Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo has put a consoling arm around the shoulder of Fernando Alonso in a bid to reassure the Spaniard he remains loved within the team.
Alonso has recently courted praise from Mercedes-GP chairman Dieter Zetsche and motorsport in-charge Toto Wolff, the latter describing him as “a monster” of the track.
Zetsche, meanwhile, claimed Alonso was “probably the best driver on the Formula One grid. He has always proven it, and in uncompetitive cars”.
Ahead of Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix such comments have prompted Alonso to question why he has not received similar support from those around him.
“It’s always welcome when people see your job in a good way and respect what you try to achieve,” said Alonso.
“But it’s sometimes strange to see good comments and compliments from people from the outside, and the opposite from people who are supposed to be close to you.”
In an effort to appease him, Di Montezemolo has hailed Alonso, 32, who won the world title in 2005 and 2006, as “the best driver in the world, who always gives 200 per cent in the races”.
Di Montezemolo said: “He knows how much I count on him, even away from the racetrack, in terms of his contribution and the impetus he gives to the team.
“I think it’s incredible there are still some so-called experts who don’t understand that and are always looking for a polemical situation that simply doesn’t exist.
“The truth is he and (teammate) Kimi (Raikkonen), another incredible driver, need a competitive Ferrari and giving them that is our sole objective.”
Alonso and Ferrari have had a tough start to the season, with the Spaniard only having one podium to his credit this season as he, like the rest of the grid, has struggled against the domination of the Mercedes-GP team.
But he gave himself and Ferrari some cheer yesterday as he topped the times in second practice in Monte Carlo, with a time of one minute, 18.482 seconds to outpace championship leader Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton had been fastest in first practice, but the second session started in wet conditions, before drying out in the final stages, with Alonso setting his lap in the final seconds.
World champion Sebastian Vettel was third quickest in his Red Bull Racing car, with teammate Daniel Ricciardo, who was ninth, encouraged by the Austrian team’s speed.
Of challenging Mercedes, the Australian said: “I think if it is going to be anywhere, this is the place for it.”
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
SPECS
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TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJune%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Alnamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMicrofinance%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFamily%20offices%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%20Profile
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ASIAN%20RUGBY%20CHAMPIONSHIP%202024
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.