You would think that after achieving your dream goal in life that you would be allowed a little while to put up your feet and bask in the satisfaction of what you have done.
Unfortunately, that is not the case for Sebastian Vettel, who just five days after winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to become the youngest world champion in Formula One history will get back behind the wheel of his Red Bull-Renault today for a test session at Yas Marina Circuit.
The 23-year-old German will take part in a two-day test as he and the other drivers and teams on the grid get a first look at the Pirelli tyres that they will be racing on next season.
The test is the first step towards preparing for the 2011 campaign. But speaking yesterday at a Puma promotional event in Abu Dhabi, he said he is still trying to absorb what he has achieved.
"It has been my dream and my target in life and knowing now that I have achieved that and still have some time in front of me is a very nice feeling," he said.
"It is a weight off my shoulders. But very soon I will be looking forward to next season and motivating again to keep the challenge up."
For now, he said, the team is trying to enjoy the success of the championship season ahead of wind-tunnel testing at the Red Bull factory in Milton Keynes, England once they return from Abu Dhabi.
That is when he will feel the next season coming, he said, and "we will focus on next year's car … and trying to defend our title".
He added: "The rules change again with new tyres next year and no one knows how they are going to be yet, so it is difficult to assume how strong we are going to be next year.
"The target is to be at the top again, and with everyone trying to hunt and chase you down it is not getting easier."
Today's testing, which is behind closed doors at Yas Marina, is a chance for Vettel and Red Bull to make their own judgements on the Pirelli tyres.
The Italian manufacturers are replacing Bridgestone, who left the sport after last week's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Vettel believes that the work he will be doing in Abu Dhabi today and tomorrow is important.
"We don't know if the car will be fast on the new tyres," he said. "Then we will try and take as much of the experience from the test and put it inside the simulator."
The 2011 season does not begin until March, in Bahrain, but Vettel is not expecting much of a break between now and then.
He said: "Testing starts already in the beginning of February, and in January you are spending the first couple of weeks with the team driving the simulator".
He added: "Just before Christmas I will have things to do with the press and a lot of appearances, so I do not think that I will have too much time."
As to how he will unwind when he does get the opportunity, he said: "Everyone has their own ways. Me, nothing special, I just enjoy the time with friends and family at home and just be happy for a while if you don't see a car or a race track."
Vettel will be able to look back on a remarkable season in which the only time he led the championship was after the last race.
He shared the lead with teammate Mark Webber after the sixth round, in Monaco, but while Webber, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and the McLaren-Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button all took their turn at the front, a mixture of bad luck, unreliability and driver error meant Vettel was always playing catch-up.
His triumph in Abu Dhabi, coupled with Alonso and Webber finishing seventh and eighth, respectively, meant he topped the standings when it mattered most, and left him to reflect on a roller-coaster year.
"It was a long journey with ups and downs, highlights and races we didn't like too much, but that is part of the game," he said. "To come here and to win the championship here I am very happy."
It had not looked good for Vettel three weeks ago as his engine blew up late in the Korean Grand Prix, while he was leading.
He looked to be realistically out of the title reckoning, 25 points behind Alonso and 14 off Webber with just two races and 50 points left to be won.
Keeping an open mind and remaining optimistic were vital, Vettel said, to the reversal in fortune that saw him win in Brazil and in Abu Dhabi.
He said he understood immediately what sort of trouble he was in after the breakdown in Korea. "Of course you know what it means and the points you don't score. But still you can see you have two races to go and it was still possible.
"The most important thing this was season was to always keep believing especially when things were not looking too good, when we had to retire when the car broke down and the other guys were scoring big points.
"I was supported a lot by the team and the guys who kept believing me and made it easier for me to keep believing, and I think that was one of the most important things - just not losing your target.
"Two races to go we were 25 points behind the leader, and after Brazil it was looking better than before Brazil, so the key was to keep believing."
Abu Dhabi is likely always to have a place close to Vettel's heart, now that it is the location of his first world title success. But he is also extremely fond of the Yas Marina Circuit itself.
He won the inaugural race at Yas last year, and repeating the feat last Sunday means he remains the only F1 driver to know what victory there feels like. That is something he aims to keep going in the years to come.
"I love the [Yas Marina] circuit," he said. "It is the second time I have won here. Obviously, we have only been here twice, so I will try and keep my record up as long as I am in Formula One.
"It just suits me. It is different to other tracks and it is quite a difficult track with tricky corners, so it is quite a big challenge.
"Yes, it seems like I have liked it pretty good for the last two years, and also the car worked fine both times. So together the package always seemed to be right."
Vettel's success completed a perfect year for Red Bull.
The team founded in 2005 sealed their first constructors' title in Brazil the week before.
He said of the team: "We were quickest from the beginning to the end so that is something we can proud of and we hope to continue the same way next year."
Next year's work starts today in front of empty grandstands at Yas Marina, but you can be sure that Vettel will be pushing himself hard on the first step of his championship defence.
gcaygill@thenational.ae
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
SHALASH%20THE%20IRAQI
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First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html" charset="UTF-8" /></head><body><!--PSTYLE=* Labels%3aFH Label 18 Sport--><p>Beach soccer</p><!--PSTYLE=BY Byline--><p>Amith Passela</p><p /></body></html>
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
European arms
Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons. Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
Basquiat in Abu Dhabi
One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier.
It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.
“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
RESULTS
2.15pm: Al Marwan Group Holding – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: SS Jalmod, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
2.45pm: Sharjah Equine Hospital – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Ghallieah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout
3.15pm: Al Marwan Group Holding – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Inthar, Saif Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi
3.45pm: Al Ain Stud Emirates Breeders Trophy – Conditions (PA) Dh50,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: MH Rahal, Richard Mullen, Elise Jeanne
4.25pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup – Prestige Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: JAP Aneed, Ray Dawson, Irfan Ellahi
4.45pm: Sharjah Equine Hospital – Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Edaraat, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
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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
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Secret Nation: The Hidden Armenians of Turkey
Avedis Hadjian, (IB Tauris)
Zayed Sustainability Prize
PRISCILLA
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INDIA%20SQUAD
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LEADERBOARD
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Biog:
Age: 34
Favourite superhero: Batman
Favourite sport: anything extreme
Favourite person: Muhammad Ali
RESULT
Huddersfield Town 2 Manchester United 1
Huddersfield: Mooy (28'), Depoitre (33')
Manchester United: Rashford (78')
Man of the Match: Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town)
Results
1.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Al Suhooj, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Khalifa Al Neyadi (trainer)
2pm Handicap (TB) 68,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner Miracle Maker, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Mazagran, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
3pm Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Alla Mahlak, Adrie de Vries, Rashed Bouresly
4pm Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Hurry Up, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
