Five F1 teams with vacancies to fill for 2014

The final Formula One race of the season takes place in Brazil on Sunday and several teams have yet to settle their driver line-ups for 2014. Graham Caygill looks at the five teams on the grid with vacancies, and who is rumoured to be filling those spots.

Lotus

The uncertainty with the team is financial, with doubts still lingering on investment from the firm Quantum. Ideally, Lotus want to take Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg, but if the money is not there they may have to look to Pastor Maldonado or Sergio Perez, above, both of whom can offer sponsorship funds.

Force India

It may not be until the new year before Vijay Mallya announces who will drive for the team. Adrian Sutil, below, and Paul di Resta, the team’s current drivers. Both hope to stay, but they are under threat from Maldonado and Hulkenberg. Each has been linked with a seat.

Sauber Given the interest in his services, Hulkenburg, above, is unlikely to stay with the Swiss team, while Esteban Gutierrez is hopeful he will get a second season. Perez, who drove for Sauber for two years before moving to McLaren-Mercedes, has been linked with a move back there.

Marussia Jules Bianchi, below, is already signed up for next year after an impressive first year, but the second spot is still to be confirmed. Max Chilton, who has driven this season alongside Bianchi, has been warned by the team they will not decide if he stays on with them until next month.

Caterham Heikki Kovalainen, above, is close to a deal with the team. The Finn had driven for the team between 2010 and 2012, before missing out this season. Both Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde hope to keep their drives, but if Kovalainen does return one of them will have to miss out.

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What is an FTO Designation?

FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes.

It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.

Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.

Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.

Source: US Department of State

Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush

Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”

A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.

“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative

E-cigarettes report

Tobacco giants, under attack from governments and forced to print gruesome warnings on their products, pour millions into 'healthier' e-cigarette products

Crisis in Lebanon

Sunniva Rose: People reminisce about war years during Ramadan

Massoud A Derhally: Central bank governor a saviour or scapegoat?

Bilal Saab: How the US can bypass Hezbollah and help the people

Key findings of Jenkins report

Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."

At this rate, Lebanon may not survive to see its 100th birthday