On Sunday’s race day at the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix, the tension within the paddocks of Yas Marina Circuit is tempered by satisfaction of another grueling season completed.
As the clock ticks near to the green lights at 5pm, the atmosphere at Alpine F1 Team's villa is a mixture of concentration and elation.
Speaking to journalists on the ground floor, the French racing side’s interim sporting director Julian Rouse describes how the final hours before any F1 race is about defining and revising driving strategies.
This constant refreshing is partly due to the mercurial nature of F1 racers and the complexity of the sport itself.
“I have never met a driver who is happy with their set-up, so there is always something for us to work on,” he says.
“But this is what makes Formula One so fascinating and challenging, because what we are essentially trying to do as a team is marry academic engineering with progressive thought processes.”
Upstairs, the conversation is more relaxed.
With the Abu Dhabi race culminating a nine-month season, the event has a last day of school vibe. This also means a many loved ones are in attendance.
Spotted in the villa’s roof tops are family members of Alpine driver Pierre Gasly and reserve driver Jack Doohan.
While the chatter revolves around the coming Christmas celebration and holiday travel, the paddock below hums with increasing activity.
Just after 2pm, Mercedes-GP team principal Toto Wolff strolls into the circuit.
His look of determination is occasionally punctured by the grins he offers to selfie-taking fans.
The strip has plenty of other familiar faces.
Like every year, Red Bull director Helmut Marko sits in his especially reserved table outside his team villa overlooking the paddocks while holding court with colleagues and guests.
While each team follows their own procedures, Formula One has a strict time table of events leading up to the race.
This means the relatively quiet period between 2 and 3pm is often the time the pit lane crew have their lunch.
At Ferrari, penne pasta is – perhaps, not surprisingly – on the menu.
A more refined Mediterranean set menu is on offer at Alpine, while at Mercedes-GP, staff are indulging in what resembles summer salads.
From 4pm, the clinking of the plates will make way for the roar of the engines and drills as final preparation are made.
Yas Marina Circuit tour guides will also be on hand at the entry gate to welcome celebrities and sports personalities attending the race.
Some of those seen in the ritzy Paddock Club and team garages were Saturday concert performer Shania Twain, actor Jason Statham and retired Argentine football player Sergio Aguero.
This is all white noise for Rouse, the aforementioned Alpine director.
While he appreciates the growing popularity of the sport, it’s all about gaining the winning edge at the chequered flag.
“It’s about constantly pushing yourself and the team to be the best they can be,” he says. “This is what racing is all about.”
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Spider-Man: No Way Home
Director: Jon Watts
Stars: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon
Rating:*****
ICC Intercontinental Cup
UAE squad Rohan Mustafa (captain), Chirag Suri, Shaiman Anwar, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Saqlain Haider, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Naveed, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Boota, Amir Hayat, Ashfaq Ahmed
Fixtures Nov 29-Dec 2
UAE v Afghanistan, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Hong Kong v Papua New Guinea, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Ireland v Scotland, Dubai International Stadium
Namibia v Netherlands, ICC Academy, Dubai
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Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
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