Transcontinental Times

FIFA World Cup 2022: Japan Stunned Germany with Two Late Goals

World

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November 23, 2022

FIFA World Cup 2022: Japan Stunned Germany with Two Late Goals

QATAR: In their World Cup Group E debut on Wednesday, Japan stunned Germany with a 2-1 victory thanks to two late goals.

At the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, midfielder Ilkay Gundogan converted a penalty kick in 33 minutes to give Germany the lead. Forward Kai Havertz managed to kick the ball into the goalpost just before halftime, but Germany was denied the goal due to offside.

However, Japan responded in the final 15 minutes with goals from striker Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano to earn their first victory over Germany and cause an early upset in the tournament.

The shocking outcome was a repeat of their nightmare at the 2018 World Cup when they lost their opening match to Mexico as the defending champions and were doomed to a surprise group-stage exit after another loss to South Korea.

Japan returned strongly in the second half

The Interior Minister of Germany, Nancy Faeser, sat next to FIFA president Gianni Infantino. She was wearing the “OneLove” armband despite the continuation of FIFA’s threat of sanctions for the protests. During the pre-match team photo, German players put their hands over their mouths as a sign of dissent against FIFA’s ban on One Love armbands.

The early dominance of Hansi Flick’s team reaped the rewards when David Raum was picked out in a lot of space in the box by Joshua Kimmich. Japan’s goalkeeper Shuichi Gondan was clumsily brought down as he turned, and Gundogan scored the penalty in the 33rd minute.

After Jamal Musiala’s penetrating run, he missed a shot in the second half and Gundogan’s attempt for a goal clipped off the goalpost. After that, Gondan made amends by making four saves in a row to deny Serge Gnabry and Jonas Hofmann, keeping his team in the game.

In his fourth World Cup, Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer quickly saved from Hiroki Sakai. He did well to block a shot from Takumi Minamino, only for Takumi’s fellow substitute Doan, to smash in the loose ball.

Asano showed incredible technique and strength to hammer the ball into the tiniest of spaces, bringing down a high free kick and holding off defender Nico Schlotterbeck as Japan pressed on.

From that point on, Germany launched an all-out attack without success, and they now face Spain in a game they may need to win. Japan’s next match is against Costa Rica, and they’ll already be hoping for an entry into the last 16 stages.

Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2022: Croatia Vs Morocco Ends up in a Scoreless Draw

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Gets One UI 5 with the Latest Android 13 Update

Aditya Saikrishna

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November 23, 2022

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Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Gets One UI 5 with the Latest Android 13 Update

INDIA: The long-awaited Android 13 update for the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is now available. The Android 13-based One UI 5 update has begun rolling out for the Samsung smartphone. The update was released on November 21 and will soon be available to all Samsung Galaxy S21 owners.

The rollout was widely anticipated to occur around the end of November, and Samsung did not deviate from its rollout plan. The One UI 5 firmware, version G990BXXU2DVK3, was initially made available for the Galaxy S21 FE model SM-G990B.

Users of the Galaxy S21 FE will now be able to take advantage of new features like multitasking gestures, a new method for monitoring background app activity, a redesigned lock screen, modes and routines, and improved optimization thanks to the firmware update based on Android 13.

The smartphone user can access the update via the device settings. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE user has to go to the settings app, navigate to Software Update, and tap to check for updates before downloading the update if it’s available.

The October 1, 2022 security patch level is included in the 2.3GB over-the-air download of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE UI update. As per expectations, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE will receive the December security update from Samsung next month.

The Galaxy S21 FE 5G, with its best-in-class triple camera setup, is a boon for social media users. On the back, it has a lead grade 12 MP (UW) + 12 MP (W) + 8 MP (Tele) camera that captures magnificent and astounding pictures.

The 32MP front camera captures selfies with stunning visual impact. For an incredible experience, the professional-grade camera system includes Dual Recording, Portrait Mode, Enhanced Night Mode, and 30X Space Zoom.

The 6.4-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the Galaxy S21 FE 5G has AI-based blue light control and a super-smooth 120 Hz refresh rate. A 4500mAh battery powers the smartphone, and a 5nm Exynos 2100 processor gives the user a fantastic experience.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy A04e: Samsung Officially Unveils Its Latest Smartphone

Pirelli Adds New Tyre Compound to F1 for 2023

World

Aditya Saikrishna

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November 23, 2022

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Pirelli Adds New Tyre Compound to F1 for 2023

UNITED KINGDOM: Pirelli has introduced the sixth slick tyre compound, called C0, in addition to the well-known C1-5, which is currently used in Formula 1.

Interestingly, the C0 compound is not a new in itself. The C1 of the 2022 campaign has simply been renamed. All else being equal, a new C1 is being developed to bridge the performance gap between the harder tyre compounds in the Pirelli tyre range.

Following the post-season tyre test at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, Pirelli’s head of motorsport, Mario Isola, spoke to media outlets. He said that Pirelli will homologate six compounds for the 2023 season instead of five with the introduction of the new C1.

Isola felt that the tyre manufacturer did not want to remove the current C1 compound, which had performed well in races like Zandvoort and Silverstone. Because the new C1 compound will have more grip than the old C1, the company decided to rename the old C1 as the C0 in order to avoid renaming other compounds.

The 2023 Formula 1 season will feature the brand new C1, while the C2, C3, C4, and C5 will be the same as in the just concluded season. The performance of the new C1 is supposedly closer to that of the C2 than earlier.

Mario Isola admitted that Pirelli could not create a new C3 with a performance range between C2 and C4.

In a season in which he claimed there had been a 30% increase in overtaking during races, Isola thought the 2022 C1 had been generally too slow. This was not, however, solely due to the new generation of ground-effect car tyres.

When asked if the additional compound allowed for more steps between the three chosen for a race weekend, Isola said that could be considered, but not for the first races in 2023.

He mentioned that the 24 drivers who participated in the post-season tyre test on November 22 had completed 2,458 laps. According to him, Pirelli will analyse the data gained from the tests. Each driver completed two race distances on average.

Also Read: F1 2023 Will Witness the Best Version of Lewis Hamilton, Says Jacques Villeneuve

FIFA World Cup 2022: Saudi Arabia Stuns Argentina

World

Aditya Saikrishna

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November 22, 2022

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FIFA World Cup 2022: Saudi Arabia Stuns Argentina

QATAR: Saudi Arabia stunned Argentina 2-1 on Tuesday at the Lusail Stadium. This is one of the biggest upsets of the FIFA World Cup for Argentina, which is led by Lionel Messi.

With a coolly taken spot kick in the tenth minute, Messi gave Argentina, the lead from the penalty spot. Argentina is one of the favourites to win the FIFA World Cup.

Argentina’s early lead

Argentina went into the game with a huge expectation of winning and were on track to match Italy’s record-breaking 37-match unbeaten streak when they scored their first goal. After a VAR check for pushing and shoving in the box, Messi’s penalty gave Argentina the lead early on.

On a breakaway, Messi, playing in his fifth World Cup, beat Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais. However, Saudi Arabia’s high defensive line held firm, and two other goal attempts by Lautaro Martinez were ruled offside.

Argentina dominated the first 45 minutes of the game. Saudi Arabia was barely in the game. They left the field at halftime looking like they were hanging on for dear life.

Saudi Arabia’s comeback in the second half

Saudi Arabia returned strongly in the early stages of the second half of the game. Saleh Al-Shehri scored in the 48th minute with a low shot, and Al-Dawsari scored in the 53rd minute with a scorching strike from the edge of the penalty area that stunned Argentina.

When Lisandro Martinez’s shot deflected off Nicolas Tagliafico, and Al-Owais made a strong save to deny Argentina a goal. Lionel Messi’s team, consisting of four players in their starting XI who were older than 34, appeared worn out in the final 30 minutes.

A nasty collision between Al-Owais and Yasir Al Shahrani caused the defender to leave the field on a stretcher, delaying the game as Saudi Arabia, ranked 51st in the world, neared a historic victory.

The dreadful defeat against Saudi Arabia means that Argentina has little margin for error against Mexico and Poland in their other upcoming Group C matches. Argentina will cling to the fact that despite losing to Cameroon in their first World Cup match in 1990, they still made it to the final.

Also Read: FIFA President Slams European ‘Hypocrites’ over Qatar Criticism

F1 2023 Will Witness the Best Version of Lewis Hamilton, Says Jacques Villeneuve

World

Aditya Saikrishna

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November 22, 2022

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F1 2023 Will Witness the Best Version of Lewis Hamilton, Says Jacques Villeneuve

UNITED KINGDOM: Lewis Hamilton finished sixth in the F1 2022 Drivers’ World Championship, his lowest finish since joining the grid in 2007. This was also his first Formula 1 season without a race victory.

However, this did not stem from any diminution of Lewis Hamilton’s racing prowess. Mercedes have repeatedly admitted that the W13, the team’s challenger for the 2022 F1 season, is insufficient to compete with the likes of Red Bull and Ferrari consistently.

Lewis Hamilton will aim to deprive Max Verstappen of a shot at a hat-trick of titles along with George Russell, who gave Mercedes their only win in the 2022 F1 season in Brazil.

Lewis Hamilton endured a tough race in Abu Dhabi that ended when he had to retire the car in the pits due to hydraulic system failure, which resulted in a gearbox malfunction.

During the race, he reported several problems with his car over the team radio, including loss of power and floor damage after being rammed off the track and over a sausage kerb by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.

Lewis Hamilton will celebrate his 38th birthday in January. However, if Mercedes can learn from the sub-par performance of W13 and utilise the knowledge to create a much-improved W14, he should be able to launch a formidable challenge for the F1 crown next season.

Based on the steady progress Mercedes made throughout the campaign, they could be back on the pace in Bahrain in early March during the pre-season testing.

The competitiveness of Mercedes will depend on how much Red Bull and Ferrari have developed their cars by that time.

Following the conclusion of the 2022 F1 season in Abu Dhabi, Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 World Champion in Formula 1, believes that Lewis Hamilton will come back stronger than ever for the upcoming 2023 F1 season.

According to him, Lewis Hamilton’s ultimate goal will be to win the record-breaking 8th World Drivers’ Championship. He added that he expects a lot from the British driver despite ending the season without a pole position or a race win.

Jacques Villeneuve felt that in spite of Lewis Hamilton struggling during the initial stages of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix when he was on the medium compound tyres, the Briton adapted beautifully to show his actual pace on the hard tyres.

Lewis Hamilton had to end the race prematurely after suffering his first mechanical failure in the entire season.

Also Read: F1 Academy Launched by Formula 1: All-women Racing Series Will Debut in 2023

England Rout Iran 6-2 in World Cup Opener: Bukayo Saka Scores Brace

Aditya Saikrishna

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November 21, 2022

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England Rout Iran 6-2 in World Cup Opener: Bukayo Saka Scores Brace

QATAR: Bukayo Saka scored twice and Jude Bellingham, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, and Jack Grealish also scored in England’s 6-2 victory over Iran to kick off their World Cup campaign.

England dominated Iran throughout the game

In the 35th minute, Bellingham scored his first England goal, and Sterling and Saka helped England take a comfortable 3-0 lead before the halftime break. Before Iran’s Mehdi Taremi scored a consolation goal just past the hour mark, Saka scored a brilliant individual effort to push England ahead of Iran in the game.

Substitutes Rashford and Grealish completed the Three Lions’ Group B debut despite Taremi’s penalty in stoppage time. Fans had issues with their tickets before the game because the FIFA app was down, leaving a lot of empty seats at the Khalifa International Stadium close to the start.

The Iranian players did not perform the anthem. After Mahsa Amini’s death in September following her arrest for wearing a headscarf incorrectly, many Iranian fans have accused the Iranian football squad of siding with the state’s violent retaliation on protesters.

According to media reports, Iran’s state television did not include footage of the players lining up during the anthem in its live broadcast. Iran suffered an early setback when goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand collided with teammate Majid Hosseini. Beiranvand continued to play before being stretchered off in the 19th minute.

In the 32nd minute, Harry Maguire jumped high to convert a Kieran Trippier corner and nearly scored, but his header missed the crossbar. After that, Bellingham headed home unmarked from Luke Shaw’s lofted cross to give them the lead.

Before the half, England scored two quick goals to get ahead. England took a 43rd-minute lead thanks to Saka’s fine half-volley from a Maguire knockdown. In stoppage time, Sterling scored on the volley from a right-footed cross from Harry Kane, his first World Cup goal.

After the break, Iran had to limit their damage, but Saka punished them once more in the 62nd minute when he curled a low effort with his left boot past two defenders in the box and scored.

Three minutes later, however, Iran scored a goal out of nowhere when Taremi broke free of Maguire’s hesitation to sneak in and smash the ball past Jordan Pickford.

In the 71st minute, Rashford came on as a substitute and coolly scored his first goal at a major tournament to restore England’s four-goal lead. Grealish was able to score late on as he came home thanks to the selfless work of fellow substitute Callum Wilson.

When Sardar Azmoun raced through in the final minute to give Iran another consolation, Pickford made a fingertip save to turn his effort over the bar. Iran was granted a late punishment after a VAR check for a foul on Morteza Pouraliganji, notwithstanding, and Taremi opened home to bring back some pride for Iran.

Also Read: FIFA President Slams European ‘Hypocrites’ over Qatar Criticism

Matter Energy Introduces the First E-bike with a Manual Gearbox

Aditya Saikrishna

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November 21, 2022

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Matter Energy Introduces the First E-bike with a Manual Gearbox

INDIA: Matter Energy’s first electric bike has been unveiled, and it features several firsts for electric bikes, including ABS and a 4-speed transmission. It also stands out for having the first liquid-cooled engine in India.

Matter Energy has installed a liquid-cooled 10.5 kW (14 PS) motor and a four-speed manual gearbox with a clutch on its e-bike with the matter Drive 1.0 system.

The Matter Energy electric bike’s throttle response and torque vary similarly to a conventional bike. The Matter e-bike has a transparent cover on the motor that lets you see the engine in action, similar to high-end race bikes where you can see the dry clutch.

The electric bike is said to have 520Nm of torque at the wheel. The Matter Energy’s electric bike is a feature-rich vehicle with a 7.0-inch touch-compatible LCD that includes turn-by-turn navigation, notification alerts, and music playing that are all controlled by buttons on the switchgear mounted on the handlebar.

The bike’s software will also be able to receive OTA (Over the Air) upgrades to keep up with the most recent features. For keyless operation, the Matter Energy electric bike comes with a key fob.

The Matter e-bike has a charging port and an internal charger in a 5-liter glovebox on the tank. Users will be able to access a lot of data, including riding metrics, charging progress, and theft detection, through proprietary software that is compatible with the bike.

Matter Energy’s first e-bike, which could debut in January 2023 and appear to be close to production-ready, is expected to start shipping in April 2023. Matter intends to expand its current network of 50 dealer partners to 200 by the end of 2022.

Matter Energy is an integrated energy company with technology roots that is based in Ahmedabad and is a subsidiary of Matter. The company claims to utilize technology to solve India’s most pressing issues with energy storage and management.

Also Read: Secunderabad EV-bike Showroom Catches Fire: 8 Killed, 4 Injured

TVS Apache RR310: Race-spec Bike Sets New Record at Chang International Circuit

Asia

Aditya Saikrishna

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November 21, 2022

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TVS Apache RR310: Race-spec Bike Sets New Record at Chang International Circuit

INDIA: The TVS OMC RR310 race bike set the new record for the fastest lap around Chang International Circuit. The bike is an evolution of the road-spec Apache RR310. It was used by all racers in the inaugural edition of the TVS Asia One Make Championship.

The race bike was able to achieve a remarkable top speed of 211.3 km/h, which was 9 km/h faster than the bike’s previous record for a 310cc bike. TVS became the first Indian manufacturer to do so on a worldwide scale by hosting the first Asia One Championship, putting it on the map of international motorsports.

The record-breaking run was made possible by the significant modifications that were made to the bike. In addition to adjusting the bike’s suspension and engine braking characteristics, modifications to the internal engine proved critical in the bike’s performance.

Additionally, the bike was able to achieve its best lap time of 1:50.850 at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand thanks to the aforementioned top speed.

Vorapong Malahuan dominated the riders in the the company’s Asia One Make Championship, winning the overall title by winning both races in the competition’s final round. Watcharin Tubtimon and Decky Tiarno Aldy came in second and third place, respectively.

The company announced the One Make Championship on the 21st of April earlier this year. The championship’s target is to help find and develop young racing talent across Southeast Asia.

Along with the Asia Road Racing Championship, the TVS Asia One Make Championship competed in four nations. Following the ARRC season, the championship raced on four tracks in Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, and Thailand.

The championship featured sixteen riders, all of who used the same race-prepared TVS Apache RR310. TVS selected the riders for the championship during the first test on April 27 at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.

Also Read: iGo Core Extreme 3.0: An E-bike That Can Conquer Almost All Terrains

Abu Dhabi GP: Max Verstappen Ends Record-breaking Season with 15th Victory

World

Aditya Saikrishna

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November 21, 2022

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Abu Dhabi GP: Max Verstappen Ends Record-breaking Season with 15th Victory

ABU DHABI: Max Verstappen lined up ahead of teammate Sergio Perez on the grid for the Abu Dhabi GP to help his teammate clinch P2 in the drivers’ championship.

However, Max Verstappen was unable to assist Perez in defeating Charles Leclerc after Red Bull put the Mexican on a two-stop strategy. Sergio Perez was unable to close the gap between himself and Leclerc, finishing agonisingly close behind the Monegasque.

At the Yas Marina Circuit, all eyes were on Red Bull following the Brazil team orders controversy. Max Verstappen was the centre of attention about how he would help his teammate.

Once the Abu Dhabi GP started, Max Verstappen sped off into the distance, followed by Perez who started second.

Perez was initially ahead of Leclerc after the first round of pitstops. He pitted again in the middle stages of the race in an attempt to have fresher tyres towards the end.

Once Perez had pitted again, Ferrari switched their driver to a one-stop strategy, and Charles Leclerc managed his tyres beautifully to survive a late charge from Sergio Perez.

With both drivers heading into the Abu Dhabi GP on points amount of points, the race result determined their final positions in the drivers’ standings.

Max Verstappen won for the 15th time this season, setting the new record for most wins in a single season.

Leclerc finished 2nd to claim P2 in the standings, ahead of Sergio Perez who finished third best.

On lap 1 of the race, Leclerc tried to pass Perez as the two Red Bulls took off, but he was unable to do so. That put him in Lewis Hamilton’s crosshairs, who in turn was pounced upon by Carlos Sainz.

The Spaniard braked late into turn 6 which ended up with Hamilton running over the curbs.

As a result, Hamilton had to cut the corner and then relinquish his position to Carlos Sainz. However, in the next lap, he immediately overtook the Ferrari with DRS assistance. Hamilton was chasing down Leclerc and with George Russell getting closer to Sainz, the Spaniard struggled to maintain his pace.

A few laps Sainz overtook Hamilton who seemed to have some damage after the lap 1 incident. Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Russell followed him through a few corners after Mercedes told them they were “free to race.” Hamilton lamented that he was “losing power.”

Leclerc began to drop behind as the Red Bulls went 1-2 with Verstappen making a significant gap ahead of Perez as the grid settled down after the initial exhilaration at the Abu Dhabi GP.

Lewis Hamilton was put on a one-stop strategy by Mercedes, but the 7-time world champion suffered from hydraulic issues and retired from the race three laps before the end. As a result, Mercedes only had Russell in fifth place.

Lando Norris moved up to P6 for McLaren thanks to Hamilton’s retirement. Esteban Ocon moved up to P7 for Alpine, which finished fourth in the constructors’ standings even though Fernando Alonso had to retire from his final race for Alpine.

Eighth place went to Lance Stroll thanks to his two-stop strategy. With his one-stop strategy, Daniel Ricciardo finished ninth, just six tenths ahead of retiring Sebastian Vettel, who couldn’t get past the McLaren and took one point to leave Aston Martin level with Alfa Romeo but behind Sauber in the standings.

Yuki Tsunoda made a futile attempt to finish the race on soft tyres for the final stint. He finished 11th and out of points. On the other hand, Alex Albon had a good start and finished in P12, ahead of Zhou Guanyu and Pierre Gasly, who started the race on softs.

Mick Schumacher finished 16th in his final Haas race after receiving a five-second penalty for colliding with Nicholas Latifi, who later retired from his last race for Williams. Valtteri Bottas finished 15th. Kevin Magnussen finished 17th after he couldn’t make his one-stop strategy work.

As the 2022 season of Formula 1 concluded in Abu Dhabi, Verstappen, Leclerc, Perez, and Vettel topped off Sunday’s race with some celebratory donuts.

Emotions were high as Sebastian Vettel, the four-time Formula 1 World Champion, bid goodbye to the sport with grace.

Also Read: F1 Academy Launched by Formula 1: All-women Racing Series Will Debut in 2023

Abu Dhabi GP Qualy: Sebastian Vettel Shines as Max Verstappen Grabs Pole Position

World

Aditya Saikrishna

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November 19, 2022

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Abu Dhabi GP Qualy: Sebastian Vettel Shines as Max Verstappen Grabs Pole Position

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Sebastian Vettel showcased his vintage form in the qualifying session for the Abu Dhabi GP, as Max Verstappen beat his Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, to claim his seventh pole position of the 2022 season.

The World Champion, who claims he will do everything in his power to assist Perez in claiming second place in the Drivers’ standings ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, secured his third pole position in a row for the Abu Dhabi GP.

Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time for the first sector on his final run but finished fifth, behind Leclerc and Carlos Sainz of Ferrari.

Max Verstappen set the benchmark early, ahead of his teammate, Perez. Verstappen asked for a check of his headrest because he thought it might be loose. As a result, he took a brief break in the pits.

As the final stages of Q1 for the Abu Dhabi GP approached, Sebastian Vettel needed to improve to avoid exiting his final qualifying session before retirement, along with Valtteri Bottas, another prominent name in the bottom five.

Bottas was out of the session after he could not get his tires up to temperature. On the other hand, Sebastian Vettel dished out a stellar effort, improving superbly to finish fifth despite navigating through traffic near the end of the lap.

Williams teammates Latifi and Alex Albon, Brazil sprint pole sitter Kevin Magnussen (Haas), and Pierre Gasly failed to make it out of Q1 along with Bottas. His last Saturday with AlphaTauri ended in disappointment.

Hamilton complained that his brake was “still a problem” after setting the first laps of the Q2 session. Once more, it was the Red Bull duo at the top of the timing sheets, with Perez well ahead of Verstappen by over four-tenths of a second.

Lando Norris put his McLaren in fourth, splitting the Ferraris and finishing ahead of both Mercedes drivers. In contrast, his teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, who had appeared to be a strong Q3 candidate up until that point, struggled in his timed laps and barely managed to scrape through into Q3.

Sebastian Vettel made it to Q3 with another stunning lap, but he was furious about being repeatedly held up by Red Bull, the team that provided him with his four World Championship-winning cars.

On the final runs, Leclerc moved up to second ahead of his teammate Carlos Sainz before Verstappen went even faster than his earlier lap and claimed the pole position for the Abu Dhabi GP. His teammate Sergio Perez finished behind him to make it all Red Bull front row lockout.

The Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz latched onto third and fourth spots on the grid. The British duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell came in fifth and sixth, respectively.

The Abu Dhabi GP will be the 299th and last race for Sebastian Vettel who announced his retirement from the sport.

Also Read: Sao Paulo GP: George Russell’s Maiden F1 Victory Ends Mercedes’ Winless Streak