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“It’s been really, really hard to let go,” confessed Lewis Hamilton after stepping out of a Mercedes car for the last time on Sunday in Abu Dhabi.
The seven-time world champion ended a history-making 12 years with the Silver Arrows doing what he does best – battling from a starting position of P16 all the way to a P4 finish, overtaking his teammate George Russell in the final lap.
After the race was over, Hamilton, who is making the move to Ferrari, knelt next to his Mercedes and had a moment to himself, acknowledging it was truly the end of an era.
“I think just those moments, every moment I’ve got in the car this week I’ve known that it’s one of the last and it’s been really, really hard to let go,” the British driver told reporters at the Yas Marina Circuit.
“So when I stopped the car, I wanted to embrace the moment for the last time I would step into Mercedes and represent them. It’s been the greatest honour of my life.
“They’ve powered every race and pole position, every win we’ve had together, every championship. I think when I knelt next to it, I was just giving thanks to, firstly thanking my own spirit for continuing to push, thanking everyone that powered and built that car. I’m proud of everyone.”
Hamilton said “it took perfection” for him to close the 14-second gap Russell had on him, and he was happy to have finished his Mercedes career with a mistake-free battle of a drive.
“It’s been a really, really turbulent year,” said Hamilton, who concluded 2024 seventh in the drivers’ championship.
“Probably the longest year of my life I would say, because we’ve known it from the beginning that we’re leaving (to Ferrari).
“It’s like a relationship, when you’ve told whoever the counterpart is that you’re leaving, but you’re living together for a whole year. Lots of ups and downs emotionally but we finished off I think on a high today.”
‘Love conquers all’
Hamilton acknowledged ahead of the weekend that he mishandled the emotions that came with his decision to leave the team and he admits its been a year of ups and downs with Mercedes. But the 39-year-old was heartened by the warm farewell the team threw for him, and the messages he received from everyone involved.
“There’s been certain feelings because I’ve chosen to go my separate way and it’s not been easy for people to accept or get over. But then bit by bit through the year what’s come through is that there’s real love at the end of the day,” said Hamilton.
“I’ve got board members from Mercedes who have stood by and supported me all these years, who were upset at the beginning. But then today, they were like, ‘You will always be a part of the family’. So it just shows that love conquers all and I think there is a lot of love between us.
“This weekend, on Thursday, the team surprised me upstairs and that was super emotional. I ain’t got no more tears really, everything came out.”
‘He taught me what being a role model means’
Russell felt that losing to Hamilton by one second in his final race with the team was a fitting send-off for his compatriot.
The 26-year-old, who will be paired with Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes next season, says he learnt a lot from Hamilton over the past three years, not just as a driver, but as a person as well.
“I’m proud to have had these three years,” said Russell.
“Actually seeing firsthand what a role model he is. I think I recognised from Lewis that we’ve all got this platform and we have to use it correctly.
“And that’s become more apparent to me when my young niece and nephews watching TikTok and YouTube and Netflix. I spend a bit of time with Toto’s (Wolff’s) son, who also he and his friends see Netflix and all of this stuff.
“And how you deal with the victories, how you deal with the losses, you inspire the young kids.
“I look back to that photo I had of Lewis and I, when I was a kid; I looked up to him the same way all those kids look up to us.
“So I think that’s been probably the biggest life lesson that I’ve learned from him is that sometimes, even if you want to really express something, there are hundreds of millions of people watching and the way you do it is super critical.”
Russell added that getting to celebrate Hamilton’s Mercedes career and reflecting on all their best moments has reignited a fire within the team.
“As painful as these three years have been, I think seeing all these memories as well, reminds the team that we can do it,” explained Russell.
“We have the same team as during Lewis’ glory years. Lewis even said after the debrief yesterday, everyone had their head in their hands after what happened in qualifying but he said, let’s stand tall and let’s not forget all those pole positions and wins we’ve had together.
“I think it’s been a very nice way to finish the season. It has been a tough three years, and I think this change for everyone is really going to spark a lot of motivation for everyone. And I think sometimes change is really much-needed.”
Jawan
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Venom
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed
Rating: 1.5/5
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
How to donate
Text the following numbers:
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THE DETAILS
Director: Milan Jhaveri
Producer: Emmay Entertainment and T-Series
Cast: John Abraham, Manoj Bajpayee
Rating: 2/5
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
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%3Cp%3EThe%20influx%20of%20talented%20young%20Afghan%20players%20to%20UAE%20cricket%20could%20have%20a%20big%20impact%20on%20the%20fortunes%20of%20both%20countries.%20Here%20are%20three%20Emirates-based%20players%20to%20watch%20out%20for.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EHassan%20Khan%20Eisakhil%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMohammed%20Nabi%20is%20still%20proving%20his%20worth%20at%20the%20top%20level%20but%20there%20is%20another%20reason%20he%20is%20raging%20against%20the%20idea%20of%20retirement.%20If%20the%20allrounder%20hangs%20on%20a%20little%20bit%20longer%2C%20he%20might%20be%20able%20to%20play%20in%20the%20same%20team%20as%20his%20son%2C%20Hassan%20Khan.%20The%20family%20live%20in%20Ajman%20and%20train%20in%20Sharjah.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMasood%20Gurbaz%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20opening%20batter%2C%20who%20trains%20at%20Sharjah%20Cricket%20Academy%2C%20is%20another%20player%20who%20is%20a%20part%20of%20a%20famous%20family.%20His%20brother%2C%20Rahmanullah%2C%20was%20an%20IPL%20winner%20with%20Kolkata%20Knight%20Riders%2C%20and%20opens%20the%20batting%20with%20distinction%20for%20Afghanistan.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOmid%20Rahman%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20fast%20bowler%20became%20a%20pioneer%20earlier%20this%20year%20when%20he%20became%20the%20first%20Afghan%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE.%20He%20showed%20great%20promise%20in%20doing%20so%2C%20too%2C%20playing%20a%20key%20role%20in%20the%20senior%20team%E2%80%99s%20qualification%20for%20the%20Asia%20Cup%20in%20Muscat%20recently.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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
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- 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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
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- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
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- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Barings Bank
Barings, one of Britain’s oldest investment banks, was
founded in 1762 and operated for 233 years before it went bust after a trading
scandal.
Barings Bank collapsed in February 1995 following colossal
losses caused by rogue trader Nick Lesson.
Leeson gambled more than $1 billion in speculative trades,
wiping out the venerable merchant bank’s cash reserves.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Women & Power: A Manifesto
Mary Beard
Profile Books and London Review of Books
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
