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Next year in F1, Daniel Ricciardo returns to Red Bull as a reserve/test driver, while his place at McLaren is taken by 2021 Formula 2 champion and current Alpine reserve driver Oscar Piastri. F2 driver Logan Sargeant takes Nicholas Latifi's place at Williams. Nico Hulkenberg returns to F1 to replace Mick Schumacher at Haas. 2021 Formula E World Champion Nyck de Vries joins F1 to replace Pierre Gasly at Alpha Tauri. Gasly moves to Alpine to replace Fernando Alonso, and Alonso moves to Aston Martin to replace Sebastian Vettel. Driver line-ups at Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes and Alfa Romeo remain the same as this year. In other news, McLaren Racing boss Zak Brown has called for a change to the current driver qualification system to make it easier for IndyCar drivers to join F1 by employing a similar 'super-licence' system to Formula 2. It was also announced last week that next year's Chinese Grand Prix has been cancelled due to the country's Covid policies.

Hmmm, that gives me an idea. You could still come to the race but you can be the one who shoots the starter gun and waves the checkered flag. Except....we've never really used the checkered flag. Nobody has ever finished all four laps so if you left right after the race started you won't have to witness all the carnage. If you are on probation and can't shoot a starter gun, I'm sure Bo or Luke will lend you a bow and dynamite arrow.

boat (we're gonna need a bigger boat)

I've been a bit lazy reporting the last couple of races of the F1 season because the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships had already been decided. The season finished on November 20th, but it's taken me a week to post the review. Like last year, the final race of the season was in Abu Dhabi, but this time without the controversial ending. For the race, the top three teams qualified in pairs, with the Red Bulls on the front row, the Ferraris on the second row and the Mercedes on the third row. This year's champion, Max Verstappen, got a good start and never looked back, taking an easy win for a record-breaking 15th time in a season. Lewis Hamilton had a first lap incident with Carlos Sainz and great game of cat and mouse with Sergio Perez, but eventually had to retire with hydraulic issues. It's the first year of his F1 career where he hasn't had a pole position or win. Charles Leclerc held off Sergio Perez to claim second place in the race and the Drivers' Championship, and also secured Ferrari's second place in the Constructors' Championship ahead of Mercedes. A fair bit of the weekend's coverage was devoted to four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel, who has decided to retire from F1. He managed to claim a single point for finishing 10th in his final race. You can watch the race highlights here.

The next morning a few minutes after unlocking the post office and turning the sign from closed to open Cletus appeared, automatically without being told, he took a number and, retrieved his wallet from his pocket to show his license, Bo only a few minutes behind from the other days, came in taking a number and readying his own license. —----------------- Thursday had been quiet, BL parked her GTO in the lot behind the post office after delivering the mail, same as she had all week,"c’mon Sadie “. “You're under arrest for mail fraud, naughty, naughty BL” Rosco said, removing his cuffs from his belt. “Mail fraud! Rosco, have you gone squirrely? I ain’t nor would I be involved in mail fraud” BL said “Tiddly tuddly, this says otherwise,“ Rosco fanned out 5, $100 bills. Giving up on arguing, BL went with him over to the courthouse then saying,”I want my phone call”. Who to call was the problem, she didn’t want to get her daddy involved, so ruled out calling home or the garage. “Mabel, can you get me Tri-Counties Jail please?” BL held her breath, as she waited hoping Dixie answered instead of one of her coworkers… "Tri-Counties Jail, Officer Davenenport." Dixie said answering the phone automatically with the standard greeting. "Dixie, I need you to pick me up after work, Rosco arrested me for mail fraud, ME can you believe it?" "What? What in the world? Has he lost his mind?.... Nevermind, answering that." Dixie replied. "Why don't you call Cooter? He's across the road." "I was afraid Luther would answer or at least overhear and he'd tell Daddy." BL blew out a breath. "Dang it! Sadie's still at the post office, can you get hold of Cooter to get her please? This is my one call." Rosco pointed to his watch, telling BL her time was just about up. —------------------- When Dixie got off the phone with BL, she was glad that no one else was currently around. She made a call and found out Judge Druten was on duty for Hazzard County. She placed a call to his office and found out he would be in Hazzard later that afternoon. After taking care of a few things, Dixie was changed and on her way to pick up Sadie then head over to the Courthouse. Before entering the town of Hazzard, she passed General Lee... —----------------------------- After hanging up with Dixie, Rosco took BL downstairs to the first cell. Bo wondered what Dixie was headed toward Hazzard so early for, he picked up the CB mic. "Lost Sheep 2 to Little Shotgun, you sick or somethin?" Dixie was already pulling over into a wide spot, "Turn around a minute." Bo turned General Lee on a dime and pulled in behind Dixie, "What's up?" "We got Trouble." Dixie stressed the last word. "BL's in jail." That wasn't a phrase Bo thought he'd ever hear in broad daylight, "What? BL's where?!?" Dixie explained what she knew and they both headed to the Post Office for Sadie. ‘ —-------------- When they arrived at the Post Office they found Sadie laying on her blanket giving Boss Hogg a look, he was muttering about incompetent Sheriffs and dipstick deputies…. Both heard the very distinct sound of General Lee pull up and stop out front of the Post Office. Sadie jumped up and began wagging her tail. Boss Hogg mumbled under his breath about not having the time to deal with any no account Dukes. Bo and Dixie found the Post Office locked and the closed sign out. Dixie knocked on the door and knocked harder when she saw Boss Hogg inside, "I need to get Sadie." For a moment he had forgotten about the Davenport girl’s dog. "Alright, alright, this ain't no place for a flea bag." Boss unlocked the door and opened just wide enough for Sadie to make her escape. —------------------------ Over at the courthouse, Judge Druten looked BL in the eye, clearing his throat saying “BL Davenport, you are being charged with mail fraud. Bond is set at $2000 If found guilty of this crime you could be sentenced upto a year in prison. Do you understand this charge and the penalty?” BL felt her knees weaken at the mention of prison, ”yes your honor”, BL answered weakly. At the mention of prison and seeing how BL answered, Bo started to protest her innocence. He had no sooner opened his mouth when Dixie gave him a sharp elbow to his ribs. He caught Dixie's slight shake of her head, 'no', he wisely hushed. Dixie asked politely, "Is that cash, property, or bondsman?" Judge Druten studied the young woman and felt he should know her but he could not place her. "Yes, yes it is Miss." "If I can call Danny, I have the $215.00 right here," Dixie said. Judge Druten motioned her to the phone. Dixie had the call placed and said, "Danny this is Dixie from Tri Counties. I could personally use you over here at Hazzard Courthouse to go a bond for my cousin." Now Judge Druten knew how he knew her, she worked at Tri-Counties Jail. BL looked at Bo and Dixie desperately ”I don’t know what’s going on but I ain’t done nothin”. ”Of course you ain’t darlin’ we're gonna get to the bottom of this. Ain’t we Dixie?” Dixie had a determined look in her eyes ”We sure will, you just wait whoever is framing you will get theirs.” Balladeer: With BL's bond paid, the Davenport girls and Bo headed to the Boar's Nest. —----------------- Luke pulled into the Boars Nest after his rather long drive from work. As he got out of the truck, Bo, BL, and Dixie all pulled in together from the direction of town. "What's up?" Luke asked. Dixie said, "You do mean other than me having to bond BL out of jail. Right?" "What?" Luke asked. "We'll tell you inside." Dixie replied. —---------------------- The group went inside, making their way to their usual table in the back. Cooter came in right behind them, Daisy came over to take their orders but before she could speak, Luke said “Dixie, why did you have to bond BL out of jail?” Cooter and Daisy looked at Luke, like he had 2 heads “what?!” They asked in unison. Daisy sat down in the empty chair, she had to hear this for herself. Dixie told them all the story as she knew it. “I don’t know what but Boss Hogg is upto something. He was in the post office when I got back from delivering the mail.” BL added the part of the story Dixie and Bo didn’t know. "That's funny," Dixie said, "He was there when Bo and I stopped to pick up Sadie." Luke frowned, "Well, whatever he's trying to set up, he's had all the time in the world to invent any evidence he needs." Luke's comment wasn't at all popular with the group and was met by each protesting that they had to do something. Luke tried to settle the others down, "Now exactly what do we know? Did Rosco give you any idea how you are supposed to be committing mail fraud?" “Not the slightest but he was acting odd the other day but that ain’t nothing new for Rosco” BL shrugged her shoulders. —----------------------------- “How was he acting exactly?” Luke asked. “He had some letters or something that he was real anxious to mail. I told him the mail truck would be there any minute to make the morning mail pick up, that he’d have to wait until the afternoon but he kept hanging around.” Luke took a long drink of his beer as he thought, "Has anyone in town sent or received anything strange or out of the ordinary?" He asked. "I've only worked a few days, but the only thing I've thought was weird was that Cletus rented a large box but hasn't gotten any mail in it. I mean Bo rented a large box but he's at least got some mail in it. Then, there was that $100.00 bill that fell out of his mail the other day." BL explained. “That could be something, Have you seen any more money?” Luke asked. BL shook her head ‘no’, “I just put the mail in the box that the mail is addressed to, don’t pay attention to whose name’s on it,” BL said. Looking at Bo, deciding her innocence being proven was more important than rules, “Was there more than once you got $100 Bo?” BL asked. “Yeah a few actually”, Bo answered. “I figured that those $100 were all fan clubs, a fan club wanting a picture for every member,” Bo continued. "Bo. How many fan clubs want your picture?" Luke asked. He hoped it wasn't many. Something just wasn't setting right about it with Luke. "I don't know 4 or 5 maybe," Bo replied. BL looked at Luke, her expression saying 'what'?. Luke rubbed the back of his neck tiredly, "Something isn't right here. It's just not adding up." Luke looked to Bo in disbelief, "You really have over $500.00 for pictures of you and General Lee, ... and you don't think that's odd?" Bo was a bit hurt, "Now, Luke you are just mad that they want my picture or are you upset that you are missing out on some extra cash." "Pictures that you are looking at fifty cents on a pop. No, you have fun with that." Luke declared. "But, I'm not, see when they order in bulk I save envelopes and some postage too." Bo argued. —--------------------------- Balladeer: It was times like these that made Luke wonder why he'd come back to Hazzard instead of sharing a place with his team much closer to base camp. Dixie got up and headed for the jukebox. Luke zeroed in, forgetting all about pictures and money. Balladeer: That’s why he came back, folks. ^^^^^^^^^^^