Published on: December 9, 2024, 03:05h. 

Last updated on: December 9, 2024, 03:16h.

Lewis Hamilton concluded his successful 12-year tenure with Mercedes yesterday, a team with which he secured six F1 titles, as he prepares to join Ferrari for the 2025 season.

Hamilton’s partnership with Mercedes marked the most triumphant period between a driver and a team in F1 history.

McLaren Secures Team Championship

There has been much speculation about the challenges Hamilton faced during this transition. The decision, announced in February, undoubtedly influenced the team’s performance this F1 season, resulting in four wins (4th in the constructor standings).

Even so, as per the Associated Press, the soon-to-be 40-year-old’s final race in a Mercedes car ended with poignant words:

“We dreamed alone but together, we believed,” Hamilton told race engineer Peter Bonnington and team principal Toto Wolff over the radio.

“Thank you for all the courage, the determination and the passion for seeing me and supporting me. What started out as a leap of faith turned into a journey into the history books.”

Meanwhile, McLaren clinched the constructors’ championship over the weekend, with Lando Norris claiming victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, his fourth win of the season. This victory marked the team’s first constructors’ championship since 1998.

F1 predictions for 2025 are already out – Norris is the frontrunner to win the drivers’ title at +180 at DraftKings, followed by this year’s champion, Max Verstappen from Red Bull Racing at +225, Charles Leclerc from Ferrari at +450, then Hamilton at +600.

UFC 310 Results: Pantoja Shines

The favored Alexandre Pantoja (29-5-0) put on an impressive display in the flyweight title fight at UFC 310 in Las Vegas on Saturday, defeating Kai Asakura via second-round submission. Following the fight, Pantoja called out his next potential opponent, targeting Demetrious Johnson, the former UFC flyweight champion who retired earlier this year. Pantoja now shares the record for most UFC wins at flyweight with Johnson, at 13.

Looking ahead, UFC 311 on January 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, CA, features two title fights – including Islam Makhachev defending his title against No. 1 ranked Arman Tsarukyan in a highly-anticipated lightweight division clash. Odds at BetMGM already have Makhachev as the favorite at -278, Tsarukyan at +220.

Allen’s MVP Odds Improve After Stellar Performance Against Rams

Despite the Buffalo Bills losing to the L.A. Rams 44-42 in the highest scoring game of the NFL season, quarterback Josh Allen showcased an outstanding performance with six touchdowns (three passing, three rushing) – a historic feat. Following this game, Allen’s odds for NFL MVP moved from -200 to -400 at PointsBet Canada, making him a popular betting option. Allen is currently listed at -400 on DraftKings as well.

Josh Allen has been exceptional all season, especially with his six total touchdowns and over 400 yards of offense in the latest game. While Saquon Barkley (+450) is also having a remarkable season, this is primarily a quarterback-focused award, and Allen seems to be in pole position for the MVP title at this point,” stated Johnny Avello, Director of Sports Operations, DraftKings.