Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen steers his car during the qualifying session at the Monza racetrack on Saturday. AP Photo
Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen steers his car during the qualifying session at the Monza racetrack on Saturday. AP Photo
Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen steers his car during the qualifying session at the Monza racetrack on Saturday. AP Photo
Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen steers his car during the qualifying session at the Monza racetrack on Saturday. AP Photo

Kimi Raikkonen plays it cool after recording fastest lap in F1 history to secure pole at Italian Grand Prix


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Kimi Raikkonen put his Ferrari on pole position for the Italian Grand Prix with the fastest lap ever recorded in Formula One history on Saturday.

The Finn's record lap was clocked in 1min 19.119sec at an average speed of 263.587 kilometres per hour, convincingly beating the outright record of 1:19.525 set by Juan-Pablo Montoya on the same track in 2004.

Valtteri Bottas, Hamilton's teammate, was fourth ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Romain Grosjean of Haas.  Carlos Sainz was seventh on his birthday for Renault ahead of Esteban Ocon of Force India, Pierre Gasly of Toro Rosso and Lance Stroll of Williams.

In the final seconds of a dramatic session three leading drivers, Lewis Hamilton, Vettel and then Raikkonen, all broke Montoya's record in turn.

In the end, Ferrari locked out the front row of the grid – their first time at the Italian GP since 2000 – with defending champion and current leader Hamilton of Mercedes-GP third, even though the Briton had twice beaten Montoya's record.

It was Ferrari’s first pole on home soil at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza since 2010 and Raikkonen's first pole in 12 years. At 38, he also became the oldest pole sitter since Nigel Mansell, aged, 41, took pole for the 1994 Australian Grand Prix.

The Finn, whose future at Ferrari is uncertain, was as phlegmatic as ever amid the wild celebrations.

"Thank you," he said. "It's great for tomorrow. Hopefully, everything goes smoothly and we end up in the same position."

Vettel was unhappy not to take pole.

Kimi Raikkonen, right, and Sebastian Vettel enjoyed success in the Italian GP qualifiers. AP Photo
Kimi Raikkonen, right, and Sebastian Vettel enjoyed success in the Italian GP qualifiers. AP Photo

'Not entirely happy'

"Let's talk after," he said to the team, perhaps referring to Raikkonen gaining a 'tow' from him. "I'm not entirely happy with my second run."

Hamilton, who was seeking a fifth consecutive Monza pole, said: "We gave it everything. It's incredibly close."

After his huge high-speed crash on Friday, Marcus Ericsson had been passed fit and took part in a new car, built overnight, and knowing he faced a 10-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race, having taken a new power unit.

As the cars began to filter out of the pit lane, a black cloud threatened overhead. Rain was forecast, with 80 per cent likelihood, but the track had dried rapidly following overnight rain.

To the delight of the tifosi, waving huge Ferrari prancing horse flags , Vettel and Raikkonen went straight to the top of the times, the Finn setting the pace before Vettel responded.

Hamilton, fighting his car for speed, took third, half a second adrift ahead of Bottas.

"Where is everyone?" he asked, sensing he was free of traffic. "All in a bunch behind," came the Mercedes reply.

As a tightly-contested Q1 ended, out went Sergio Perez of Force India, who was caught in the garage by a cluster of late improvements, Charles Leclerc of Sauber, Brendon Hartley of Toro Rosso, Ericsson and Stoffel Vandoorne of McLaren.

"Why are we so slow?" asked Leclerc, who had run off at the second Lesmo corner. "We need to analyse more."

As Q2 began, Hamilton took the initiative with a flier in 1:19.798 before Vettel did 1:19.785, an advantage of just 0.013 seconds.

The German improved to 1:19.629, leaving Hamilton adrift by a tenth as it ended with Alonso's McLaren and Magnussen's Haas side by side in the first chicane.

"He wanted to race!" laughed Alonso.

In a historic final top-ten shootout Vettel, Raikkonen and then Hamilton, in 1:19.390, beat  Montoya’s 2004 record lap.

Amid wild celebrations in the final seconds, Hamilton improved again, but was overhauled as Vettel and then Raikkonen outpaced him to deliver an emphatic all-Ferrari front row.

____________

Read more:

Red Bull: Ricciardo leaving for 'change of scenery' but Verstappen is not convinced

Lewis Hamilton v Sebastian Vettel: who will be crowned F1 champion?

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Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.

Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born. 

UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.

A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.

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On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

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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.

Studying addiction

This month, Dubai Medical College launched the Middle East’s first master's programme in addiction science.

Together with the Erada Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation, the college offers a two-year master’s course as well as a one-year diploma in the same subject.

The move was announced earlier this year and is part of a new drive to combat drug abuse and increase the region’s capacity for treating drug addiction.

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Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
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MATCH INFO

Schalke 0

Werder Bremen 1 (Bittencourt 32')

Man of the match Leonardo Bittencourt (Werder Bremen)

From Conquest to Deportation

Jeronim Perovic, Hurst

Dhadak 2

Director: Shazia Iqbal

Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri 

Rating: 1/5

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• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
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*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year