Formula One is poised for another dramatic season, starting on March 5 in Bahrain, and ending with the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 26 at Yas Marina Circuit.
Hopes are high for a thrilling and hard-fought contest as Red Bull's Max Verstappen bids for a third successive drivers' world championship.
But, after cruising to the title in 2022, the Dutch driver is not expected to have it so easy in 2023 as Ferrari and Mercedes go all-out to wrestle away his crown.
Here's all you need to know about the 2023 world championship.
The drivers
Alfa Romeo
Valtteri Bottas (Finland, car 77)
Zhou Guanyu (China, car 24)
AlphaTauri
Nyck de Vries (Netherlands, car 21)
Yuki Tsunoda (Japan, car 22)
Alpine
Esteban Ocon (France, car 31)
Pierre Gasly (France, car 10)
Aston Martin
Fernando Alonso (Spain, car 14)
Lance Stroll (Canada, car 18)
Ferrari
Charles Leclerc (Monaco, car 16)
Carlos Sainz (Spain, car 55)
Haas
Kevin Magnussen (Denmark, car 20)
Nico Hulkenberg (Germany, car 27)
McLaren
Lando Norris (GB, car 4)
Oscar Piastri (Australia, car 81)
Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton (GB, car 44)
George Russell (GB, car 63)
Red Bull
Max Verstappen (Netherlands, car 1)
Sergio Perez (Mexico, car 11)
Williams
Alexander Albon (Thai-GB, car 23)
Logan Sargeant (USA, car 2)
The race calendar

Bahrain Grand Prix
Bahrain IC, Sakhir
March 3-5

Saudi Arabia Grand Prix
Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah
March 17-19

Australian Grand Prix
Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit
March 31-April 2
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Baku City Circuit
April 28-30

Miami Grand Prix
Miami International Autodrome
May 5-7
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
Imola
May 19-21
Monaco Grand Prix
Monte Carlo
May 26-28

Spanish Grand Prix
Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona
June 2-4
Canadian Grand Prix
Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal
June 16-18
Austrian Grand Prix
Red Bull Ring, Spielberg
June 30-July 2
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Zhou Guanyu's Alfa Romeo crashes at the start of the British GP at Silverstone on Sunday, July 3, 2022. Getty -

Alfa Romeo driver Zhou Guanyu crashes at the start of the British Grand Prix. AP -

Alfa Romeo's Zhou Guanyu crashes at Silverstone. Getty -

Alfa Romeo's Zhou Guanyu crashes at Silverstone. Getty -

Alfa Romeo driver Guanyu Zhou crashes at the start of the British Grand Prix. AP -

Alfa Romeo driver Guanyu Zhou crashes at the start of the British Grand Prix. AP -

Alfa Romeo driver Zhou Guanyu after the crash. AFP -

Alfa Romeo driver Guanyu Zhou crashes at the start of the British Grand Prix. AP -

Alfa Romeo's Zhou Guanyu crashes into the barrier. PA -

Mercedes driver George Russell checks on Guanyu Zhou. EPA -

The huge crash at the start of the British GP. AP -

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz celebrates after winning the British GP. AFP -

Carlos Sainz and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton. AFP -

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz celebrates winning the race on the podium. Reuters -

Carlos Sainz celebrates on the podium with second-placed Red Bull driver Sergio Perez and third-placed Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes. Reuters
British Grand Prix
Silverstone
July 7-9
Hungarian Grand Prix
Hungaroring, Mogyorod
July 21-23

Belgian Grand Prix
Spa-Francorchamps
July 28-30
Dutch Grand Prix
Zandvoort
August 25-27
Italian Grand Prix
Monza
September 1-3
Singapore Grand Prix
Marina Bay, SingaporeMarina Bay, Singapore
September 15-17

Japanese Grand Prix
Suzuka
September 22-24
Qatar Grand Prix
Losail International Circuit, Doha
October 6-8
United States Grand Prix
Circuit of the Americas, Austin
October 20-22
Mexican Grand Prix
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City
October 27-29

Brazilian Grand Prix
Interlagos, Sao Paulo
November 3-5
Las Vegas Grand Prix
Las Vegas Street Circuit
November 17-19
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Yas Marina
November 24-26
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The Al Fursan aerial display team fly above the Yas Marina Circuit before the start of Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix. Victor Besa / The National -

Activists at a rally by the feminist collective NousToutes in Paris demand a new law and €2bn ($2bn) a year to tackle violence against women. AFP -

Young cadets sing the national anthem during a ceremony at a boarding school in Kyiv, Ukraine. AFP -

Sulma, 17, from Honduras, endures cold and wet weather while standing with other young migrants traveling without adults as they surrender to border patrol agents after being smuggled across the Rio Grande from Mexico into Texas. Reuters -

Hermes, a young male seal that was found injured on a beach in Greece last September, is treated at the Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, or Mom. Hermes and Minos, two young seals found separated from their mothers, were taken to Mom's facilities. The monk seal is one of most endangered seal species in the world and the only seal species residing in the Mediterranean Sea. EPA -

Kherson residents charge their phones at the city's train station, one of the few buildings in the Ukrainian city with electricity. AFP -

Flames shoot out from The Spider structure during the Arcadia Music Festival in Doha. Reuters -

A resident walks on the street during a snowstorm as extreme winter weather hits Buffalo, New York. Reuters -

Australia celebrates with the trophy after winning the Rugby League World Cup final against Samoa at Old Trafford in Manchester, England. AP -

Snow covers T-34 tanks at the Soviet War Memorial in the Tiergarten, Berlin. EPA -

Models wearing outfits made from various recycled materials wait backstage before a 'trashion show' in Sangotedo, Lagos, Nigeria. AP -

The opening ceremony of the Fifa World Cup 2022 at the Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor. Getty Images
The%20specs
BMW%20M4%20Competition
25%20Days%20to%20Aden
The specs: Macan Turbo
Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors
Power: 639hp
Torque: 1,130Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Touring range: 591km
Price: From Dh412,500
On sale: Deliveries start in October
Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
Company%C2%A0profile
Sri Lanka squad
Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Niroshan Dickwella, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Lakshan Sandakan, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milinda Siriwardana, Roshen Silva, Akila Dananjaya, Charith Asalanka, Shaminda Eranga and Dhammika Prasad.
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
- Life in the royal residences with Sheikha Osha bint Nahayan
- Sheikha Mahra and Sheikha Sabha recall their time spent in Al Hosn
- A place where problems were solved
- How the fort's rise tracked Abu Dhabi's development
- Meet Frauke Heard-Bey - the fort's historian for 30 years
- In Pictures: Story of a fort
SPECS%3A%20Polestar%203
All%20The%20Light%20We%20Cannot%20See%20
Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20Z%20FLIP%204
COMPANY%20PROFILE
The Bio
Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”
Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”
Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”
Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”
England squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Coady, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Ben White
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Mason Mount, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, James Ward-Prowse
Forwards: Tammy Abraham, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Raheem Sterling
UK%20record%20temperature
While you're here
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich 1
Kimmich (27')
Real Madrid 2
Marcelo (43'), Asensio (56')
Chris%20Jordan%20on%20Sanchit
How to help
Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.
Account name: Dar Al Ber Society
Account Number: 11 530 734
IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734
Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Jackson Bird, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.
While you're here
Con Coughlin: Nato must renew its sense of common purpose
Sholto Byrnes: In today's times, what is Nato really good for?
C Uday Bhaskar: Could the 'Quad' become Asia's new Nato?
Match info:
Wolves 1
Boly (57')
Manchester City 1
Laporte (69')
Specs – Taycan 4S
Engine: Electric
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 571bhp
Torque: 650Nm
Price: Dh431,800
Specs – Panamera
Engine: 3-litre V6 with 100kW electric motor
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 455bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: from Dh431,800
TO%20CATCH%20A%20KILLER
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Company%20profile
The Intruder
Director: Deon Taylor
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Michael Ealy, Meagan Good
One star
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
While you're here
THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 275hp at 6,600rpm
Torque: 353Nm from 1,450-4,700rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Top speed: 250kph
Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: Dh146,999
FA Cup semi-finals
Saturday: Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur, 8.15pm (UAE)
Sunday: Chelsea v Southampton, 6pm (UAE)
Matches on Bein Sports
Coal Black Mornings
Brett Anderson
Little Brown Book Group
On Women's Day
Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action
Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality
The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?
Justin Thomas: Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
While you're here
Gavin Esler: The Good Friday Agreement teaches us some important lessons
Damien McElroy: Boris must listen to Churchill's comments on Irish divisions
Janine di Giovanni: Track 2 diplomacy key to lasting peace in 21st century
CONCRETE COWBOY
Directed by: Ricky Staub
Starring: Idris Elba, Caleb McLaughlin, Jharrel Jerome
3.5/5 stars
The%20Sandman
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
While you're here
Richard Jolly: Footballers become scapegoats during coronavirus crisis
Damien McElroy: What the failed Newcastle takeover says about Britain
Richard Jolly: Football finances will be transformed by the coronavirus
Saudi National Day
On Women's Day
Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?
Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality
The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?
Justin Thomas: Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'










