ISTANBUL // Gone were the problems paralysing Fernando Alonso's Ferrari and gone was the scowl on the Spaniard's brow as the two-time world champion captured his team's first podium of the new season at Istanbul Park yesterday.
Alonso, who essentially lost the world title in Abu Dhabi last year after being unable to pass Renault's Vitaly Petrov around the Yas Marina Circuit, has struggled in the first three races of the new season and was outpaced by his teammate Felipe Massa in both Malaysia and China.
However, having finished third behind the Red Bull Racing pair of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber at the Turkish Grand Prix, the former Renault driver believes the result could be the start of a red resurgence.
"I'm very, very happy, but this is only the first step," he said. "First we need to be on the podium, which we are, and then we need to move forward.
"This has to be only the first step to our recovery. There is a lot more to come. We want to win races and now we need to move forward.
"We were in condition to be second in Malaysia, but I touched with [Lewis] Hamilton when he was passing for third. Here we had another opportunity and finally we took it. We had some issues on Friday, but Saturday and Sunday were perfect for the team and for the strategy."
Alonso was on course to finish second until, with five laps remaining, Webber performed a glorious manoeuvre to complete a one-two finish for Christian Horner's constructors' champions, but the Spaniard, who won the drivers' title in 2005 and 2006, was unconcerned about the late setback.
"We lost a position, but it is OK. Fighting with Red Bull is not easy, but hopefully next time we will be able to try again," said Alonso, who finished more than half a minute ahead of fourth-placed Hamilton.
"It was a surprise for us to see McLaren so far behind [in qualifying] and to be in front of McLaren in the race. The car is doing something better than the first few races.
"We need to keep this direction, this improving line that we have started here, because, for a driver, this is not enough. We cannot be happy with fifth in qualifying and third in the race."
Stefano Domenicali, Ferrari's team principal, urged his team to "definitely not get carried away" despite their encouraging showing.
"It's been a very long time since we last saw one of our drivers on the podium, but the road is still very long and there is a very long way to go to where we want to be," he said.
"At least we have shown we have started off down the right road."
Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
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IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.
The specs: 2018 Dodge Durango SRT
Price, base / as tested: Dh259,000
Engine: 6.4-litre V8
Power: 475hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 640Nm @ 4,300rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
How to tell if your child is being bullied at school
Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety
Shows signs of depression or isolation
Ability to sleep well diminishes
Academic performance begins to deteriorate
Changes in eating habits
Struggles to concentrate
Refuses to go to school
Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings
Begins to use language they do not normally use
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
Credits
Produced by: Colour Yellow Productions and Eros Now
Director: Mudassar Aziz
Cast: Sonakshi Sinha, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jassi Gill, Piyush Mishra, Diana Penty, Aparshakti Khurrana
Star rating: 2.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
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Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
