One of my first true loves was the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. As a child, I was completely infatuated with the series. My parents made sure I had almost every toy and accessory MMPR released.
My favourite Ranger was always Tommy — the legendary Green Ranger. That golden chest piece, the flute, the ability to summon the mighty Dragonzord from the depths of the sea… to me, he was the definition of power. When you're a kid watching Power Rangers, they quickly become your heroes. But in reality, the true heroes are the people who create those memories for us.
It's funny — I was only four or five years old when I first watched Power Rangers, and yet nostalgia for that show is what eventually led me into the world of Formula One. Drivers in their helmets always reminded me of Power Rangers. That similarity grabbed my attention, and nostalgia became my entry point into F1.
I'm not going to lie and pretend I witnessed Michael Schumacher win his seventh championship, or even Lewis Hamilton win his first. At that time, I was a teenager chasing women who didn't care about F1, surrounded by friends who also weren't into the sport. I was aware of Hamilton and his achievement in 2008, but it wasn't something I personally experienced with passion or in real time.
Back then, my world revolved around hip-hop. Writing and recording lyrics made me happy. Gaming was another huge part of my childhood — Call of Duty multiplayer was not for the faint-hearted.
Fast-forward to 2010 — the year I truly got into F1. I was in my second year of university, studying Business Management and living with three friends who loved sports. I had always enjoyed sports, but not enough to pay for subscriptions or premium channels. That changed in second year.
I've never been the most outgoing person. I preferred staying inside with meaningful company, or isolating myself and focusing on my crafts — writing, music, or developing Dimensions. The free time before, after, or in between lectures allowed me that space. Occasionally, I'd choose to watch TV instead of working on those things.
I can't remember the exact race that hooked me, nor the half-hearted moments watching F1 before that. But after that race, I became a casual fan. The misconception that F1 was just "driving in circles" disappeared instantly. The belief that it was boring? Completely shattered.
I was absorbed by the racing — the speed, the precision, the skill. But at first, what pulled me in most was how much the drivers looked like my beloved Power Rangers. And then I saw Lewis Hamilton. Seeing him made me feel proud — he was an anomaly in F1, a true standout.
Lewis was always held to an incredibly high standard, and he excelled under that pressure. That particular season was an amazing one to become an F1 fan. So many different drivers won races. The championship went right down to the wire, with Sebastian Vettel clinching it in Abu Dhabi despite Fernando Alonso being the favourite. Alonso found himself stuck behind Vitaly Petrov for nearly the entire race.
Even though Vettel's first championship victory was emotional and beautiful, many expected Alonso to win, and there was a sense of disappointment when he didn't. As a result, the sport introduced a brand-new technical innovation designed to improve overtaking: the Drag Reduction System
DRS.