Talk about a shot in the arm! Just when it looked like Alpine F1’s Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon were headed for a weekend in the penalty box after a forgettable qualifying session, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes threw them a lifeline. 

Fresh off celebrating his Super Bowl win with his wife Brittany, Mahomes announced a recent collab with Adidas. In a video posted on X, he teased, “The next Mahomes 2 …⏰️ #RaceAgainstTime @adidasFballUS.” Looks like Mahomes is all ready to delve into new ventures. 

Well, guess what? It was revealed earlier this year that Mahomes and his tight-end teammate Travis Kelce are part of a celebrity investor group that recently pumped money into Alpine F1. It features Rory McIlroy (pro golfer), Anthony Joshua (ex-heavyweight champ boxer), and Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool F.C’s soccer star). 

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This isn’t Mahomes’ first venture beyond football. The Super Bowl champ, known for his “always looking around” approach (his words! ), has also put money into the NWSL’s KC Current, MLB’s Royals, and MLS’ Sporting KC. 

Though we don’t know the exact amount the QB-TE duo put in Alpine F1, their backing shows how Formula One’s gaining global appeal. Alpine, a midfield team for now, might not be vying for championships yet, but with Mahomes in the mix, who knows what’s next? 

One thing’s certain: Gasly and Ocon could use a Mahomes-like miracle after their rough qualifying. A pep talk from their new investor might just be the boost they need on race day. And if Mahomes ever feels like swapping his pigskin for a steering wheel, convincing GM Brett Veach for a track lap could be his next move, though those tiny cockpits might pose a challenge—an embarrassing one. 

Fans rage over Patrick Mahomes’ backed Alpine’s embarrassing team orders

F1 fans are up in arms over Alpine’s controversial team orders during the 2024 Canadian GP. In a crucial race, the French team told Esteban Ocon to swap positions with Pierre Gasly, handing Gasly the P9 slot—to hunt down Daniel Ricciardo for P8. Gasly couldn’t catch the Aussie, and the team never reinstated Ocon’s position, sparking outrage among fans.

“Shameful, absolutely shameful,” roared one fan, mirroring the sentiment of many that Ocon got a raw deal, especially as he’s set to leave Alpine. Despite the drama, Alpine somehow bagged a double-point finish with Gasly in P9 and Ocon in P10—their best of the season. But fans weren’t too happy about how it all went down, feeling like the team played dirty instead of keeping things fair and square.

The qualifications were tough across the board. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc ended up in P11, out in Q2. Williams’ Logan Sargeant celebrated his best qualifying of the year with P12, while the Red Bull duo of Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo exited in P13 and P15, respectively. Alpine really dropped the ball this time, with Ocon and Gasly struggling in P18 and P20 (and Gasly dealing with a grid penalty for new power parts). 

In a season where strategy is key, Alpine’s moves are making fans scratch their heads more than anything. With the backlash mounting, everyone’s wondering if this was just a one-off mistake or a sign of bigger problems. We’ll just have to wait and see if Patrick Mahomes’-backed Alpine can win back their fans and show they’ve got what it takes.