The Bahrain Grand Prix proved to be the perfect antidote to a dull affair at Suzuka last week, delivering a terrific action-packed race on Sunday evening.
The differing tyre strategies, a mid-race safety car and some smooth overtaking ensured plenty of talking points. Below are the key takeaways from a pivotal weekend of action at the Sakhir circuit.
Perfect Piastri is a title contender
Oscar Piastri drove an immaculate race to secure McLaren's first ever victory in Bahrain – their second 'home race’. Owned by Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund, McLaren know they have the car to beat, and Piastri never faltered, finishing an impressive 15 seconds ahead of second-placed George Russell.
After taking pole in qualifying, Piastri made a strong start to the race and dominated throughout, despite the emergence of a safety car that wiped out a seven-second lead midway through.
“It’s great to have this result out here. It’s been an incredible weekend, starting off with qualifying yesterday [Saturday]. To finish the job today in style was nice,” said the Australian, his second win of the season after China. “I can’t thank the team enough for the car they’ve given us – it’s pretty handy out there. It’s been a great weekend, and I’m very proud of what I’ve done.”
Piastri’s brilliant win sees him move up to second in the drivers’ championship on 74 points, just three behind teammate Lando Norris. After struggling in qualifying, Norris said it was like he'd “never driven a Formula One car before” and that he “needed to find some answers”.
He found them on Sunday when he stormed up the grid from the first lap and went on to finish third despite receiving a five-second penalty.
It was a scrappy race at times and Norris faced challenges. He overcame Charles Leclerc and began pursuing Russell in the final laps of the race. However, he was unable to overcome the Mercedes to make it another one-two finish for McLaren.
Russell shows his quality
Russell was in warrior mode on Sunday evening as he masterfully managed his soft tyres to the end to secure P2.
“It felt all under control for a moment, then suddenly we had a brake-by-wire failure, so the pedal was going long, then it was going short … I didn’t know what was going on … the steering wheel wasn’t working properly,” Russell explained.
“It was really hard-fought to keep Lando behind. I think one more lap and he would have got me pretty comfortably. Nevertheless, I’m really pleased with P2.”
Russell got off to a terrific start, passing Leclerc and holding on for much of the race. However, he began suffering electrical problems in the closing stages and accidentally used an “auxiliary button in the cockpit which serves as a back-up radio button but also serves as a manual DRS activation button”.
Russell escaped a possible penalty for DRS infringement, as the stewards explained: “Whilst technically a breach occurred, the stewards decide that as there was no sporting advantage gained, no penalty is imposed.”
Russell has had an impressive start to the season, delivering some strong displays to sit fourth in the championship, 14 points behind leader Norris.
Russell should have won driver of the day for his performance, and for a driver whose contract expires at the end of this year, he needs to continue progressing and impressing if he wants to secure a long-term deal.
Verstappen fails to build on Suzuka
After a dominant display last week in Japan, it was all set for Verstappen to produce another dazzling race and defy the mediocrity of the RB-21. However, two slow pit stops and a brake problem left him down in sixth, and complaining that “everything went wrong”.
His first pit stop took longer than expected due to a traffic light failure, while the second was even worse, according to Verstappen, when his crew struggled to remove his front right tyre.
Tyre degradation was always going to prove problematic, and Red Bull struggled, overheating their tyres far more than their rivals. It all begs the question as to how long Verstappen will tolerate his car’s issues? Can Red Bull keep hold of their champion?
As for Yuki Tsunoda, he finished in ninth to secure his first points for Red Bull, progressing nicely in his second outing as the team’s No 2 driver.
Baby steps for Ferrari
It’s been a difficult start to the season for the Scuderia, and the team introduced several upgrades for Bahrain, including a new floor, in the hope of closing the gap on the cars ahead of them.
Leclerc battled for a podium finish until the speed of Norris eventually snatched P3 away from him. The Monegasque admitted the upgrades proved helpful, but the car still doesn’t have the pace to compete and a lot of work is still needed.
“A baby step [forward] but we need many baby steps before getting to where we want,” explained Leclerc after the race.
As for his teammate, Lewis Hamilton won driver of the day, as voted for by the fans. Securing P5, it was his best finish to date for Ferrari, despite only qualifying in ninth.
It is always difficult to move to a new team, but it’s especially difficult if you are a veteran with a distinct style and are forced to adapt and change to suit the strengths of the Ferrari.
“The car is sometimes quite hard to drive and I’m really working hard to adapt my driving style so that’s really what I’ve got to do,” Hamilton explained.
“I learnt a lot today and [in] that middle stint I was really in line with the car and I had the pace and was moving forwards. I need that at the beginning and the end, and I need that in qualifying so I know what to search for now.”
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
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THE BIO:
Sabri Razouk, 74
Athlete and fitness trainer
Married, father of six
Favourite exercise: Bench press
Must-eat weekly meal: Steak with beans, carrots, broccoli, crust and corn
Power drink: A glass of yoghurt
Role model: Any good man
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
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
The five pillars of Islam
Results
2pm: Handicap Dh 90,000 1,800m; Winner: Majestic Thunder, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
2.30pm: Handicap Dh120,000 1,950m; Winner: Just A Penny, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
3pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m; Winner: Native Appeal, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
3.30pm: Jebel Ali Classic Conditions Dh300,000 1,400m; Winner: Thegreatcollection, Adrie de Vries, Doug Watson.
4pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m; Winner: Oktalgano, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.30pm: Conditions Dh250,000 1,400m; Winner: Madame Ellingtina, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
5pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m; Winner: Mystery Land, Fabrice Veron, Helal Al Alawi.
5.30pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,000m; Winner: Shanaghai City, Jesus Rosales, Rashed Bouresly.
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Reading List
Practitioners of mindful eating recommend the following books to get you started:
Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr Lilian Cheung
How to Eat by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Mindful Diet by Dr Ruth Wolever
Mindful Eating by Dr Jan Bays
How to Raise a Mindful Eaterby Maryann Jacobsen
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The five pillars of Islam
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
THREE
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: BorrowMe (BorrowMe.com)
Date started: August 2021
Founder: Nour Sabri
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce / Marketplace
Size: Two employees
Funding stage: Seed investment
Initial investment: $200,000
Investors: Amr Manaa (director, PwC Middle East)
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India cancels school-leaving examinations
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The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
If you go…
Emirates launched a new daily service to Mexico City this week, flying via Barcelona from Dh3,995.
Emirati citizens are among 67 nationalities who do not require a visa to Mexico. Entry is granted on arrival for stays of up to 180 days.
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Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
MANDOOB
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Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
