Max Verstappen drew first blood against title rival Lewis Hamilton as the action kicked off ahead of Sunday’s showdown thriller at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Red Bull racer topped the first practice session on around Yas Marina Circuit with a 1m 25.009s lap
Hamilton went off three times trying to keep up on the re-configured Yas Island track.
His Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas went off twice, making it a staggering five times Mercedes had lap times wiped off
That suggests the champions as struggling to keep up with Red Bull’s opening pace. But neither team has revealed their full hand yet.
Hamilton was even bettered by Bottas, who was almost two tenths behind the Dutchman with the world champion third.
But just three-tenths of a second separated the two championship contenders who have been neck and neck all season.
There is everything to play for in the closest champion finale in nearly 50 years.
A Hamilton victory will make him the first eight-time champion in the history of the sport – finally bettering Michael Schumacher’s tally.
And he has admitted that this title would be the greatest of his collection if he manages to achieve it.
But if his young rival wins Verstappen will become world champion for the first time at 24 and the first non-Mercedes title-holder of the hybrid era.
After 21 races across four continents, the duo go into the final round of the world championship on exactly the same points.
But the Red Bull driver has the edge because he has one more win. So that means if they crash out together, which is not impossible, the result will be decided in his favour on countback of wins (9-8 to Verstappen).
On Thursday, race director Michael Masi warned the entire grid they have the authority to ban drivers from this championship and even the next, or deduct points, for any foul play.
The two title contenders collided twice at the last round in Saudi Arabia and have crashed out twice earlier in the season.
Verstappen was punished twice in Saudi Arabia last Sunday, being hit with a five second and then a 10 second penalty for what stewards deemed “erratic” braking.
In stunning scenes, Hamilton ran into the back of the Red Bull when Verstappen followed team order by braking to allow his rival past. Or so he said.
Upon their arrival in Abu Dhabi both drivers said they are hoping the championship is decided by a fair race and not in the stewards office or legal wrangling.
Even Red Bull boss Christian Horner said there was almost no difference in the speed of the two rival race machines in first practice.
“Mercedes' straight line speed has been massive since the summer break. Actually Budapest was the first time we started to see. Probably sector two belongs to Mercedes, sector 3 is Red Bull’s, and sector 1 is neutral," he said.
“It’s been too close to call all year, so no reason to think it’s not going to be close here this weekend.”
Mercedes need just 17 points to wrap up the constructors' championship.
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Understand What Black Is
The Last Poets
(Studio Rockers)
Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
Indian construction workers stranded in Ajman with unpaid dues
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
88 Video's most popular rentals
Avengers 3: Infinity War: an American superhero film released in 2018 and based on the Marvel Comics story.
Sholay: a 1975 Indian action-adventure film. It follows the adventures of two criminals hired by police to catch a vagabond. The film was panned on release but is now considered a classic.
Lucifer: is a 2019 Malayalam-language action film. It dives into the gritty world of Kerala’s politics and has become one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.
Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
Based: Amman, Jordan
Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The five pillars of Islam
The years Ramadan fell in May
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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Liverpool 4-1 Shrewsbury
Liverpool
Gordon (34'), Fabinho (44' pen, 90' 3), Firmino (78')
Shrewsbury
Udoh (27'minutes)
Man of the Match: Kaide Gordon (Liverpool)
DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
1. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 171 points
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP) 151
3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-GP) 136
4. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing) 107
5. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 83
6. Sergio Perez (Force India) 50
7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) 45
8. Esteban Ocon (Force India) 39
9. Carlos Sainz (Torro Rosso) 29
10. Felipe Massa (Williams) 22
Brief scores
Barcelona 2
Pique 36', Alena 87'
Villarreal 0
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh359,000
On sale: now
Zidane's managerial achievements
La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
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