Rivals Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Fernando Alonso will be united in at least one ambition at Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix.
The hope that the biggest collection of car upgrades that will be seen this season will haul them much closer to runaway championship leader Max Verstappen.
Millions of dirhams in car parts and development expertise have been thrown at car developments, with much of being carried out by teams in crisis, like Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren.
The rest are simply trying to keep ahead in the annual, behind-the-scenes, arms race that is every bit as intense as the championship itself.
Every season the first European round marks a shift in intensity.
The changes were meant to be undertaken for Imola two weeks ago, but it was cancelled after flooding.
Because the parts had already been freighted to Italy they were taken on to Monaco, a hectic street track where the improvements were largely either immeasurable or irrelevant.
So after six unique races (Bahrain aside) Sunday’s race becomes the moment when the championship arrives at a traditional racetrack and drivers, teams and fans finally learn the sport’s true pecking order the length of the grid.
Aston Martin are hoping to cement their position as the second force for 2023, chasing Red Bull’s tail.
Monte Carlo saw Alonso’s fifth podium in six races and with it the announcement of a tie-up with Honda, the current pace-setting power unit of Red Bull, from 2026
The deal will, no doubt, have created friction at the champions, who spent tens, if not hundreds of millions of dirhams setting up their own engine division after learning of Honda’s departure in 2026 only to see the Japanese company change its mind after they linked up with Ford.
Monaco Grand Prix – in pictures
As long as the winning continues, both sides should be able to keep their frustration under wraps just for now.
But Barcelona has become job-threateningly crucial for underperforming designers at grandee teams Mercedes and Ferrari.
Mercedes are bringing updates for almost every part of their unloved W14.
Given these updates are hoped to be the first shoots of a Silver Arrows revival in 2024, the team management will be looking at the time sheets with particular interest.
Boss and shareholder Toto Wolff, architect of so much success, could even come under pressure himself unless things change.
Hamilton is out of contract at the end of the year and doubtless pondering his chances, short or long-term, of a record eighth title with a team in which wins, let alone titles, are in very short supply.
His six wins in Spain already feel like a story from a different age even though the last was just two years ago.
A single podium while Verstappen and Sergio Perez have won every round is a measure of the cavernous difference between the teams.
Verstappen, already fostering a 39 point lead, won in Spain last year and scored his first F1 win on his Red Bull debut in 2016 when Hamilton collided with his teammate duelling over the lead.
And there’s the rub.
The circuit has long been a part of the world championship and, for decades, a key pre-season testing venue at which drivers have flogged around endlessly learning all its foibles.
More than any other circuit, every grid place, every tenth of a second will be hard won. Margins will be infinitesimal, even by F1 standards.
Red Bull aside there will be just hundreds if not thousandths of a second between some grid slots.
Significantly the scruffy unpopular chicane into the final hairpin has been axed. Lap times will be significantly faster and overtaking chances on the pit straight improved.
Ferrari bucked the trend of taking their key upgrades to Monaco (perhaps not wanting to show their hand too soon) with all eyes on Barcelona.
Celebrities at the Monaco Grand Prix – in pictures
New boss Frederic Vasseur will be hoping they mark a significant upswing after the disastrous start to his stewardship.
If they don’t work, the pressure on him will continue to grow, especially after a daft strategy bluff with Alpine and then a pit wall communications blunder that cost Carlos Sainz dearly.
These are exactly the issues Vasseur was bought in to eradicate and cost the previous incumbent, Mattia Binotto, his job
One podium in 12 team starts is clearly catastrophic for such a big name with it being 11 months and counting since Maranello’s last win.
While 41-year-old Alonso heads to his beloved Catalunya on a high; the only man on the grid to have raced, and won, on this layout way back in 2006. An omen perhaps?
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The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 2 (Van Dijk 18', 24')
Brighton 1 (Dunk 79')
Red card: Alisson (Liverpool)
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Employment lawyer Meriel Schindler of Withers Worldwide shares her tips on achieving equal pay
Do your homework
Make sure that you are being offered a fair salary. There is lots of industry data available, and you can always talk to people who have come out of the organisation. Where I see people coming a cropper is where they haven’t done their homework.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate
It’s quite standard to negotiate if you think an offer is on the low side. The job is unlikely to be withdrawn if you ask for money, and if that did happen I’d question whether you want to work for an employer who is so hypersensitive.
Know your worth
Women tend to be a bit more reticent to talk about their achievements. In my experience they need to have more confidence in their own abilities – men will big up what they’ve done to get a pay rise, and to compete women need to turn up the volume.
Work together
If you suspect men in your organisation are being paid more, look your boss in the eye and say, “I want you to assure me that I’m paid equivalent to my peers”. If you’re not getting a straight answer, talk to your peer group and consider taking direct action to fix inequality.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
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Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Game is on BeIN Sports
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
The years Ramadan fell in May
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
Draw:
Group A: Egypt, DR Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Group B: Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi
Group C: Senegal, Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania
Group D: Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Namibia
Group E: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Angola
Group F: Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Guinea-Bissau
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England World Cup squad
Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wkt), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
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Virtuzone GCC Sixes
Date and venue Friday and Saturday, ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City
Time Matches start at 9am
Groups
A Blighty Ducks, Darjeeling Colts, Darjeeling Social, Dubai Wombats; B Darjeeling Veterans, Kuwait Casuals, Loose Cannons, Savannah Lions; C Awali Taverners, Darjeeling, Dromedary, Darjeeling Good Eggs
In numbers
Number of Chinese tourists coming to UAE in 2017 was... 1.3m
Alibaba’s new ‘Tech Town’ in Dubai is worth... $600m
China’s investment in the MIddle East in 2016 was... $29.5bn
The world’s most valuable start-up in 2018, TikTok, is valued at... $75bn
Boost to the UAE economy of 5G connectivity will be... $269bn
