Valtteri Bottas is targeting a winning finale to 2017 at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend as he gears up to challenge world champion teammate Lewis Hamilton for the Formula One drivers’ title next season.
The Finn has won twice so far in his first year with Mercedes-GP after replacing retired world champion Nico Rosberg.
While a win at Yas Marina Circuit can still potentially get him second in the standings at the expense of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, the 28-year-old already has one eye on doing even better in 2018.
Bottas, speaking at a promotional event at the Hugo Boss store at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai on Tuesday, said his confidence was high for Sunday’s race at Yas Marina Circuit after a strong performance in Brazil where he started on pole position and finished second.
“Yes I think so,” he said when asked if he could triumph in Abu Dhabi. “I was fighting for the win in Brazil and I don’t see any reason why I can’t here either.
“I have nothing to lose honestly. I only have something to win. If I can win the race and if Sebastian gets unlucky there is still a possibility for second place.”
At worst Bottas will be third in the championship, though he is disappointed he did not push teammate Hamilton harder to winning his fourth world title, which the Briton wrapped up in Mexico last month.
He goes into Sunday’s race 65 points behind Hamilton, who has won nine races this season. But looking ahead to 2018, he thinks he can beat Hamilton over a season.
“I always like to set targets very high,” Bottas said. “I always like to push my own boundaries and I am now going into a new season now with a team I know.
“There are things to work on from this season and from what I have learnt this year I go to next year believing anything is possible.
“Of course the only target in my career was to fight for the title and be champion one day and I hope next year it could be possible.”
Bottas has enjoyed being teammates with Hamilton, adding: “I feel over the season I have really got to know him and how he works and as a teammate,” he said. “I have to say that he is a really nice guy. We have been able to work really well as a team.
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
ICC T20 Team of 2021
Jos Buttler, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, David Miller, Tabraiz Shamsi, Josh Hazlewood, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mustafizur Rahman, Shaheen Afridi
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Top goalscorers in Europe
34 goals - Robert Lewandowski (68 points)
34 - Ciro Immobile (68)
31 - Cristiano Ronaldo (62)
28 - Timo Werner (56)
25 - Lionel Messi (50)
*29 - Erling Haaland (50)
23 - Romelu Lukaku (46)
23 - Jamie Vardy (46)
*NOTE: Haaland's goals for Salzburg count for 1.5 points per goal. Goals for Dortmund count for two points per goal.
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Get Out
Director: Jordan Peele
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford
Four stars
The%20specs
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What is a black hole?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Company%20profile
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Company%20Profile
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DUNGEONS%20%26%20DRAGONS%3A%20HONOR%20AMONG%20THIEVES
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Crime%20Wave
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BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
Company%C2%A0profile
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Second Test
In Dubai
Pakistan 418-5 (declared)
New Zealand 90 and 131-2 (follow on)
Day 3: New Zealand trail by 197 runs with 8 wickets remaining
Bundesliga fixtures
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
