Saturday/Samedi April/Avril 18, 2026
Weekend Fuel:
Sports, Speed,
and Surviving on Smoothies
It's Saturday. The sports world is on fire, Imola is roaring, Manchester United somehow won at Chelsea, and Coachella Weekend 2 is happening without me — which is fine because my jaw still hates me. Welcome to the dispatch.
Happy Saturday, everybody — Bon samedi! It's April 18, 2026, and there is genuinely a lot going on this weekend. We've got motorsport at Imola for the FIA WEC 6 Hours, Premier League football drama, NBA playoffs heating up, Ohio State doing Ohio State things, and I — your founder — am recovering from a walnut-induced jaw situation and livestreaming from the couch like a professional. Let's get into it.
To everyone watching Coachella Weekend 2 on YouTube today — I am genuinely envious of your snacks and drinks. Please enjoy them on my behalf. Your watch party setup sounds amazing and I hope the livestream quality holds up. Stay safe, have fun, and remember: hydrate.
Motorsport — FIA WEC ImolaFerrari on Pole at Home — Imola Goes Off
The 6 Hours of Imola is the kind of race that reminds you why endurance motorsport is the most underrated spectacle in sport. Ferrari's Giovinazzi topped a scintillating Hyperpole shootout on the Scuderia's home soil — the Italian crowd was absolutely electric. Peugeot's 9X8 #94 qualifies in fourth, a solid result for a car that continues to develop. Alpine Endurance Team kicks off its 2026 Hypercar campaign at Imola, a new chapter for a team with everything to prove at the top level. And meanwhile the Ford Mustang GTD Competition broke Nürburgring records again — at some point the Germans are going to have to accept that an American muscle car now owns their most famous circuit.
Football — Premier League & Ligue 1Carrick's United Silence the Doubters at Stamford Bridge
Against all odds and apparently against most of their defenders being available, Manchester United beat Chelsea 1–0 at Stamford Bridge. Michael Carrick called his players' attitude "absolutely immense" — which is manager-speak for "we had no right to win that game and somehow did anyway." United are now closing in on Champions League qualification, which, given where they were six months ago, is a minor miracle. Chelsea fans will be processing that one for a while.
Meanwhile, the Premier League's real title picture comes into focus this weekend with Arsenal heading to Manchester City. That fixture has the energy of a season-defining moment. PSG hosts Lyon in Ligue 1 in what promises to be a classic French top-flight showdown. OM takes on Nice, Stade Rochelais demolished Union Bordeaux Belges 45–15 in rugby, and France Rugby had their Six Nations fixture against Wales.
Basketball — NBA PlayoffsHarden Changes Everything as Cavs Hold Off Raptors
The Cleveland Cavaliers won Game 1 against the Toronto Raptors 132–126, and thirteen takeaways later the story is simple: James Harden changes everything. When Harden is making plays, the Cavs are a different team. Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen were also key contributors. In the other series to watch, Portland's Toumani Camara is set to play a key role against the Spurs — which means Wembanyama vs. the Trail Blazers is must-watch television.
Baseball — MLBReds Rally Past Twins 5–4
The Cincinnati Reds found a way — rallying for a 5–4 win over the Minnesota Twins. Eugenio Suárez was involved, a Tony Santillan save sealed it. Red Reporter is very pleased. As a sports fan with a jaw situation preventing me from eating anything exciting, I appreciate a good comeback story.
College Sports — Ohio StateBuckeyes Being Buckeyes — Spring Game & Lacrosse Title
Two great Buckeye stories this weekend. First: Ohio State's defense outdueled the offense in the 2026 Spring Game — which is exactly the kind of thing that makes Ohio State fans simultaneously nervous and excited heading into the fall. Second, and perhaps more dramatically: Ohio State wins the Big Ten Men's Lacrosse Regular Season Championship with a last-second 9–8 victory over Michigan. A last-second win over Michigan. In any sport. There is genuinely no better feeling in the state of Ohio. #GoBucks.
Formula 1F1 Academy Champion Pin Tests with Mercedes at Silverstone
F1 Academy Champion Pin completed her maiden Formula 1 test with Mercedes at Silverstone this week. Moments like this matter. The pathway from junior series to the top level of motorsport is something the sport has needed to build seriously, and seeing a champion get meaningful track time in a proper F1 car is progress worth celebrating.
GamingAssassin's Creed Combat Evolution & Weekend Gaming
IGN dropped the official Assassin's Creed Evolution of Combat gameplay trailer and honestly it's worth watching just for the choreography. The franchise's combat evolution across its history is genuinely impressive when you see it laid out. Speaking of gaming — I did several PS5 livestreams last night despite everything. Be sure to check them out on YouTube. Jaw pain cannot stop the stream. This is the way.
Pro WrestlingWrestleMania 42 Night One is Live
WrestleMania 42 Night One results are coming in as we speak. The biggest show in professional wrestling is always an event — whether you're a lifelong fan or just someone who appreciates spectacular athletic storytelling, WrestleMania Night One is worth a watch.
Automotive & EVGas Prices Flip the EV Market — Hyundai Up 40%
Hyundai sales are up 40% as gas prices continue to make EV economics look better and better. The EV market is shifting in real time, and the brands that positioned early — Hyundai, Kia, and now increasingly others — are reaping the rewards. Separately: a Thomas Sieber video about a Porsche dealership being completely full is doing numbers, which tells you something about the state of luxury automotive demand even in this environment.
All Links — This Weekend's Full FeedEverything Worth Reading Right Now
Coffee with Zack & Coffee with Zaki
PS5 livestreams happened last night — several of them. Check them out on YouTube whether live or on replay. We need those videos to go viral heading into next month. Big things are coming, and the algorithm rewards attention. Subscribe, watch, share.
Coffee with Zack
Weekly tech, world affairs & culture — English. New episodes dropping. Watch on YouTube.
Coffee with Zaki
La version française — technologie, affaires mondiales, musique électronique. Abonnez-vous!
Coming Up Next Month — Birthday Season
The Wishlist Is Real & The Dream Is Alive
— Zaki, April 2026, on the couch, eating apple sauce
It's almost birthday season, and I'm being transparent about it: my goal is to receive gifts for the work I've been doing as an Influencer and content creator. Eight years of unpaid grind deserves a celebration. Here's the wishlist — feel free to send any or all of it:
You can support directly via Venmo @iamzaki or buy Razer gear through my creator link below. Every bit of support fuels more content, more articles, and more streams. Thank you for real.
Professional
Open to Opportunities — Investors, VCs & Career Roles Welcome
I did not graduate from Ohio State and work over a decade in corporate for nothing. I am actively seeking a salary career position at any of the following companies — and I'm equally open to investors, VCs, and Angel Investors interested in Zack Technology LLC. If you can make introductions, please do. If you work at any of these, let's talk:
Note: Facebook/Meta is excluded — they exploited my work on the Cyberpunk Metaverse without credit or compensation. That's on the record. Zack Technology LLC is also open to Angel Investors and VC partners. DM me on any social platform or reach out directly.