My name is Refayat Haque, a 35-year-old software developer with a deep passion for motor racing. My love for technology and fast cars began early on. I vividly remember tinkering with computers as a child and spending weekends watching motor races, captivated by the engineering prowess and strategic brilliance that went into both the machines and the people behind them.
Dad used to play re-runs of Formula 1 races to coax me into eating breakfast and getting ready for school. I would clap with excitement whenever the V10 Ferrari of Michael Schumacher roared by—a sound that defined an era in Formula 1. These early interests grew into more than just hobbies; they became integral to my life and work.
Over the past seven years, I've built a career in software development, working with a variety of cutting-edge technologies and gaining valuable experience across different domains. My professional journey has allowed me to combine my analytical mindset with my natural curiosity for problem-solving. In many ways, my love for software development is a natural extension of my childhood, where I spent countless hours playing with Legos, building, breaking, and rebuilding structures over and over again.
I often took apart random appliances around the house, fascinated by how things worked, only to challenge myself to put them back together, often in a different way. That same spirit of curiosity and exploration drives my work today—whether it's writing code or designing complex systems. At the same time, my passion for Formula 1 has only intensified as I've grown to understand the nuances of motorsport—from the aerodynamics of the cars to the intricate race strategies.
Even now, I'm completely captivated whenever I hear the roar of the turbo-hybrid V6 engines or when major developments in the sport are announced. For instance, the news of Adrian Newey—arguably the greatest designer and aerodynamicist in Formula 1 history—joining Aston Martin Racing in time for the new engine and aerodynamic regulations set to take effect in 2026 filled me with excitement. It's moments like these that rekindle my deep connection to the sport.
Image credit: https://www.astonmartinf1.com/en-GB/news/gallery/in-pictures-adrian-newey-joins-aston-martin-aramco
However, as much as I love following Formula 1, I've become increasingly frustrated with how social media platforms dominate the space for motorsports news and updates. The repetitive act of doomscrolling, where users are trapped in a cycle of negative and often irrelevant content, has made it difficult to stay focused on what truly matters.
Research shows that excessive social media use can have significant negative impacts on mental health, with studies linking it to increased anxiety, depression, and feelings of loneliness. Younger generations are particularly vulnerable, as they spend more time online. A study found that teenagers who spend excessive hours on social media report higher levels of depression and anxiety compared to their peers who limit their usage.
In addition to the mental health concerns, social media overload has been shown to disrupt productivity and diminish attention spans. Constant notifications and the fear of missing out (FOMO) keep users tethered to their screens, making it challenging to stay focused on tasks. This effect is especially prominent among younger users, who often struggle to maintain balance between their digital lives and their real-world responsibilities.
One study highlighted that students with unrestricted access to social media experienced a decline in academic performance due to reduced concentration and multitasking inefficiency. Moreover, platforms encourage instant gratification, which can further erode the patience required for deep learning and critical thinking.
The way social media is designed to foster engagement—by keeping users glued to endless feeds of information—often leads to feelings of anxiety, distraction, and dissatisfaction. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram employ algorithms that prioritize content aimed at increasing interaction, not necessarily quality.
This constant bombardment of curated content and sensationalist news can overwhelm users, leaving them mentally drained. Studies show that users who limit their time on platforms like Facebook and Instagram often experience better mental health outcomes, such as lower levels of anxiety and depression. Moreover, the “herd mentality” that social media promotes discourages critical thinking, making it difficult to step back and form independent opinions on important matters.
These platforms often reward sensationalist content, which further detracts from users' ability to focus on quality information and real-time updates they actually care about. This creates a vicious cycle where important, thoughtful conversations are drowned out by viral content designed to manipulate emotions rather than inform.
Social media has also been linked to reduced productivity, with users constantly distracted by notifications and updates. The pressure to stay connected or to not “miss out” keeps many of us in a constant state of interruption. Research shows that multitasking between social media and other tasks severely hampers our ability to concentrate and can even impair memory retention.
This lack of focus affects not just how we consume content, but also how we retain information, think creatively, and engage in meaningful activities. Over time, this fragmentation of attention can erode the patience and discipline required for deeper learning or complex problem-solving. I wanted to provide an alternative—a place where racing fans can immerse themselves in content without the added noise or distractions of social media.
With these experiences in mind, I decided to start building TLDRLW—a platform designed for motor racing enthusiasts who are tired of the distractions and mental fatigue that social media induces. TLDRLW aims to be a one-stop hub where fans can get news, race results, insights, and trends, all in one place. You can check it out here at monza.tldrlw.com.
My goal is to continue developing an environment that allows users to engage with the content they care about, without getting sucked into the never-ending vortex of social media. Instead of superficial content tailored to keep users endlessly scrolling, TLDRLW will focus on providing meaningful, in-depth analysis and updates that enhance the user experience rather than detract from it. As the platform grows, I hope to create a space that fosters genuine passion for the sport while helping users break free from the distractions of modern digital life.
Beyond racing content, I also want to share the tools and technologies that I've been developing as part of this ongoing project. I'm using industry-leading technologies like AWS for building apps and automation in the cloud, Terraform for provisioning infrastructure with just code, Docker for containerization, CI/CD (continuous integration/continuous delivery) pipelines to automate software delivery, and GitHub Actions to realize these pipelines as 'workflows' that improve development and collaboration velocity.
These tools enable me to maintain a high level of automation and scalability, ensuring that the platform remains flexible and responsive to the ever-changing needs of its users. The blog will serve as a valuable resource for software engineers, aspiring entrepreneurs, and tech enthusiasts looking to learn more about these technologies. By documenting both the successes and challenges I encounter throughout this process, I hope to provide a transparent and informative look into modern software development practices.
I hope to share practical insights into how these technologies come together to power a robust, scalable platform like TLDRLW. By sharing my hands-on experience, I aim to provide real-world examples and solutions to common challenges, helping developers improve their workflows and better understand the technologies they use.
My goal is for the blog to not only serve motor racing fans but also become a go-to resource for developers looking to overcome technical challenges and find innovative solutions for building their own platforms. I hope to foster a community where knowledge-sharing and collaboration are at the forefront, enabling others to build powerful, scalable applications with confidence.