Fresh from his ‘bounce-back’ win at the Canadian Grand Prix, world champion and series leader Lewis Hamilton has a chance to continue his triumphant — and record-breaking — form at this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix.
The two-time champion can, on Sunday, equal a 45-year-old record set by fellow-Briton Jackie Stewart if he leads the 71-laps race to be held at the Red Bull Ring amid the forests and valleys of the Styrian Alps.
Hamilton’s win for Mercedes at Montreal represented the 16th consecutive race that he has led, dating back to last year’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
One more and he draws level with three-time champion Stewart who reeled off 17 in succession from 1968 to 1971.
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His Canadian success also enabled him to erase memories of the Mercedes’ team’s Monaco mistake and restore his lead in the championship this year to 17 points ahead of Mercedes teammate German Nico Rosberg, the pair delivering a 20th one-two finish for the team.
Rosberg won the Austrian contest last year, with Hamilton second ahead of the two Williams cars of Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa, who started from pole, and the British team hope that a heavily-updated car can carry them to a similar result this weekend.
Hamilton, however, remains the man to beat as he drives and races with an incomparable elan and cool.
Following Montreal, where he enlarged his career total of laps led in Formula One to 2,143, the 30-year-old Englishman has passed compatriot 1992 champion Nigel Mansell in the record books.
Only four men have led more laps — seven-time champion German Michael Schumacher, Brazilian triple champion Ayrton Senna and two four-time champions in Alain Prost of France and German Sebastian Vettel.
In such form, it is no wonder Hamilton relishes each race and admitted he is ‘much happier’ with his car this year. Four wins out of seven races reflect that feeling.
“Generally, I think I’m much happier in this car this year than I was even in last year’s car,” he said. “I don’t know why. I just feel more comfortable in this one ...
“It has taken some time to work with this new team and really mould this car, in terms of braking and everything, into what I need and it’s working well now. I think I’m faster this year, too, which is a good thing for me.”
Hamilton may start as favourite for a fifth win this year, but Massa intends to show that Williams are set to challenge again.
“I think we’re going in a good line,” he said.
“It’s an important moment for us. We have a good track for us in Austria and with some upgrades. So, I think it’s an important moment to put some pressure on Ferrari.”
Hamilton is set for record-making bid for victory in Austria.
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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.
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
CHELSEA SQUAD
Arrizabalaga, Bettinelli, Rudiger, Christensen, Silva, Chalobah, Sarr, Azpilicueta, James, Kenedy, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Saul, Barkley, Ziyech, Pulisic, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Werner, Havertz, Lukaku.
THE%20HOLDOVERS
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Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
- Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
- Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)
Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)
Saturday
Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Sunday
Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)
Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)
Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
