Fast and furious innovations

COMMONSENSE

- MARICHU A. VILLANUEVA

We just got back from a literally whirlwind trip to Japan over the weekend. It was an exhilarating experience to watch — for the first time — up close and personal the 2025 Formula-1 Grand Prix (GP) held at the Suzuka Circuit located south of Nagoya City. The F1 Grand Prix is one of the most highly regulated sports in the world to ensure the highest safety for participants and audience as well. It is regarded as the premiere class of competition of four-wheeled racing cars.

A Dutch, Max Verstappen, won the Japanese Grand Prix last Sunday. With split-second speed, he went past the reigning world champion McLaren pair of F1 drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to claim a fourth consecutive win at the Suzuka Circuit.

I am not a fan or sports enthusiast of this supersonic speed, high-octane car-racing contest. But as a journalist, however, learning new fields is not something to let pass. Thus, there was no hesitation to accept and join this rare opportunity to be able to experience firsthand this international car racing sports event.

I was with my former media colleague Dave Gomez, communications director of PMFTC Inc., the local affiliate of Philip Morris International (PMI), at the GP. Let me just call him Dave out of our years of friendship in and out of our association in media.