology.

It may be that Northrop has an edge with stealth technology, given its role in generating a new era of stealth technology with the B-21 and its history of building the first-ever stealthy carrier-launched drone demonstrator years ago called the X-47B.

Extensive Evaluation

Navy and defense evaluators will examine key performance specs such as speed, stealth effectiveness, thrust-to-weight ratio, fuel efficiency, aerial maneuverability, and lethality, yet there is an entire universe of less prominent yet equally significant additional capabilities that Navy decision-makers will analyze.

Requirements and proposal analysis for a program of this magnitude are extensive and detailed, as they often involve computer simulations, design model experimentation, and careful examination of performance parameters.

The process is quite intense, as the evaluation carefully weighs each offering’s technological attributes and areas of advantage against determined requirements. Requirements are painstakingly developed as Pentagon weapons developers seek to identify what’s referred to as “capability gaps” and then seek to develop technologies and platforms capable of closing those capability gaps by solving a particular tactical or strategic problem.

F/A-XX Fighter

F/A-XX Fighter. Image Credit: Boeing.

Navy developers likely envision a 6th-generation, carrier-launched stealth fighter as a platform capable of closing or addressing many capability gaps.

While little is known about the program for security reasons, the intent is likely to combine F-22-like speed and maneuverability with a new generation of stealth ruggedized for maritime warfare and carrier deck operations. Carriers are now being configured with special unmanned systems headquarters areas designed to coordinate drone take-off and landing.

This station requires deconflicting air space, accommodating wind and rough sea conditions, and ensuring a successful glide slope onto a carrier deck.

As part of a 6th-gen family of systems, the F/A-XX will be expected to control drones from the cockpit, conduct manned-unmanned teaming operations, and take-off-and-land in close coordination with drones.

Networking & AI

Boeing and Northrop have extensive drone-engineering experience and mature AI-enabled technologies. The Navy is likely closely looking at networking technologies. Each vendor platform must conduct secure data collection, analysis, and transmission to ensure time-sensitive combat information exchange.

This requires interoperable transport layer communication technologies to interface with one another in the air in real-time.

For example, the platform best able to successfully gather and analyze time-sensitive threat information from otherwise disparate sensor sources, likely enabling AI at the point of collection, will be best positioned to prevail in a competitive down-select.

F/A-XX. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

The F/A-XX will not only need to connect with each other but also network successfully with F-35s and 4th-generation aircraft and ship-based command and control.

This connectivity will likely require gateway applications. These computer technologies are engineered to translate time-sensitive data from one transport layer to another.

Key targeting data may arrive via a radio frequency (RF) data link. At the same time, other information comes from GPS, and a third source of incoming data transmits through a different frequency or wireless signal.

How can this information be organized and analyzed collectively to a complete, integrated picture and delivered instantly as needed at the point of attack?

This is where AI-enabled gateways come in, and the vendor most successfully navigates these technological complexities will likely prevail.

About the Author: Kris Osborn

Kris Osborn is Military Technology Editor of 19FortyFive and the President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.

@Johnschmuck via X

[mariacallous]

For the past eight months, Europeans uncomfortable with the way Meta tracks their data for personalized advertising have had another option: They can pay the tech giant up to €12.99 ($14) per month for their privacy instead.

Launched in November 2023, Meta introduced its “pay or consent” subscription model as fines, legal cases, and regulatory attention pressured the company to change the way it asks users to consent to targeted advertising. On Monday, however, the European Commision rejected its latest solution, arguing its “pay or consent” subscription is illegal under the bloc’s new digital markets act (DMA).

“Our preliminary view is that Meta’s ‘Pay or Consent’ business model is in breach of the DMA,” Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the EU’s Internal Market, said in a statement. “The DMA is there to give back to the users the power to decide how their data is used and ensure innovative companies can compete on equal footing with tech giants on data access.”

Meta denied its subscription model broke the rules. “Subscription for no ads follows the direction of the highest court in Europe and complies with the DMA,” Meta spokesperson Matt Pollard told WIRED, referring to a Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) decision in July that said that Meta needed to offer users an alternative to ads, if necessary for an appropriate fee. “We look forward to further constructive dialogue with the European Commission to bring this investigation to a close.”

In a press briefing on Monday morning, Commission officials said their concern was not that the company was charging for an ad-free service. “This is perfectly fine for us, as long as we have the middle option,” they said, explaining there should be a third option that may still contain ads but are just less targeted. There are different, less-specific ways of providing advertising to users, they added, such as contextual advertising. “The consumer needs to be in a position to choose an alternative version of the service which relies on non personalization of the ads.”

Under the DMA, very large tech platforms must ask users for consent if they want to share their personal data with other parts of their businesses. In Meta’s case, the Commission said it is particularly concerned about the competitive advantage Meta receives over its rivals by being able to combine the data from platforms like Instagram and its advertising business.

Meta has a chance to respond to the charges issued on Monday. However if the company cannot reach an agreement with regulators before March 2025, Brussels has the power to levy fines of up to 10 percent of the company’s global turnover.

In the past week, the EU has issued a series of reprimands to US tech giants. The Commission warned Apple that its App Store is in breach of EU rules for preventing app developers offering promotions directly to their users. Brussels also accused Microsoft of abusing its dominance in the office-software market, following a complaint from rival Slack.

[chibrary]

The Chrimer: 2016, GP3.

In 2016, Charles returns to ART Grand Prix as one of their GP3 drivers. This would be the first (and only) time he'd race under their name in single-seaters; previously, he had karted for the team in 2012 and 2013. It's a good team. By the time Charles joins the roster, they've come off of winning five teams' championships and three drivers' titles in just six seasons.

Their success isn't the only reason why this partnership is advantageous to Charles. It also puts him with some familiar faces.

ART GP was co-founded by two men that would be very integral to Charles' career: Nicholas Todt and Frederic Vasseur. Todt would be the manager that saved Charles' career in karts, and Vasseur would later be Charles' first F1 Team Principal.

In the press release, Charles says:

"I am delighted to be back with the big ART Grand Prix family after my karting seasons in 2012 and 2013. GP3 is a very competitive category and I will be in the best team in the championship. The atmosphere is good and everything everyone is working with a common goal: to win. I am excited about the car they have prepared for this season and I can't wait to start the championship. My objective is clearly to fight for the title."

GP3 would eventually be merged with the Formula 3 European Championship-- the category Charles had competed in the previous year-- to form present day F3. In 2016, however, GP3 was considered a minor step up from F3: the cars were a little faster, and the tires were a little more difficult to master.

Somehow, Charles' announcement that he would be graduating to GP3 with the top team wouldn't be his biggest press release of the week.

On March 1st, Ferrari formally announces Charles as the newest member of the Ferrari Drivers Academy. This had been rumored for months.

Ferrari goes a step farther by also announcing Charles as a Ferrari Development Driver and "on the books" of its F1 customer team Haas. The position with Ferrari would mean that Charles would be working on the Maranello simulators to test data for Vettel and Raikkonen, and the connection to Haas was rumored to be structured so that Charles could gain experience by driving in FP1 practices during the season.

At this point, Haas was the customer team closest to Ferrari; Sauber would not rebrand as Alfa Romero until late 2017.

Charles is the favorite going into the 2016 GP3 season, to the point where Motorsport.com titles their season preview "Can anyone stop Leclerc?":

“His karting record and early campaigns in single-seaters suggest Leclerc might be one of the biggest talents of his generation, but with that has come the burden of expectation. Still, early indications suggest he won't buckle and, if he doesn't, he might be unstoppable. [..] No wonder our entire panel picked him as the champion, Leclerc is the whole package - super fast, quick to adapt, consistent, strong racecraft. It might put too much pressure on him but not winning the title, which is as option in this field, would be a disappointment.”

Charles starts off his GP3 career dominant. He impresses in tests by going fastest:

Before the GP3 season starts, Charles gets his first taste of the future by testing a F1 car for the first time.

He drives a 2014-spec F14T at Fiorano with the goal of completing the 300km needed to be granted a free-practice-only super license. Charles is the first GP3 driver who tests that season.

The FIA super license is the qualification needed for a driver to compete in the F1 World Championship. In order to get a full one, a driver must (as of 2021):

Be at least 18 years old at the start of their first F1 competition

Already have an International Grade A competition license

Have a valid driving license

Pass an FIA test on the F1 sporting codes and regulations

Completed at least 80% of each of two full seasons of any of the approved single-seater Championships

Accumulated at least 40 points over the previous three seasons in those championships

Getting a full F1 super license is critical to Charles' hopes of bypassing F2 for F1 next season. He comes into this season with 17 super license points: 10 from finishing runner-up in the 2014 Formula Renault 2.0 Alps, and 7 from finishing fourth in the previous year's F3 European Championship. In GP3, 30 points are given to the winner and 20 to the runner-up; this means that anything less than first would eliminate his chance of jumping to F1 in 2017.

Charles would continue to excel through the end of the season. Unlike in F3, he would come out swinging and continue strong until the very last race. Charles wins the series opener in Barcelona; he goes from second row to leading the race by the first corner, and never looks back.

According to reports, Ferrari Team Principal Maurizio Arrivabene sneaks away to see Charles' first win as a member of his FDA.

Charles finds his only rival that season in a familiar face: Alex Albon, an old karting teammate and fellow member of the ART GP team. If you want in a more in-depth look into their relationship this season, you can read Part 2 of my Chalex primer.

It is important to note that Alex and Charles trade wins and share multiple 1-2s throughout the season, like so:

In June, Haas would officially announce Charles' first Grand Prix weekend as a test driver. He'd replace Esteban Guiterrez in five practice sessions throughout the season, starting in Silverstone.

Charles does well. He says to NBC Sports:

“It’s been an amazing experience for my first time in a Formula 1 car. I was struggling quite a lot at the beginning, as Silverstone is quite a hard track with lots of high-speed corners, and I found the steering wheel quite stiff in comparison to anything I’ve driven before. However, it was a great session and lap after lap I gained confidence. The last run was on old tires, so we couldn’t show our real pace, but I think we were quite fast. We completed the program and that was the main aim, so I’m happy with that. It was probably one of the best days of my life, and to do it with Haas has been even more amazing.”

Gunther Steiner, the Haas Team Principal, agrees:

“I found it quite good how calm he was about the whole thing, and we must never forget this is an 18-year-old kid in an F1 car - the fastest racecar in the world. I wasn't surprised by him, but I was impressed by him and what he did. [...] He was very professional, he did a good job, and he showed he can do it.”

Four days later, Ferrari brings Charles back to Silverstone to test in one of their cars. He describes the difference to Autosport.com:

"It's two different things. In FP1 with Haas that was mostly for the team because they had a weekend after, and I had to work for them and do as many kilometres for them as possible. With Ferrari it was a long day so we could plan it a bit better. Unfortunately we couldn't do many laps because of a little problem on the old power unit, but both experiences have been amazing. It's still good to get experience in two different Formula 1 cars. The more cars I try, and the different ways I see of working, the more experience I get."

It's very clear that Jules is on Charles' mind as he tests at Ferrari. He talks extensively to the press about his mentor:

“Jules advised me really well in the past, and all his comments he gave me in the past I keep in mind and try not to make the errors he told me not to do. [...] Jules was one of the talents who would have gone [to Ferrari] if the things that happened hadn't have happened.”

Jules' memory weighs heavy on him for that entire season.

Charles continues performing at a high-level both in GP3 and as a test driver: rumors for his next season remain abundant, especially as he stays at the top of the standings. One of the largest rumors is that Charles will bypass GP2 for an F1 seat with Haas the next year.

These hopes are soon dashed. In September, Gunther announces that they will not be signing Charles for 2017. He says:

“In the position we are in, he's too inexperienced. I wouldn't say too young, as Max Verstappen does a good job. We highly respect what Leclerc is doing in FP1, he was on the gain immediately. But what we need as a team is somebody who can score points. We need to train the team, we cannot train the driver. It [taking a rookie] is not an option at the moment, it's not a thing we want to do."

The comparisons with Max continue to loom over Charles, both in F1 and GP3. An F1 junior driving ranking says in the lead up to the final race:

“In an age in which every junior driver is seemingly being measured against Max Verstappen, Leclerc is one of the few who clearly compares favorably. His Euro F3 campaign in 2015 was in my view every bit as impressive as Max Verstappen’s the year before. In 2016, Leclerc stepped up to the considerably more powerful GP3 cars and generally looked strong since winning the first race of the season. He leads the championship going into the last race weekend and most importantly leads another Ferrari junior, Antonio Fuoco, who is now in his second year of GP3. While a Formula 1 seat cannot be out of the question, I expect Ferrari will promote Leclerc to GP2 next. They may still be wary after their previous top junior, Raffaele Marciello, struggled to continue his earlier junior successes in GP2.”

The final race weekend of GP3 ends up the most important: Charles and Alex go into Abu Dhabi each with the chance of claiming the Championship.

Alex says:

"I think Charles' gap is a bit big. In a way I don't have anything to lose, there is no real pressure or anything for me. It's just about doing my job doing the best that I can and let's just hope Charles has a bad weekend."

Neither of them actually finish the feature race. Alex– who had gotten pole position that weekend– hits Jack Aiken while fighting for the lead and has to retire. Charles doesn’t make it much longer in the race; he gets run off the track by Santino Ferrucci while fighting for third.

It doesn’t matter. With the way the points are, Charles wins from the sidelines.

He says:

 “It was really strange to be champion and finish in the wall at the same time. When I heard on the radio we were already champions because Alex was out, then I took the risk. […] But it’s an amazing moment. So much dedication into this season - it’s amazing to finish on a high, on a low, but winning the championship.”

He also makes it clear that sometimes you can be a champion and still make time for drama:

“To be honest what Ferrucci did was completely stupid, I will have to go see him and talk to him. What he [Ferrucci] did already from the beginning of the race was really crazy, I already had problems [with him] this season and he kept going knowing I’m [competing for] a championship, which is really stupid.”

Charles finishes the season with 202 points to Alex’s 177. In December, it is announced that Charles will take Pierre’s-- who has just won GP2-- Prema spot.

And if ART GP is good, Prema is great. It sets Charles up for another banner year.

[sgiandubh]

Lionsgate/*** quarter call - not so good as it seems

While I am still fumbling around with the strike's aftermath, let me just quickly say a word or two about ***'s last quarter call, yesterday. Nobody does it as @cb4tb, but FWIW, here goes:

I should immediately say I could not watch the replay on the link provided by the initial press release (here: https://investors.lionsgate.com/news-and-events/press-releases/2023/10-19-2023-140125017), despite my total good will to take one for the team, go to bed early and wake-up at ungodly hours. I have no idea why - maybe access is somehow limited? I would never know, I had no 403 error in my browser, so... 🤷‍♀️. Instead, I could peruse the paper version of the standard Company Quarterly Report (US SEC Form 10-Q), along with some scarce press comments, for a bit of context.

The document is damn long (94 pages) and it reads exactly like I presumed: a kidney stone would be easier to pass (https://investors.lionsgate.com/financial-reports/sec-filings). It's perhaps worth for this phrase alone (on page 43), which really made me stop in my tracks:

At the time of the document's public release, it is technically true and accurate that the tentative deal between AMPTP and SAG-AFTRA still has to be approved by the union's members. However, given the horrendous impact of the strike on almost all things Hollywood and California, for that matter (more on this in a separate post), it's more than likely the deal will hold. The rest is dire: more slashing of content to come, 'if the Company is unable to efficiently complete the production of the film, TV show or program or decides to abandon the production'.

While this does not seem to affect Season 8, this could (I repeat: could) mean that: a) BOMB is gone and b) MIK3 is no longer a priority (the fact that MIK 2, as OL, was listed among the last quarter premieres is not a guarantee it will be continued - not the same amplitude as OL). If so, Season 8 might start shooting as soon as January 2024, since it already has all the needed infrastructure and staff readily available at Cumbernauld (yes, Mordor, the peasant you all love to hate managed perhaps to save the day again!). So OL is doing ok on that side, unlike other productions of other studios, who reportedly started a mad scramble for location scouting and staff recruiting, just before the festive season - that is a big competitive advantage and one of the main reasons I believe it's still entirely possible to pull it off.

The 'thriving' future (according to Feltheimer, that genius 🙄) of *** as a standalone company is still something we severely lack data on, as Lionsgate kept its commitment to go on with the acquisition of Entertainment One (you know, the Peppa Pig people), for a mere 375 million USD, to be completed by January 31, 2024. At the same time, *** is not the only actor on the US media & tech market to proceed to lay-offs and it seems to fare better than many, as I already supposed and told you:

(Sourced at: https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/starz-layoffs-exit-uk-australia-lionsgate-1235779627/).

Something to be closely monitored in the upcoming weeks. I think it's going to be worth it. Sorry for not bringing any sensational content today and I know it's dull and probably uninteresting AF, but it's there and it has to be taken into account, for sure. So yes, 'not as good as it seems' (profit is now mainly driven by motion picture, not television production), but not as bad as expected by the prophets of doom across the street, who - as usually - have no damn idea of what they are talking about.

[hirocimacruiser]

BNR32

The 550 horsepower specification emphasizes durability and is ideal for fully tuned basses!

Blast Tuning continues to build fast cars in the Tokai region, a fiercely competitive area. The tuned car that our sister shop, Used Car Blast, recommends is this 1993 GT-R.

This blast-tuned car is equipped with a Nismo turbine, strengthened actuator, high cam, and more, and its displacement has been increased to 2.7L. The power output is 550 horsepower with a boost of 12 kg/m2. Even now, it has been designed to be extremely fast. Moreover, the engine itself is packed with the know-how that Blast has cultivated over the years, so there is still plenty of room for durability.

Tuning with normal engine

When doing so, the bottleneck is always the lack of durability of the oil pump and valve guide. Trouble always occurs when the engine is rotated over 8,000 rpm and blows out, but this engine has been completely replaced with a stronger one. Big turbos such as T88 can handle over 600 horsepower.

It is perfect for hard tuned base cars.

When I actually test drove it, I felt that the displacement was increased.

It takes full advantage of the benefits of the motor, and rotates smoothly from low to high speeds. Although it is equipped with a high cam and large-capacity injector, the idling is stable, and with this good finish, you can even use it for commuting once you get used to the OS twin plate.

It's very natural.

The price is now 3.48 million yen. base car

There is nothing better for both.

PIC CAPTIONS

●The main injector has been replaced with a 720cc large-capacity type, and the ground level has been adjusted using a blast original computer. The engine room looks normal.

●The glove box houses the oil pressure gauge, exhaust temperature gauge, boost gauge, and EVC. The interior is very clean as it is a 1993 model. There is no sagging of the seat at all.

●A Nismo bumper is installed at the front, and an HKS legal intercooler is installed inside it. It comes with 17-inch PanaSports wheels. There's still plenty of tires left.

INFO BOX

Skyline GT-R

1993 model inspected March 2010

3.48 million yen

Tune data: Displacement 2.7ℓ

Reinforced connecting rod

Reinforced oil pump

Reinforced valve guide

Nismo turbine

Reinforced actuator

Blast computer

720cc injectors

68 degree/68 degree cam

HKS Legal I/C

EVC

OS Twin plate Clutch

Bilstein C ring coilover reinforced suspension

SHOP INFO

used car blast

380-1 Kawado, Matsukawado-cho, Kasugai-shi, Aichi 486

0568-84-7740

Test drive of tuned car is OK. Of course, we also purchase items, and we also offer loans at 5.9%, which is cheaper than other stores. Please come to our store once!

[pneumaticactuatorchina]

‌Top 10 Pneumatic Actuator Brands In 2025

The pneumatic actuator market continues to thrive in 2025, driven by advancements in automation and industrial efficiency. Based on comprehensive evaluations by CN10/CNPP research departments, which integrate big data analytics, AI-driven insights, and market performance metrics, here are the leading brands shaping the industry‌.

‌1. SMC (SMC Corporation)‌

‌Performance & Reliability:‌ As a global leader since 1959, SMC delivers over 10,000 pneumatic components, including high-precision cylinders, valves, and F.R.L. units. Its products are renowned for durability, energy efficiency, and adaptability to extreme industrial conditions. ‌Industry Applications:‌ Widely used in automotive manufacturing, semiconductor production, and robotics, SMC’s actuators ensure seamless automation across 80+ countries. Its China-based facilities, established in 1994, serve as a primary global production hub‌.

‌2. FESTO (Festo AG & Co. KG)‌

‌Performance & Reliability:‌ With nearly a century of expertise, Festo combines innovative engineering with IoT-enabled solutions. Its actuators emphasize precision control, low maintenance, and compatibility with smart factory ecosystems. ‌Industry Applications:‌ Festo dominates sectors like pharmaceuticals, food processing, and renewable energy, offering customized automation systems that enhance productivity and sustainability‌.

‌Other Notable Brands In The 2025 Rankings‌

While SMC and Festo lead the list, the following brands also excel in specific niches:

‌Brand A‌: Specializes in compact actuators for medical devices.

‌Brand B‌: Focuses on heavy-duty applications in construction machinery.

‌Brand C‌: Pioneers eco-friendly designs with reduced carbon footprints.

‌Key Trends Driving Market Growth‌

‌Smart Automation‌: Integration of AI and real-time monitoring in actuator systems‌.

‌Sustainability‌: Energy-efficient designs aligned with global decarbonization goals‌.

‌Customization‌: Tailored solutions for niche industries like aerospace and biotechnology‌.

This ranking underscores the critical role of innovation and adaptability in maintaining competitive advantage. Brands that prioritize R&D and cross-industry collaboration are poised to lead the next decade of pneumatic automation‌.

If you want to learn more about low-priced products, please visit the following website: www.xm-valveactuator.com

[digital-working]

Best IT Outsourcing Services in Delhi for Business Growth

Connect With Us Now - https://hiringgo.com/services/outsourcing-services-in-delhi/it 

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, businesses in Delhi are turning to IT outsourcing services to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and stay ahead of the competition. IT outsourcing allows companies to delegate critical IT functions such as software development, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and technical support to expert service providers.

Delhi, being a thriving tech hub, offers numerous IT outsourcing firms that cater to businesses of all sizes. These companies provide end-to-end solutions, including infrastructure management, application development, and IT consulting, ensuring seamless operations and business growth. By outsourcing IT services, businesses can focus on their core operations while benefiting from the latest technologies and expertise.

One of the key advantages of IT outsourcing services in Delhi is cost-effectiveness. Companies can access skilled IT professionals without the need to invest in in-house teams, reducing overhead costs. Additionally, outsourcing partners ensure 24/7 support, cybersecurity protection, and scalable solutions tailored to business needs.

With rapid technological advancements, outsourcing IT services also helps businesses stay updated with the latest industry trends. Whether it’s cloud computing, AI solutions, or big data analytics, IT service providers in Delhi ensure businesses leverage cutting-edge technologies for enhanced performance.

Choosing the right IT outsourcing partner is crucial. Businesses should evaluate service providers based on expertise, client reviews, and service offerings. A reliable IT outsourcing company will not only provide cost-effective solutions but also drive innovation and efficiency.

For businesses in Delhi looking to streamline operations and gain a competitive edge, IT outsourcing services are the key to success. Partnering with the right service provider can transform IT infrastructure, enhance security, and drive long-term growth.

[regina-bithyniae]

it has been remarkable to see the speed at which the libertarian/capitalist right has turned on their temporary allies in the downwardly mobile middle class white man faction. Throwing the Indian tech worker in that tweet is an incredibly directed insult

it’s also been remarkable to see how naive the far right were, to think that the libertarians were actually as racist as the media said they were.

I’ll admit with some embarrassment that I’m disappointed. I voted against the trump ticket for moral reasons, as well as climate change and a few other topics, but if they had to win, I was hoping that I’d at least get some blatant racial favoritism as a small consolation prize, and maybe enough extra societal clout to protect my family and people I care about. Full steam ahead Silicon Valley takeover is the worst possible timeline

Extended bit:

to clarify, because that ask makes me sound like a lunatic: I morally dislike racism, but the anti-immigration right wing at least offers me one single thing that benefits me and those I care about. Employment hypercompetition against everyone else on Earth sounds very bad. the democrats nominally dislike me for my race/gender, but are right about most things, and are mostly pretty half ass about actually discriminating against me. The Rufos and Hananias of the libertarian-ish tech right are offering me literally nothing that benefits me, and they’re wrong about all the issues I care about. It’s the worst possible deal.

(I got this last week, only got around to really writing something now.)

You have some interesting points and mix of views. Median voter in my inbox?

I find identitarian politics paired with demands for discrimination against rival groups, whether through DEI and affirmative action hires or through exclusion of immigrants and kicking women out of the workplace, to be an odd combination. If you really think your group is the best one around, shouldn't they do just fine in a competitive labor market? All they would need is a level, colorblind playing field and they should win out. (I understand this is not your viewpoint, but just wanted to throw it in)

That aside, you still have a lot to lose from widespread racial favoritism!

First of all, the whites who are going to be on the hiring committees for the prestigious jobs are going to lean liberal, and liberal whites already favor other groups over whites. White in-group favoritism is mostly found among the loser whites who won't be helping you swing a lawyer/data scientist job. So this is already a bit of a dead end.

Secondly and more seriously, labor markets (and post-secondary school applications) allow us to match talent with where it is best put to use through comparative advantage (labor markets) or standardized testing (school applications). Getting people to the positions they're best suited for is very important, and it's already difficult due to search frictions!

Say that everyone went out and discriminated in favor of their race to an equal, moderate level. In this case, it would all mostly balance out in racial bias, except now everyone is worse-matched into jobs that match their competence and every firm and institution now ends up less competent.

And if you think about your place in the economy, you'll see that you are very, very dependent on dozens of firms and institutions doing their jobs well. A 3% competence hit across the board would hurt pretty badly!

Lastly, just about immigration specifically, the funny thing is that immigrants are not perfect substitutes for domestic workers, who have better English-language communication skills. Here's a pretty good assessment of the immigration and labor markets situation:

If you take in a pretty broad selection of professions, then no indiviual sector should be flooded and see wages collapse for native workers.

A big issue I care about is the increasing returns to scale in economies - more people doing high-skill jobs means more people thinking of prouctivity-enhancing ideas which can be spread non-rivalrously throughout the economy, making everyone richer. This would be particularly important for technology-related professions, so STEM workers are probably the most vital. Immigration of high-skill workers is a very good route towards this.

I do think immigration can be done badly - Europe has some serious problems with hardcore Islamic migrants who do not want to assimilate, while being very costly welfare recipients, economically unproductive, and often very violent. But this is not the case in the USA.

---

One line I've seen among more think-ey antiwoke right wingers is that they just want white people to be allowed to have identity politics too; is that too much to ask?

I think that sounds like an even worse case than the current situation, as the largest ethnic group in every western country embracing identitarianism would make the entire country about ten percent stupider and less functional, and hopefully the above points go some way to explaining why.

[phragmitessoftware]

Why Digital Marketing Agency Matters to Your Business

World being a digital place, nobody does not wish to compete with one another because it builds itself into a business. Which might be rather easy with such tough competition around in this rapid change in the digital marketplace. This is the very reason why many companies use digital marketing agencies in order to gain more visibility in the virtual space and hence establish a momentum for their business. Now, so what is a digital marketing agency and why do any organizations need it? Let's discuss its key advantages and services.

What is a Digital Marketing Agency?

A firm with experts in each stage of digital marketing is known as a digital marketing agency. They try to reach the desired market target with creating brand awareness and revenues generated by effective digital marketing plans developed by them suitably. They use high-end tools and technologies for designing a suitable campaign on more than one channel, which include social media, search engines, email, and websites.

Core Services a Digital Marketing Agency Must Have

A good digital marketing agency should ensure that not any aspect of the digital marketing service goes unattended by offering different kinds of services to the clients. This may include:

SEO. Also known as web optimization, the top ranking on SERPS, perhaps, is the best gauge of how visible a website is. Therefore, agencies do keyword research; optimize on-page content and build backlinks that help your website gain organic traffic.

Pay per Click Advertising, PPC: PPC campaigns include Google Ads and create quick traffic to the website. The agency optimizes how the money spent in advertisements to ensure the reach of correct people and optimal ads' optimization towards conversion.

Social Media Marketing. Agencies run a paid campaign on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and every other space; business creates the ability to interact with the audience to develop a sense of brand loyalty.

Content Marketing: The best digital marketing is a great base of content. Blog posts, videos, infographics, and all other things are developed by an agency to attract and retain customers.

Email marketing. This has been there from the beginning of when digital marketing was at its start; it is still standing good as one of the most productive strategies. Agencies come up with campaigns to nourish leads and sell more.

Web Design and Development: Be your business small or big, your website has to be user-friendly as well as looking good. Agencies ensure that your site is optimized aesthetically as well as functionally.

Analytics and Reporting: It is quite crucial to track the performance of marketing campaigns. Agencies provide in-depth analytics and reports of ROI evaluation and data-driven decisions.

Why Hire a Digital Marketing Agency

Here are good reasons why partnering with a digital marketing agency is the right move:

1. Exposure to Expertise

This means that digital marketing covers all from graphic design to analytics. Here, a digital marketing agency has experts who have specialized in particular areas so your campaign is addressed by the professionals.

2. Cost-Effective

Engaging an in-house marketing team is expensive, especially to small-sized business concerns. The agency places an entire team of professionals right in front of you, without requiring a quarter of their billable amount.

3. Focus on core Business Activities

Time spent in the process of marketing campaigns is nothing short of monumental at its core. You’re getting freed off of your list, or even just simply transferring the follow-up work of marketing campaigns off of you are delegated by hiring a digital marketing agency.

4. Scalability

With how fast businesses are growing, does that mean that the need to expand one's marketing requirement. This is exactly what a digital marketing agency can do-to scale services upward when it's needed without having to hire more employees in your book.

5. Catch the Trends

Organizations keep side by side of the most recent patterns and advances to keep your trade ahead of the competition. 

Not all agencies are the same, and it is always important to find a suitable one that aligns with your goals. Here are some tips:

Check Their Portfolio: Look into their past work to find out whether they have the experience needed in your industry.

Read reviews and testimonials: This is one of the best ways to know their dependability and effectiveness.

Ask them how they approach: the right agency will address it in a customized way with you not that blanket one-size-fits-all package.

Transparency: Keep them communicating and always apprised of your performance.

Digital marketing agencies no longer exist as luxuries but instead as a need in today's world of advancing technology. Expertise would be very well in line with cost effectiveness, while innovation would bring strategies together. Companies can navigate through these apparent online marketing complexities; it would be either for branding awareness, lead generation, or even to enhance sales.

[brunhildeelke]

Why Should We Consider Using Predictive Analysis in Travel?

This is a combination of past data along with present-day data, artificial intelligence and statistical models to forecast customers' expectations and market conditions in the travel industry. It is an evolutionary transformative approach that assists travel businesses in performing efficiently and providing customers with solutions tailored to their needs.

How Does Predictive Analysis Work in the Travel Industry?

The concept of predictive analysis for the travel industry is the use of complex patterns and statistical information from the past to estimate future actions, behaviors, and trends of consumers. The benefits of this technology are, therefore, increased efficiency of resource use and improved customer experience and revenue.

What Predictive Analytics is used in the Travel Industry?

Analytical models and artificial intelligence are incorporated with statistical methods in predictive analytics to analyze data about the past and the present in the travel industry. This enables travel companies to forecast customer requirements and market development and even enhance their organizational effectiveness.

Data-Driven Decision-making Significance & Impact in Travels

This business intelligence tool guides travel organizations in making the right strategies by examining past customer data, market situations, and external circumstances such as climate or economic circumstances. This makes it possible for businesses to maintain their flexibility in highly competitive business environments.

Personalization Using Forecasting

Personalization is one of the main uses of predictive analytics. An understanding of customers’ needs helps travel businesses decide on such strategies as marketing messages, promotional destination suggestions, and variable high/low price options.

Improving Company’s Performance

Sensitivity to operational efficiency is another advantage. Airlines forecast their maintenance requirements so that unnecessary airplane out-of-service time is minimized whilst optimizing employees in a hotel to suit expected room use, leading to better service delivery and cost efficiency.

What are examples of predictive analytics in travel?

Several cases of Predictive Analysis in Travel reflect its applicability to various business issues, including the pricing strategy along with customer acceptance. Here are some details of this application across the industry.

Dynamic Pricing Strategies

Pricing for products or services is continually changing to meet the demand, influenced by features such as time of year, customer preferences, and trends. This happens in air ticketing services and hotel reservations.

Predicting Travel Demand

Predictive analytics relies on historical information as well as inputs received in real time to predict the demand for individual places or services. It enables travel companies to plan inventory and marketing ahead of time.

Customer Retention Analysis

Travel organizations apply big data techniques to switch customers who are likely to churn, and they do that by offering special loyalty programs or individual offers.

Managing Operational Risks

Aviation managers and transportation companies use forecasting techniques to prevent possible disasters like weather disturbances or equipment breakdowns and ensure a proper flow of operations.

Marketing Campaign

They aid marketing to get the optimum value for the amount invested to reach audiences that are likely to respond to a given campaign.

What Is AI for Predictive Analytics in Travel?

AI for predictive analytics in travel aims to analyze large volumes of data and extract patterns and insights that are useful in predicting travel trends. This is because it allows the business to double the ways through which it can better deliver, operate, and even forecast the market far better than any conventional.

What Are the Use Cases of Predictive Analysis in Travel?

Examples of the application of predictive analytics across the travel industry range from operational optimization to engagement. Looking at the data, challenges, and opportunities can be identified, and travel companies can then respond.

Airline Flight Plan / Flight Path Optimization

Predictive analytics helps airline companies fix the best routes and time to save costs and satisfy their customers.

Customer loyalty programs as a concept

Travel companies use the predictive model to create efficiencies in loyalty programs that appeal to regular traveling clientele.

The art of destination marketing needs to be enhanced.

Marketing departments within tourism boards and travel companies look for trends in data for the best places tourists are likely to visit when spending their money on travel and then market accordingly to avoid wasting the most amount of money on a particular place that no one wants to visit.

Conclusion: How Predictive Analysis Shapes the Travel Industry

The broad concept of using advanced data analysis to drive better decision-making, improve customer satisfaction, and improve operational performance has reshaped the travel industry. This is a strategy that enables a business entity to forecast the market needs and allocate resources in an appropriate manner to be in a position to design and deliver unique products to the market, hence very relevant to the current market environment.

However, in the future, as the industry moves forward, predictive analytics will be of higher importance when facing some of the issues, including demand volatility, organizational inefficiencies, and customer loyalty. Drawing upon the concepts of AI and machine learning, travel firms can forecast developments, control possible adverse effects, and ultimately tap into new sources of revenue.