Lewis Hamilton took the early advantage by topping the times ahead of his Mercedes-GP teammate and world championship leader Nico Rosberg in Friday’s opening practice ahead of this weekend’s title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The defending three-time world champion clocked a best lap time of one minute and 42.869 seconds to outpace Rosberg by 0.374 seconds at the Yas Marina circuit in the UAE capital.
Dutch teenager Max Verstappen was third ahead of his Red Bull Racing teammate Daniel Ricciardo, the pair just four-tenths of a second off the pace and only one-tenth behind Rosberg.
• Live blog: Keep up to date with all the action on and off the track
• Rosberg v Hamilton: Title battle off the track and into media room
• Jenson Button: Treating Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 'as my last race'
German Rosberg, 31, needs only to claim a podium finish in Sunday’s race to clinch his first drivers world title. He leads Hamilton by 12 points ahead of the 21st and final race of the season.
Briton Hamilton can take the title if he wins the race and Rosberg fails to take a podium finish.
German Sebastian Vettel was fifth fastest for Ferrari, 1.1 seconds adrift of the leading pace, ahead of Mexican Sergio Perez of Force India, Finn Kimi Raikkonen in the second Ferrari, Mexican Carlos Sainz of Toro Rosso, retirement-bound Brazilian Felipe Massa of Williams and Swede Marcus Ericsson of Sauber.
The session featured few incidents, but Russian Daniel Kvyatt suffered a puncture on his Toro Rosso car and Frenchman Romain Grosjean struggled with his Haas and spun off the circuit before recovering.
The second session due to be run later Friday will be in cooler conditions as the sun goes down over the spectacular venue.
For more from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, including exclusive interviews, information guides, videos and much more, visit our dedicated microsite.
FIRST PRACTICE TIMES
1. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes-GP: 1.42.869
2. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes-GP: 1.43.243
3. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Red Bull Racing: 1.43.297
4. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Red Bull Racing: 1.43.362
5. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Ferrari: 1.44.005
6. Sergio Perez (Mexico) Force India: 1.44.155
7. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari: 1.44.556
8. Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain) Toro Rosso: 1.44.685
9. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Williams: 1.45.039
10. Marcus Ericsson (Sweden) Sauber: 1.45.168
11. Alfonso Celis (Mexico) Force India: 1.45.476
12. Romain Grosjean (France) Haas: 1.45.600
13. Felipe Nasr (Brazil) Sauber: 1.45.778
14. Esteban Gutierrez (Mexico) Haas: 1.45.925
15. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Williams: 1.45.940
16. Jolyon Palmer (Britain) Renault: 1.46.219
17. Kevin Magnussen (Denmark) Renault: 1.46.372
18. Fernando Alonso (Spain) McLaren: 1.46.379
19. Pascal Wehrlein (Germany) Manor: 1.46.458
20. Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren: 1.47.127
21. Jordan King (Britain) Manor: 1.47.558
22. Daniil Kvyat (Russia) Toro Rosso: 2.01.989
* Agence France-Presse
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Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
Graduated from the American University of Sharjah
She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks
Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding
Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
The specs: 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn
Price, base / as tested: Dhxxx
Engine: 5.7L V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 556Nm @ 3,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
Roll of honour: Who won what in 2018/19?
West Asia Premiership: Winners – Bahrain; Runners-up – Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership: Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons
Dubai Rugby Sevens: Winners – Dubai Hurricanes; Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Conference: Winners – Dubai Tigers; Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Klipit
Started: 2022
Founders: Venkat Reddy, Mohammed Al Bulooki, Bilal Merchant, Asif Ahmed, Ovais Merchant
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Digital receipts, finance, blockchain
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Investors: Privately/self-funded
The Crown season 5
Stars: Imelda Staunton, Jonathan Pryce, Lesley Manville, Jonny Lee Miller, Dominic West, Elizabeth Debicki, Salim Daw and Khalid Abdalla
Written by: Peter Morgan
Rating: 4/5 stars
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
Confirmed bouts (more to be added)
Cory Sandhagen v Umar Nurmagomedov
Nick Diaz v Vicente Luque
Michael Chiesa v Tony Ferguson
Deiveson Figueiredo v Marlon Vera
Mackenzie Dern v Loopy Godinez
Tickets for the August 3 Fight Night, held in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, went on sale earlier this month, through www.etihadarena.ae and www.ticketmaster.ae.
Match info:
Portugal 1
Ronaldo (4')
Morocco 0
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Day 4, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Not much was expected – on Sunday or ever – of Hasan Ali as a batsman. And yet he lit up the late overs of the Pakistan innings with a happy cameo of 29 from 25 balls. The highlight was when he launched a six right on top of the netting above the Pakistan players’ viewing area. He was out next ball.
Stat of the day – 1,358 There were 1,358 days between Haris Sohail’s previous first-class match and his Test debut for Pakistan. The lack of practice in the multi-day format did not show, though, as the left-hander made an assured half-century to guide his side through a potentially damaging collapse.
The verdict As is the fashion of Test matches in this country, the draw feels like a dead-cert, before a clatter of wickets on the fourth afternoon puts either side on red alert. With Yasir Shah finding prodigious turn now, Pakistan will be confident of bowling Sri Lanka out. Whether they have enough time to do so and chase the runs required remains to be seen.
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
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