Why is Will Smith in Abu Dhabi? Lewis Hamilton is teaching him how to race


Saeed Saeed
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Will Smith is 50, he has a bucket list, and he's being filmed as he ticks things off, one by one. His latest adventure is in Abu Dhabi, and is all about his need for speed.

According to multiple sources close to the Yas Marina Circuit, the Hollywood star will remain in Abu Dhabi over the next few days to shoot an episode for his YouTube series (that sees him working his way through a list of thrills, conquering life-long fears).

A key part of the Abu Dhabi shoot, according to sources, is a scene in which Smith and one of his sons – either DJ Tre Smith (who also posted an IG story of himself in the Yas Marina Circuit) or up-and-coming rapper Jayden Smith – will race each other around the Abu Dhabi track.

And who is getting them prepared for that mission? Last night’s Abu Dhabi F1 winner and this season’s champion, Lewis Hamilton. (So we guess the car they will be driving is a Mercedes, then.)

Hamilton alluded to filming with Smith at his post-race conference yesterday. “Literally 10 minutes before I got into the car we were doing some fun filming which I never do because this is the period of time when I get ready,” he said. “So when I was going into the race I was thinking ‘Geez, I have completely changed my pattern because that was my usual relaxing period.”

Prior to the dusk final at the Abu Dhabi GP last night, a tracksuited Smith jumped into an F1 car with Hamilton and had a tour of the Mercedes garage. The pair posted this comedy video showing that Smith had "kidnapped" Hamilton so that he could drive in the race.

Smith: 'He granted the old man a wish'

Smith confirmed that his Abu Dhabi appearance was part of the YouTube series; speaking to the F1 Channel's Rosanna Tennant on the pre-race driver's parade truck, Smith said that he has been in talks with Hamilton for years in regards to getting behind the wheel of a race car.

"Lewis and I have been talking about this for probably like five years, since the Grand Prix in Monte Carlo. That was the first time I ever came and I'm just speechless, I love this, this is so exciting,” he said.

"I'm doing a thing called the bucket list. I turned 50 this year and I decided I'm going to do everything I want to do. He granted the old man a wish." Smith was a ubiquitous presence throughout the racing weekend at the Yas Marina Circuit.

Armed with a film crew, the Bad Boys actor received unfettered access to the drivers and Yas Marina Circuit during the F1 races - he even got to wave the checkered flag at the end of the final race. While there are no details of when the Abu Dhabi experience will be released on YouTube, Smith has already released two episodes in the space of as many months.

The third and latest episode, released on November 1, had Smith skiing in Dubai.

The series premiered in September with Smith bungee jumping off a helicopter in the middle of the Grand Canyon, this was followed up a month later with Smith surfing alongside actor and comedian Liza Kosh.

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Read more:

Abu Dhabi GP concerts: The Weeknd brings his star power to UAE capital

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Test

Director: S Sashikanth

Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan

Star rating: 2/5

The%20specs
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If you go...

Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe


Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km

Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

The biog

First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974  
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work

Maestro
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Jawan
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North Pole stats

Distance covered: 160km

Temperature: -40°C

Weight of equipment: 45kg

Altitude (metres above sea level): 0

Terrain: Ice rock

South Pole stats

Distance covered: 130km

Temperature: -50°C

Weight of equipment: 50kg

Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300

Terrain: Flat ice
 

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:

Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona

Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate

Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid

Types of bank fraud

1) Phishing

Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.

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The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.

3) Vishing

The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.

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Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.

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Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.

6) Prize scams

Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

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MATCH INFO

World Cup qualifier

Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')

UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')