Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes arrives at Yas Marina Circuit before first practice session on the second day of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. All photos: Victor Besa / The National

Abu Dhabi F1: Drivers arrive as Max Verstappen sits out Friday practice



Live updates: Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix

Drivers began arriving at Yas Marina Circuit ahead of Friday's first practice session of the 2023 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull's triple world champion who is chasing a record 19th win of the season when the race gets underway on Sunday, was seen in the team garage after initial rumours the Dutchman had not turned up at the track.

The Dutchman has decided to sit out Friday's practice, as he did at last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Ferrari pair Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc were seen arriving as was Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

The first practice takes place between 1.30-2.30pm with the evening session starting at 5pm.

To see images of the rest of the drivers arriving, check out the photo gallery above.

Singham Again

Director: Rohit Shetty

Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone

Rating: 3/5

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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

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Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

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match info

Maratha Arabians 138-2

C Lynn 91*, A Lyth 20, B Laughlin 1-15

Team Abu Dhabi 114-3

L Wright 40*, L Malinga 0-13, M McClenaghan 1-17

Maratha Arabians won by 24 runs

Thank You for Banking with Us

Director: Laila Abbas

Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum

Rating: 4/5

Updated: November 24, 2023, 10:21 AM

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