“We’re all burnt out massively,” said Williams driver Alex Albon ahead of the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – the finale of what had been the most stacked Formula One season ever.
This year’s F1 calendar featured 23 races for the first time, starting in Bahrain in early March and concluding on Sunday at Yas Marina Circuit.
The last three months have been particularly gruelling for everyone involved in the sport. The schedule took the drivers from the Netherlands at the end of August, to Italy, Singapore, Japan then Qatar before a triple-header in Austin, Mexico City and Sao Paulo. That was followed by a double-header in Las Vegas and finally Abu Dhabi.
Next year won’t be any easier. In fact, the 2024 calendar will feature a record-breaking 24 races as the Chinese Grand Prix returns for the first time since 2019. The season will finish with a triple-header that will see back-to-back races in Vegas, Doha and Abu Dhabi.
Some changes have been made to allow for smarter travel between races; Japan, for example, has been moved from September to April to be slotted between Australia and China. But there are still several pockets in the calendar that make for some dizzying back-and-forths across the globe, and drivers and teams are understandably concerned about the toll this is taking on their bodies.
Arriving in Abu Dhabi straight from the inaugural Las Vegas race, most drivers spent a good portion of their press conferences discussing jetlag and sleep schedules. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon didn’t even turn up to media day because he fell ill.
“It's a bit tough to understand what time zone that you're in,” said triple world champion Max Verstappen, who completed his record-breaking season with victory in Abu Dhabi – his 19th win of the year.
“I definitely think for the future – of course for next year, it's not possible – but it's a little bit odd that we are on the other side of the world, basically, before getting here and especially when you're talking about sustainability, it's probably not very sustainable, not only for the emissions but also for the human body.
"Of course, eventually, we always deal with it but I don't think it's great. I think we can do a little bit of a better job with placing the grands prix.”
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri said because of the time difference, he felt he was in Vegas just one day earlier, even though it had already been four days since he arrived in the UAE, while Mercedes’ George Russell recounted some travel shenanigans he and Pierre Gasly went through together en route to Abu Dhabi.
“It’s pretty brutal for everybody. Yeah, had an interesting trip over with Pierre. We were flying together and we got delayed and diverted via Dallas and ended up in a 24-hour diner at three o'clock in the morning for some breakfast. So that was an eye-opening experience.”
Structural issues in overcrowded calendars are a growing trend in sport and the F1 drivers' concerns have been echoed in other sports such as tennis, where players feel their season is too long and that they are forced to play too many tournaments.
Whether it’s an effort to raise the profile of the sport globally, or a means to capitalise on a sport’s growing popularity, it seems the mentality of adding more events, irrespective of when and where these events will be held, is the common denominator.
Sport has become a lucrative business and the short-term gains of adding events frequently outweigh concern for longevity and the well-being of all individuals involved.
When you're talking about sustainability, it's probably not very sustainable, not only for the emissions but also for the human body
Max Verstappen on F1's schedule
Red Bull Racing’s Mexican driver Sergio Perez said he has never seen people this tired at the end of a season the way he has this campaign and he is worried about the team’s support crew; the mechanics, engineers and beyond.
While most drivers fly private which can make travel easier, others touring the F1 circuit like support staff, journalists and the like, do not have access to such luxuries.
“It’s definitely been more [burnout] than other years. This last part of the season has been super intense with the travelling, the amount of races is definitely at the limit, not just for the drivers but also for all the mechanics out there,” said Perez.
“The schedule has to be more efficient and try to look after everyone a lot more. My main concern is for my mechanics really.
“I think we just have to make sure that we keep delivering and we don’t make a lot of races for the sake of doing them. I think the quality level is still very important to have in this sport, to make sure we keep this upward route.”
While Perez acknowledges it’s too late to make any changes for next year, he said the issue has to be raised with F1’s leadership for future campaigns.
“I don’t remember seeing people so exhausted in the last race," he added. "So it’s something we have to take very seriously. It’s important for the sport, for the drivers to keep having these long careers, for the staff and mechanics, we want them to have long careers as well. I think it’s something we have to consider."
AGL AWARDS
Golden Ball - best Emirati player: Khalfan Mubarak (Al Jazira)
Golden Ball - best foreign player: Igor Coronado (Sharjah)
Golden Glove - best goalkeeper: Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah)
Best Coach - the leader: Abdulaziz Al Anbari (Sharjah)
Fans' Player of the Year: Driss Fetouhi (Dibba)
Golden Boy - best young player: Ali Saleh (Al Wasl)
Best Fans of the Year: Sharjah
Goal of the Year: Michael Ortega (Baniyas)
Four tips to secure IoT networks
Mohammed Abukhater, vice president at FireEye in the Middle East, said:
- Keep device software up-to-date. Most come with basic operating system, so users should ensure that they always have the latest version
- Besides a strong password, use two-step authentication. There should be a second log-in step like adding a code sent to your mobile number
- Usually smart devices come with many unnecessary features. Users should lock those features that are not required or used frequently
- Always create a different guest network for visitors
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20WallyGPT%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2014%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESaeid%20and%20Sami%20Hejazi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20raised%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%247.1%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2020%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%20round%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Roma 4
Milner (15' OG), Dzeko (52'), Nainggolan (86', 90 4')
Liverpool 2
Mane (9'), Wijnaldum (25')
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
DUBAI%20BLING%3A%20EPISODE%201
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENetflix%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKris%20Fade%2C%20Ebraheem%20Al%20Samadi%2C%20Zeina%20Khoury%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE v IRELAND
All matches start at 10am, and will be played in Abu Dhabi
1st ODI, Friday, January 8
2nd ODI, Sunday, January 10
3rd ODI, Tuesday, January 12
4th ODI, Thursday, January 14
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs: 2018 Ford F-150
Price, base / as tested: Dh173,250 / Dh178,500
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 395hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 555Nm @ 2,750rpm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 12.4L / 100km
Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net
Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.
Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.
A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.
Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.
'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness'
Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams
Rating: 3/5
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
One in four Americans don't plan to retire
Nearly a quarter of Americans say they never plan to retire, according to a poll that suggests a disconnection between individuals' retirement plans and the realities of ageing in the workforce.
Experts say illness, injury, layoffs and caregiving responsibilities often force older workers to leave their jobs sooner than they'd like.
According to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research, 23 per cent of workers, including nearly two in 10 of those over 50, don't expect to stop working. Roughly another quarter of Americans say they will continue working beyond their 65th birthday.
According to government data, about one in five people 65 and older was working or actively looking for a job in June. The study surveyed 1,423 adults in February this year.
For many, money has a lot to do with the decision to keep working.
"The average retirement age that we see in the data has gone up a little bit, but it hasn't gone up that much," says Anqi Chen, assistant director of savings research at the Centre for Retirement Research at Boston College. "So people have to live in retirement much longer, and they may not have enough assets to support themselves in retirement."
When asked how financially comfortable they feel about retirement, 14 per cent of Americans under the age of 50 and 29 per cent over 50 say they feel extremely or very prepared, according to the poll. About another four in 10 older adults say they do feel somewhat prepared, while just about one-third feel unprepared.
"One of the things about thinking about never retiring is that you didn't save a whole lot of money," says Ronni Bennett, 78, who was pushed out of her job as a New York City-based website editor at 63.
She searched for work in the immediate aftermath of her layoff, a process she describes as akin to "banging my head against a wall." Finding Manhattan too expensive without a steady stream of income, she eventually moved to Portland, Maine. A few years later, she moved again, to Lake Oswego, Oregon. "Sometimes I fantasise that if I win the lottery, I'd go back to New York," says Ms Bennett.
