Before LAPSOFLUX became a growing international luxury-media platform, there was Issue 000: an ambitious first edition unveiled in Abu Dhabi during one of the most dramatic Formula 1 weekends in history.
In December 2021, the final race of the Formula 1 season transformed Yas Island into the centre of the sporting and luxury worlds. Against that electric backdrop, LAPSOFLUX joined forces with Rich List Group and Bally Singh of AIOKA to introduce LAPSOFLUX Magazine Issue 000—the physical beginning of a vision built around culture, business, design, travel, automotive excellence and the people shaping modern luxury.
Issue 000 was more than a magazine release. It was a declaration of intent. LAPSOFLUX was created to bring founders, artists, athletes, collectors and cultural leaders into one editorial world—and to translate those relationships into print, digital storytelling and unforgettable experiences. Abu Dhabi offered the right stage: international, fast-moving and filled with an audience that understood both performance and prestige.
The launch unfolded alongside the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix finale, when Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen entered the final race level on points. Verstappen ultimately secured his first World Championship after a final-lap restart that became one of the most debated conclusions in Formula 1 history. For everyone in Abu Dhabi that weekend, the atmosphere felt larger than sport. History was being written on the circuit while LAPSOFLUX opened its own first chapter nearby.
“What a historic evening for Formula 1 and Abu Dhabi. We had the privilege of being part of a moment that will never be forgotten.”
Paul Saini, Founder of LAPSOFLUX
The energy moved from the racetrack into the night. Global music icon Akon delivered a live performance, giving the launch the scale and international character LAPSOFLUX wanted from its first edition. Music, motorsport, entrepreneurship and luxury culture came together in one room—not as separate industries, but as parts of the same global community.
The guest list reflected that idea. Entrepreneurs and personalities including Michael Wekerle, Victor Consunji, Evan Luthra, Jas Mathur of Limitless, Elwa Saleh, Sai Ferrara and Mavimatt joined automotive creators and digital communities including CarsWithoutLimits, Sparky18888, Muskoka Luxury and NFT BAZL. Architect and designer Veliz Arquitecto was also among the international network represented during the release.
What made the evening meaningful was not celebrity alone. It was the willingness of people to travel, support a new independent publication and participate in its earliest moment. The room demonstrated the central idea behind LAPSOFLUX: the strongest luxury stories are created through access, trust and a community that crosses industries and borders.
Every publication has a first page, but Issue 000 represented something more foundational. It established the model LAPSOFLUX would continue to develop: original interviews, premium print storytelling, social-first video, international experiences and rooms designed to connect influential people who might not otherwise meet.
The collaboration with Rich List Group and Bally Singh’s AIOKA helped place that first edition in a truly international environment. Instead of quietly releasing a new title, LAPSOFLUX introduced itself amid Formula 1, live entertainment and a network of founders, creators and collectors. The launch made the magazine feel less like a conventional publication and more like an invitation into a living community.
Looking back, the location could not have been more fitting. Formula 1 is built on precision, ambition, engineering and relentless forward motion—the same qualities required to turn an independent creative vision into a lasting media brand. Abu Dhabi gave LAPSOFLUX a global starting line.
Issue 000 remains the origin story: the night print came alive, a community gathered around it and LAPSOFLUX began building the bridge between editorial, experience and influence that continues to define the platform today.