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Kubica blames sliding rear of car for poor qualifying

The Pole failed to make the final part of qualifying for the first time in 2010 in his Renault.

Graham Caygill

November 14, 2010

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ABU DHABI // Robert Kubica took the positives out of his worst qualifying display of the season as he believed he now had a strategy advantage for today's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Pole failed to make the final part of qualifying for the first time in 2010 as he could only get a lap time of 1min 40.780secs out of his Renault as he finished 11th.

However, under Formula One rules the top 10 drivers must commit to using the tyres they qualified on.

The rest of the grid can choose between the softer Option tyre or the harder Prime compound.

With the frontrunners going for the Option tyre, which is expected to wear quickly given the high level of tyre degradation from the Yas Marina Circuit, Kubica, who is eighth in the drivers' championship with 126 points, is likely to go for the harder tyre and hope to make up places early on as drivers ahead have to pit for new rubber.

"It's disappointing to miss out on the top ten, but it's also the first time this year that I have had a free tyre choice for Sunday," he said, "and we will have to see if we can make this into an advantage for tomorrow."

Of the reasons for his lack of pace, which saw him out-qualified by teammate Vitaly Petrov, who starts 10th, he added: "I have been struggling with the car since yesterday and we simply didn't manage to get on top of the issues, especially for qualifying.

"The rear of the car was sliding a lot this evening, so it was hard to get on the power early enough to set a good lap time."

gcaygill@thenational.ae

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

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Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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Stage 2 Yas Island to Abu Dhabi, 184 km, Road race

Overall leader: Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)

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