Five things we learnt
Webber deserved his victory
There was a genuine sense of pleasure in the paddock as Mark Webber, one of the most popular drivers in the sport, signed off the season with his first win of 2011.
The Australian has been roundly criticised this year due to his inability to challenge his Red Bull Racing teammate Sebastian Vettel, despite having the same car.
For the most part in 2011, Webber has shown himself as a capable driver in qualifying but has often failed to start well, losing several places before the first corner.
In maintaining his position in second place on Sunday, he was able to capitalise on Vettel's gearbox issues and while not being overjoyed to be deliberately handed the lead, he was happy to collect his seventh win in F1.
Conspiracy theorists immediately started claiming Vettel's problems had been engineered.
It was too convenient, they said, that Red Bull, who had earlier this month noted that a Webber win before the year's end would round off a perfect season, achieved their goal. But with team orders now legal there would have been no need to conjure up such a situation.
Webber won fair and square. As the 35 year old said: "That's how it goes in motorsports sometimes."
Lotus in the money
Team Lotus secured 10th place in the constructors' championship courtesy of both drivers finishing at Interlagos and Heikki Kovalainen placing 16th. The result means the team will be awarded a massive financial windfall to recognise their performance in the past two years.
Tony Fernandes, the team owner, said the US$25 million (Dh91.8m) the team will receive will be critical for the development of the marque, which will operate under the name Caterham from next season.
Fernandes was nearly in tears in the paddock, while Kovalainen said the team was going in the precise direction he was promised when he joined.
Pic to get his chance in 2012
Before Jerome D'Ambrosio had even left the paddock, Virgin Racing released a statement confirming the sport's worst kept secret: the Belgian will be replaced next year by Charles Pic, the French rookie.
Pic, who has competed in GP2 for the past two years, tested for Virgin earlier this month at Yas Marina Circuit as part of the Young Drivers Test and he might not be the only participant to make the step up.
Valtteri Bottas has been strongly linked with Williams, while Spain's Dani Clos is being watched closely by Hispania. Jean-Eric Vergne, who tested for Red Bull, may yet be given a seat at Toro Rosso, but the situation is complicated with Jaime Alguersuari, Sebastian Buemi and Daniel Ricciardo already fighting for the two seats.
Brazilian talent dwindling, but passion is not
Before the race, local media were worried the Brazilian Grand Prix - Sao Paulo's biggest sporting event of the year - would be cast into insignificance by the Brazilian Campeonato, where Corinthians, a local football team, were looking to secure the league title. Yet Paulistas are passionate and proud and filled the stands admirably.
When Felipe Massaprovided a rare highlight with some on-track doughnuts at the end, they cheered like he had finished on the podium.
Lewis Hamilton, shown strong support despite taking the title from Massa in 2008, also took the opportunity of a Brazilian Grand Prix to end the feud with the 30 year old that has cast a shadow over both drivers' seasons. Such an act had been long called for and will allow both men to return in February with nothing on their minds but improving on what has been a disappointing year for both.
Money talks at Williams
The support shown to Rubens Barrichello was worthy of a driver who has competed in more than 320 grands prix.
Everybody paid their respects to the veteran as Sunday appeared to be the Brazilian's swansong.
The 39 year old is determined to race on, but Williams have been open about the fact they are exploring other options.
The most disappointing aspect is that while he looks destined to lose his seat, despite showing glimpses of real pace in an uncompetitive car, his teammate, Pastor Maldonado, is certain to retain his place.
The Venezuelan has acquired more stewards' penalties than any other driver and performed several dangerous manoeuvres on track.
Yet with Maldonado comes money from PDVSA, a Venezuelan petroleum company. When a man with the experience, talent and likeability of Barrichello is unseated by a reckless rookie because of sponsorship, something is very wrong.
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Results
STAGE
1 . Filippo Ganna (Ineos) - 0:13:56
2. Stefan Bissegger (Education-Nippo) - 0:00:14
3. Mikkel Bjerg (UAE Team Emirates) - 0:00:21
4. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) - 0:00:24
5. Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) - 0:00:30
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) - 4:00:05
2. Joao Almeida (QuickStep) - 0:00:05
3. Mattia Cattaneo (QuickStep) - 0:00:18
4. Chris Harper (Jumbo-Visma) - 0:00:33
5. Adam Yates (Ineos) - 0:00:39
RESULTS
Lightweight (female)
Sara El Bakkali bt Anisha Kadka
Bantamweight
Mohammed Adil Al Debi bt Moaz Abdelgawad
Welterweight
Amir Boureslan bt Mahmoud Zanouny
Featherweight
Mohammed Al Katheeri bt Abrorbek Madaminbekov
Super featherweight
Ibrahem Bilal bt Emad Arafa
Middleweight
Ahmed Abdolaziz bt Imad Essassi
Bantamweight (female)
Ilham Bourakkadi bt Milena Martinou
Welterweight
Mohamed Mardi bt Noureddine El Agouti
Middleweight
Nabil Ouach bt Ymad Atrous
Welterweight
Nouredine Samir bt Marlon Ribeiro
Super welterweight
Brad Stanton bt Mohamed El Boukhari
Copa del Rey
Semi-final, first leg
Barcelona 1 (Malcom 57')
Real Madrid (Vazquez 6')
Second leg, February 27
Who are the Soroptimists?
The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.
The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.
Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.
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The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
Essentials
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing.
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
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