ABU DHABI // The first Formula One cars took to the track at the Yas Marina Circuit yesterday, marking the capital's arrival on the world motor racing scene.
While the serious racing will not take place until today's qualifiers, the first practice session in the heat of Yas Island yesterday afternoon provided an opportunity for the 20 drivers to acquaint themselves with the newest kid on the F1 block.
It was more of a success for some than others. The 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton, for example, showed a deft awareness of the demands of the circuit while his McLaren teammate Heikki Kovalainen recorded the quickest lap of the day, 1 minute, 41.307 seconds, in the final minutes of the evening session at the 5.55km track.
For many fans, it was their first opportunity to see F1 cars in action. Many described the experience as an enthralling attack on the senses.
"It is overwhelming," said Jerry Aguinaldo, 42, a Filipino electrical inspector from Abu Dhabi who was given a ticket by his boss after working on the nearby Ferrari World project. "This is my chance, a once-in-a-lifetime thing."
More than 15,000 fans attended the final practice session, with crowds expected to grow today.
After the second practice session, Christian Horner, the principal of the Red Bull team, said: "It is unbelievable, really. The bar has been raised. It is incredible what the country has done to build such a venue as this."
With the expected increase in crowds over the rest of the weekend, police yesterday advised fans to arrive at the venue in ample time. They said fans should arrive at the circuit tomorrow by 2pm.
A final hour-long practice session begins at 2pm today and represents the last opportunity for drivers to familiarise themselves with the circuit's demands before the serious business starts. Qualifying under the floodlights at 5pm will decide who will be on pole for the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix tomorrow evening.
Qualifying tonight will be followed by a concert by the American band Kings of Leon.
rhughes@thenational.ae
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Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
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Tree of Hell
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Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
match info
Southampton 2 (Ings 32' & pen 89') Tottenham Hotspur 5 (Son 45', 47', 64', & 73', Kane 82')
Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Lecce v SPAL (6pm)
Bologna v Genoa (9pm)
Atlanta v Roma (11.45pm)
Sunday
Udinese v Hellas Verona (3.30pm)
Juventus v Brescia (6pm)
Sampdoria v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sassuolo v Parma (6pm)
Cagliari v Napoli (9pm)
Lazio v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
Monday
AC Milan v Torino (11.45pm)
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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