Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to bring a sense of normalcy to turbulent 2020 Formula 1 season

For the organizers of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, 2020 has been a year of uncertainty and continuous adaption in the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic. (File/AFP)
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Updated 07 December 2020
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Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to bring a sense of normalcy to turbulent 2020 Formula 1 season

  • Lots still at stake at Yas marina Circuit says Saif Al Noaimi, acting CEO of Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management
  • Second place in drivers' championship and third place in constructors’ still up for grabs

DUBAI: No sooner had Sergio Perez finished celebrating his first ever Formula 1 Grand Prix and the lights at the Bahrain International Circuit been switched off, than thoughts turned to the season-closing race at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit on Dec. 13.

Sunday’s Sakhir Grand Prix had provided one of the most exciting and unpredictable races of a season that was at one point in danger of not taking place at all. 

For the organizers of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, 2020 has been a year of uncertainty and continuous adaption in the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Since the start of the pandemic, we’ve kept a close eye on what’s happening with other events,” said Saif Al Noaimi, acting CEO of Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management (ADMM).

“Before the Australian Grand Prix was scheduled to take place (in March), we anticipated that this year was not going to be a normal year. We were well into our planning for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at that stage. However, we knew we had to adapt our plans, and start thinking about what is the possibility, and scenarios, of the race taking place. Whether spectators would be permitted and whether we would be able to deliver such an event.”

Almost miraculously, after the cancellation of several races, the 2020 campaign eventually got under way in the summer, with Al Noaimi and his team in constant touch with the FAI and other promoters.

“We kept an eye on other events that were taking place and we received regular briefs from Formula 1 management,” he said.

“Being the 17th round of the season, we got to benefit from the lessons learnt from the 16 races that took place before us and we kept on adapting and enhancing our plans as we got closer to the event.”

To highlight the challenges facing Formula 1’s organizers, champion Lewis Hamilton missed Sunday’s race in Bahrain after testing positive for coronavirus the previous week. 

“We all wish him well and we hope he recovers as soon as possible,” said Al Noaimi.

“There is a specific protocol by the FAI which determines whether a driver is fit to attend and travel to the following event.

That’s something that still hasn’t been confirmed and we’re awaiting a decision on his situation. We’re hopeful that he will make a full recovery and is able to join us in Abu Dhabi.”

This season, the 35-year-old Englishman has equaled Michael Schumacher’s record of seven F1 titles and now holds the record for most wins with 95. Al Noaimi believes that even in his absence there is still much to get excited about at the final race.

“It opens up the competition and the number of points on the table for everybody else,” he said.

“We know that there are quite a few battles that are still in play. For example, the second position for the drivers’ championship is still being contested by two drivers (Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas), and likewise the third position for the contractors’ championship is also being contested by three teams. So there’s quite a lot of excitement to see how these challenges play out.”

Al Noaimi pointed to Sunday’s race in Bahrain as an example why there is a lot to look forward to despite the fact that the primary issues of the season have been settled.

“There’s a lot at stake, the last Grand Prix in Sakhir was an extremely exciting race,” he said.

“For the majority of the race we were expecting George Russell to win and to get his first points in Formula 1, and having Sergio Perez and Racing Point win their first Grand Prix was extremely exciting. There were a lot of battles going on in the field.”

“The interesting thing is that there’s been five different drivers who have won races in 2020,” Al Noaimi added.

“Four different teams have won races, so there has been a level of excitement and uncertainty going into each Grand Prix not knowing who the winner is going to be. It’s a result of a lot of the midfield teams going up the ranks and getting in stronger positions and challenging for the win. It’s also a result of some of the younger drivers now reaching a level where they are able to challenge some of the more seasoned world champions that we have.”

As with most sporting events taking place at the moment, the attendance will be restricted. Those who will be there, however, will be some of the most deserving of the privilege. 

“We are extremely excited to be able to welcome our frontline heroes in limited capacity at this event,” said Al Noaimi.

“It is truly a pleasure for us to be able to host them, to honor them and give them an opportunity to be outdoors in a socially distanced manner, and to be able to enjoy and see the action. We’re going to have a limited number of government attendance, but unfortunately we’re not able to welcome spectators as we are in normal years.”

Looking ahead, and despite the dominance of Hamilton and Mercedes and the struggles of Ferrari, Al Noaimi is excited that other teams and drivers have stepped up to the challenge.

“I think some of the teams like Racing Point, Renault and McLaren have been developing their vehicles and climbing up the ranks over the last few seasons,” he said.

“So it’s the result of the teams’ successful developments and also the result of some of the young drivers in tow team being more and more competitive.”

The established Bottas, Charles Leclerc and gifted Verstappen are being chased by a new batch of talented drivers.

“We do have a few up-and-coming young drivers in the field,” said Al Noaimi.

“The likes of George Russell, Lando Norris, and recently seeing Sergio Perez win his first Grand Prix. There’s quite a few very skilled future champions in the grid right now.”

Above all else, health and safety have been the primary concerns for making sure the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix is staged successfully and Al Noaimi is grateful for the cooperation of all the stakeholders.

The teams, drivers, Formula 1 management and FAI, as well as, locally, the Emirates Motorsports Organization, the marshals, the national ambulance service and the local health provider, have all played their part.

“Our focus has been on ensuring everybody’s safety as well as that of ADMM personnel,” he said.

“We’re fortunate in Abu Dhabi to have a very good response to the pandemic, fortunate that we have the ability to host such events. We’ve seen the likes of the IPL and tUFC Fight Island, and Fight Island 2.0. It was important for us to ensure the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix still took place, that the season finale that everybody has become accustomed to remained and was delivered in a safe manner.”

Al Noaimi believes the fact Abu Dhabi kept its usual spot will also bring a sense of familiarity and comfort as we approach the end of year like no other.

“The teams and the drivers are used to ending the season, and celebrating the season, in Abu Dhabi, so it’s good for them to have that sense of normalcy in the final race,” he said.

“The other thing I would add is that we have to recognize the tremendous effort in delivering 17 races, 17 rounds of Formula 1 in 2020. It has been a very challenging year for sports and for live events and it is a huge achievement for Formula 1 to be able to complete a season with 17 rounds, and close out in Abu Dhabi as they do every single year.”


Slot not surprised by flying start at Liverpool

Updated 13 sec ago
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Slot not surprised by flying start at Liverpool

Liverpool: Arne Slot said he is not shocked by a stunning start to life in charge of Liverpool as the Reds have stormed to the top of the Premier League and Champions League.
The Dutch coach has won 14 and drawn one of his 16 matches in charge in all competitions as the holders have also progressed to the League Cup quarter-finals.
Slot appeared to have a tough ask to follow Jurgen Klopp.
But he has built on the solid foundations left by the German after Liverpool finished third in the Premier League behind Manchester City and Arsenal last season.
“Surprise isn’t the right word I’d use because I knew the quality of our team. But quality is one thing, to be consistent is a second thing,” said Slot at his pre-match press conference ahead of hosting Aston Villa on Saturday.
“From the moment I started working with them I saw how much energy they put in on a daily basis and that is I think the reason you can be consistent.”
Liverpool were inspired by the power of the Anfield crowd to come from behind to beat Brighton 2-1 last weekend to move two points ahead of City at the top of the Premier League.
A similar atmosphere helped blow Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen away 4-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Slot is keen to keep his players’ feet on the ground but is happy for the fans to get excited about the possibility of just a second league title in 35 years.
“If the end result of them being excited is to bring the atmosphere of the second half against Brighton and the whole game against Leverkusen, I am hoping they will keep being excited because that atmosphere helped us a lot,” added the former Feyenoord boss.
Diogo Jota remains sidelined but should return after November’s international break.

Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif wins IBSF World Snooker Championship in Qatar

Updated 08 November 2024
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Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif wins IBSF World Snooker Championship in Qatar

  • Asif defeated Iran’s Ali Ghareghozlou 5-3 to clinch the title for 3rd time
  • PM Shehbaz Sharif promises to set up world-class facilities for sportsmen

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has congratulated Pakistani cueist Muhammad Asif for winning the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) World Snooker Championship in Qatar for the third time, Pakistani state-run media reported on Thursday.
Asif defeated Iran’s Ali Ghareghozlou 5-3 to clinch the title in a thrilling final on Nov. 6. He outclassed Ali 5-3: 70-25, 7-87(84), 82(56)-8, 106(106)-08, 82-12, 43-91(58), 0-118 and 93(80)-4.
“Asif made the entire nation proud by winning the international championship for the third time,” PM Sharif was quoted as saying by the Radio Pakistan broadcaster. “The talented youth of Pakistan are highlighting the country’s name in the fields of sports.”
The IBSF, founded in 1971, is the governing body for billiards and snooker worldwide. It represents 85 member countries and is recognized by the World Confederation of Billiard Sports and the International Olympic Committee.
Asif, 42, first won the IBSF World Snooker Championship in 2012 and went on to win it again in 2019. His victory ties him with India’s Pankaj Advani who has also won the World Snooker Championship thrice.
The Pakistan prime minister said Asif’s family and coach also deserved recognition, adding that providing quality facilities to Pakistani players was top priority of his government.
“The government is making all possible efforts to provide international standard facilities to the players,” he added.
 


Raphinha’s evolution into a more versatile scorer is a big part of Flick’s great start at Barcelona

Updated 08 November 2024
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Raphinha’s evolution into a more versatile scorer is a big part of Flick’s great start at Barcelona

BARCELONA: Raphinha knew he would have a hard time getting off Barcelona’s bench with the soccer world enthralled by teen phenom Lamine Yamal and the club eyeing to sign another hot prospect in the attack.

Instead of pouting, he evolved.

While the entire Barcelona team improved under new coach Hansi Flick, no player has made such a leap forward this season as Raphinha.

His 12 goals and team-leading 10 assists across all competitions are a big part of why Barcelona is playing its best soccer since the exit of Lionel Messi more than three years ago.

But if one player looked to be on the out when the season started, it was the Brazil forward.

Raphinha seemed destined to become a second-choice right-side winger after 17-year-old Yamal helped Spain win the European Championship in dazzling style. To make matters worse, the club was heavily linked to a possible transfer bid to pry Spain left-side winger Nico Williams away from Athletic Bilbao.

That move never materialized for Williams, but Raphinha was still left with either playing in a new position or being a backup to Yamal.

And when Flick gave him the chance to have a new role, he made the most of it.


England gives call-up to more new faces in final squad before Thomas Tuchel takes over

Updated 08 November 2024
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England gives call-up to more new faces in final squad before Thomas Tuchel takes over

LONDON: Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall were called up to the England squad for the first time on Thursday as interim coach Lee Carsley made his final selection before Thomas Tuchel takes charge.

Tuchel does not start until January after being hired to lead the national team’s bid to win the 2026 World Cup.

Carsley will oversee England’s final Nations League games against Greece and Ireland and has continued to look toward a new generation of players, having already handed debuts to Angel Gomes, Morgan Gibbs-White and Noni Madueke since taking over on a temporary basis from Gareth Southgate in August.

Carsley said had not discussed his selection with Tuchel.

“He hasn’t had any influence on the squad selection. I’ve spoken to him by text, but it’s literally congratulations,” he said. “I think he’s highly respectful of the job that not only myself, but the staff are doing.

“We’ve been left to it, like we always have.”

England plays Greece in Athens on Nov. 14 and Ireland at Wembley on Nov. 17.

Carsley will resume his role as England Under-21 coach after those games.


Man City seek to end mini-slump as Liverpool soar

Updated 08 November 2024
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Man City seek to end mini-slump as Liverpool soar

  • Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have become so accustomed to success that three straight defeats feels like a major crisis
  • Ruud van Nistelrooy takes charge of his final game as interim manager of Manchester United and winless Wolves play fellow strugglers Southampton

LONDON: Injury-hit Manchester City are desperate to snap their losing streak in their final Premier League game before the international break as Chelsea aim to deepen Arsenal’s misery.

Elsewhere in the English top flight, Ruud van Nistelrooy takes charge of his final game as interim manager of Manchester United and winless Wolves play fellow strugglers Southampton.

Here are some of the key talking points ahead of the action this weekend.

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have become so accustomed to success that three straight defeats feels like a major crisis.

Last week City, who face Brighton on Saturday, were ousted from the League Cup by Tottenham.

Their 32-match unbeaten run in the Premier League came to an end at Bournemouth before Sporting Lisbon beat them 4-1 in the Champions League — ending another long unbeaten stretch.

Guardiola’s men, gunning for a fifth consecutive Premier League title, are just two points behind league leaders Liverpool but will be wary of losing further ground.

Midfielder Bernardo Silva says the club’s multiple injury worries are not an excuse for their poor form but he admits the international break, which starts after the weekend, comes at a good time.

“At the moment with the injuries that we have and the psychological part as well, it will be good to have that rest, but before that we have a big game again,” he said.

One positive for City in their defeat to Sporting was the return of Kevin De Bruyne, who came on as a late substitute after seven weeks out of action.

If results go against them, Arsenal could find themselves eighth in the Premier League by the time they kick off against London rivals Chelsea on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta’s men have picked up just one point from their past three league games and lost their midweek Champions League clash against Inter Milan 1-0.

Arteta was upbeat despite the defeat at the San Siro, where captain Martin Odegaard made a welcome return to action after being absent since late August.

But defeat against in-form Chelsea plus a win for Liverpool would leave Arsenal, runners-up in each of the past two seasons, 10 points off top spot.

Thierry Henry said on CBS Sports that if Liverpool and City win at the weekend and Arsenal lose, his former side could be out of the title race.

“It would be extremely difficult because you (would) have too many teams to catch... I don’t see two teams collapsing,” he said.

Arne Slot has won 14 of his first 16 games in charge of Liverpool in all competitions.

The club had a relatively kind fixture list at the start of the season but they show no signs of letting up — taking seven points from games against Chelsea, Arsenal and Brighton in recent weeks and boasting a perfect record in the Champions League.

Liverpool have also beaten two Premier League teams, West Ham and Brighton, on their way to the League Cup quarter-finals.

Former Feyenoord boss Slot brushed off a question about whether he was finding his new job “easy” after Liverpool’s thumping 4-0 win against German champions Bayer Leverkusen this week.

“Every team that plays against us is in the top of their game,” he said. “And if you want to win that, you always have to be consistent in your intensity, and that’s not always easy but that is what’s needed.”

Liverpool have a tough run of fixtures coming up, starting with Aston Villa at home on Saturday, but so far they have proved they have what it takes.

Fixtures

Saturday (1500 GMT unless stated)

Brentford vs. Bournemouth, Crystal Palace v Fulham, West Ham vs. Everton, Wolves vs. Southampton, Brighton v Manchester City (1730), Liverpool vs. Aston Villa (2000)

Sunday (1400 unless stated)

Manchester Utd vs. Leicester, Nottingham Forest vs. Newcastle, Tottenham vs. Ipswich, Chelsea vss. Arsenal (1630)