Live updates: Abu Dhabi F1
A pair of red flag incidents caused havoc in the second practice session of the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix on Friday.
Early on, Carlos Sainz spun off and hit the barriers in a spectacular and dizzying fashion in his Ferrari, both car and driver ending up in a shower of debris.
The Spaniard had prompted some sharp intakes of breath from the spectators when he had a wiggle in the earlier session, feathering another barrier on that occasion but in a rather less catastrophic fashion.
A further stoppage occurred following the Ferrari smash after the drivers had been allowed to race again for mere minutes.
Nico Hulkenberg in the Haas rotated, out of control, in a similar manner to Sainz and shot across the track to hit the cladding with a wallop.
In total, the crashes caused the entire session to be shorted to just 20 minutes.
Disruption aside, the driver who managed to take the top slot following the stoppages was Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, with Lando Norris in the McLaren coming in second.
After Max Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez gave up their seats in the first practice session, the Red Bull pair could only manage third and fifth, respectively.
Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas nudged in-between the two championship leaders by coming in fourth.
For his part, Verstappen seemed rattled by events, overtaking cars in the pit lane, and complaining via the team radio that his car was "bouncing like a kangaroo".
The early afternoon practice session saw George Russell of Mercedes get the first best lap time and continue at the top of the leaderboard until the clock ran down.
Constructors are obligated to have rookie test days, so nine of the 10 teams present chose the first track outing to fulfil these commitments.
However, Aston Martin reserve driver Felipe Drugovich and Robert Shwartzman in the Ferrari were the only newcomers to make the top 10.
Drugovich’s high placing – he came in second – was pleasing for team principal Mike Krack, who said this was the result of getting the right vehicle for the right driver and hinted at further positive results.
As for the seniors, AlphaTauri's Daniel Ricciardo was third fastest in the first session, followed by Bottas, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and McLaren's Oscar Piastri.
The rumours and conjecture about what happened between Lewis Hamilton’s people and the Red Bull team - who negotiated with who, when, and whether any of it even happened in the first place - were still rumbling on Friday at Yas.
Team principal Christian Horner maintained a sense of humour about the ongoing speculation, but was keen to assert he still felt it was a story about nothing.
He made the point that, the situation being what it is in modern racing and particularly F1, negotiations between all drivers and teams is a never-ending process.
“A lot has been made out of something fairly innocuous,” Horner said in a further attempt to draw a line under the affair for good.
"There were no formal discussions and there was no seat to be had," he added.
The next practice session in Abu Dhabi will take place at 2.30pm on Saturday, with qualifying at 6pm.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
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David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Brief scores:
Pakistan (1st innings) 181: Babar 71; Olivier 6-37
South Africa (1st innings) 223: Bavuma 53; Amir 4-62
Pakistan (2nd innings) 190: Masood 65, Imam 57; Olivier 5-59
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
The Bio
Ram Buxani earned a salary of 125 rupees per month in 1959
Indian currency was then legal tender in the Trucial States.
He received the wages plus food, accommodation, a haircut and cinema ticket twice a month and actuals for shaving and laundry expenses
Buxani followed in his father’s footsteps when he applied for a job overseas
His father Jivat Ram worked in general merchandize store in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands in the early 1930s
Buxani grew the UAE business over several sectors from retail to financial services but is attached to the original textile business
He talks in detail about natural fibres, the texture of cloth, mirrorwork and embroidery
Buxani lives by a simple philosophy – do good to all
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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Racecard
5.25pm: Etihad Museum – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,200m
6pm: Al Shindaga Museum – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (Dirt) 1,200m
6.35pm: Poet Al Oqaili – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m
7.10pm: Majlis Ghurfat Al Sheif – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,600m
7.45pm: Hatta – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m
8.20pm: Al Fahidi – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 2,200m
8.55pm: Zabeel Trophy – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (T) 1,600m
9.30pm: Coins Museum – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
10.05pm: Al Quoz Creative – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,000m
