in my formula 1 era

by Logan Fairbrother (for Hypebeast)

The Formula 1 superstar joins Jisoo, Lamine Yamal, Lady Gaga, and more in a new campaign celebrating the iconic franchise’s 30th anniversary.

What drew you to take part in Pokémon’s 30th anniversary campaign?

Pokémon is a brand I genuinely love, and it played a big role in my childhood. It’s something that inspires young people all around the world, and being able to partner with a brand that has brought so much joy for 30 years, it felt very special.

You’re featured in the campaign alongside other icons from different fields. What does being included in that group mean to you personally?

Pokémon is incredibly inclusive; it brings together fans of all ages, backgrounds, and interests. For this campaign, they’ve brought together people from very different worlds. To be included in that group is an honor, and it feels great to be connected through something we all grew up loving.

Pokémon is a brand that spans generations. What does it represent to you?

For me, it represents play, fun, and imagination. It’s a universe full of characters you get attached to, stories you remember, and memories you share with others. I grew up with it, just like so many people around the world, and that’s what makes celebrating 30 years so meaningful.

Do you remember the first Pokémon that really stuck with you?

It has to be Pikachu. In those early years, he really captured your imagination. But that’s the beauty of Pokémon; there’s such an incredible variety of characters that everyone connects with different ones. It’s such a rich, creative world.

You’ve chosen Arcanine as your partner for the campaign — what about that Pokémon resonated with you?

He’s fast and loyal — two qualities I’m very drawn to. Speed is obviously a huge part of my life, but it’s also a passion, so that connection made sense straight away. Beyond that, Arcanine is caring and protective, and he actually reminds me of a much bigger version of my dog, Leo, which made the choice even more personal.

Are you more drawn to Pokémon for their strength, personality, or design?

Honestly, all of it. Pokémon is such a creative universe; there really is something for everyone. If I had to choose, personality and design probably matter the most to me. And I love the names as well, they’re so playful and clever.

Why do you think Pokémon continues to resonate so strongly, even 30 years later?

Because it’s fun, inclusive, and incredibly rich as a universe. There’s so much diversity in the characters and the ways people can engage with it. It’s one of those rare brands that speaks to everyone, no matter your age, and that’s why it remains so iconic.

Many fans engage with Pokémon in different ways: games, trading cards, animation, collecting, and more. How do you like to enjoy Pokémon?

For me, it’s always been through the cards. Collecting them was a big part of my childhood, and I have very strong memories tied to that time; opening packs, discovering new Pokémon, and sharing those moments with friends. Those experiences really stayed with me, and they’re memories that are still very special to me today.

ferrari didn’t tell either charles or lewis that lewis had a penalty which made charles push unnecessarily hard when he only needed to be within 5 seconds

ferrari was unable to fix the brake problem for charles leading to him having no confidence all weekend and unpredictable brakes

ferrari then double stacked both ferrari cars under the safety car and served lewis’ penalty which led to charles unnecessarily also serving that 5 second penalty, so the team punished charles when he had nothing to do with that penalty

the pitstop was also unnecessary because his tyres were fine and he could’ve maybe led the race or at least finished second

the pitstop gave charles cold tyres that he was unable to warm up and the brakes were still broken which meant he crashed into the wall at the restart of the race

now both can be very true but the audacity to demand ferrari put a leash on charles leclerc of all people is genuinely astounding

int: charles, there’s a lot of disappointment. you blamed the brakes on the radio but now we’re seeing some problems with the tarmac. what caused the crash?

i had seen the issue with tarmac a few laps before the crash: i went over it on the outside and i realized there was no grip but that wasn’t the issue. the data confirmed what the issue is. i’m not the type of person to find excuses, i’m the first person not the be ashamed when i screw up and push too much but i don’t have any words. i don’t really want to talk because i’m afraid of being too harsh. it’s been a problem the last two races. again, we have a solution, lewis went in that direction three or four races ago. i don’ don’e. today i set four or five brake bars - i’m not sure anyone will understand but it means i was barely touching the brakes. i couldn’t go any lower than that and the rear brakes simply didn’t work at all, only the front brakes did. it’s been like this for two races now and unfortunately when the tires are cold you need to be even more precise. it’s not that i don’t have any control it’s that it’s impossible to control anything. the brakes are on and off, on and off again. it's been a problem the last two races. again, we have a solution, lewis went in that direction three or four races ago. i don't think it made much of a difference on other tracks but it simply was undriveable for me today.

int: this must have all fueled your frustration, we also heard you on the radio regret the pitstop. what did you want to do, would you have preferred to keep your set of tires?