McLaren driver Oscar Piastri cruised to his maiden Chinese Grand Prix win from pole position with the Australian untouchable ahead of his teammate Lando Norris on Sunday.
Piastri, who took his maiden pole position on Saturday, led home a McLaren one-two – the team's 50th in F1 – in an early show of strength from last year's constructors' title winners.
Not everyone had such a good time in Shanghai, particularly Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari. Here are five things we learnt from an eventful weekend in China.
The highs and lows of Hamilton
Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, claimed a surprising first ever victory in a Sprint race on Saturday after leading from start to finish. Managing his tyres well, it was a spectacular drive from the Englishman, who was thrilled to have silenced his critics as he demonstrated just how quickly he has adapted to his new car.
“Winning in a Ferrari is next level,” exclaimed a jubilant Hamilton. However, the dream soon turned into a nightmare on Sunday as he struggled to unlock the pace of the car and Ferrari elected to go with a two-stop strategy during the Grand Prix. Originally finishing in sixth place, he and his teammate Charles Leclerc both discovered they had been disqualified hours later.
The rear skid block on his Ferrari was found to be below the minimum 9mm thickness required by FIA regulations while Leclerc was disqualified as the SF-25 was found to be 1kg below the minimum weight required. It’s a shame as Leclerc drove impressively despite a damaged front wing.
A horrendous day for Ferrari who hoped to be challenging for Constructors’ honours. They released a statement noting their errors: “We will learn from what happened today and make sure we don’t make the same mistakes again. Clearly, it’s not the way we wanted to end our Chinese GP weekend.”
Will anyone succeed as No 2 at Red Bull?
When boasting one of the finest drivers to ever race in Formula One, it makes sense that Red Bull prioritise creating a car that suits Max Verstappen’s needs. The only downside is that it seems only he can extract potential from it.
Finishing dead last in qualifiers for both the Sprint and the Grand Prix, Liam Lawson had another torrid weekend at the Shanghai circuit, failing to live up to expectations, like many before him. In fact, it’s fair to say he is doing much worse, as no driver has managed such a poor start to life as a Red Bull driver.
The team opted to make pre-race set-up changes on his car in 'parc ferme' in hopes of gathering more data. This meant the driver started his second GP from the pits.
“We made the decision to take him off the grid to try some radical changes on the set-up because we are so limited in testing these cars,” Horner told Sky Sports. Parc ferme, which translates to 'closed park' in French, refers to a specific period during a race weekend when cars are no longer allowed to be altered beyond certain limits.
“It made sense to say ‘OK, we are starting at the back, let’s try to learn something’,” added Horner.
Lawson finished the race 15th and was only promoted to 12th after the disqualification of the two Ferrari drivers and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
Mental fortitude was reported as the reason Red Bull opted to choose Lawson ahead of the likes of Yuki Tsunoda. However, a disastrous start means the pressure is piling with rumours suggesting Red Bull are already looking to make a change.
Horner admitted to feeling sorry for Lawson and that the team had a duty to take care of their young driver while Verstappen himself acknowledged to Dutch Media that the RB21 is a difficult car to drive, saying: “I think if you put Liam in the Racing Bulls' car, he will go faster. I really think so.”
Lawson understands that he must adapt quickly to the car and the driver refused to use his lack of prior racing experience on the circuits in Melbourne and Shanghai as an excuse for his poor performances.
Mighty McLaren
McLaren registered their 50th one-two finish, as a week after Norris secured the win in Australia, it was Piastri who took the flag, claiming his third ever GP win.
Tyre management was the order of the day and by finishing in pole position in qualifying, Piastri went on to dominate the race to secure his first win of the new season, while teammate Norris claimed second despite brake issues that worsened in the closing laps.
McLaren struggled with tyre graining in the Sprint and team principal Andrea Stella admitted they took the wrong approach. However, as Piastri noted post-race, the tyres behaved differently on Sunday. He and his teammate were allowed to set the pace and were not caught up in the dirty air, allowing them to command the race from start to finish.
Whether it be a dry track like in China or in treacherous conditions as the drivers faced in Australia, the MCL39 looks to be the car to beat, and it will be a battle between Norris and Piastri as to who will come out on top.
Norris said: “We were free to race. We're both excited – probably nervous and excited at the same time – as I'm sure the team will be. But we're ready.”
Rookies rise to the challenge
Isack Hadjar was in tears when he crashed out of the Australian GP in the formation lap and was determined to make a quick recovery in China. He managed just that, at least in qualifying. The French-Algerian Hadjar claimed P7 on the grid and beat his teammate Tsunoda by 0.559s.
Unfortunately, Hadjar was let down by Racing Bulls’ decision to insist on a two-stop strategy despite the tyre degradation not being as bad as initially thought.
Happy with his drive, Hadjar spoke after the race: “What happened today was out of my control, but I can't help thinking what it would have been like with a one-stop strategy race. We’ll review everything with the team before going back racing in Japan.”
As for Kimi Antonelli, he won 'Driver of the Day' as voted for by the fans. Qualifying eighth and finishing in eighth (later promoted to 6th after Ferrari’s disqualifications), he coped admirably despite suffering ‘extensive’ car damage early in the race, according to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.
“Considering that he had a car that was severely impaired, finishing eighth, holding on to it, and not complaining, just getting on with the job shows the potential and the maturity the young man has,” said Wolff.
Haas redeem themselves
Esteban Ocon finished seventh in Shanghai, while Oliver Bearman capitalised on the alternate tyre strategy to secure seventh and 10th place on the grid, later updated to fifth and eighth due to disqualifications. With both cars registering points, Haas had a good weekend in China, making up for a hideous performance in Australia.
There were fears last week after the Australian GP, in which both Ocon and Bearman finished at the back of the grid, that the team had regressed and was quite possibly the slowest on the track.
Speaking after the race, Ocon said: “Things were obviously looking difficult just a week ago in Melbourne, but we haven’t slept much since then and it’s all been worth it as we’ve discussed everything and where to unlock the performance from the car. We knew there was more performance to be had, obviously we’re keen to improve some more, but the signs for now are good.”
Noting there is still an aerodynamic flaw in the VF-25, Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu said he was elated with the reaction and proud of how hard the team worked to adapt to the Shanghai circuit and extract as much as they could from the car. The aerodynamic issue is yet to be resolved, so it remains to be seen how the car performs for the remainder of the season.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
The five pillars of Islam
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Background: Chemical Weapons
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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.
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AT%20A%20GLANCE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWindfall%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAn%20%E2%80%9Cenergy%20profits%20levy%E2%80%9D%20to%20raise%20around%20%C2%A35bn%20in%20a%20year.%20The%20temporary%20one-off%20tax%20will%20hit%20oil%20and%20gas%20firms%20by%2025%20per%20cent%20on%20extraordinary%20profits.%20An%2080%20per%20cent%20investment%20allowance%20should%20calm%20Conservative%20nerves%20that%20the%20move%20will%20dent%20North%20Sea%20firms%E2%80%99%20investment%20to%20save%20them%2091p%20for%20every%20%C2%A31%20they%20spend.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EA%20universal%20grant%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EEnergy%20bills%20discount%2C%20which%20was%20effectively%20a%20%C2%A3200%20loan%2C%20has%20doubled%20to%20a%20%C2%A3400%20discount%20on%20bills%20for%20all%20households%20from%20October%20that%20will%20not%20need%20to%20be%20paid%20back.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETargeted%20measures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMore%20than%20eight%20million%20of%20the%20lowest%20income%20households%20will%20receive%20a%20%C2%A3650%20one-off%20payment.%20It%20will%20apply%20to%20households%20on%20Universal%20Credit%2C%20Tax%20Credits%2C%20Pension%20Credit%20and%20legacy%20benefits.%0D%3Cbr%3ESeparate%20one-off%20payments%20of%20%C2%A3300%20will%20go%20to%20pensioners%20and%20%C2%A3150%20for%20those%20receiving%20disability%20benefits.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
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 one: how cars came to the UAE
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGrowdash%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJuly%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESean%20Trevaskis%20and%20Enver%20Sorkun%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERestaurant%20technology%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24750%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Plus%20VC%2C%20Judah%20VC%2C%20TPN%20Investments%20and%20angel%20investors%2C%20including%20former%20Talabat%20chief%20executive%20Abdulhamid%20Alomar%2C%20and%20entrepreneur%20Zeid%20Husban%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
UAE v Zimbabwe A, 50 over series
Fixtures
Thursday, Nov 9 - 9.30am, ICC Academy, Dubai
Saturday, Nov 11 – 9.30am, ICC Academy, Dubai
Monday, Nov 13 – 2pm, Dubai International Stadium
Thursday, Nov 16 – 2pm, ICC Academy, Dubai
Saturday, Nov 18 – 9.30am, ICC Academy, Dubai
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The five pillars of Islam
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKinetic%207%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rick%20Parish%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clean%20cooking%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
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Day 3, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage, the Sri Lanka pace bowler, has had to play a lot of cricket to earn a shot at the top level. The 29-year-old debutant first played a first-class game 11 years ago. His first Test wicket was one to savour, bowling Pakistan opener Shan Masood through the gate. It set the rot in motion for Pakistan’s batting.
Stat of the day – 73 Haris Sohail took 73 balls to hit a boundary. Which is a peculiar quirk, given the aggressive intent he showed from the off. Pakistan’s batsmen were implored to attack Rangana Herath after their implosion against his left-arm spin in Abu Dhabi. Haris did his best to oblige, smacking the second ball he faced for a huge straight six.
The verdict One year ago, when Pakistan played their first day-night Test at this ground, they held a 222-run lead over West Indies on first innings. The away side still pushed their hosts relatively close on the final night. With the opposite almost exactly the case this time around, Pakistan still have to hope they can salvage a win from somewhere.
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Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a month before Reaching the Last Mile.
Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
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Teams
India (playing XI): Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami
South Africa (squad): Faf du Plessis (c), Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Rudi Second
Usain Bolt's time for the 100m at major championships
2008 Beijing Olympics 9.69 seconds
2009 Berlin World Championships 9.58
2011 Daegu World Championships Disqualified
2012 London Olympics 9.63
2013 Moscow World Championships 9.77
2015 Beijing World Championships 9.79
2016 Rio Olympics 9.81
2017 London World Championships 9.95
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