Spectres of the race that never was will haunt those who walk back into the paddock for this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix – especially Formula One's top decision-makers.
Last time the teams rolled into Melbourne the planet was in the early spasms of a global pandemic. And in their bid to outrun it, those in charge hardly covered themselves in glory.
They tried to pretend the health crisis could be outdistanced by the sheer power of money, or was it that they thought the rules did not apply to them?
Then, the night before the new season was to roar into life, a McLaren mechanic tested positive for Covid. Even with the deadly virus in the paddock it took an all-night meeting for senior figures to agree on the obvious decision.
Despite fears the pandemic could sound the sport’s death knell there have been 41 Grands Prix since — but none in Australia until now.
And, that black episode aside, F1 deserves no little credit for manoeuvring thousands of staff, 660 tons of cargo and seven 747s through a global patchwork of changing health rules and regulations week after week.
Some, like Lewis Hamilton, Daniel Ricciardo, and Sebastian Vettel, have caught the virus and recovered but, thankfully, there were no deaths. Sadly the wider lesson was not taken on board.
When Houthi terrorists attacked an oil depot close to the Saudi Arabian circuit in Jeddah a fortnight back fearful drivers wanted to cut and run. They voted unanimously not to race but were persuaded to change their minds.
F1 cannot be judge and jury on all of mankind’s woes but, surely, there is a middle ground in which the sport’s global influence can shine a light in dark corners where it is needed? The talking has to start before change can begin.
Thankfully, F1 returns to a Melbourne circuit as changed as the world around it.
Drivers at the 2020 Australian GP prior to cancellation
The DRS craze has been extended to four different zones for the first time. It is intended as a boost system to improve racing but the trigger points needed were put in such a daft place in Jeddah it left drivers ludicrously jockeying to be last into a corner so they reaped the benefit on the ensuing straight.
Most other aspects of the new regulations have got the thumbs up from the drivers.
But there are issues: stiffer crash test requirements mean Alfa Romeo are the only team to have come in underweight – a key metric for higher speed.
Such are the safety changes that modern F1 monsters are around 50 per cent heavier and longer than those used in the 1990s (1996: 595kg, 3.5m long, 1.6m wide. 2020: 798kg, 5.7m long, 2m wide).
The issue has become so critical teams, like Aston Martin, are stripping unnecessary layers of paint to find minuscule gains.
Saudi Grand Prix - in pictures
The heaviest car, surprisingly, is the Mercedes.
So, aside from drastic bottoming issues and an uncompetitive racer, Mercedes are also dealing with a huge car in need of slimming down.
All bad news for Hamilton’s hopes of battling for that record eighth title.
And there will be few places for his underpowered Mercedes to hide on an Albert Park track in which almost every corner has been opened out and speeds topping 330kph predicted.
It may be only 23 metres shorter but stripped of one key chicane on the back straight and most corners widened means the racing is likely to be both fast and furious as lap times come down by a whopping five seconds.
The stars of the new season are clearly Ferrari, emerging Phoenix-like after two of the worst seasons in their history. Winless for over two years Charles Leclerc put that right at the very first race.
And if the champion is not sitting in a red car this year it will only be because of a monumental design effort and remarkable racing elsewhere. But then, wasn’t that just what happened in 2021?
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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Meydan race card
6pm Dubai Trophy – Conditions(TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
6.35Dubai Trophy – Conditions(TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
1,800m
7.10pm Jumeirah Derby Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (T)
1,800m ,400m
7.45pm Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
8.20pm Al Fahidi Fort – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,400m
8.55pm Dubawi Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
9.30pm Aliyah – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 2,000m
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
Five personal finance podcasts from The National
To help you get started, tune into these Pocketful of Dirham episodes
·
Balance is essential to happiness, health and wealth
·
What is a portfolio stress test?
·
What are NFTs and why are auction houses interested?
·
How gamers are getting rich by earning cryptocurrencies
·
Should you buy or rent a home in the UAE?
Breast cancer in men: the facts
1) Breast cancer is men is rare but can develop rapidly. It usually occurs in those over the ages of 60, but can occasionally affect younger men.
2) Symptoms can include a lump, discharge, swollen glands or a rash.
3) People with a history of cancer in the family can be more susceptible.
4) Treatments include surgery and chemotherapy but early diagnosis is the key.
5) Anyone concerned is urged to contact their doctor
Bareilly Ki Barfi
Directed by: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring: Kriti Sanon, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao
Three and a half stars
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
The Africa Institute 101
Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction.
UNpaid bills:
Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN budget in 2019
USA – $1.055 billion
Brazil – $143 million
Argentina – $52 million
Mexico – $36 million
Iran – $27 million
Israel – $18 million
Venezuela – $17 million
Korea – $10 million
Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN peacekeeping operations in 2019
USA – $2.38 billion
Brazil – $287 million
Spain – $110 million
France – $103 million
Ukraine – $100 million
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
23-man shortlist for next six Hall of Fame inductees
Tony Adams, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Eric Cantona, Andrew Cole, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Les Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Matt Le Tissier, Michael Owen, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, John Terry, Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic, Patrick Viera, Ian Wright.
The End of Loneliness
Benedict Wells
Translated from the German by Charlotte Collins
Sceptre
Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare
Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
