They were the surprise package of the 2021 F1 Esports Series Pro Championship presented by Aramco – but after two and a half years together, Lucas Blakeley announces he will be parting ways with Aston Martin Cognizant Esports Team.

The news comes as a surprise to many, after a successful season together in 2021 which saw the duo accrue two victories, en route to third in both the driver and team standings.

Sharing the news via social media, Blakeley said:

“Today, I announce that I’m leaving Aston Martin Cognizant Esports Team after two and a half years.

“I want to take a moment to thank the team for putting their faith in me during this time, it’s thanks to them that I got the chance to compete in F1 Esports and do what I love competitively. For that, I will be forever grateful.”

Blakeley has not yet made his future plans known to the public, although he signed off the message with a cryptic hint that he may know his whereabouts later this year:

“This chapter has closed, time to start writing the next…”

From Draftee To Dark Horse

Blakeley’s journey has been a joyous one to follow. Looked over for a seat in 2018, he got a second chance in 2019 when he attended what was then known as the Pro Draft. Scooped up by the team, known at the time as BWT Racing Point F1 Esports Team, the young Scot was reduced to tears at his selection.

With F1 Esports stalwart Marcel Kiefer, and sim racing authority Daniele Haddad as team mates, Blakeley only got four races on track in that year’s championship.

That was more than enough. In only his second race, he commanded an ultra-impressive second-place finish at the Suzuka race, losing out only to race winner Frede Rasmussen.

The 2020 season came and went in a blur, and Blakeley and Racing Point were left behind. But 2021 was to be a different story. First race, first victory. In a taste of what was to come, Blakeley fought tooth and nail with Nicolas Longuet and Alvaro Carreton for the first win of the season in Bahrain. A complete changing of the guard, a breathless final lap battle, and a first ever victory for the elated Scot.

The season blossomed into the most competitive so far, and Blakeley took another victory at Portimao, and became championship leader after he showed more consistency than rivals Jarno Opmeer and Rasmussen. Though he eventually missed out on the crown, the quantum leap in terms of performance means that wherever he ends up in 2022, he’s sure to impress!

We don’t yet know who will be on the grid in the 2022 F1 Esports Series Pro Championship, but thanks to Challengers, we’re getting slightly closer! Join us for Event 2 of the F1 Esports Challengers, streaming live on Twitch from 1-3 February at 19:30 GMT. We might just unearth our next superstar…

The post Lucas Blakeley Leaves Aston Martin appeared first on F1Esports News.

Just like all the fine things in life: wine, cigars, and diamonds: cannabis can also be measured in terms of quality. The sight, touch, taste, size, aroma, and sensation of a marijuana bud is all determined by the cleanliness of the air in which the plant grew, the composition of the soil, and the temperature shifts that it endured.

Knowing Quality Bud from Shwag

It's important to know the good quality stuff from the shwag. Whether you're a connoisseur or simply a novice; knowing how to assess the quality of a cannabis bud is necessary to have the best experience. If you want to know the telltale signs of top-shelf bud then read on.

Visually Inspect the Bud

Sometimes the only way to get an idea of the quality of a bud is by the way it looks. It is important to know the clues that will tell you how awesome the weed you're assessing is. One of the best visual ways to assess cannabis is by the trichome content. If the bud has loads of trichomes then you are sure to get a good buzz. Trichomes are the small crystal-looking resin glands that make the bud look frosty. These trichomes contain cannabinoids like THC and CBD.

Another visual way to assess a cannabis bud is by its color. Healthy buds are usually nice and green, purple, or may even look orange depending on the pistils on the bud and the strain. When you smoke the bud, the ashes should burn white-grey ash.

Look For a Tight Trim

The trim of the flower should be done well. Look for a tight trim; extra leaf matter should have been removed so that the bud is fully revealed. Excess stems should also be removed and the only part of the stem that should be left is at the base of the flower where it was cut from the plant. Over-trimmed flowers should be avoided as this usually results in a lower trichome content.

How to Spot Mildew or Mold

When assessing a bud be sure to check for red flags. Powdery mildew can look like trichomes if you don't look closely. A bud should glisten in the light, but if it has mildew on it will not. If you see something like baby powder on it or a cottony appearance it's probably powdery mildew.

Another red flag and type of mold is botrytis (also known as bud rot). This mold is more difficult to see as it is inside the flower. It may not be until after you purchase the bud, go home, and start breaking it up that you notice that the bud has brown or grey mold inside. You mustn't smoke it.

Gently Squeeze the Bud

Touching the bud is another good way to assess its quality. When you gently squeeze the bud, it should bounce back to its original form. Squeezing the bud can also tell you if it has properly been cured. It should have a bit of a stickiness to it, but if it hasn't been cured correctly then it will feel too wet. The stem is another indicator of how well the bud has been cured. A properly cured stem will have a definite snap when you bend it.

Smell the Bud for Quality

One of my favorite ways to check the quality of a bud is by smelling it. It's an instinctive thing we all seem to do when you open a new bag of buds: you hold it up to your nose and inhale the sweet aroma. This can also tell you if a bud has mold on it, or if it smells wet then it hasn't been cured properly. Good quality marijuana will often smell skunky, pine, fruity, cheese, or earthy.

Taste the Bud

Lastly, you can taste if a bud is of high quality. Oftentimes, the aroma of bud will match the flavor. Just like a good liquor, the taste should be smooth. When you inhale the smoke, it shouldn't burn your throat; neither should it leave a harsh taste in the back of your throat.

In Conclusion

After reading this article you can easily be on your way to becoming a cannabis connoisseur. Next time you find yourself buying marijuana don't just settle for anything. Take the time to study the bud instead of choosing one based on whatever name sounds good to you. You will be impressed by the difference that quality bud makes.

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