full throttle fun

Eminem, third place battle, and 4 more moments from Texas' F1 weekend

2024 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc, and Max Verstappen

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc won the U.S. Grand Prix on Sunday, October 20, with Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen rounding out the top three.

Photo by Daniel Cavazos

The Formula 1 United States Grand Prix grows bigger every year at Circuit of the Americas, and so does our love for the motorsport. Nothing compares to the exhilaration of watching the action up close in person, feeling the energy of the passionate crowds, or rushing to grab a photo of the top three winning drivers after the race ends. And you can't forget about all the fun events and parties leading up to the race.

We were there for it all, and we collected our top trackside highlights to help you catch up on the best parts of the weekend. Stay tuned for more of our favorite moments in a gallery coming soon.

Contentious P3 battle between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz had secured first and second place well before the last 10 laps of the race on Sunday, but it was a heated battle for third place between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. Norris finally pushed ahead of Verstappen on lap 52, but both cars went off the track as Verstappen tried to defend his position. The contentious overtake resulted in a five-second penalty for Norris for "leaving the track and gaining an advantage" that dropped him down to P4 at the end of the race, allowing Verstappen to assume third place and add another 15 points to his championship lead.

Sprint race final-lap battle for P2
Day Two of the race weekend started with an action-packed 19-lap sprint race. Race winner and Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen added eight points to his championship lead over McLaren's Lando Norris, who landed in third place after a final lap battle between himself and Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. The Ferraris had been battling each other frequently throughout the race, and it came to a head in the last lap, when Norris locked up the brakes going around turn one, which allowed Sainz to overtake and claim P2.

Jane Leo rocks the Fan Field Stage
Austin-based husband-and-wife duo Jane Leo — Jane Ellen Bryant and Daniel Leopold — brought a lively performance of indie synth rock to the Fan Field Stage on Friday. Bryant perfectly kept her cool by donning a sheer black top with black tights, and Leopold matched her style with high-waisted black pants, a black tank top, and oversized sunglasses. (Big tough Freddie Mercury vibes.) They caught the eyes and ears of race fans who were waiting in line for the Lego Experience activation nearby.

Austin-based band Jane Leo at Circuit of the Americas Jane Leo looked and sounded so cool on Friday.Photo by Daniel Cavazos

Eminem's first concert in five years
It's not every day you get to witness a crowd of tens of thousands of Eminem fans sing happy birthday to the legend himself. And the self-proclaimed Rap God didn’t disappoint when he emerged from a coffin onto the Germania Insurance Super Stage on Saturday night (while brandishing a chainsaw, no less). Eminem rapped through many of his classic hits, such as “The Real Slim Shady” and “Love the Way You Lie,” while debuting new material ("Lucifer," "Temporary," and more) from his recent album The Death of Slim Shady: Coup de Grace. He also had a few friends join him, including longtime collaborators Skylar Grey and Denaun.

Eminem performing at the Germania Insurance Super Stage at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas on October 19, 2024. Happy birthday, Eminem.Photo by Daniel Cavazos

Franco Colapinto’s impressive fanbase in Austin
The U.S. Grand Prix was Williams Racing driver Franco Colapinto’s fourth-ever F1 race, but he’s already making a great impression amongst his American fanbase. We saw many Argentine flags flying in support for the rookie driver during the weekend, and overheard loud cheers when he sped by the crowds during the sprint race. Colapinto is the first Argentinian driver to compete in F1 since Gastón Mazzacane, and we're looking forward to following his journey through the rest of the season.

Celebrity sightings galore
British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay was seen in Georgetown earlier in the week, so it felt like a no-brainer that he would make time to stop by the paddock and say hello to his friends this weekend. However, we were delighted to meet two-time World Champion and Olympic medalist fencer Miles Chamley-Watson. He was — by far — one of the most fashionable stars in the paddock on Saturday, stunning in a matching watercolor short sleeve button down and shorts, a fuzzy hat, and an adorable puppy as his accessory. Ramsay and Chamley-Watson weren't the only two stars we saw. More are coming in the photo gallery.

Fencer Miles Chamley-Watson at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Miles Chamley-Watson was all smiles on Saturday.Photo by Daniel Cavazos

We are definitely looking forward to a week of recovery after such a jam-packed (and hot) race weekend. Keep cool, stay hydrated, and we'll see you next year, Formula 1.

f1 formula 1 austin cota circuit of the americas racing

Waddle We Have Here

3 endangered penguin chicks just hatched at Galveston's Moody Gardens

A Humboldt penguin chick in an Easter Basket at Moody Gardens

Photo courtesy of Moody Gardens

Look what showed up in an Easter Basket!

Galveston's Moody Gardens announced this week that it has successfully hatched three Humboldt penguin chicks in the Aquarium Pyramid, the first time the facility has done so.

“This is our first ever time having Humboldt penguin chicks, so we’re very excited,” said Amy Jones, a biologist who works with the penguins and seals at Moody Gardens.

Two chicks were born to penguins Yolanda and Cusco, and another to Marcona and Ballesta, all between March 15 and 18. Aquarium staff has been monitoring the chicks and their parents, and all seem to be thriving.

Humboldt penguins are warm weather penguins that naturally inhabit the coasts of Peru and Chile. Moody Gardens introduced Humboldt penguins to its aquarium in 2017. A burrowing species, mating pairs lay and protect eggs in protected nests.

The new chicks will remain secluded in their nesting box for the time being until they develop their waterproof feathers. The parents are keeping them warm and fed. Sex will be determined via DNA testing at a later date, after which the chicks will be named and formally introduced to the public.

Achieving viable Humboldt penguins hatchings is a significant feat for a program that is less than 10 years old, according to Moody Gardens. The birds require strict diets and climate controlled habitats to thrive, and successfully housing a colony of 12 in an environment that makes them comfortable enough to breed is quite an achievement. Engagement and stimulation is key, and visitors to the aquarium can often see the penguins playing with bubbles and toys that simulate activity in the natural environment.

Successful hatchings are also a win in the fight against extinction. Humboldt penguins are classified as a vulnerable species, with only about 23,000 left worldwide. The birds are heavily impacted by El Niño events that disrupt the nutrient-rich Humboldt current that forms the base of the penguins' food pyramid. Driven by man-made climate change, these events are increasing in number and severity. Overfishing, pollution, habitat loss, and being caught in fishing nets also accounts for a decline in the population, according to press materials. Programs like the one at Moody Gardens help educate the public on the dangers the penguins face in the wild.

The real question is: when will visitors be allowed to see the babies? Staff continues to monitor the chicks with regular weigh-ins. The chicks will remain in the nesting boxes for at least several weeks until they are mature enough to start entering safe areas and, eventually, the main habitat. In the meantime, people can see videos on the Moody Gardens Instagram page.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Moody Gardens (@moodygardens)

moody gardens humboldt penguins galveston