#Markers in Bahrain

[dilemmaontwolegs]

Not A Verstappen: Sibling Rivalry {1}

Pairing: F1 drivers (platonic) x fem!reader Summary: A little crack!fic as a driver!reader who is Max's little half-sister. Warnings: 18+ only, lots of bad language, protective big brother, sibling antics, daddy issues. WC: 2k F1 Masterlist NAV: Sibling Rivalry One || Two || Three NAV: Gridlocked One || Two || Three

There was nothing that irked you more than being called a Verstappen. Yes, you were Max’s sister, but that was where the relationship with the name ended. Your sperm donor, as you publicly referred to Jos, had never been a part of your life and that was one blessing you were thankful for. 

Somehow the bastard's genetics had won and that stupid racer’s blood ran in your veins. You liked to go fast. Your mother said that you could run before you could walk and the same went for driving. At 17 years old you had your super licence before your drivers licence, making it legal to drive at 200 mph around a circuit with insane corners but not 30 mph on the street.

Something about that seemed…odd.

It was worth it in the end. You could still remember the look on Jos’ face when you signed for Alpha Tauri. Oh, how the bastard had tried to credit himself with your achievement. But there were more similarities that you shared with your half sibling than you were willing to admit. One of those shared traits was brutal honesty. And you had let your honest thoughts fly when Jos opened his mouth.

Three years later the sperm donor was still bitter. He would surely have to get used to it, especially since you had just been named as a Red Bull driver, alongside Max.

Round One - Bahrain 2022 “This is a historical first, siblings racing together on the same team,” Ted Kravitz said as he walked along the pit, stopping outside Red Bull’s garage. “The two Verstappen's will be fighting each other for the Driver Championship, once again, while simultaneously working together to win the Constructors Championship. A very, very exciting season ahead I can already tell.”

You had been pulling your helmet on, about to climb into the RB18 when you heard the comment. The short temper you were well known for flared and you sauntered into the pit lane. “Hey, Ted Crapitz,” you called out as he stood writing in that little notepad of his.

He looked up a little stunned and his eyes darted at the camera that was always following him around. “It’s, uh, Kravitz.”

“Oh, my apologies, I thought it was just normal to make up offensive surnames. No?” you asked as you arched an eyebrow at him. “Because Verstappen isn’t mine, so don’t ever call me that again.”

“S-sorry, my mistake,” he stammered, but you were already shoving your helmet on and grabbing the halo to climb into your car. “A bit of a slap on the wrist for me there.”

You had no doubt that the video would go viral and the comments would call you a bitch but you didn’t care. Jos was a piece of shit and your mother didn’t raise you all on her own, working two jobs to pay for your karting years, just for you to be called a fucking Verstappen.

There was no better feeling than pulling out of the garage and heading to the track. The finely tuned car purred beneath you and you could feel the restrained power of it just waiting for you to pass the pit marker so you could push the throttle and free the beast you had worked hard to control.

“Radio check,” your engineer, Nicholas, ordered through the headset.

“Tell big bro to keep his mouth closed during the race. It can’t be healthy to eat my dust.” 

“Understood.”

The jeroboam size bottle of Ferrari Trento looked enormous in your hands as you shook it up and sprayed Charles and Carlos back after drenching you first. You may have been on the bottom step of the podium but you celebrated as if you had taken 1st place. Turning the bottle on the crowd, you spotted Max at the front with a wide grin on his face as he cheered with the rest of Red Bull. 

It was a little disappointing that he had DNF’d but there was always next week to battle it out again. In the meantime you enjoyed the adrenaline of the podium finish and the image of Jos standing to the side with a face like a slapped ass. It was a feeling you could definitely get used to.

Round Eleven - Great Britain 2022 The leaderboard changed almost every week, flipping like hotcakes between you and Max. It was labelled as sibling rivalry, and for once the media got it right. Though you hadn’t grown up with Max there was an innate need to know who was better, who could push the limits harder and who could get away with it. Some weeks it was you, some weeks it wasn’t. It was all part of the fun. 

Fun. Now that was something that came in spades. The camaraderie that came with the competitiveness was always something you enjoyed moving up from F3 and F2 before reaching F1. With only 19 other people sharing the same experience with you, it was impossible not to grow close to them. 

“Can you let Max in front today?” Lando asked as you walked along the grid. “Please?”

“Why would I do that?” 

“Because he’d rather look at your ass than Max’s, if he can hold third place.” You turned to the other McLaren driver to see a grin splitting the Australian’s face. 

“Aww, Lando, the real English gentleman,” you tutted sarcastically as you pulled your balaclava off your shoulder and snickered when it slapped Lando across the back of his head.

“Unnecessary violence, Spitfire,” he gasped before muttering under his breath, ���I know who you get that from.”

A growl pulled back your lips and you punched him none too softly in the bicep, which was a double edged sword because it was far harder than you were expecting and you felt the hit in your knuckles. 

“Oh, Lando, Lando, Lando,” Daniel chuckled as he walked off to his car. “When are you going to learn?”

“You know the car goes faster with less weight,” Lando said as he rubbed his arm.

“Yeah, so?”

He shrugged sheepishly. “All that baggage you carry is weighing you down.”

“Well, that’s just stupid, metaphors weigh nothing...” You pulled your balaclava over your face as you walked from the second row to the front where the two Red Bulls were parked side by side. 

“Hey Lan,” you called out as you turned back with the urge to lighten the mood after he had looked crestfallen. “Don’t get too excited when I warm up my tires, that’s not me shaking my ass for you.”

You could see the corners of his eyes wrinkle with a smile that was hidden by the balaclava he pulled on. “A lad can dream, Spitfire.”

You had earned the nickname of Spitfire from dog-fighting your way to the front of the pack and it was one you were proud of, it certainly beat being called a bitch day in and day out. 

“Just keep it to your dreams, yeah? I’m already paying too much for therapy.”

“You can talk about your daddy issues later,” Max interrupted, tossing your helmet into your waiting hands. “Get in your car, zusje.”

You grinned to yourself as the formation lap began and you started weaving across the track to warm your tires. All Lando would be able to think about was your ass as the rear wing swayed side to side and the thought of made you laugh since you lived to torment the guys on and off the track.

“Radio check.”

“I can’t wait to show everyone the upgrades.”

“Understood.” There was a pause before Nicholas returned. “Uh, you weren’t scheduled for any upgrades.”

Your start was terrible as Max flew away at lights out and then you were nearly clipped in the first turn by Lando, the swerve you took to avoid a collision letting Charles slip straight past.

“DRS activated this lap.”

You passed the starting line on the heels of Charles, Lando close behind but not close enough to use DRS just yet. The Ferrari was quick but he was out of Max’s DRS range and your straight line speed was far superior, it was only a matter of time before you reached the first DRS zone and made your move to overtake. 

“Did you just use indicators?”

You laughed as you hit the buttons on your console before pulling out of the slipstream, the rear wing opened to reduce the drag, and flew past the red car. You hit the new button the electrical engineer had rewired before pulling in front of Charles and laughed as you saw the replay on the big screens around the circuit.

“It’s only polite to indicate when overtaking. Have you never read the road code?”

“I’m more worried about the FIA regulations than the road code.”

“You worry too much, Christian can afford a little fine.”

“£150,000 for a laugh! Are you taking the mick outta me?”

You tried to keep a serious face as you faced Christian but one look at Max’s amusement had a smile cracking through. 

“No, you don’t get to laugh about this,” Christian snapped, pulling your attention back to him. “You too, Max. It’s like having a couple of fucking children around here.”

“It was nothing to do with me,” Max argued. “I would never pull a stunt like that.”

“You have something on your nose,” you said as you pointed and he wiped at it. “Nope, still brown.”

His lip twitched before he snickered and playfully shoved your shoulder. 

A heavy sigh of disappointment filled the private room in the motorhome and you both looked at Christian. “With Max winning last year we are going to be under even more scrutiny, and this sort of behaviour isn’t going to earn us any favours. Cut the shit out and pay the fucking fine.”

You started to open your mouth to point out the fine was charged to Red Bull not you but a sharp elbow from Max had you clamming your lips closed again. 

“She’ll be better behaved,” Max promised with a glare that warned you to stay silent to save yourself from lying.

“Fine, get out there before the interviews are finished.”

You were never a fan of the post-race interviews but you left Christian’s office like it was lights out, racing ahead of Max to get to the media pit. 

You skidded to a halt at the side of the stage and Charles patted the empty space between him and Lando just as Max arrived. The other space on the couch was at the end beside Lance and you looked at Max with narrowed eyes before making a break for the better seat. Lando had to jump aside as you slammed into the seat just before Max but it didn’t stop him from planting himself on top and you groaned at the weight.

“Second place again, Max Emillian,” you wheezed as you tried to push him off and looked at Charles. “A little help?”

“Sorry, there are universal rules: we can’t interfere with sibling rivalries,” he said with an apologetic smile.

“Arthur’s my favourite Leclerc.”

Max took full advantage while you were distracted, staring daggers at Charles, and shoved you aside to take the cushioned seat with a smarmy grin. “Remember, best behaviour,” he warned as he got comfortable and accepted the microphone handed to you.

He should have known that the challenge couldn’t go unanswered and so you stood up, but you weren’t admitting defeat. His smile fell when you sat down on Lando’s lap, much to everyone’s surprise. 

“Hands off my sister, Norris,” Max quipped, but Lando’s hands were still in the air from where he froze, not knowing what to do with them or where to put them.

“This is quite comfy,” you noted as you wriggled around. “Maybe this can be my spot every week.”

“Fuck, fine,” Max growled as he stood up and walked down the line to sit with Lance. “Take the fucking seat.”

Charles laughed as you slipped into the seat and he held his fist out. “Everytime.”

You bumped his fist and smirked as the interviews finally got underway. “Every damn time.”

Click here for part two.

[umlewis]

lewis hamilton is interviewed after qualifying on pole for the sprint race, china - march 21, 2025 (transcript under the cut)

Interviewer: "Lewis, congratulations on sprint pole. A brilliant marker in the sand in the early season for you at Ferrari. Take us through the lap. How's it feel to claim pole?" Lewis: "I mean, firstly I wanna say a big thank you to this amazing crowd we have here today." [crowd cheers] Lewis: "Xièxie. I didn't expect that result, but so, so happy and so proud. I think obviously the last race was a disaster [laughs] for us, and clearly we knew that there was more performance in the car, but we just weren't able to extract it. So to come here to a track that I love… Shanghai, beautiful place, and the weather's been amazing and the car really came alive from lap one. So we made some great changes. The team did a fantastic job through the break to get the car ready. And yeah, I'm a bit in shock. I can't believe it's actually… We got a pole in the sprint. It's obviously not the main race, so we've got work to do for tomorrow, but this puts us in good stead for the race." Interviewer: "It's been looking like McLaren's weekend, in the running that we've had so far. There's eight-hundredths in it and a tenth covers the top three. Where do you think on the lap made the difference for you?" Lewis: "I have no idea. I have to go back and have a look. But my first sector was really, really strong. I think that's where I made most of my improvement on that lap, and then just little increments through the whole place. I think there's still time to find, for sure, which I'll try and make sure that I apply to the next qualifying session we go out in. But wow, it's amazing to see the number one as you stop and be in the red car. It's pretty incredible." Interviewer: "Do you think you're gonna be able to hang onto it? You've had so little time to work out the race pace here. What are you expecting for the sprint race?" Lewis: "Yeah, well, I mean, I didn't get to do a race run in Bahrain. Obviously we did the race last weekend in the wet, but tomorrow will be kind of my first real long-ish run, or race run, and Sunday will be my first proper race run in the dry with this car. So I'll be learning… I'm hoping that we can hold onto it, but I think the McLaren is very, very, very fast, as is Max, so… But we're in a good position. We'll stay positive and we'll keep our heads high and keep pushing forwards." Interviewer: "Awesome lap. Well done, Lewis. Sprint pole." Lewis: "Thank you. Xièxie."

[saintescuderia]

Why Daniel Ricciardo Really *Really* Needs To Do Well in Australia

He said he has nothing to prove but many (Helmut Marko) would disagree

Daniel Ricciardo was all smiles while being interviewed in a domestic terminal in Australia. As he should be. Going back home to Perth before having his home race so early on in the season is exactly what he would want right now. Comfort. Security. Familiarity. 

Especially since those three things are the key parts missing in his F1 career right now. 

A renowned late-breaker, Daniel was well suited to Red Bull’s cars that were aerodynamically superior and with a focus on the front end. Hence why they suit his driving style; there is no need for heavy breaking or understeer. As per McLaren’s cars which were rear-end focused and required such breaking. 

Whilst Daniel Ricciardo’s lack of adaptability can be a source of criticism unto itself — isn’t a marker of a good driver that they can adapt? — it’s almost excusable. Daniel Ricciardo never belonged in a McLaren! Blue is his colour, not papaya. It’s just the car, the team. He was “unrecognisable” from all the “bad habits” he picked up being away from his ‘home team’ at Red Bull. 

So, of course, it was inevitable that he did come back to Red Bull. 

Inevitable in the sense that the “soft spot” Christian Horner has for Daniel Ricciardo is evident in how, despite Max Verstappen’s performance in 2017, Horner was still willing to compromise on the ‘lead driver’ model Red Bull so often adopts. 2018’s move to Renault was a shock in more ways than one; “we gave him everything he wanted,” was the line Horner gave. 

Daniel’s comeback was two fold and staggered all the same. He was in the infamous ‘marketing role’ (that evaded a proper official title) for Red Bull Racing — which helped promote the awkwardly lacklustre pairing of Max Verstappen and Checo Perez — before infamously replacing Nyck De Vries for 2023’s AlphaTauri. However, it was staggered by the wrist injury from a collision with the other Australian driver. The one who replaced him at McLaren. The one who can adapt to McLaren’s break earlier/rear-end style of car that Daniel never seemed to adapt to. 

A style of car that the likes of Liam Lawson drove — and outperformed — in spectacular drives when he replaced the injured Ricciardo late last year. 

So where does this leave our Australian Honey Badger? He’s demonstrated the wider Paddock that he isn’t very skilled in adapting to cars, he’s lacking in driver confidence — which is crucial for late-breaking, a fundamental to his successful overtaking — and is being outperformed by both Yuki Tsunoda and Sergio Perez. As in, the two people he needs to beat to resume his seat next to Max Verstappen. 

Daniel started 2024 topping Bahrain FP1 to now finishing both races at the back end of the grid. The race this weekend in Australia is going to have a massive spotlight in him. And this is not just because his face is plastered everywhere as the Australian GP markets the shit out of the charismatic face of F1. He really, really, really will need to do well to show that the last two races were just him off to a rocky start, that this is not the end. 

Because if it is, it really will be the end. 

[inspofromancientworld]

Sumer

By NASAOverlay: पाटलिपुत्र (talk) - This file has been extracted from another file, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=98779414

Sumer (𒋗𒈨𒊒) was the first known civilization and was located in Mesopotamia, the south-central region of modern day Iraq. The name is from the Akkadian name for the people who called their country Kengir (𒆠𒂗𒄀), meaning 'country of noble lords', and their language Emegir (𒅴𒂠). They called themselves 'black-Headed Ones' (𒊕𒈪, sag̃-gíg).

They settled in Mesopotamia between 5500-3000 BCE, though exactly where they were before that is unknown, made more complicated by their language being non-Semitic, as quite a lot of languages in the surrounding area were, and non-Indo European, which is the language group of the larger area including India and mainland Europe. Most historians, though, do thing they were from West Asia/the Middle East, who happened to speak a language isolate. Others think that they lived in North Africa during the Green Sahara period and moved into the Middle East as the Sahara dried. Some point to mentions of Dilmun being the 'home of the land of Sumer' in their legends and suggest that they were from the island of Bahrain. Another possibility is that three groups of people fused in the city of Eridu, a group of early farmers, Semitic pastoralists who followed herds of sheep and goats, and a group of fisher folk. Regardless of their origins, they were conquered by the Akkadian Empire around 2270 BCE, but the Sumerian language remained sacred and their writing system continued on long beyond them.

By Dmharvey - English Wikipedia, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4081440

There are several periods in Sumerian history, the first two being the Ubaid and Uruk periods. The Ubiad period covers from about 6500-4100 BCE and is marked in the archaeological record by fine quality painted pottery that have been found in areas from Mesopotamia to the Persian Gulf. It is thought that the move from being focused around Eridu to Uruk is reflected in the myth of Enki, the god of wisdom, giving the me, the decrees that are the foundation of civilization and religion, to Inanna, the goddess of Uruk, love, and war.

By Marie-Lan Nguyen - This file has been extracted from another file, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=89322418

The Uruk period covers the time period from 4100-2900 BCE and was marked by mass-produced undecorated pottery and increased trade. This time also shows social stratification, the development of a bureaucratic class, and slave labor. The Sumerians sent out traders and colonists to expand the land they had sway over, which effected the peoples living around them, who developed their own version of a similar culture. It is thought that the government at this time was theocratic, with a priest-king called an ensi assisted by a council of elders. When the ensi belonged to a temple of a goddess, they were male, and female when the temple was of a god. There doesn't seem to be evidence of a professional army or structured warfare at this time and Sumer lost control over remote cities because of this.

In these early periods of Sumerian history, men and women could both own property, conduct business, and be protected by the courts. Children inherited equally, regardless of gender. Given that there was a decree abolishing polyandry, it seems that women could take multiple husbands if they wished. They also had a fairly relaxed attitude toward sex in general. Masturbation was seen as a good thing and was enjoyed alone or with partners. Anal sex was not taboo and was used by Entu priestesses as a form of birth control because they were forbidden from having children.

Early writing started as a pictographic type of writing similar to hieroglyphs, though they soon developed symbols that were a mix of sounds, words, and meaning markers. There are hundreds of thousands of texts that survive and among these are personal letters, hymns, business related documentation, stories, and laws. There are also lexical lists, which listed Sumerian words and phrases and translate them to Akkadian. Perhaps the most well known Sumerian writing is the Epic of Gilgamesh.

[drdas]

Diabetes, Blood Pressure & Kidney Health: The Urology Connection

Urological health is intricately connected to systemic conditions, particularly chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes, and hypertension. These chronic diseases are not only prevalent globally but also profoundly impact the urinary tract and renal function. Understanding their intersection is essential for clinicians and patients alike, as early detection, lifestyle changes, and the use of advanced biomarkers can significantly improve patient outcomes. At the forefront of advanced urological care in the region, the best urologist in Bahrain is available at Dr Das Clinic, where expert diagnosis and holistic treatment are prioritized for chronic disease patients.

The Triad of Chronic Disease and Urological Impact

1. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

CKD is a progressive loss of kidney function that can lead to end-stage renal disease if left untreated. Urological manifestations include:

Decreased urine output

Proteinuria or hematuria

Increased risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs)

CKD often goes undiagnosed in its early stages due to subtle symptoms. As kidney function declines, the ability to excrete waste products diminishes, leading to systemic complications.

2. Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes is a major contributor to both CKD and urological dysfunction. High blood sugar levels damage blood vessels in the kidneys and nerves controlling the bladder. Urological complications from diabetes include:

Diabetic nephropathy

Neurogenic bladder

Urinary retention and incontinence

Recurrent urinary tract infections

3. Hypertension

High blood pressure can both lead to and be a consequence of kidney disease. Elevated blood pressure damages the renal vasculature, reducing filtration capability. In turn, reduced kidney function exacerbates hypertension, creating a vicious cycle. Urologically, hypertensive patients may experience:

Renal artery stenosis

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) related to prostate enlargement in men

Importance of Early Detection

Early identification of urological complications in patients with chronic diseases is critical. Regular screening for:

Urinalysis for proteinuria or hematuria

Serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)

Blood pressure and glucose monitoring

These assessments allow for timely interventions before irreversible damage occurs. Educating at-risk populations—especially the elderly, obese, and those with a family history—is essential.

Lifestyle Modification as Preventive Strategy

Lifestyle plays a pivotal role in managing and preventing the progression of urological and chronic systemic conditions. Recommended strategies include:

Dietary changes: Low-sodium, low-protein, and balanced glycemic index diets help control blood pressure and glucose levels.

Physical activity: Regular exercise improves insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular health.

Smoking cessation: Smoking worsens kidney damage and exacerbates vascular conditions.

Hydration: Adequate fluid intake supports kidney function and reduces UTI risk.

Patients should work closely with dietitians and primary care providers to implement sustainable lifestyle changes.

The Role of Biomarkers in Monitoring Disease Progression

Biomarkers are crucial in the early detection and monitoring of disease progression, especially in asymptomatic stages. Some important biomarkers include:

Albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR): A marker for early kidney damage.

Cystatin C: More sensitive than creatinine for detecting early kidney dysfunction.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL): Indicates acute kidney injury and early CKD.

HbA1c levels: For long-term glucose control in diabetes management.

MicroRNAs: Emerging biomarkers that can signal kidney stress and inflammation.

The integration of these biomarkers into clinical practice allows for personalized treatment strategies and real-time monitoring of therapeutic efficacy.

Conclusion

The intersection of chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and hypertension with urological health highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach. Through regular screening, smart lifestyle choices, and advanced biomarker tracking, patients can manage their risks and improve quality of life.For those seeking expert care, Dr Das Clinic is recognized as the best urology center in Bahrain, offering world-class diagnostics, personalized treatment, and compassionate care for patients facing complex urological challenges.

[wellmedcenter061]

Arthritis Treatment in Bahrain: Leading Clinics for Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Arthritis refers to the redness and swelling (inflammation) of a joint, which is the area where two or more bones connect. There are over 100 types of arthritis. Rheumatic diseases encompass any condition that causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, or bones. Arthritis is typically a long-term (chronic) condition.

Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases are more prevalent in women than men and are often associated with aging, though they can affect individuals of all ages.

The 2 most common forms of arthritis are:

Osteoarthritis. This is the most common type of arthritis. It is a chronic disease of the joints, especially the weight-bearing joints of the knee, hip, and spine. It destroys the coating on the ends of bones (cartilage) and narrows the joint space. It can also cause bone overgrowth, bone spurs, and reduced function. It occurs in most people as they age. It may also occur in young people because of an injury or overuse.

Rheumatoid arthritis. This is an inflammatory disease of the joint linings. The inflammation may affect all of the joints. It can also affect organs such as the heart or lungs.

What causes arthritis?

The cause varies depending on the type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis results from the gradual wearing down of the joint over time or from overuse. Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues. Gout is caused by the accumulation of crystals in the joints. Certain types of arthritis may have a genetic link, with individuals carrying the HLA-B27 marker at a higher risk for ankylosing spondylitis. In some cases, the cause of arthritis remains unknown.

What are the symptoms of arthritis?

Each person’s symptoms may vary. The most common symptoms include:

Pain in 1 or more joints that doesn’t go away, or comes back

Warmth and redness in 1 or more joints

Swelling in 1 or more joints

Stiffness in 1 or more joints

Trouble moving 1 or more joints in a normal way

These symptoms can look like other health conditions. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

How is arthritis treated?

Treatment will vary based on your symptoms, age, overall health, the type of arthritis, and the severity of the condition. A personalized treatment plan will be developed in consultation with your healthcare provider.

While there is no cure for arthritis, the primary goal of treatment is to reduce pain and inflammation and maintain joint function. Treatment typically involves both immediate and long-term approaches.

Arthritis treatment in Bahrain is effectively managed at Wellmed Center, where expert healthcare providers offer personalized care for pain relief and improved joint function. Using a combination of medication, physiotherapy, and advanced therapies, Wellmed Center focuses on reducing inflammation and preventing further damage. Whether managing osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, Wellmed Center ensures comprehensive treatment tailored to each patient's needs for long-term relief and improved quality of life.

[speedyposts]

Israel’s war on Gaza: Are boycotts hurting US brands?

  McDonald’s has missed sales targets partly due to boycotts against its products in some parts of the world over its perceived support for Israel, the company says.

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The war on Gaza “meaningfully impacted” performance in the last quarter of 2023 in some regions, company officials said on Monday. Sales growth in the Middle East, China and India stood at 0.7 percent in the quarter, far below expectations.

The fast food company is only one of several United States brands hit by boycotts and protests over their perceived support for Israel’s war on Gaza. On social media sites, lists are going around of brands accused of supporting Israel although the ties are often not clearly explained. The push is part of a larger Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign targeting Israel-friendly brands since 2005.

#bdsmovement #palestinelivesmatter

♬ original sound - Mai

  Here’s a breakdown of how some brands say they’ve been hit so far:

Fast food giant McDonald’s drew the ire of Israel’s critics, especially in the Middle East, when its Israel branch gave thousands of free meals to Israeli troops in October, the month the country launched its bombardment and ground offensive in Gaza, which have now killed more than 27,000 people.

Since October, campaigners have called for a boycott of the company around the world. The impact has been more pronounced in the Middle East, where at least 5 percent of McDonald’s franchises are registered. While the growth target for sales in the Middle East, India and China was set at 5.5 percent from October to December, the company achieved 0.7 percent growth — and likely saw its sales shrink in just the Middle East. Global sales grew by 3.4 percent in the same period, compared with 8.8 percent in the preceding quarter.

Franchises in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain and Turkey issued statements distancing themselves from the free food campaign in Israel and collectively pledged aid worth $3m to Gaza.

Chief Executive Chris Kempczinski said the company is not expecting significant changes as long as the war persists. “It’s a human tragedy what’s going on, and I think that does weigh on brands like ours,” he said.

Last week, coffee chain Starbucks slashed its annual sales forecast after a slump in growth. The company now expects full-year sales – globally and in the US – to grow from 4 percent to 6 percent, down from its previous range of 5 percent to 7 percent.

CEO Laxman Narasimhan told journalists that Starbucks saw a “significant impact on traffic and sales” in the Middle East due to the war in Gaza. Sales also slowed in the US, where protesters have campaigned against the Seattle-based company, calling for it to take a stand against Israel.

Starbucks’s troubles started after Starbucks Workers United, composed of thousands of baristas across more than 360 US cafes, showed support for Palestinians in a post on X days after the Gaza war broke out. The post was deleted less than an hour later.

Starbucks sued the union in an Iowa court for trademark infringement, asking the union to stop using its name and a similar logo. The post reflected “support for Hamas” and had badly damaged the company’s reputation, Starbucks said in the suit, adding that it had received more than 1,000 complaint calls. The company also said some of its cafes were vandalised.

The union countersued, asking a federal court in Pennsylvania to rule that it may continue to use the logo. It also accused Starbucks of defamation.

Both sides are engaged in ongoing, fraught negotiations on labour issues with the union demanding better pay and more consistent scheduling for workers.

Meanwhile, many people in Indonesia, the country with the world’s largest Muslim population, have been boycotting Starbucks and McDonald’s since the start of the war.

The fizzy drinks manufacturer has long been caught in the crossfire of conflict in the Middle East. From 1967 to 1991, Coke was officially boycotted by the Arab League for building a bottling plant in Israel.

Now again, the brand’s red logo is on lists of brands being circulated for boycotts on social media channels. The company does not appear to have set off any recent triggers, but its past affiliations with Israel as well as its reputation as an American company seem to be enough.

In November, Turkey’s parliament voted to remove the drink from the shops and restaurants on its grounds. Coke’s Turkey distributor reported a 22 percent drop in sales in the last quarter of 2023.

Meanwhile, in Egypt, the boycott of Coke and other American soft drinks has fuelled the revival of a 100-year-old local soda brand, Spiro Spathis, which has seen its sales surge.

Domino’s, a US-based pizza maker with franchises around the world, is also facing blowback. Social media posts said Domino’s also gave free food to Israeli soldiers although there’s no evidence to support the claims.

In Asia, the brand’s same-store sales dipped by 8.9 percent in the second half of 2023, mainly because consumers in Malaysia associate it with the US, an Israeli ally, a company official said.

Malaysians have rallied in their thousands to call for an end to Israel’s war in Gaza. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s office also announced in December that all Israeli-owned, Israeli-flagged or Israel-destined ships are banned from its docks. The country has no diplomatic ties with Israel.

“It’s well publicised that American brands in Asia, and I largely talk to Malaysia in this case, have been affected by what’s happening in the Middle East right now,” Don Meij, managing director for Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, told analysts.

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[etonhousebahrain]

Our little Elm's embraced the magic of letters today! With smiles and markers in hand, they formed the elegant curves of 'C' and 'K' on the board. They also made a kite and decorated it with colorful paint. Through sound games and exploration, they blossomed into budding linguists, building a solid foundation for future literacy adventures. 📚✏️ Register Now: Call 17490333 | 33604244 Ages 6 months to 4 years EtonHouse Preschool Bahrain "Shaping the Future Through Education" Email: info@etonhouse.me Website: etonhouse.me Facebook: EtonHouse Bahrain Instagram: etonhousemea

[unionstationery]

Markers and Pens in Bahrain for Stationery Lovers

Who doesn’t love a colorful crayon or a sparkling highlighter in their box to spark all their projects? Bahrain makes it easy for the expats to find standard as well as creative stationery for their school or college projects. From markers and pens in Bahrain to highlighters or correction pens, the country pays attention to every need of a student and office-goer. Find out the best stationery products in Bahrain to give special attention to the work or your writings.

Markers and Pens in Bahrain

Students or office-goers need markers and pens to highlight their work and attract readers to read the key points of their projects or meetings. Bahrain keeps the needs in mind and finds colorful, sparkling, and creative markers to make work more enthusiastic and productive. The country has a collection of ultra-cool pens that speak of the beauty of calligraphy.

The art is unstoppable with creative pens and pencils to collect in stationery items. There are different color options available with marker pens in Bahrain including red, blue, black, white, yellow, green, and more. Writers will also need a correction pen in Bahrain when they are buying markers and highlighters.

Stationary highlighter and correction pen in Bahrain

Some essential items to add to your stationery box include a highlighter pen, markers, correction pen, paint markers, sticky notes, calendars, planners, notebooks, and so much more. All these stationary items give students a motivation to work their fine hands into creativity. A stationary box should have all the essentials from a pencil or a pen to a correction pen or a ruler. These items help shape students’ ideas and give them a perfect understanding.

Markers and pens in Bahrain help students give the right tone to their thoughts and help them explore new doors of innovation. Moreover, these stationary items come in varieties and combinations to choose from. Customers can order stationery items at their doorstep with fast and affordable online delivery options.

Apart from buying a highlighter or a correction pen in Bahrain, students should also have a pencil case to secure stationery items. A pencil case may range from 0.5 BHD and go high depending on the quality of the case. Kids can have their favorite pens, or professionals can choose their meeting highlighter pen in Bahrain through convenient buying features.

Conclusion

To make things interesting, Bahrain offers special kids' collection of stationery. It brings colorful pens, bright notebooks, and creative journals to the market at pocket-friendly prices. These designed items start from as low as 0.3 BHD and go on depending on the required product. With so many supplies in the kids' hands, imagine opening the pottery of thoughts with a blank canvas in front of them. Shop from the amazing offers available in the country and give students’ projects or workers’ meetings a chance to stand out from the creative crowd!

[lewisinho]

a rant about the media narratives surrounding lewis, fernando and max

ok so ever since well, bahrain testing 2023 and the discovery that aston martin do indeed have a fast car (and more importantly, one which is faster than merc), the media have created the alonso ‘hype-train’, saying that this man is basically the third-coming-of-christ (let us not forget about the ‘great white hope’ himself who is the only one standing between nando and jesus himself, but i digress); example are aplenty, as the majority of formula 1’s posts on instagram, twitter etc. being about fernando and even sky making a cute little montage reminding people (who most probably have not watched nando’s glory days) that nando is in fact a two-time world champion, went through nearly all teams on the grid like a hot knife through butter, leaving a fire behind him Every. Single. Time. (you gotta respect the man at least for his ability to cause drama everywhere) and that this is not the first time he is not in a back-marker team.

And you can understand the hype to a certain extent...jeez, dude’s forty-one and races brilliantly with as much as fire as before; (disclaimer: as much as i can dislike the man, i can still recognise as a great racing driver, because you really would have to be blind not to see it); but there is a limit to it which i think has been crossed and it’s about deserving something…deserving a better team, deserving a third world championship, deserving to win races…

“(...) can fernando bring home a third and much-deserved title this year?”

pray tell how exactly this third title ‘much-deserved’? and i fully understand media tactics, content creation, boosting engagement, clicks, likes etc. etc., it’s all part of the game, i know…but why is it that fernando is the one who ‘deserves’ it? Why is the media suddenly capable of using the narrative of ‘deserving’ in relation to someone like fernando alonso?

And why that narrative can never be present in relation to one lewis hamilton? The answer’s pretty easy, no? But it runs deeper…because the media don’t want to like lewis hamilton. they didn’t want him to win in 2021, that much is obvious if you rewatch literally any race from that season and listen to the narrative around him and max…the ‘dethroning’, the ‘young-pretender’ etc. the elements where all there, they were ready, waiting impatiently for the new champion, their new ‘face of f1’ (how’s that working out for them eh?) and when ad21 came about…which was even better for the show because the stakes were all that higher with the two of them on equal points…until of course, lap 57, it was all going slightly against the script, wasn’t it? But then they did their little rule-breaking, ‘human error’, whatever you want to call it and so what? max verstappen champion of the world.

lewis hamilton couldn’t afford to say anything. he couldn't because of who he is. And the media knew it. They would swallow him up like wolves. They would pounce on him, rip him up, mix him with dirt; and if they don’t do that (because he disappeared for a few months) they will sickly glorify his composure, his class, monetise his trauma etc. And we see it to this day…his silence was glorified; last year, sky f1 knew perfectly well what strategy to take; they’ve got their new champion; there’s no asterisk to that title- martin brundle (ironic you had to clarify that bud), or better yet say ‘move on’,‘it wasn’t that bad, just a mistake’, ‘you can’t change it’’, yeah because you wouldn’t like it to be changed, would you? You never wanted a black man to break that record, did you?

oh and also thank god lewis came back to the sport, and oh how amazing it is that merc built a shitbox of a car, so we can now again talk about how ‘he still hasn’t recovered from ad21’, let’s again use his trauma, say he’s finished, that he’s struggling, let’s make a mockery out of it all, yeah…and max, oh you know, he drives like a champion, he deserved that title, you win it over a season- martin brundle, again (it’s always the same suspects, isn’t it?)

He deserved it, here it is again. max verstappen deserved his titles (rule-breaking and cost cap breaches under the carpet); he’s a pure racer, you know. All he cares about is racing. He’s pure talent and passionate.

fernando alonso deserves his third title, apparently. He works hard. He empowers his team. He works well with his new, young teammate. He’s got the experience, the maturity and the talent. He’s the oldest driver on the grid, but he’s driving better than ever.

Lewis won’t get that because he’s alone as the only black man in this sport, which will continue to isolate him, belittle him, but also will use him. Lewis won’t ever get the alonso treatment. He won’t be willed on, cheered on, no. No, never.

Same old. Same old.

[il-predestinato]

Charles vs. a marker 🖊

Charles Leclerc | Pole Position | Bahrain GP 2022 Qualifying

🎥: F1TV

[f1]

Max Verstappen assures fans he will be at the Saudi Arabian GP after recent illness

'See you in Jeddah!': Two-time world champion Max Verstappen assures fans that he will be at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend... as he insists he is 'feeling fine' after struggling in recent days with a stomach bug Max Verstappen has revealed that he has been troubled by a stomach bug He has assured fans that he has now recovered and will be in Saudi Arabia Verstappen will be looking for another victory after winning in Bahrain  By Sam Brookes For Mailonline Published: 06:55 EDT, 16 March 2023 | Updated: 06:55 EDT, 16 March 2023 Max Verstappen has reassured fans that he will be fit to take his place on the grid at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend after overcoming a stomach bug. Verstappen is aiming for his third straight world title, and made the perfect start to the season by winning the opening race in Bahrain earlier this month. However, he has revealed that his preparations for Saudi Arabia have been hampered due to illness, and he has needed extra time to get back to full health. But the 25-year-old has allayed any fears that he could miss this weekend's action by posting an update on his condition to his followers on Twitter. 'Feeling fine again, after not being fit for a few days because of a stomach bug,' he wrote. Max Verstappen has assured fans that he will be fit to compete at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Verstappen has revealed that he has recently been struggling with a stomach bug Verstappen won the opening race of the season in dominant fashion in Bahrain 'Therefore, I unfortunately had to postpone my flight for a day, so I won't be on the track until Friday. See you in Jeddah!' After pipping Lewis Hamilton to the 2021 championship in controversial fashion, Verstappen enjoyed a dominant 2022 campaign, finishing 146 points clear of his nearest challenger Charles Leclerc. The Dutchman delivered an imperious performance in Bahrain to lay down an early marker, finishing almost 12 seconds clear of Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez. He now appears to be the clear favourite to win the world championship once again this year following his ominous display in Bahrain. Yet fans will be eager to see whether he shows any ill-effects of his recent stomach bug, and if any of this title rivals can take advantage in Jeddah. Share or comment on this article: Max Verstappen assures fans he will be at the Saudi Arabian GP after recent illness via Formula One | Mail Online https://www.dailymail.co.uk?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

[formula365]

Champions in the making - Emilia Romagna GP review

The breakthrough kid

It is not always possible to pinpoint the exact moment in which a driver goes from young promise to champion in the making. There can be breakthrough performances, in which a driver lays down a marker and announces himself to the world, but more often than not the progression is so gradual over a number of seasons that the driver eventually makes it to the top in slow steps, a sink filling up drop by drop from a leaky faucet.

But every once in a while, we get to witness a breakthrough moment, one of those weekends that, when looking back into a career, will be seen as a pivotal moment in which the promise has come good, which removes the doubt of whether that potential will be fulfilled. Moments like Sebastian Vettel winning in a Toro Rosso, or Max Verstappen becoming a Grand Prix winner on his Red Bull debut; we knew, there and then, what they would become.

It wasn’t his maiden win, but this is what we witnessed this weekend from Lando Norris.

Coming into this season, the young Brit knew this could be a make or break year for him. He had done really well to match his more experienced teammate in his first two seasons, but the challenge with his new partner was at a different level. No disrespect to Carlos Sainz, who is definitely a talented driver, but Daniel Ricciardo is a proven race winner, someone who had driven for Red Bull and been considered by Mercedes and Ferrari. The Aussie had spent the last two seasons destroying Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Ocon, no slouches themselves, which meant there was a risk for Norris to be swallowed up by the Honey Badger’s performances.

His first two seasons had shown glimpses of his talent, but also a certain on-track shyness, in contrast to his expansive personality off it. He himself admitted during pre-season that he needed to improve on his aggressiveness and push harder on wheel to wheel battles; he had to drive the car ever closer to its limits. After a couple of seasons maturing and honing his skills, now was the time to be a more imposing figure behind the wheel, including within his own team.

Bahrain had already shown glimpses of that. He started the race behind his teammate, but passed him early on and never looked back. Imola, though, was something else. McLaren didn’t have the right set-up throughout Friday and both drivers seemed to be struggling, but on Saturday Norris looked to be one with his car. Bar a small mistake on his last run, he would have not only out-qualified his teammate, but also Verstappen in a much faster Red Bull. The track limits infringement left him P7 on the grid, but on Sunday he would more than make up for the mistake.

He had blistering pace from the get-go, to the point that he radioed his engineer when stuck behind his teammate to ask to be let through. In a moment that could be defining for the season, Ricciardo did let him through and then saw the youngster disappear down the road in the chase for the Ferraris. On the restart, he made light work of Leclerc (with much faster tyres, to be fair) and then fought Hamilton hard for several laps until the lack of grip on his rubber forced him to concede.

Overall, Norris showed a wide array of his skills at Imola: blistering one-lap pace, attacking, defending, tyre management, determination to come back after the mistake on Saturday, even authority in the team when he asked to be let through his teammate. A complete performance that leaves no doubt about his talent: he has the skills to be a future champion, the only question remaining is whether he will have the consistency to deliver over a full season. Given his mental approach - he is very open to speak about mental health - it seems he is addressing that side of his driving as well.

Until now, Norris had been the fun kid with a turn of pace, the meme-generator and half of a McLaren bromance. The end of the partnership with Sainz might have been a liberating factor for him: in order to be taken more seriously, the banter has to take second place to his driving, and with Ricciardo also looking to leave his more goofy side in the background, this can be the perfect time for Lando to do the same and let his driving do the talking. He certainly did that this weekend.

Talking points

* My oh my, do we have a fight on our hands. Verstappen v. Hamilton is already becoming such a compelling story it is hard not to make it the subject of every race review and preview; the feeling is that this will be a fight for the ages, that we will have a season to be remembered for many years to come. This time around it was the Dutchman who had the upper hand, with a superb start to go from P3 to P1 into Tamburello. He gave no quarters to Hamilton on the outside and then managed the race beautifully, although he was left unchallenged in the second half after Hamilton’s crash. The game is most definitely on.

* The reigning champion may have given some small signs of the pressure getting to him. Mostly unchallenged in recent years, Lewis made an uncharacteristic mistake when lapping back markers and then seemed to have had a scrambled brain moment as he struggled to get out of the run-off area. He is human, after all, some might have thought. The red flag gave him the opportunity to reset and come back to re-claim P2 and a podium place he would have certainly lost otherwise. He showed his mental resilience then, but it will be interesting to see how he (and Verstappen as well) will manage the pressure of a title fight (hopefully) over 23 races.

* One of the big talking points post-race was the massive crash between Bottas and Russell. Approaching Tamburello, drivers hit speeds above 300 kph, so it’s no surprise it was a nasty one, and that both drivers felt the other should have done more to avoid it. Controversy aside, the big question has to be why was Bottas defending P9 from a Williams. Like Monza, Turkey and Sakhir last year, when the Finn gets caught up in the midfield he struggles to move forward, and even manages to fall further back. To make matters worse, in all these races his teammate was caught in similar situations and had no problem cutting through the field. When the dust settles, Bottas will certainly have some soul searching to do.

* How good is it to see McLaren and Ferrari fighting each other for top spots? The two historic teams collected all positions from P3 to P6 and seem to be a step above the rest of the midfield contenders. This is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, rivalry in F1’s history, and it’s great for the sport to see it reignited.

* The only midfield team that seems to have the pace to challenge them is AlphaTauri, but they are struggling to convert their pace into points. Tsunoda ruined his weekend with two (very rookie) mistakes, while Gasly’s race was ruined by the decision to start on full wets. He still made a great recovery drive to finish P7, but this felt like another missed opportunity for AlphaTauri, specially at a track they know so well. They have a genuine shot at finishing in the top half of the table, which is Franz Tost’s goal for the team, but in order to achieve that they have to start using their pace to score points.

* If AlphaTauri will be left ruing their weekend, Williams will be doubly so. With two drivers qualifying in the top 14, they had genuine hope to score points for the first time since the crazy rain-soaked German GP in 2019, but two crashes negated their shot. Latifi barely got going so we will never know what he could have achieved, but Russell was clearly in the mix and will be left pondering how high he could have finished if he had been a bit more cautious. With scoring opportunities so limited, that might have been the wiser approach.

* The second Red Bull continues the saga of the topsy-turvy weekends. One of the narratives for Albon in 2020 was that he was not able to have a clean, incident-free weekend, and that was limiting his results. Perez is going down the same path, and although he did manage to salvage a P5 in Bahrain, here he was left empty-handed. It’s still very early, and the signs from the first race were positive, but for Red Bull to challenge Mercedes he needs to be up there consistently.

* Ahead of the season, very few people would have betted for Stroll and Ocon to be beating their teammates, either in qualifying or in the race. The two youngsters are showing that world titles (a combined 6 after all) aren’t a guarantee of continued success.

* On that topic, it is worth noting that most drivers that are newcomers to their respective teams are struggling at the moment. Sainz at Ferrari is the exception; Perez, Ricciardo, Alonso and Vettel are all underperforming, some more than others. This quartet is uber-talented, though, so expect them to get closer to their teammates as the season progresses and they become more accustomed to their new cars.

* Curb your enthusiasm, Yuki. We love to see his on-track flamboyance: he is one of the most exciting drivers to hit F1 in the last few years, but it can work against him too. He needs to find a balance but two races in these growing pains were to be expected. Once he finds that balance, he will be one hell of a driver.

Driver of the day: Lando Norris

Moment of the day

The battle between Hamilton and Norris. The young Brit managed to hold off the 7-times champion for a handful of laps, with tyres well past their expiry date and no DRS; Leclerc, for comparison, was on mediums and was passed by Hamilton on the first lap he didn’t have DRS. Norris’ positioning was perfect and he was brave on the brakes. Eventually the lack of grip and Hamilton’s bravery led to the inevitable, but Norris put up an excellent fight.

[race-week]

Kevin Magnussen and Sergio Pérez Parallels

Kevin Magnussen and Sergio Pérez both had really promising junior careers and both their F1 careers looked exciting and their careers have quite a few parallels but eventually their careers have gone very different ways with one ending up a race winner with multiple podiums and a seat in a top team whilst on the other ended up in a back marker team before being kicked out the sport.

So, what happened and why did their careers go such different ways?

I have a lot to say on this topic so this will cover their Junior Careers up to the end of their career with McLaren, and there will be another instalment of their careers ARD (after Ron Dennis)

 Junior Careers

Sergio

They both had moderately successful junior careers, 

Sergio competed in the 2007 British Formula 3 Championship in the National Class (which used older chassis) he won the championship by a comfortable margin. Taking two-thirds of the race wins and a similar amount of pole positions and finished all but two races on the podium. 

For 2008, he graduated to the premier International Class of the championship, after leading the championship early in the season, he eventually finished fourth in the drivers' standings, behind Alguersuari, Turvey and Hartley.

Sergio contested his first year of GP2 in 2009 after coming 7th in the 2008-09 GP2 Asia Series finishing 12th in the standings behind Hulkenberg, Grosjean, Maldonado and di Grassi. However, when he would compete again in GP2 the following year he won five races and finished second in the standings behind Pastor Maldonado.

 Kevin

Some of Kevin’s best years being the 2009 Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup, where he was on the podium 12 times (one being a win) out of 14 races, he finished the Northern European cup second to Antonio Felix da Costa. 

He then came 3rd in the 2010 German Formula 3 Championship with 3 wins as the highest placed rookie. He then came 2nd in the British Formula 3 Championship with 7 victories. 

However, he did not win a championship until his second year in Formula Renault 3.5 for the 2013 season claiming five victories, eight other podium places and eight pole positions. He finished the season as champion, 60 points clear of runner-up McLaren junior Stoffel Vandoorne.

 F1 Rookie Season

Looking at their first seasons in F1 Sergio for Sauber and Kevin for McLaren

Sergio was partnered with Kamui Kobayashi for the 2011 season and they finished 16th and 12th respectively with Kamui getting 30 points to Sergio’s 14. 

Whilst Kevin in 2014 got 55 points (including a 2nd place in Australia) resulting in him being 11th compared to Jenson Button’s 126 points and 8th in the drivers. Kevin did show a lot of potential at tracks that he visited in junior categories with seventh place finishes in Austria and Great Britain and a fifth-place finish in Russia where it was new to everyone. However, the rest of his points finishes throughout 2014 many of them were ninth or tenth place finishes, the car was not great but with Jenson getting a 6th place on average it did not look promising for the young driver.

 Joining McLaren 

In September of 2012, Lewis Hamilton's decision to leave McLaren for Mercedes in 2013 was announced, and Pérez was subsequently confirmed as Hamilton's replacement. This also ended Pérez' association with Ferrari, as he was released from its driver academy. However earlier in the year a move to Ferrari had been speculated after his incredible drive at Malaysia, where he had come second but had nearly overtaken Fernando Alonso in said Ferrari.

Kevin Magnussen was fast tracked to Formula 1 as McLaren looked for its next superstar (i.e., someone to fill the shoes of Lewis Hamilton). He had his first experience of the McLaren Formula One car at the Abu Dhabi Young Driver test in 2012 and set the quickest time of 1:42.651 which was the best of the three-day test and had impressed McLaren's sporting director.

It was announced that Magnussen would drive for McLaren for the 2014 season, replacing Sergio Pérez. At the Jerez and Bahrain pre-season tests he topped the timesheets, and at the first race in Australia he qualified fourth.

Where things started going wrong

I think that the main reason things started going bad for McLaren is the fact that they did not know what they had in Lewis Hamilton before they lost him, in addition the 2013 McLaren was not a good car. 

Martin Whitmarsh decided it would be a fantastic idea to go for revolution rather than evolution for their 2013 car. For example, McLaren changed the suspension from pushrods to pull rods, which alone requires a total re-design of the car's chassis. Button has commented since that it was extremely pitch-sensitive and far too stiff, and that if you managed that well it 'could' be very quick, as evidenced by races like Spa or Malaysia (which are not very kerby). Brundle said that trackside it had 'the suspension of a skateboard'.

They also didn’t react very well to the 2014 regulation changes and suffered quite badly with aero issues and reliability at points.

Having two experienced drivers’ like Hamilton and Button was good for McLaren however they struggled a lot after Hamilton left, partly due to the influx of inexperienced drivers and partly due to the team’s poor decisions.

Their issues at McLaren

 One of the biggest issues was Pérez was expected to get in that car and drive it like Hamilton he finished the season 11th with 49 points and teammate Jenson Button was 9th with 73. However, this was the team that a year prior their drivers had finished 4/5 with plenty of podiums and wins. However, in my opinion McLaren did not want to own up to the fact that their car was the reason that they were so low, so it was a lot easier just to throw out the new guy for their promising young junior.

Kevin meanwhile was touted to be the next Lewis Hamilton, however he struggled in his rookie season whilst Hamilton had shone and McLaren ended up replacing him with Fernando Alonso and relegating Magnussen to the test and reserve driver role for McLaren. He had talks with Honda-powered team Andretti Autosport to compete in the 2015 IndyCar Series, but McLaren blocked the deal.

So within two seasons McLaren’s car had gone downhill and they had potentially ruined the careers of two promising young drivers Sergio was 23 and Kevin was 22

[phgq]

Dwight Ramos' perfect game tows Gilas Men over Thailand

#PHnews: Dwight Ramos' perfect game tows Gilas Men over Thailand

MANILA – Dwight Ramos put up a flawless performance in his Gilas Pilipinas Men debut as the national team drubbed Thailand, 93-61, in its return to action in the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers at the Khalifa Sports City in Manama, Bahrain on Friday night.

The incoming Ateneo player went 7-for-7 from the field and 4-for-4 from the foul line for 20 points alongside seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals for Gilas Men, who are now 2-0 in Group A play after the win in which they pulled away from Thailand through a 32-10 second quarter that opened a 53-29 halftime lead.

Balti Baltazar, who made his Gilas Men debut, and Juan Gomez de Liano each added 12 markers.

Montien Wongsawangtham fired 17 points, three rebounds, one assist, and one steal for Thailand, which fell to 0-2.

Both teams will face off again on Monday.

The scores:

Philippines: 93 – Ramos 20, Ju. Gomez de Liano 12, Baltazar 12, Suerte 9, Ja. Gomez de Liano 9, Mi. Nieto 8, Go 6, Ma. Nieto 4, Navarro 4, Carino 4, Paras 3, Ildefonso 2

Thailand: 61 – Wongsawangtham 17, Jaisanuk 12, Suttisin 10, Langsui 6, Chungyampin 5, Jakwaran 5, Muangboon 4, Klaewnarong 2, Ghogar 0, Lakhan 0

Quarterscores: 21-19, 53-29, 75-43, 93-61 (PNA)

***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. "Dwight Ramos' perfect game tows Gilas Men over Thailand." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1123233 (accessed November 28, 2020 at 05:36PM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. "Dwight Ramos' perfect game tows Gilas Men over Thailand." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1123233 (archived).

[speedyposts]

McDonald’s blames Israel’s war in Gaza for missing sales target

McDonald’s has cited Israel’s war in Gaza as a factor in the fast food giant missing its first quarterly sales target in nearly four years.

McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said on Monday that the war had had a “disheartening” effect on sales in Middle Eastern countries and other Muslim-majority nations such as Malaysia and Indonesia.

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“So long as this conflict, this war, is going on … we’re not expecting to see any significant improvement in this,” Kempczinski said in a conference call.

“It’s a human tragedy, what’s going on, and I think that does weigh on brands like ours.”

Sales growth for the fast food chain’s division for the Middle East, China and India during October-December reached 0.7 percent – far below market expectations of 5.5 percent.

The slump comes after customers in Muslim countries called for a boycott of McDonald’s in response to its Israeli franchisee donating thousands of free meals to the Israeli military.

Following the announcement by McDonald’s Israel, franchisees in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain and Turkey distanced themselves from the donations and collectively pledged millions of dollars in aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

While Chicago-based McDonald’s is known as one of the most iconic US brands, most of its restaurants worldwide are locally owned and operated.

Kempczinski said last month that the war and “associated misinformation” was having a “meaningful” effect on business in the region.

McDonald’s is among a number of Western brands that have been hit with boycotts due to their perceived support for Israel.

Last week, cafe chain Starbucks slashed its annual sales forecast, citing a slump in business in the Middle East.

Despite its flagging fortunes in Muslim countries, McDonald’s posted relatively strong results overall, with global sales growing 3.4 percent, compared with 8.8 percent in the previous quarter.

“We remain confident in the resilience of our business amid macro challenges that will persist in 2024,” Kempczinski said.

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