Newly crowned triple world champion Max Verstappen completed a hat trick of Texas victories as he claimed the 50th win of his career in a tense United States Grand Prix.
The Dutchman, 26, started sixth on the grid in his Red Bull car before working his way through the field to take the chequered flag 2.225 seconds ahead of resurgent seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, who was disqualified hours after the race when his Mercedes car failed a technical inspection.
The decision wiped out Hamilton's best finish in months and comes just as Mercedes showed some new life and pace in a season dominated by Verstappen and Red Bull. Hamilton had Verstappen within his sights and may have even caught up if given a few extra laps.
“It is of course disappointing to be disqualified post-race but that doesn’t take away from the progress we’ve made this weekend,” Hamilton said.
Problem arose in the post-race inspection when race stewards inspected the skid block. The wood resin block, or “plank”, under the car is used to ensure teams follow the rules of how close they run the cars to the ground in search of better speed and performance.
If the skid block is found to have been reduced by more than 1 millimetre, the car and driver are disqualified. Hamilton and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who finished sixth, were both disqualified.
The drama that unfolded in Austin was witnessed by a number of famous names, including Elon Musk, Prince Harry, Rory McIlroy and many others who can all be seen in the gallery above.
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Background: Chemical Weapons
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
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
