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The Independent
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
George Russell and Max Verstappen F1 swap would be unthinkable – but Mercedes man deserves clarity
As Formula 1 the enterprise returns to real racing on track this weekend in Austria – away from the sprinkle and stardust of movie premieres in New York and London – one of the season's standout drivers so far is in an unusual predicament. A scenario, you might say, worthy of a drama. No doubt the Box to Box producers of Netflix's Drive to Survive are rubbing their hands together. George Russell, at this present stage, can do little more. The 27-year-old, in his fourth season at Mercedes and first without Lewis Hamilton by his side, has taken to the role of 'team leader' with poise and serenity. As the Brit acknowledged to The Independent last month, he's been 'getting better and better.' Let's take the last two races. Last time out, in Canada, one of the laps of the year saw Russell clinch a memorable pole position. From there, he thwarted any challenge behind him with a composed drive out in front to victory. In a Mercedes car which has been capricious so far this season, it was arguably Russell's best weekend in F1 to date. The previous race, Russell held his nerve – and his tongue in the media pen afterwards – after being clattered into by arch-rival Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver was duly punished and remains a penalty point away from a race ban, ahead of Silverstone next week. But Verstappen is lurking in Russell's background in more ways than one. Having signed a two-year deal in the summer of 2023, Russell's current contract with Mercedes expires at the end of the year. His teammate, 18-year-old prodigy Kimi Antonelli, is the golden boy of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. The Italian is going nowhere. But why the delay for Russell? The Brit is fourth in the world championship, having secured five podiums in 10 races – his best-ever start to a season. He is just 19 points off Verstappen, who has two wins to his name. Russell is executing the maximum possible points outlay on nearly every weekend. Surely, therefore, he deserves some clarity over his future? Yet speaking to Sky Sports ahead of this weekend's round 11 in Spielberg, Russell spilt the beans on the worst-kept secret in the paddock: Mercedes boss Wolff does not want to close the door on poaching Verstappen. "As Mercedes, they want to be back on top, and if you're going to be back on top, you need to make sure you've got the best drivers, the best engineers, the best pit crew, and that's what Mercedes are chasing,' Russell said. "So, it's only normal that conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing. But from my side, if I'm performing as I'm doing, what have I got to be concerned about? 'There are two seats in every Formula 1 team.' To an extent, Russell is correct in his view. All he can do is prove his worth every week out on track, eking as much performance out of the Mercedes W16 as possible. This weekend, he returns to a race he won last year. Next week, he returns to Silverstone, his home track, where he picked up pole position in 2024. Another set of podiums is the obvious target, behind the frontrunning pace of the McLarens. Over to you, then, Toto. The Mercedes F1 CEO, a few months ago, was adamant he was not interested in 'flirting' with the prospect of poaching Verstappen from fierce rivals Red Bull and main adversary Christian Horner. The Dutchman, for his part, insists he will be staying with Red Bull in 2026; he has a £40m-a-year contract until the end of 2028. But here's the catch for Verstappen and his world championship ambitions. Red Bull are, for the first time, launching their own power unit programme for the new set of engine and chassis regulations next year, in partnership with Ford. That brings with it an element of uncertainty. On the flip side, much like the hybrid era phase of Silver Arrows dominance, Mercedes are fancied as the favourites for next year, such is their expertise in the engine department. So, could Verstappen replace Russell? It would amount to a disloyal move on the part of Wolff, dropping his current top dog for the Dutchman, who is unquestionably a generational driver. Yet, given the vocal rivalry between the two drivers, as well as the two teams, it feels almost unthinkable. It would, simply put, feel bizarre. And what would that mean for Russell? There are no open seats for 2026 at McLaren, Ferrari or Aston Martin. Therefore, his only option for a front-of-the-pack team would be a move to Red Bull in an effective swap deal. Russell working with Horner, as opposed to against him? Again, very bizarre. The forecast for the next month, as we build towards the summer break and 'silly season', should be obvious for Wolff: sign up Russell, give your star driver the clarity he deserves, form a plan for the future, and win with your man. It is a view shared up and down the paddock. We await the next steps with intrigue.
Black America Web
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Runnin' It Up: Noah Lyles & Box To Box Films Partner To Launch New Venture ‘Iconic Productions'
Source: Courtesy / Box To Box Films Today (June 12nd), Award-winning production company Box To Box Films announced an exciting new partnership with one of the fastest athletes in the world. Continue reading to find out more! Box To Box Films has partnered with 100 Meter Olympic gold medalist and six-time world champion sprinter Noah Lyles to launch a new production venture: Iconic Productions. The joint venture will develop long-form, short-form and branded content across a range of formats and subjects, reflecting the shared creative vision of Lyles and Box To Box. Iconic Productions will serve as a platform for original storytelling with global reach and cultural impact. 'Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have to inspire, connect, and drive change. With the creation of Iconic Productions, I'm proud to partner with Box To Box Films to create content that speaks to people, challenges conventions, and resonates across borders,' said Noah Lyles. 'This is also an amazing opportunity to put athletes' ideas and passions to the forefront. This is about more than entertainment—it's about legacy, truth, and amplifying voices that deserve to be heard.' Box To Box has become known for redefining how global audiences connect with athletes, delivering emotionally resonant and visually compelling narratives. The partnership with Lyles marks an exciting evolution in that mission, as the fastest man in the world brings his unique perspective, charisma, and cultural relevance to the screen. Beyond his success on the track, Iconic Productions will bring to life his interests across sports, entertainment, fashion and popular culture. 'Noah Lyles lives at the apex of sport, culture, fashion, music, and entertainment – he doesn't just participate in the moment, he helps define it. This venture is about harnessing that energy and cultural relevance to create stories that are as iconic as the man himself. With Iconic Productions , we're not just documenting the world of sport – we're shaping the future of it,' said Paul Martin, Co-Founder of Box To Box Films. The announcement comes as Lyles heads to Cannes Lions for the SPORT Beach program next week, where he will discuss Iconic Productions and other timely topics related to his career and beyond. Further details about upcoming projects from Iconic Productions will be announced in the months ahead. For updates, visit and follow on Instagram, YouTube and Twitter/X. SEE ALSO Runnin' It Up: Noah Lyles & Box To Box Films Partner To Launch New Venture 'Iconic Productions' was originally published on
New York Times
05-03-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
‘Drive to Survive,' the most influential sports show, is back. Plus, Serena and Sabrina invest
MoneyCall Newsletter 📈 | This is The Athletic's weekly sports business newsletter. Sign up here to receive MoneyCall directly in your inbox. Read past editions here. Welcome back to MoneyCall, The Athletic's weekly sports business cheat sheet. Name-dropped today: Charles Leclerc, Serena Williams, Sabrina Ionescu, Jimmy Johnson, Ilona Maher, Ben Stiller, Jessica Gelman, Katherine Legge and more. Let's go: If the sports media story of the decade is the explosion of streaming, the defining example is 'Drive To Survive,' Netflix's signature sports series whose seventh season drops globally on Friday. Perhaps a bit apocryphally (but also materially), DTS's Season 2 on Netflix drove F1 right into the U.S. sports fan consciousness, with the show's combination of eye-popping glitz, glib participants, watch-next-episode instant gratification and the alchemy of access. It helped that it released right in the middle of the pandemic, as fans had little to do but binge TV seasons. Advertisement 'It works more like a soap opera than it does a sports access show,' says Paul Martin, co-founder of production company Box To Box Films, which makes the show. With exclusive access, The Athletic's Madeline Coleman observed Box To Box last fall at the Las Vegas Grand Prix to see how the show was produced, and the result is the most definitive story ever written about 'Drive To Survive.' In the spirit of DTS showcasing F1 personalities like Red Bull principal Christian Horner, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and breakout star Guenther Steiner, I asked Coleman for her candid commentary: Why does DTS resonate with fans? Madeline: Martin, the executive producer, told me how the show has 'a stickiness' to it, and I agree. Co-EP Tom Hutchings said: 'It just gets under the skin of the characters that run the world of F1.' Do drivers enjoy the production process? It does seem that more have bought into the idea at times, though it is a case-by-case basis. Max Verstappen opted out of filming for a previous season. Most interesting detail you learned? How the cameraperson operates inside the garage. A producer took me inside Ferrari's garage and talked through the different spots he records from. When the cars are inside and team members are working, it becomes quite packed. Season 7's best storyline? Leclerc's Monaco GP win. It was raw and emotional, and I appreciate how his backstory was woven into the episode. The series spawned its own subgenre: 'Drive to Survive for …' — a way to describe any TV show that could convert casual viewers into fans by way of behind-the-scenes access. Coleman's incredible story explains how the original does it. (Look for Coleman and Luke Smith's in-depth analysis of Season 7 coming later this week at The Athletic.) Bonus quiz! Test yourself by matching the sport to its DTS-esque series title. (Answers at the end of the newsletter!) Big talkers from the sports business industry: Related: The WNBA's embattled Connecticut Sun are positioning themselves to sell a minority stake, as WNBA team valuations continue to soar. Ben Pickman examined what's next for the franchise (and it's not clear!). I totally tuned in live for the game ending, when the anthropomorphic mascot threw itself into the giant toaster and the players ate it. Does that sound like gibberish? Does that simply trigger a craving for a breakfast-ish snack? For all those reasons, Stewart Mandel's deep dive into the PTB is such a must-read. 💬 'My Fox replacement for Jimmy Johnson is … no replacement. At least, not yet. If Bill Belichick had stayed off the sidelines, then he would have been the choice. If Sean McVay or Mike Tomlin stop coaching, they would be high on Fox's list. But with no coach-turned-analyst of that caliber, I think Fox will just increase Rob Gronkowski's time on the big show and possibly add a Mike McCarthy type on its early show who could maybe sprinkle in on the noon broadcast.' Other current obsessions: Ilona Maher's ability to carry an entire sport … Next iteration of NIL: taking less money to play for Deion … Legendary rap impresario (and erstwhile would-be pro hooper) Master P as a college basketball GM at University of New Orleans … Josh Allen, TV producer … Ben Stiller posting about the Knicks smack-dab during the Oscars … Let's find out. This Friday and Saturday in Boston is one of my favorite sports-business events of the year: the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, now in its 19th year. Check out this preview I wrote about the 2025 event (favorite panel title: 'Have the Nerds Ruined Basketball?') I also got in touch with SSAC co-founder Jessica Gelman (a classmate of mine at Harvard Business School) to ask her a few questions: If the collective brainpower of every SSAC 25 attendee could be harnessed to solve one consistently vexing sports business question, what would you pick? Gelman: College sports is at a crossroads, and the potential impact on Olympic and women's sports is an area we should all be focused on. The impact of college sports participation on future business executives is well-documented: 95 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs were collegiate athletes, and 94 percent of C-suite women were collegiate athletes, so ideating on this is a collective imperative. (Gelman would know: She was a hooper at Harvard in the mid-'90s and regularly schooled me in the HBS gym, and now she is CEO of Kraft Analytics Group. Read the full interview here.) Time for a lightning round. The Big Number: 94,751 That was the attendance for the NHL Stadium Series game between the Blue Jackets and Red Wings at Ohio Stadium in Columbus last Saturday. It was the second-highest outdoor attendance of an NHL game ever. The league's marketing momentum continues. Related: An amazing conversation between my colleague Richard Deitsch and the two national play-by-play broadcasters on either side of the epic U.S.-Canada 4 Nations championship game. Incredible insights about an incredible game. Advertisement Name to Know: Katherine Legge Legge will become the first woman to drive in a NASCAR Cup Series race in seven years. (Previously, in MoneyCall, reporter Jeff Gluck told you how one of NASCAR's biggest challenges is a limited pipeline of female drivers.) Date to Know: May 23 That will be the final episode of ESPN talking-head debate show 'Around the Horn,' which has been on the air weekdays since 2002 and an incubator for legions of on-air talent (plus one MoneyCall newsletter writer). Much more on this in May. Ratings Point: 1.42M That's the debut for IndyCar on Fox, up nearly half a million from last year's season opener on NBC. (And slightly above what F1 draws on ESPN …) Kit Release: NWSL The 2025 NWSL season kicks off March 14, but — as it is across the soccer/football/fútbol global landscape — the new kit reveal is always a huge deal, especially when it comes to driving new revenue for the league and clubs. Check out our team's kit reviews. (I'm a Spirit homer and like what they did with the neon alternates, but Bay FC really stood out to me as sharp.) 10-word TV Review: SC+ on Disney+ Appreciate the attempt. Fifteen-minute format is too long by half. Beat Dan in Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle #163 🔵🔵🔵🔵 🟢🟢🟢🟢 🟣🟡🟡🟡 🟣🟡🟡🟡 🟣🟡🟡🟡 🟣🟣🟣🟣 🟡🟡🟡🟡 ⏱️ 01:05 'Pbew!' PHEW? You're better than that, Dan! A second straight week for you to out-play me, everyone. Try the game here! Answers to the DTS quiz Tennis: 'Break Point.' Golf: 'Full Swing.' NASCAR: 'Full Speed.' Rugby: 'Full Contact.' Surfing: 'Make or Break.' Tour de France: 'Unchained.' MotoGP: 'Unlimited.' MLS: 'Onside.' NWSL: 'For the Win.' Great business-adjacent reads for your downtime or commute: Speaking of my alma mater, it had a solid cameo in this fantastic piece by my colleague Rustin Dodd on how teams create culture, through the lens of the recent Luka Dončić and Jimmy Butler storylines. Two more: 📫 Back next Wednesday! New challenge for all MoneyCall readers: Forward today's email to one friend or colleague with your recommendation they subscribe. And always check out The Athletic's other newsletters, too.
