• Race winner and 2021 F1 world champion Max Verstappen and his Red Bull Racing team celebrate on the podium after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on December 12, 2021. Victor Besa / The National
    Race winner and 2021 F1 world champion Max Verstappen and his Red Bull Racing team celebrate on the podium after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on December 12, 2021. Victor Besa / The National
  • Verstappen fought off Lewis Hamilton in a nail-biting finish. Victor Besa / The National
    Verstappen fought off Lewis Hamilton in a nail-biting finish. Victor Besa / The National
  • Verstappen runs to celebrate with his team. Victor Besa / The National
    Verstappen runs to celebrate with his team. Victor Besa / The National
  • The Dutch driver clinched the race and the championship on the final lap. Victor Besa / The National
    The Dutch driver clinched the race and the championship on the final lap. Victor Besa / The National
  • Race fans cheer as Verstappen wins. Victor Besa / The National
    Race fans cheer as Verstappen wins. Victor Besa / The National
  • Verstappen enjoys that winning feeling. Reuters
    Verstappen enjoys that winning feeling. Reuters
  • Verstappen drinks in the moment as Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton looks dejected after finishing second. Reuters
    Verstappen drinks in the moment as Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton looks dejected after finishing second. Reuters
  • Verstappen and Hamilton go head to head on the track. Victor Besa / The National
    Verstappen and Hamilton go head to head on the track. Victor Besa / The National
  • An Etihad Airways flyover before the race. The airline sponsored the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Victor Besa / The National
    An Etihad Airways flyover before the race. The airline sponsored the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Victor Besa / The National
  • Verstappen in action. Victor Besa / The National
    Verstappen in action. Victor Besa / The National
  • Hamilton took an early lead. Victor Besa / The National
    Hamilton took an early lead. Victor Besa / The National
  • Verstappen and Hamilton led the championship going into the final race. Victor Besa / The National
    Verstappen and Hamilton led the championship going into the final race. Victor Besa / The National
  • The start of the race. Reuters
    The start of the race. Reuters
  • Drivers pose for their end-of-season picture before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. AP
    Drivers pose for their end-of-season picture before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. AP
  • Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel before the race. Reuters
    Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel before the race. Reuters
  • Fans of Verstappen and Hamilton before the race. Reuters
    Fans of Verstappen and Hamilton before the race. Reuters
  • Hamilton looks relaxed before the race. Reuters
    Hamilton looks relaxed before the race. Reuters
  • Verstappen looks like he means business. Reuters
    Verstappen looks like he means business. Reuters
  • Hamilton soaks up the early atmosphere. Victor Besa / The National
    Hamilton soaks up the early atmosphere. Victor Besa / The National
  • Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas with his girlfriend Tiffany Cromwell. Victor Besa / The National
    Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas with his girlfriend Tiffany Cromwell. Victor Besa / The National
  • Verstappen arrives at the circuit with his girlfriend Kelly Piquet. Reuters
    Verstappen arrives at the circuit with his girlfriend Kelly Piquet. Reuters
  • Hamilton on the Yas Marina Circuit. AFP
    Hamilton on the Yas Marina Circuit. AFP

Race director Michael Masi made ‘human error’ in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix drama


  • English
  • Arabic

Race director Michael Masi was “under immense pressure” from Mercedes and Red Bull it has been revealed after Formula One’s governing body finally published its report into last season’s controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen took the title from Lewis Hamilton’s grasp after Masi, removed from his position last month, allowed only five drivers to un-lap themselves in the closing stages of the season finale.

The FIA described Masi’s action as a “human error” before concluding that the results of the race can no longer be changed, effectively reaffirming Red Bull’s Verstappen as the 2021 world champion.

The FIA delivered its verdict on the eve of the new campaign in Bahrain and 97 days after the contentious race.

In a statement, the FIA said: “The Race Director called the safety car back into the pit lane without it having completed an additional lap as required by the Formula One Sporting Regulations.

“It was apparent from the analysis that there could be different interpretations of the regulations, and that this likely contributed to the applied procedure.

“It was also considered that the decisions regarding the safety car at the end of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix likely took into account previous discussions that made clear the Formula One Stakeholders (FIA, Formula One, teams and drivers) preference to end races under green flag racing conditions, rather than behind a safety car, when safe to do so.

“In combination with the objective to finish under green flag racing conditions applied throughout the 2021 season, the report finds that the race director was acting in good faith and to the best of his knowledge given the difficult circumstances, particularly acknowledging the significant time constraints for decisions to be made and the immense pressure being applied by the teams.

“The results of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the FIA Formula One World Championship are valid, final and cannot now be changed.

“The process of identifying lapped cars has up until now been a manual one and human error led to the fact that not all cars were allowed to un-lap themselves.”

In the final stages of the season finale on December 12, Masi fudged the rules when he ordered only the lapped cars between Hamilton and second-placed Verstappen through, providing the Dutchman – on fresh tyres – a shot at passing Hamilton, who was on old rubber.

Hamilton’s Mercedes team lodged and then dropped their appeal against the result in a reported quid pro quo agreement that Masi would be removed by the FIA – an accusation the Silver Arrows have denied.

Although Masi has faced severe criticism, some within the FIA wanted him to stay – not wanting to seem to be dictated to by Mercedes.

Masi also received the backing of a number of drivers, notably four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel and British driver Lando Norris. Verstappen accused the FIA of throwing Masi under the bus after he was sacked.

The FIA statement continued: “In accordance with the rules, Mercedes made a protest to the stewards after the race, seeking to change the race classification.

“The stewards dismissed the protest and Mercedes then had an opportunity to appeal that decision to the FIA International Court of Appeal, but did not do so. There are no other available mechanisms in the rules for amending the race classification.”

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1 cup baking soda 

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10-20 drops of lemon essential oil (or another oil of your choice) 

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Air Freshener

100ml water 

5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (note: lavender is a nice one for this) 

Method:

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Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do

Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.

“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”

Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.

Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.

“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”

For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.

“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”

 

Yahya Al Ghassani's bio

Date of birth: April 18, 1998

Playing position: Winger

Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda

Stage results

1. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep  4:39:05

2. Michael Matthews (AUS) Team BikeExchange 0:00:08

3. Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma same time 

4. Jack Haig (AUS) Bahrain Victorious s.t  

5. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe s.t  

6. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates s.t 

7. David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ s.t

8. Sergio Higuita Garcia (COL) EF Education-Nippo s.t     

9. Bauke Mollema (NED) Trek-Segafredo  s.t

10. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers s.t

Washmen Profile

Date Started: May 2015

Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Laundry

Employees: 170

Funding: about $8m

Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures

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Updated: March 19, 2022, 2:24 PM