Lando Norris seals ‘incredible’ McLaren constructors’ crown in Abu Dhabi

McLaren’s British driver Lando Norris and McLaren’s Australian driver Oscar Piastri celebrate with their team after winning constructor’s championship following the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on December 8, 2024. (AFP)
McLaren’s British driver Lando Norris and McLaren’s Australian driver Oscar Piastri celebrate with their team after winning constructor’s championship following the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on December 8, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 08 December 2024
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Lando Norris seals ‘incredible’ McLaren constructors’ crown in Abu Dhabi

Lando Norris seals ‘incredible’ McLaren constructors’ crown in Abu Dhabi
  • McLaren won their title by 14 points from Ferrari whose challenge was finally subdued on a night of accidents, penalties and tantrums

ABU DHABI: Lando Norris clinched McLaren’s first team title in 26 years on Sunday when he drove to a calm and accomplished victory ahead of two chasing Ferraris at the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
On an evening of stirring emotions under floodlights at the Yas Marina Circuit, as seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton drove from 16th to fourth in his final race at Mercedes, Norris was the embodiment of cool as he raced from his eighth pole position to his fourth career win.
“It feels incredible,” said the driver born in 1999, one year after McLaren’s last constructors’ crown.
“Not for myself, but for the whole team. The team has done an amazing job this year to come from where we were at the beginning. I am so proud of everyone.
“It has been a lovely journey and so to end the season like this is perfect. A congrats and big thank you to everyone at McLaren.”
His team boss Zak Brown, who has generated energy and enthusiasm at English-based McLaren, said: “I love everyone in Woking. What a team effort! Amazing, but that was stressful. The worst two hours of my life!“
McLaren won their title by 14 points from Ferrari whose challenge was finally subdued on a night of accidents, penalties and tantrums.
McLaren ended the season on 666 points ahead of Ferrari on 652 and Red Bull on 589. Mercedes finished fourth on 468 and Aston Martin were fifth with 94.
“Papaya on top!” said Norris on his slowdown lap in his orange-yellow car.
“Congrats to everyone. Incredible. So proud of you all. You all deserve this. It’s been a special one. Next year is going to be my year too.”
The 25-year-old Briton came home 5.832 seconds ahead of Carlos Sainz and his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc to end the Italian outfit’s hopes of a first title since 2008.
McLaren had not won the teams’ title since 1998, started the day with a lead of 21 points and a front row lockout, but suffered an early setback when Oscar Piastri was sent spinning in a clash with newly-crowned four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull at the first corner.
This encouraged Ferrari and they mounted a defiant if vain bid for glory, to finish second and third ahead of Hamilton, who passed team-mate George Russell on the final lap.
“It’s a bitter-sweet feeling today,” said Sainz, who will join Williams next year when his Ferrari seat is taken by Hamilton.
“P2 was the maximum we could do today given the pace of Lando in the McLaren. I gave it everything.”
Team-mate Leclerc, who started 19th on he grid, said: “I knew I had to be aggressive on lap one to gain as many places as possible to gain positions and be in a good position for the rest of the race. This was achieved. but we were just too far back to do anything more for the rest of the race.”
Russell came home fifth ahead of Verstappen, who was handed a 10 second penalty crashing into Piastri.
Hamilton, 39, marked the end of his 12 years at Mercedes with a rousing and memorable drive from his record 246th start with the team and spun his car in a series of ‘donuts’ to celebrate at the end.
“Lewis, that was the drive of a world champion,” said team chief Toto Wolff as the crowd chanted “Lewis, Lewis.”
“What started out as a leap of faith, we turned it into making history,” said Hamilton to his race engineer Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington.
Norris made a clean start from his eighth pole of the year to lead into Turn One where Verstappen attacked Piastri on the inside and made contact to send both spinning.
Verstappen’s ‘dive bomb’ drew the comment “yep, move of a world champion there” from Piastri on McLaren team radio.
Piastri rejoined in 20th and last, but Verstappen squeezed back into 11th as team-mate Sergio Perez’s miserable season concluded with a spin out after contact with Valtteri Bottas’s Sauber.
After serving his penalty Verstappen asked with sarcastic venom: “Could we ask for 20 seconds? Stupid idiots.”
With 20 laps to go, Hamilton’s race engineer Bonnington, for the final time, told his driver “Lewis, it’s hammer time.” Hamilton asked for the gap to third and was told 14 seconds. “You can do it,” chimed in his team chief Wolff before Hamilton overtook Gasly for fifth.
At the front, Norris was the embodiment of cool, 5.9 clear of Sainz and managing his race with detached precision.


Li Haotong birdies last hole to win Qatar Masters for fourth European tour title

Li Haotong birdies last hole to win Qatar Masters for fourth European tour title
Updated 48 min 34 sec ago
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Li Haotong birdies last hole to win Qatar Masters for fourth European tour title

Li Haotong birdies last hole to win Qatar Masters for fourth European tour title
  • Li, the overnight leader, shot 3-under 69 in the final round to finish on 16-under par for the week

DOHA: Li Haotong holed a birdie putt from 15 feet at the last hole to secure a one-shot win at the Qatar Masters on Sunday for his fourth title on the European tour.
The No. 300-ranked Chinese golfer let out a loud roar, pumped both fists and wept in the arms of his caddie after his winning putt at Doha Golf Club. It denied Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen of Denmark a playoff.
Li, the overnight leader, shot 3-under 69 in the final round to finish on 16-under par for the week, while Neergaard-Petersen posted 65. The Dane was alone in second place, two shots clear of Brandon Robinson Thompson (70).
“I never thought I could come back in this position,” said Li, whose last win was in June 2022 at the BMW International Open. “This morning, I was really stressed.”
The Qatar Masters completes a run of four events in the Middle East. The tour next heads to Kenya on Feb. 20— 23.


Inside Ittihad: A match day experience to rival the world’s best

Inside Ittihad: A match day experience to rival the world’s best
Updated 09 February 2025
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Inside Ittihad: A match day experience to rival the world’s best

Inside Ittihad: A match day experience to rival the world’s best
  • In this special three-part feature, Arab News goes behind the scenes at Al-Ittihad to discover how the club has transformed its off-field operations
  • In Part 1, we look at how the home of the league leaders continues to produce some of the most colorful and noisy match experiences in the region

RIYADH: A big screen bombarding match-going fans with advertisements, an emcee screaming at the top of their lungs and a playlist of overly commercialized pop music devoid of any meaning or connection.

Welcome to the experience for many football fans the world over.

As the football world becomes smaller thanks to technology and globalization, the matchday experience has become increasingly gentrified as clubs follow the same playbook to entertain their fans. If you’ve been to enough games, you’ll have encountered this.

So, as a club looking to grow its global resonance, how does Al-Ittihad ensure it doesn’t fall into the same trap and instead continues to offer something distinctly Saudi Arabian to its increasingly international audience?

Enter Salma Malaeb, senior manager of matchday experience at Al-Ittihad, whose job it is to create an atmosphere unique to Saudi Arabia’s oldest football club.

The simplest experience, Malaeb told Arab News, is the stadium playlist.

“A lot of the playlist songs are actual Ittihad songs written by Ittihad artists, because the club is a community in itself, you know?

“You have a lot of local artists, a lot of creatives. We try to even work with the creatives, for example, in the fan zone. We have a pop-up from time to time, (where) we work with a local artist, so we try to incorporate the community into matchday through these little things, while at the same time trying to modernize it.

“Because, yes, we do want to reach international standards, but we also want to maintain the identity of the club, and this is maintained (by) our Ultras as well. They will make you feel like this is Saudi football, and this is what football means to them.”

The biggest expression of their passion is undoubtedly the iconic full-stadium tifos that have become synonymous with the Al-Ittihad matchday experience.

Malaeb, who has only been in the role for just over six months and has previously worked for Real Madrid and at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, sees first-hand the work that goes into preparing the displays.

Aside from facilitating the pre-match planning and coordination, the club is largely uninvolved in the process, preferring to keep it a uniquely fan-controlled initiative.

“In terms of how much it’s controlled by the club, we really try to not control it,” she explained. “We want it to be as genuine as possible, coming straight from these hardcore fans.

“A lot of sponsors have tried to engage in some way, but for us, it’s always like: ‘No, we really want to keep this for them.’ This is something for the audience, this is something for these fans.”

And how much work goes into coordinating these works of art? Simple answer — a lot.

“We see it because we’re behind the scenes,” she explained.

“They work with an artist (who) comes up with the designs. This is basically the process. But then, operationally, we see them matchday minus one, matchday minus two working on it, hanging it on the seats.

“It’s really incredible, the amount of work and dedication that it takes. But the guys here, they work tirelessly around the clock to get a tifo in place. So, it’s honestly a work of art, really.”

And much like the greatest art galleries of the world, there is a lure so compelling that it just draws people in, converting them into fans — Malaeb included.

“When you see the dedication, and you actually see the results of this, honestly, automatically, you fall in love with the club,” Malaeb said.

“Because football is about the passion behind it, right? It’s about the fans. This is what makes football so beautiful. So, when you get to know the club, and you get to see the passion and dedication that these guys put in around the club to try to get something like this done, you just fall in love with it.

“I’ve been here for six months, but I swear, I am in love with this club. You can’t help it.”

And when fans visit the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, that is the emotion Malaeb wants every single one of them to feel. She wants them to feel at home, even if they do share the stadium with crosstown rivals, Al-Ahli. On matchday, when it’s decked out top-to-bottom in yellow and black, she wants them to feel a sense of belonging.

That includes, in increasing numbers, families and female fans. Now that they know a woman is behind the matchday operations, women are “even more excited” to attend matches, Malaeb said.

“Also, a lot of kids, because now they know we’re trying to entertain the kids with our tiger mascot, getting him more involved on a match day, visiting different areas of the stadium, interacting with the spectators.

“We do notice that, and I know I’m relatively new here, but I hear from my colleagues, and they tell me the atmosphere has changed,” she added.

If you ever find yourself walking into the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, don’t expect just any experience. Expect something more unique.

Where Liverpool has “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” Al-Ittihad has “The Nation’s Club,” a thunderous anthem the fans belt out pre-game as the players stand arm-in-arm in front of them. It gets the hairs standing every time.

They may now operate in a global environment, but Al-Ittihad remains rooted in the local community.


Saudi crown prince meets president of International Olympic Committee

Saudi crown prince meets president of International Olympic Committee
Updated 09 February 2025
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Saudi crown prince meets president of International Olympic Committee

Saudi crown prince meets president of International Olympic Committee
  • Discussion focused on ways to develop the Olympic Games domestically and globally

RIYADH: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, at Al-Yamama Palace in Riyadh on Sunday.

During the meeting, they discussed the cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the IOC and ways to develop the Olympic Games domestically and globally, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, the minister of sports, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Public Investment Fund, and Abdulaziz Baeshen, the CEO and secretary-general of Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, attended the meeting.

In July, Saudi Arabia and the IOC signed a 12-year partnership to host the new e-sports Olympics, beginning with the Esports Olympics in 2025, in Riyadh.


South Africa call up Bosch for Champions Trophy in Pakistan and UAE

South Africa call up Bosch for Champions Trophy in Pakistan and UAE
Updated 09 February 2025
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South Africa call up Bosch for Champions Trophy in Pakistan and UAE

South Africa call up Bosch for Champions Trophy in Pakistan and UAE
  • Bosch made his one-day international and Test debuts against Pakistan in December 2024
  • He will replace fellow fast bowler Anrich Nortje in South Africa’s squad for Champions Trophy

Johannesburg: Corbin Bosch will replace fellow fast bowler Anrich Nortje in South Africa’s squad for the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, Cricket South Africa announced on Sunday.

Bosch, who made his one-day international and Test debuts against Pakistan in December, will depart for Karachi on Sunday to join the squad for a triangular series against Pakistan and New Zealand ahead of the Champions trophy, which starts on February 19.

Nortje was named in the squad last month but was withdrawn a day later because of a back injury.
Nortje’s likely replacement, Gerald Coetzee, was on Wednesday named, then withdrawn from the tri-series squad after feeling tightness in his groin during a pre-departure net practice.

Teenage fast bowler Kwena Maphaka will join the squad for the tri-series and be a traveling reserve for the Champions Trophy.

Cricket South Africa also announced that former Pakistan all-rounder Yasir Arafat had joined the support staff as a consultant for both tournaments in Pakistan.

Revised South African squad:

Temba Bavuma (capt), Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen (wkt), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton (wkt), Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen.


Sharjah Self-Defense takes lead on opening day of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Sharjah Self-Defense takes lead on opening day of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Updated 09 February 2025
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Sharjah Self-Defense takes lead on opening day of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Sharjah Self-Defense takes lead on opening day of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship
  • The 2nd round of the competition also saw Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club and Abu Dhabi Martial Arts Academy in 2nd and 3rd places on Day 1

DUBAI: The Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club dominated the opening day of the second round of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship at Al-Nasr Club in Dubai. The event, featuring No-Gi competition, brought together young athletes from leading clubs and academies across the country.

Competitors in the U-12, U-14, and U-16 categories took to the mats on Day 1, with the Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club securing the top spot. The Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club and Abu Dhabi Martial Arts Academy followed in second and third place, respectively. The action continues on Sunday with U-18, Adults, and Masters divisions set to compete.

Yousef Abdullah Al-Batran, board member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “The second round of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship dedicated (to) No-Gi competition offers a valuable experience for young talents, allowing them to think quickly and apply precise techniques that enhance their technical and physical abilities. This helps them improve their performance and sharpen their skills.

“This championship serves as an important platform for athletes across different age groups to test their abilities, build confidence, and develop a strong competitive mindset. It also reinforces core sporting values such as discipline, commitment, and respect, while preparing them for challenges in their athletic careers.

“The Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship was the first event to introduce the Under-12 category to No-Gi competitions during its inaugural edition last year. This step was taken to help young athletes adapt to a professional competition environment early on, ensuring they develop both physically and mentally to become the future of jiu-jitsu in the country.”

Fareed Al-Qaiwani, executive director of Al-Nasr Sports Games Co., said: “We at Al-Nasr Club are honored to host this prestigious championship. We maintain close collaboration with the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, and by hosting this event, we play a role in promoting jiu-jitsu. We look forward to welcoming more championships in the future.”