The 20-year-old Californian will make his F1 debut during today's First Practice at the Spanish Grand Prix. He speaks to Gary Meenaghan about America, Abu Dhabi and Nascar.
Q. You have taken part in young driver tests before, but this is your first genuine race weekend. Does it feel different?
A. Yeah, definitely. This is what I have been preparing for my entire life. This is an official session and they are looking for me for a certain amount of input. You don't get a lot of opportunities in Formula One to show people what you can do, so while I'll be looking to help, I'll also be looking for a good performance.
You took part in the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi last year. How was that for you?
Before Abu Dhabi, I had just been a part of the Young Driver Development programme, attended a couple of grands prix, talked to a few engineers and attended briefings. Abu Dhabi was my first time to work with the guys and develop a relationship, which is great because now coming here, I know who I need to speak to about specific things which makes it all much easier.
The United States returns to the calendar this year in Austin and then New Jersey joins within a season or two. What's the interest like back home?
At the moment it is small, but growing. The two races on the calendar in the next two years is definitely a step in the right direction, but it is nowhere close to where I think it needs to be. America is very patriotic and they need someone to support and don't have that yet. So while it is great to have a race, it needs to have a driver and would be great to have a team too.
You will be the first American to take part in an F1 weekend since Scott Speed raced for Toro Rosso at the European GP in July 2007. Why is there such a lack of American drivers?
Because we have Nascar and Indycar, F1 gets overlooked. When you are growing up karting in the States, there is a very clear route to Indycar and Nascar, whereas if you're aiming for Formula One you need to move to Europe.
How has it been for you then taking that road less travelled?
It was difficult because there is not a lot of American knowledge or support at this time, so trying to find funding from corporate America was very difficult. On top of that, there is no ladder system in place to F1. It has not been an easy road and there is still a long way to go, but FP1 is a big achievement and I'm very proud to be an American in F1.
What do you make of the Circuit of the Americas track in Austin?
Austin looks fantastic and they are trying to incorporate some of the best corners in F1 into the track. They are trying to make it more of a facility, similar to Abu Dhabi, so it is more than just Formula One.
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
RACE RESULTS
1. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1hr 21min 48.527sec
2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) at 0.658sec
3. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 6.012
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 7.430
5. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Ferrari) 20.370
6. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1:13.160
7. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Force India) 1 lap
8. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) 1 lap
9. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1 lap
10. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) 1 lap
11. Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault) 1 lap
12. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren) 1 lap
13. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) 1 lap
14. Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Sauber) 1 lap
15. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) 2 laps
16. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) 3 laps
ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
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MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Rashford 36')
Liverpool 1 (Lallana 84')
Man of the match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
57%20Seconds
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rusty%20Cundieff%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJosh%20Hutcherson%2C%20Morgan%20Freeman%2C%20Greg%20Germann%2C%20Lovie%20Simone%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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EVIL%20DEAD%20RISE
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 6 Huddersfield Town 1
Man City: Agüero (25', 35', 75'), Jesus (31'), Silva (48'), Kongolo (84' og)
Huddersfield: Stankovic (43')
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Avatar%20(2009)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJames%20Cameron%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESam%20Worthington%2C%20Zoe%20Saldana%2C%20Sigourney%20Weaver%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
A Dog's Journey
Directed by: Gail Mancuso
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Josh Gad, Marg Helgenberger, Betty Gilpin, Kathryn Prescott
3 out of 5 stars
MATCH INFO
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Namibia beat Oman by 52 runs
UAE beat Namibia by eight wickets
UAE v Oman - abandoned
Oman v Namibia - abandoned
The%20Beekeeper
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JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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