Abu Dhabi Grand Prix organisers are expecting a dramatic Formula One finale on Sunday – whether or not seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton makes the starting grid.
The Briton tested positive for Covid-19 last week, and is undergoing quarantine in Bahrain after missing Sunday's Sakhir Grand Prix.
It will be touch and go whether Hamilton will recover in time but Saif Al Noaimi, acting chief executive officer of Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management, believes there is so much to race for at Yas that the thrills are virtually guaranteed.
“It has been a very exciting season and we are very much looking forward for that action in Abu Dhabi as well,” Al Noaimi said. “We know there are quite a few battles still on the plate."
The fight for second position in the driver’s championship is ongoing between Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas (205 points) and Red Bull's Max Verstappen (189). Also open is third spot in the constructor’s championship, resting between Racing Point, McLaren and Renault.
“There is quite a lot of excitement to see the outcome of these challenges play out,” added Al Noaimi.
“There have been five different drivers on the podium across the 16 races in the 2020 calendar and it’s been an interesting season.
“Four different teams with five different drivers have won so far. So there has been a level of excitement and uncertainty going into each Grand Prix. It is a result of a lot of midfield teams going up the ranks and challenging for the win.”
Al Noaimi is waiting for further updates on the world champion, adding: “We are hopeful he’ll make a full recovery and be able to join us in Abu Dhabi.
“Obviously everybody here loves to watch Hamilton race. However, first we want to wish him well and wish him a speedy recovery.
“There is a specific protocol by the FIA which determines if a driver is fit to travel to the following event. That hasn’t been still confirmed. We are waiting for a decision on his situation.
“On the other hand, in the event he’s unable to attend that obviously opens up the competition and the number of points on the table for everybody else."
While the race will be held without spectators, the organisers will have a limited number of seats made available for the frontline heroes.
“We are extremely excited to welcome our frontline heroes in a limited capacity [200 each across the three days],” Al Noaimi said.
“It is truly a pleasure for us to be able to host them and organise an event in a safe manner to honour them and give them an opportunity to be able to see the action."
The focus this year has been health and safety, and looking after all those involved in the event from the teams to drivers, officials to FIA management.
“We are fortunate in Abu Dhabi to have a very good response to the pandemic and we are fortunate we have the ability to host such events,” said Al Noaimi.
“We have seen the likes of the Indian Premier League and the UFC Fight Island events delivered in Abu Dhabi in a safe manner.
“It was important for us to ensure the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix still took place as the season finale that everybody has become accustomed to and delivered in a safe manner."
Company Profile
Company name: Fine Diner
Started: March, 2020
Co-founders: Sami Elayan, Saed Elayan and Zaid Azzouka
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and food delivery
Initial investment: Dh75,000
Investor: Dtec Startupbootcamp
Future plan: Looking to raise $400,000
Total sales: Over 1,000 deliveries in three months
US PGA Championship in numbers
1 Joost Luiten produced a memorable hole in one at the par-three fourth in the first round.
2 To date, the only two players to win the PGA Championship after winning the week before are Rory McIlroy (2014 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) and Tiger Woods (2007, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational). Hideki Matsuyama or Chris Stroud could have made it three.
3 Number of seasons without a major for McIlroy, who finished in a tie for 22nd.
4 Louis Oosthuizen has now finished second in all four of the game's major championships.
5 In the fifth hole of the final round, McIlroy holed his longest putt of the week - from 16ft 8in - for birdie.
6 For the sixth successive year, play was disrupted by bad weather with a delay of one hour and 43 minutes on Friday.
7 Seven under par (64) was the best round of the week, shot by Matsuyama and Francesco Molinari on Day 2.
8 Number of shots taken by Jason Day on the 18th hole in round three after a risky recovery shot backfired.
9 Jon Rahm's age in months the last time Phil Mickelson missed the cut in the US PGA, in 1995.
10 Jimmy Walker's opening round as defending champion was a 10-over-par 81.
11 The par-four 11th coincidentally ranked as the 11th hardest hole overall with a scoring average of 4.192.
12 Paul Casey was a combined 12 under par for his first round in this year's majors.
13 The average world ranking of the last 13 PGA winners before this week was 25. Kevin Kisner began the week ranked 25th.
14 The world ranking of Justin Thomas before his victory.
15 Of the top 15 players after 54 holes, only Oosthuizen had previously won a major.
16 The par-four 16th marks the start of Quail Hollow's so-called "Green Mile" of finishing holes, some of the toughest in golf.
17 The first round scoring average of the last 17 major champions was 67.2. Kisner and Thorbjorn Olesen shot 67 on day one at Quail Hollow.
18 For the first time in 18 majors, the eventual winner was over par after round one (Thomas shot 73).
Spare
Profile
Company name: Spare
Started: March 2018
Co-founders: Dalal Alrayes and Saurabh Shah
Based: UAE
Sector: FinTech
Investment: Own savings. Going for first round of fund-raising in March 2019
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPOPC%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAmna%20Aijaz%2C%20Haroon%20Tahir%20and%20Arafat%20Ali%20Khan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eart%20and%20e-commerce%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%20u%3C%2Fstrong%3Endisclosed%20amount%20raised%20through%20Waverider%20Entertainment%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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
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
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
