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dilemmaontwolegs · 4 months

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Not A Verstappen: A New World {10}

Pairing: Charles Leclerc x fem!driver!reader x Lando Norris Summary: The heat of Qatar packs a punch and causes drama but nothing like what happens when the race ends. Warnings: 18+ only, nsfw, reader illness WC: 2k F1 Masterlist NAV: Sibling Rivalry One || Two || Three NAV: Gridlocked One || Two || Three || Four || Five || Six || Seven || Eight || Nine NAV: A New World One || Two || Three || Four || Five || Six || Seven || Eight || Nine || Ten NAV: Lights Out One

Round Eighteen - Qatar GP

“Goddamn this place is hot. I’m sweating my tits off.”

“Are you?” Lando chuckled. “‘cause they still look good to me.”

You rolled your eyes at his flirty wink and continued to try to fan yourself as you scanned your pass at the entrance. “Fuck, this has to be some crime, it’s inhumane to make us race in this heat. How the hell are you wearing a hoodie?”

“It’s comfortable.”

You couldn’t even fathom a response as you stared at Charles, but he just shrugged with a smile and said, “He’ll take it off for the ice bath.”

Your enthusiasm perked at the idea of both a shirtless Lando and submerging into the cold water. Except you knew you would be in your own motorhome where your ice bath was prepped, not able to enjoy the view in McLaren or Ferrari.

“Are you going to be okay in there, mon amour?” Charles asked as they stopped outside your destination. Neither of your boyfriends were happy with leaving you alone, but you hadn’t heard a thing from Lance all week and assumed his father was to thank for that. His son had been absolutely slated online after the video went viral, now he kept a low profile.

“I can handle the big baby,” you said with a nod, cursing the laws that stopped you from kissing them both. “Go, before I get us arrested.”

Lando’s lip curved up into a smirk. “Didn’t we give you enough attention this morning to last a few hours?”

“Non, mon cher,” Charles laughed. “Our sweet will never have enough.”

You hated how your blood began to rush faster from a few whispered words, and they continued to tease you as they went on their way.

“Remember to hydrate, Spitfire.”

You pressed the button on your steering console and nearly gagged as warm water filled your mouth. It was an effort to swallow but you forced the liquid down knowing you were losing much more from your body through sweat. Your suit was drenched and your eyes stung when even the balaclava couldn’t keep your forehead dry and the sweat ran into your eyes.

“I’m having words with Russell after the race, we can’t drive like this,” you complained again.

“I’m sure he will have a few drivers with the same issue. Sargeant is retiring from the race.”

You lapped the Williams car as it limped slowly into the pits but you couldn’t spare a thought for the rookie as your vision started to blur again. Shaking your head violently, you recovered your focus in time for turn one and throttled through it. Another lap down, too many more to go.

Your head was hazy, and your sight wasn’t much better. You were fairly sure it was muscle memory that kept the car on the track as you didn’t really remember the last few laps after your water ran dry. In all honesty you may not have realised the race was over if it wasn’t for Charles slowing down ahead of you. For a moment you thought you were gaining on him but you weren’t that lucky.

“What were the results?” you panted as you followed Charles on the warm down lap, running over the marbling and ignoring the system settings you didn’t have the energy to enter.

“Verstappen, Piastri, Norris, Russell, Leclerc, you. Nice job.”

“And Stroll?” The lap seemed to be going on forever as you took each turn at a snail's pace. You were hot and itching to get out of the seat that was most definitely burning your asscheeks.

“P11.”

You pulled into the pits and the engine stalled as you failed to disengage it properly. The failsafes clicked in and you fumbled for the harness as the need for fresh air almost suffocated you. Your mouth was too dry and the taste of metal coated your tongue. You didn’t even have the strength to climb over the halo and just slid down to the asphalt.

It took every ounce of will power to stand upright with the intention of making your way to Charles. But, as soon as you were upright it was as if all the blood drained from your brain and it was too heavy to hold up. You tried to take a step towards the ambulances that had arrived but when your foot lifted, the world tipped into darkness.

Lando searched the crowd as he stepped out onto the podium and waved proudly at his third podium in three races. He had seen Charles before being sequestered to the cool down room but hadn’t caught sight of you. Now he couldn’t find either as he scanned his team's area.

“Can you see them?” he asked Max beside him.

“No, but I saw Charles heading to her car before we left. Relax, she’s probably just chosen an ice bath over you.”

Lando snickered. “I won’t take it personally, I’m fucking cooking here.”

It was Jon who pulled him aside the instant his shoes hit the bottom step at the back of the podium. Lando knew something was wrong the moment he saw the worry etched on his PT’s face. “Max, you should come too,” Jon stated, his hand wringing together. “It’s your sister.”

Jon quickly recounted how you had collapsed from exhaustion trying to get to the ambulance in parc ferme. Charles had reached you first and then they had taken you straight to the medical centre, which was where Lando and Max were racing towards.

The medical centre was busier than either man had ever seen it and they passed Ocon and Sargeant looking a little worse for wear. Both looked up from their narrow cots in a curtained area but it was Logan who pointed to the door to a more private space.

“She’s in there,” he said softly. “They’re about to transfer her to the hospital. Sorry. Thin walls.”

“Appreciate it,” Lando nodded, skipping to catch up to Max as he pushed the door wide open.

“Zusje…”

Lando froze as he saw Charles sitting beside you, his hand holding yours carefully to avoid the IV that was pumping fluids back into you. Your race suit had been cut away and cooling blankets enveloped you as they worked to bring your core temperature back down into the safe range.

“I thought she fainted?” Lando murmured as he stepped closer and into the space Charles made between his legs, laws be damned. He placed his hand over yours, lacing his fingers between Charles as he sat on his knee.

“Her blood sugar was way down,” Charles said, his voice struggling to remain steady as he pointed to one of the bags connected to the IV. “Severe dehydration, hyperthermia. They are sending her to the hospital for monitoring, just waiting for the helicopter to arrive.”

“A helicopter,” Max frowned. “That’s not normal, right?”

“No,” Charles whispered before swallowing deeply and holding Lando tighter. “There’s something else that showed up in her blood test, mon cher.”

Lando twisted to see Charles as his voice broke. “What?”

Max circled the bed and reached for the papers that were still hanging from the machine that had since been turned off. “She’s pregnant too?”

Charles looked down and nodded, Lando’s spine stiffening at the news before he stood up and snatched the pictures from Max’s hands. His empty hands balled into fists and it was only your body in the bed that kept him from jumping over and tackling your boyfriends to the ground. “Which one of you klootzakken knocked her up?”

“It was an accident,” Charles said as he rose to his feet and wrapped his arms around Lando’s waist. “The doctor thinks she’s about 12 weeks along, but he wants the maternity unit at the hospital to check them.”

“She’s been racing,” Lando murmured, still in a state of disbelief. “She could have crashed.”

“She didn’t know,” Max growled under his breath. “How could she not know?”

The doors opened and three heads turned to see the FIA Director walking in, his eyes taking in the scene. “Good, you are all here.”

Max turned his anger to the Director who had clearly been debriefed on the situation. “How could you let her race in her condition? She got randomly tested in Singapore.”

“We test for drugs, Mr Verstappen, not pregnancy. General health check ups fall on the teams, any further questions should be directed to Aston Martin.”

More footsteps came down the hall and a nurse came with the news that the helicopter had arrived. Charles bent down and kissed your forehead, your skin still too hot on his lips. “I’m sorry, mon amour.”

Only family were allowed in the helicopter and there wasn’t enough space for everyone so Max ended up flying while Charles and Lando broke every speed limit on the road to reach the hospital.

“She’s going to hate us,” Lando whispered into the silence that plagued the car. “Fuck, Charles, we’ve ruined her career.”

“Hey, shh, she’s not going to hate us,” he said, taking Lando‘s hand while praying he wasn’t lying.

“Did you see it?” Lando asked, absentmindedly stroking the picture he still held. “A baby, Cha.”

“I didn’t believe them when the blood tests came back,” he said, a small smile tugging at his lips before it dimmed. “I can’t help wishing she was awake to see it.”

“Do you think…do you think it will be okay? The training, and racing…What if it hurt-”

“Don’t, Lando,” Charles cut him off with a shake of his head. “Don’t think like that, mon cher. Put your brave face on, for her. We’re here.”

Charles' hand slipped from Lando’s as they got out and it was a reflex to reach for each other when they met at the front of the car, except they couldn’t. Not there, not in public. The most they could allow was their shoulders to brush as they stormed inside the hospital and followed the signs to Maternity.

A dull thumping whomped around your head as you came back to consciousness and it took a while to realise the sound wasn’t inside your brain but from the helicopter you were a passenger in. Straps held you down on the gurney and you struggled against them before a hand gripped yours.

“You’re alright, zusje, calm down,” Max said through the headset that matched yours.

You looked around confused about how you had ended up in the back of a helicopter but it was the lack of two other people that worried you most. “Where’s Charles and Lando?”

“Don’t worry about those assholes, they’ll meet us at the hospital.”

You blanched at the acerbic tone and watched your brother's jaw clench with rage. A shiver broke across your skin despite still feeling like you were cooking from the inside out. “What happened?”

Max looked away and shook his head, refusing to explain further as the chopper started to descend. Mad at him, and mad in general, you pulled your hand away and found the buckle, unclipping yourself and reaching for the IV next.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

“I’m fine, Max, it’s just a little heatstroke.”

The nurse travelling with you had the same look on her face as what Max vocalised but she was more calm when she spoke. “You almost went into cardiac arrest, ma’am, and you are still at risk so please lay back on the cooling pads. We only want what’s best for you and the baby.”

Max winced and dropped his head into his hands. “Fuck.”

You blinked. Then blinked again. Maybe you did have more than just a little bit of heatstroke because you were obviously delirious. With a laugh you fell back into the cold blankets. “Crazy,” you mumbled as the buckle was refastened across your chest. “Could’ve sworn she said baby.”

Click here for the next part NAV: Lights Out .

#charles leclerc fanfic #lando norris fanfic #charles leclerc x reader #lando norris x reader #charles leclerc imagine #lando norris imagine #f1 fanfic #f1 imagine #formula 1 fanfic #formula one imagine #f1 x reader #tw: pregnancy

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pickingupmymercedes · 10 days

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Let's get out of here - Lewis Hamilton

Part 2 to Get me out of here

pairing: Lewis Hamilton x Reader!

warnings: Angst, Lewis to Ferrari, Toto being an ass.

wordcount: +2k

a/n: Another gp weekend, another angsty. Again, thanks for the anon that sent the request in the first place.

As always, I'm open for feedback, come say hi!

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Weeks morphed into a tense purgatory. Contact with Toto was reduced to terse, impersonal emails about meetings and business matters, each one a fresh stab of betrayal. Inside, you were a battlefield. The dream job you'd meticulously carved out felt poisoned. Disappearing into thin air held a morbid allure, but the media frenzy that followed every fleeting glimpse of you in London mocked that escape route. The rumor mill churned like a deranged engine, fueled by your forced seclusion.

Lewis, ever the optimist, became a whirlwind of distractions. Romantic getaways felt like empty gestures, movie nights a pale imitation of your usual comfortable silences. He understood, his unwavering gaze holding a silent question you couldn't answer. He knew you bore the weight of the accusation, a shield for someone who didn't deserve it.

The first Grand Prix in Qatar became a crucible. Fans, poisoned by internet speculation, mobbed you outside the circuit, their questions laced with accusation. You forced a pained smile, the words of denial a lump in your throat.

The harassment continued inside the hallowed grounds of the garage. A senior Mercedes director, his face a mask of grim disapproval, cornered you. "Why?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth. "Why betray the team like that?"

"It wasn't me," you blurted, the denial instinctive. But the truth, a tangled web, wouldn't unravel without ensnaring Toto. Seeing your hesitation, the director scoffed, leaving you mid-sentence with a dismissive shake of his head.

Fury welled within you, choked back by the ever-present weight of your secret. Lewis, having witnessed the exchange, rushed to your side, his face a mask of thunder. He didn't waste time confronting the dismissive director. Instead, he grabbed your arm gently but firmly, his grip conveying a silent message of support.

"Come on," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Let's get out of here."

Without another word, he led you away from the accusatory stares and hushed whispers that seemed to cling to you like a second skin. You found yourselves in the familiar haven of his driver's room, the door shutting out the noise and tension of the garage.

Lewis turned to you, his eyes burning with a mix of anger and concern. He reached out, cupping your face in his warm hands. "Y/n" he began, his voice thick with emotion, "we can't keep doing this. You can't keep taking the blame for something that isn't your fault."

Tears welled up in your eyes, threatening to spill over. You leaned into his touch, finding solace in his unwavering belief.

"I know," you choked out, your voice strained. "But what else can I do? If I expose Toto, it will tear the team apart."

Lewis sighed, his frustration evident. "He shouldn't have put you in this position in the first place. This whole thing is unfair to you. You deserve better."

He looked at you intensely, his eyes searching yours. "There has to be another way" he said, his voice firm. "We just need to find it."

You clung to that sliver of hope. Lewis was right. There had to be a way out of this labyrinth of lies and betrayal. But what was it? You felt lost, adrift in a sea of uncertainty.

Noticing your despair, Lewis softened his tone. "Let's not make any rash decisions right now" his voice gentle. "We'll figure this out, together. You're not going through this alone."

A single tear escaped your eye and traced a warm path down your cheek. You nodded, a silent thank you for his unwavering support. Lewis was right. You weren't alone. And somewhere, buried beneath the fear and anger, a flicker of determination ignited. You wouldn't let this break you.

The following days were a whirlwind of forced smiles and practiced indifference. The media camped outside your hotel, their cameras flashing like hungry eyes in the night. Evenings were spent with Lewis, his presence a comfort, but the unspoken question in his eyes gnawed at your conscience.

Two weeks later, the Australian Grand Prix loomed. The oppressive Melbourne heat felt almost suffocating compared to the media storm that had followed you all the way from Qatar. Every interaction felt laced with suspicion, every headline a fresh jab of accusation.

You knew you couldn't keep going like this. The anger towards Toto simmered beneath the surface, a constant reminder of his betrayal. But the thought of exposing him, of fracturing the team that felt like a second family, was equally agonizing.

Lewis, ever the pillar of support, sensed your internal turmoil. "You can't stay silent forever." he kept saying to you, his brow always furrowed in concern.

His words rang true. You couldn't. But confronting Toto directly felt like a declaration of war.

“I know, but simply denying won’t do it” you’d tell him over and over.

A desperate idea flickered to life on the media sessions of Thursday. Susie. Maybe, just maybe, she could be the bridge you needed.

Ignoring the knot of apprehension in your stomach, unknowingly to Lewis, you made your way to her hotel room. Surprised but welcoming, she ushered you in. With a shaky breath, you poured out your heart, the accusations and the weight of the lie that threatened to crush you.

"I can't do this anymore, Susie," you finished, your voice tight with emotion. "I can't keep taking the blame for something I didn't do. Something has to change."

Susie listened intently, her face a mask of understanding. She'd seen the relentless media reports, the accusatory whispers that swirled around you. You weren't the first woman in Formula One to be unfairly targeted, and Susie knew that sting all too well.

"I can only imagine how hard this has been for you" she said softly, placing a comforting hand on yours. "Being a woman in this sport, you learn to navigate a constant storm of doubt. But this…" she trailed off, shaking her head.

A sliver of hope flickered in your chest. Maybe she could reason with Toto, maybe she could make him understand the damage he'd caused.

"Can you talk to him?" you pleaded. "Make him see what he's doing? I can't stay if this continues."

Susie's gaze softened, filled with empathy but also a flicker of helplessness. "I wish it were that simple, love" she said. "You know Toto. He's stubborn, fiercely loyal to Mercedes. Interfering in something like this… it wouldn't be helpful."

Disappointment washed over you, heavy and cold. You had clung to a fragile hope, only to have it dashed.

Susie squeezed your hand. "This isn't over" she said firmly. "We'll figure something out. But you can't leave Mercedes out of impulse. You've built a career here, a reputation. Leaving now, under these circumstances, might just play into the narrative everyone's already creating."

Her words were a bitter pill to swallow, but they held a truth you couldn't deny. You couldn't let the rumors win, not completely. But staying meant navigating a minefield, waiting for the right opportunity to clear your name.

You tried clinging to a semblance of normalcy within the familiar routine of practice sessions and driver briefings the following days. Lewis tried to keep the outside world at bay, but the tension crackled in the air between you.

On Sunday morning, just as dawn was painting the sky with streaks of pink and orange, Lewis woke you with a frantic shake. "Babe, there's something in the news" he said, his voice hoarse from sleep.

He fumbled with his phone; his brow furrowed as he scanned the article. You sat up, dread settling in your stomach like a lead weight.

"A source close to Mercedes " Lewis started, his voice catching, "came forward to a British newspaper." He took a deep breath before continuing, "The leak… it was Toto."

The anger flared, hot and sharp. "Do you want to call him?" Lewis offered, his hand hovering over his phone, but you stopped him.

A strangled gasp escaped your lips. Relief, anger, and disbelief warred within you. The truth, finally, but at what cost?

"They say he didn't intend for you to take the blame," Lewis continued, his voice low and grim. "But he didn't exactly try to correct it either."

"No" your voice surprisingly steady. "Not now. Let him stew in his mess for a while."

The race that day was a chaotic spectacle. Both Mercedes cars, Lewis' included, DNFed. The silence that descended on the pit wall was deafening, broken only by the crackle of engineers scrambling for answers. You watched it all unfold with a detached numbness. The disappointment and the bewilderment of the entire team, felt like distant echoes compared to the storm raging within you.

News of Toto's betrayal had sent shockwaves through the paddock. Reporters swarmed the Mercedes hospitality area, a feeding frenzy of speculation and accusations. The team, caught completely off guard, retreated behind a wall of stoic silence.

As the post-race celebrations erupted for the other teams, you found yourself isolated. The jubilant atmosphere felt mocking, a stark contrast to the turmoil within you. The media, starved of official statements, descended on you like a swarm of angry hornets.

"Did you already know it had been Toto?” one reporter shouted, shoving a microphone in your face.

"Do you believe he should face repercussions?" another chimed in, his voice laced with a hostile edge.

You held their gaze, your voice surprisingly steady despite the tremor in your hands. "I have no comment on Mr. Wolff's actions," you said, your words ringing with a newfound resolve. "But, I'm here to stay. My future in Formula One is mine to write."

The words hung heavy in the air, a challenge and a declaration. You wouldn't be a victim. You wouldn't let Toto, or anyone else, control your narrative. A strange mix of emotions churned within you – relief, anger, and a simmering resentment that threatened to boil over. You knew you couldn't let it fester. You needed closure, not just for yourself, but for your future.

With a steely resolve, you knocked at Toto's open door, the familiar space now tainted by a sense of betrayal. He looked up, surprise flickering across his face before morphing into a mask of guarded indifference, although his jaw remained clenched. The silence stretched, thick and suffocating.

"Why, Toto?" You finally asked, your voice laced with a quiet fury. "Why did you throw me under the bus?"

He sighed, a flicker of regret crossing his eyes for a fleeting moment. "It was never meant to be you," he mumbled, more to himself than to you.

"But it was," you shot back, your voice rising slightly. "The media frenzy, the accusations, the looks in the paddock… it was all me, taking the blame for your mistake."

Shame flickered across Toto's face, quickly replaced by a defensiveness that grated on your nerves. "It was a calculated risk," he said, his voice regaining its usual authority. "A risk that ultimately backfired."

"A risk that nearly destroyed my career," you corrected him, your voice firm. "Do you have any idea what these past weeks have been like?"

"I deserve the truth, Toto," you continued "Why did you do it?"

He hesitated, then spoke, his voice low, his eyes unable to meet your gaze. "There were… external pressures. Sponsors, the board… they were unhappy with the results, and then losing Lewis. We needed a scapegoat."

"So, you chose me" you stated.

He remained silent, his shame a palpable presence in the room. You didn't need his answer. It was clear. You had been expendable, a pawn sacrificed in the high-stakes game of F1.

Taking a deep breath, you forced down the pain. There was no point in a screaming match. You needed a clean break, a chance to rebuild your career on your own terms, your time at Mercedes was over. The betrayal had severed the trust, leaving behind a cliff that no apology could bridge.

"Consider this my resignation." you said, your voice ringing with finality. "I won't be a pawn in your games."

His eyes widened in surprise, but there was something else there too – a grudging respect, perhaps, for your strength.

"You're making a mistake," he said, his voice softer now.

You shook your head. "No. I'm finally making the right decision."

You turned to leave, the weight of the past weeks lifting from your shoulders with each step. There would be challenges ahead, the uncertainty of finding a new team, the whispers that would likely follow you. But you were free. Free from the stifling loyalty to someone that didn't value you.

Later that evening, back at the hotel, you finally found Lewis in a tense silence. The weight of the day, the double-edged sword of vindication and betrayal, pressed down on you both. You offered him a tired smile. "There's a lot to unpack," you said, your voice raspy.

He pulled you into a tight embrace, his warmth a comforting presence. You leaned into him, the familiar scent of his cologne grounding you. In that moment, surrounded by the chaos, Lewis' unwavering support was the only thing that felt certain.

Realization dawned on Lewis' face. "You think Susie had something to do with it."

Taking a deep breath, you started "A couple of days ago, I talked to Susie."

Lewis listened intently, surprised by what you had just said "I thought maybe, just maybe, she could talk to Toto, reason with him."

You shrugged, a hint of a sly smile playing on your lips. "Maybe. I don't know for sure. But one thing's clear," you met Lewis' gaze, your eyes filled with newfound resolve, "Being at Mercedes today felt tainted.” You breathed out “I resigned. It’s time for me to find my own home."

Lewis' face softened, a proud smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He squeezed your hand. "Wherever you go," he said, his voice filled with unwavering support, "I'll be with you."

You looked at him, his gaze a promise and a comfort. You smiled, a genuine one this time. You would rebuild your reputation, stronger and more resilient than before. The leak might have been Toto's fault, but your comeback, that would be a story entirely of your own making.

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petit-papillion · 7 months

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2023 Qatar GP Post-Race Interviews

18 drivers (not counting SAI and HAM). 1 so ill he could not finish the race (SAR), 1 taken to medical center and excused from media duties (ALB), another to medical center after almost passing out after getting out of the car (STR). 3 to podium ceremony/cooldown room. The remaining 12 drivers all had to lay down on the floor and seriously cool down, before finally making it to the media pen (although 1 had to leave to cool off more after answering only 2 questions (HUL)).

Here are some of the comments made by the drivers:

"By far the most physical race I've ever experienced. I felt close to fainting in that race. I've never experienced anything like it before. I had to ask my engineer to give me encouragement just to try to take my mind away from it. I do a lot of heat training in the sauna and so you push your body to the limit and sometimes you just need to get out of that sauna. And that's sort of how I felt from about lap 20. I opened my visor for the whole race and it was hot air, but it was better than no air. It was brutal. I was so sick in the car. I wasn't physically, I wasn't sick, but I felt ill."

- George Russell

"I was feeling ill, lap 15, 16, I was throwing up for two laps inside the cockpit. And then I was like, ‘Shit, that’s going to be a long race.' (...) It was just like 80C inside the cockpit this race. I don’t think we probably do the best job in terms of not keeping the heat in the back, but dissipating it inside the cockpit where the driver drives, and I think that was probably the reason today why we felt so bad."

- Esteban Ocon

"Especially with the g-forces, when you have a lot of dehydration, you can drink but the drink is more of a tea than anything else because it’s at 60C-plus, so it’s extremely difficult to hydrate yourself and again with the g-forces, you don’t see as well. The track limits we’re speaking about are [the difference between just] centimetres at 280km/h; in qualifying when we’re fresh it’s difficult to respect them, but then at the end of the race it’s a nightmare."

- Charles Leclerc

"You don't want to be passing out when you're driving at 200mph down the straight. And that's how I felt at times. Any hotter, I think I'd have retired because my body was going to give up."

- George Russell

"Extremely hot. Even from the beginning, I put my helmet on before the start of the race and I was sweating. It definitely didn't get any better once I was driving! Very hot."

- Oscar Piastri

"I asked my team on the radio if they would tip water over me in a pit-stop, but it was not allowed. My seat was burning hot and felt my right side was burnt by this heat. We have to think for the future -- maximum temperatures or maximum humidity... In football, they have water breaks, but we can’t have that, can we?"

- Fernando Alonso

"It's ridiculous. These temperatures -- everything goes blurry. The last 25-30 laps it's just blurry in the high-speed corners. Blood pressure dropping, just passing out, basically, in the high-speed corners with high loaded G-forces. The kerbs are now painted because they're worried about punctures. I couldn't see where I was going because I was passing out. I was fading in and out. The temperature was too much."

- Lance Stroll

"The feeling is like torture. I would say it was harder than Singapore. Just because the temperature in the cockpit started to be almost too much, I think it's getting to the limit and someone is going to have a heat stroke."

- Valtteri Bottas

"It was crazy. I had to consistently open the visor to breathe, actually. It's just too, too hot. Obviously, I don't want to open the visor because sand also comes through the visor and I could feel that sand inside my eyes, but if I close it's insane the amount of heat I felt. I don't know if other helmet manufacturers are the same, but for myself, it was tough, and if you drive behind another car, it's even worse."

- Yuki Tsunoda

"I think some of the guys who are struggling today, they are extremely fit or even fitter than me. Just the whole day, it's like you walk around in a sauna and in the night, the humidity goes up. The races are quite long. But it's not the only place...a few places are like that. Singapore is almost like a two-hour race and it's very, very warm. I think it's also quite on the limit of what should be allowed. So there are a few things to look at, but this was definitely way too hot."

- Max Verstappen

"We're in a closed car that gets extremely hot in a very physical race and it's frustrating.. I guess on TV, it probably doesn't look very physical at all. But clearly, when you have people who end up retiring, or are in such a bad state, it's too much. For the speeds we are doing is it is too dangerous. I know this race is later on in the season [in 2024], it will be a lot cooler a few months later but it’s something that needs to be talked about and I’m sure we’ll speak about it as it shouldn’t have happened in the first place."

- Lando Norris

The 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, everybody.

Sources: The Race, Sky Sports, Fox Sports, ESPN, Sports Illustrated

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maxarchive · 7 months

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2023 L'Équipe Interview, "I'm only here to win"

For the Dutchman, on course to win his third world title in a row this weekend, success does not quell his appetite for victories. If anything, the Red Bull driver appears even more determined to not leave anything to others.

He's funny. No, that's the wrong word, because we don't joke with Max Verstappen. At least when you're not one of his close friends, because with his people, he's apparently funny. So it's interesting, not to say edifying, to recall the first interview he gave to L’Équipe. On his debut with Red Bull in 2016, the Dutchman chatted in this same Singapore paddock, just a few months after his first GP success (Spain). The kid was a young wildcat who attacked, bit, and didn't let go. It was a very constructive experience.

Nine years later, he's on the verge of becoming a triple world champion this weekend in Qatar. His arrogance has been transformed into an icy confidence, and his fiery temperament has mellowed with victory and years of taking criticism. Today, Verstappen conducts his interviews like he drives his Formula 1 car. Without trembling or worrying about his opponent. He lives his life and answers straightforwardly, without giving himself away. He's become unflappable behind the wheel, and just as unflappable when it comes to giving of himself. He does the job to perfection, faultlessly and without spark. He responds quickly and efficiently. It's easy to see how the 18 year old has become an - almost - three time world champion, who knows how to thank his team, and rightly so; who knows how essential consistency is; but above all, who knows how to rely solely on himself to win, the only thing that counts for him. In this, he really hasn't changed.

Q. How are you enjoying the season? Are you as bored as we are? Not at all (he smiles). As far as I'm concerned it's quite the opposite. I'm always excited to come to the track and I'm always 100% motivated. I feel like this is the best thing that could've happened to me. I'm a driver at heart and to be able to win at the wheel of an incredible car is a real opportunity.

Q. But what excites you? The hunt for records or the pleasure of winning? I'm only here to win. Finishing in the top five, you know, that doesn't interest me. So I stay motivated because I know I can win and I love winning. The more wins I can get, the more motivation I'll have.

Q. Do you enjoy all your successes, or do you prefer some of them? For example, do you enjoy starting at the front and taking the lead, or battling and climbing back up the field, as you did at Zandvoort? Well, I like to get out in front and focus on a race that I want to be as clean as possible. At times like these, it's the moment when I can concentrate on my lap times, look after my lap times and preserve my tyres. In short, to do the best I can. But sometimes, if you run into problems or an unforeseen event sets you back, moving up in the rankings and fighting your way back into the lead is very enjoyable too. Except that, in those moments, there's inevitably more risk involved, and when you're fighting for a Championship, that kind of risk spoils the fun a bit.

Q. At Monza, we sensed that you were greedy, following Carlos Sainz and watching out for a fault in his tyres or his driving… They were better in qualifying, but we've got a great car for the race, so I just wanted to know what theirs was like, and when I saw that it was ruining their tires, then I knew.

Q. And then, when you're easily leading a race, what do you think about? About the race, or about dinner or anything else? No, definitely not. I never think about anything other than the race when I'm driving. As I told you, I stay very focused on my lap times, on my car; I want to do the best job I can.

Q. In the past, we'd hear you complaining at your engineer when he asked you to preserve your tyres. Today, you tell us that you're careful. Is that maturity? It's just that it depends on the circumstances. When I was complaining about this way of managing the tyres, it's because I wanted to attack. I had a car to win races, not a championship. So if I saw the window open, I wanted to go for it. And I was aggressive.

Q. Speaking of qualifying, it's an area where you weren't the best when you started out, and you seem to have taken a long time to get good at it. Now, it's one of your strengths. Is this an area you've worked particularly hard on? I've always enjoyed it, but in Formula 1 it's even more complicated than in the lower disciplines. There are a huge number of parameters to manage, in addition to your driving, which has to be on the limit. When I arrived in F1, I only had one year in a single-seater, and that's not much compared with the others. So it may have taken me longer because of that, but now I've got the hang of it. And the team has given me a car that can do it. Because a driver alone can't win pole.

Q. Since the summer, we've been hearing you say that you don't see yourself, like Fernando Alonso or Lewis Hamilton, in F1 until you're 40. Are you saying this because you're afraid of boredom or because you don't have enough rivals? First of all, there are the victories. Doing F1 if I don't win anymore… (he sighs). I could get motivated again by coming back to the front and winning again. That would be motivating. Then there's the quality of life. You can't measure the schedule of an F1 driver. And it doesn't get any better as the years go by. So that's what tells me I'll stop one day.

Q. Do you think that with a real opponent next year, you'll have more fun or, as you keep saying, only victory is beautiful? Obviously, for the team, the challenge is always greater when you have an opponent. If that were the case, it would be like 2021, when every weekend we were very close and didn't know who would win in the end. There, to finish as winners, you had to be very close to perfection.

Q. Do you miss that fight? You know, I loved that season. Just as I loved 2022. If things repeat themselves, that’s the trouble!

Q. So how do you see 2024? Or rather, how do you hope to see it? I don't really care. I mean, I'm ready for anything!

Q. Even to bore us like Michael Schumacher or Hamilton did by dominating everything? You know that some people appreciate domination. If you look at other sports, you'll see that domination can be enjoyable. For me, it's fun to watch and follow because the team or the athlete shows the world that he or she is doing a better job than the the others.

Q. So you liked Hamilton's domination? This is different. I don't like being beaten and neither does my team. But you have to appreciate what he did, his consistency and the work he put in.

Q. Was it important to beat Hamilton on the track like Alonso wanted to do with Schumacher? I'm repeating myself, but the most important thing for me is to win. I want to win and win again. It's not a question of people, and I think it would be a mistake to focus on a driver and make it personal. I don't want to beat one driver, I want to beat them all.

Q. Is consistency what you were lacking? Just putting one thing out seems difficult to do. I've grown as a driver by improving everywhere, but it's true that a great champion is measured over a whole season. You never see them with an off day, and that's what I want to achieve. Of course, you can't be perfect, but what I want is to continue to perform consistently.

Q. And how do you go about achieving this? Experience is essential. And of course, the car. Just as much. That helps a lot.

Q. Since the departure of Daniel Ricciardo (at the end of 2018), none of your team-mates has been able to rise to your level. Do you have an explanation for this? First of all, I think I've improved, that I've become a better driver in all areas. After that, it's hard to find an explanation and, you know, I'm pretty focused on myself. I'm not very interested in what's going on elsewhere or in the garage next door. I just want to go faster.

Q. Sometimes looking at your teammate's telemetry can help… It can happen, but not often. But my work is focused on what I do.

Q. Are you interested in taking part in the search for the next Red Bull driver? Like, for example, having your pal Lando Norris with you?These are just rumors. And then, we have fun talking about it. Like a game. Lando is my friend but it's not my decision to make.

Q. And would you like to contribute to this decision? No (instantly). I wouldn't, even if I could.

Q. For your third title, you could be crowned in the sprint race in Qatar, which would be a first… (He interrupts.) Is it? I hadn't thought of that. Well, there won't be much to celebrate because there's a race on Sunday. And I'm still concentrating on that. Winning a GP is what counts for me. But I don't like to think ahead.

Q. Last question: you're about to join the exclusive club of three-time world champions (Brabham, Stewart, Lauda, Piquet, Senna). Which one do you think is closest to you? I have no idea. I'm Max Verstappen and I'm very happy to be.

Translated via DeepL and Google Translator

#max verstappen #f1 #interview

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freeuselandonorris · 5 months

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omfg your vore fic is life changing. hell yeah to stigmatized weird af kinks ❤️ since you’re so good at character kink psychology, i’ll throw another one in the ring for fun - thoughts on inflation? i’ve never seen it in f1 except one fic that had it i’m pretty sure unintentionally lmao

also congrats on accidentally solving an f1 dilemma: if the drivers vore each other, there are more seats left open for young drivers to join 😅

oh anon!! first, THANK YOU and i’m so glad you liked the vore fic — i was honestly shocked at what a great reception got, but i’m really fucking delighted that people like it. hell yeah INDEED to the stigmatised kink rep! and lmaoooo maybe oscar should let the FIA know about that one too, it would sure solve a lot of problems 🤔

now, inflation! this one was WAY out of my comfort zone and i have done a lot of interesting reading today instead of doing my job! there are so many facets to it and you didn’t specify a preference, so i went with liquid inflation as this scenario came to me pretty naturally — i honestly have no idea if i’ve hit the sweet spot (ahem) with this as i was so unfamiliar with it, but i definitely awoke something in myself writing it lmao. i hope you enjoy :)

sort of one-sided landoscar, but in the context of an established relationship. cw for liquid inflation (eta because i wrote this in a rush: to clarify, it’s fantasy-based, not actual inflation), curve worship, fantasised helplessness (although all fully consensual).

Oscar’s not built like any other driver Lando’s seen.

He’s strong, obviously. Stronger than Lando is, that’s for sure. But he’s also — shaped. He’s got an arse some of the underwear models of Lando’s acquaintance (or, well, former acquaintance) would be jealous of. Little waist, but his belly pushes out against the fabric of his fireproofs. The soft mounds of his tits, firm muscle covered in a light layer of flesh that Lando likes to squeeze.

Oscar’s shy about his body too, in a way Lando finds slightly odd given how they’re all used to being manhandled and grabbed by their physios, engineers, sometimes the fans when the security in the paddock is lacking. Keeps himself covered up in shorts and T-shirts until the very last minute, even when they’re fucking. Averts his eyes from his own body, preferring instead to focus on Lando’s.

It’s not that Oscar hates his body or anything, as far as Lando can tell; he’s just used to seeing it only as an object of function, not something to be desired. Even though Lando thinks he’s gorgeous, could spend hours worshipping every soft and furred camber of his strong thighs and broad chest.

Lando doesn’t know how to tell him that, express how much he loves Oscar’s curves. He tries to show it instead, spends snatched hours between free practice sessions mapping out Oscar’s body with his hands and tongue.

He daydreams about it sometimes, the words he’d use to explain it. That there isn’t enough of Oscar to contain all of the desire Lando wants to stuff him with. That he wants more of Oscar to worship.

It’s something he’s always known about himself, ever since he was a kid. But it’s never been as intense as it is around Oscar. Pale, soft Oscar, all hair and solid heft, his blurred edges and the sweet flush of his skin.

Probably Oscar wouldn’t mind it if Lando admitted it to him. He’s never minded anything else. But this one feels risky, somehow — a raw and vulnerable thing to express.

Still, he wants Oscar to know, somewhere underneath it all; he must do, because he slips up, sometimes. Just in small ways.

It had been bad in Qatar. Lando had been half-delirious anyway, staggered back into the garage after media to see Oscar propped up against the central island in the garage, hungrily sucking water from the long straw of his drinks bottle. Eyes closed in bliss, throat working as he swallowed, swallowed, swallowed.

His racesuit hung limp from his hips. Above it, Oscar’s swollen belly curved from the fabric, full and distended. Feverish, Lando told himself he could see the stretch of it, the skin taut and bouncy as a drumskin beneath his sweat-soaked fireproofs. His hands had twitched with the effort of not reaching out to check.

“Thirsty?” he’d said, smiling, trying to make a joke of it. Trying to keep his eyes on Oscar’s face and failing, drawn to the curve of his stomach like it was exerting its own gravitational pull. “Careful, you can fuck yourself up if you drink too much water.”

Oscar had slow-blinked at him, like a cat trying to make friends, left the mouthpiece of the straw resting on his bottom lip when he answered. “Kim put electrolytes in it.”

Lando had nodded, swallowed. His own mouth watered in sympathy.

“Keep going, then,” he’d said, and Oscar had smiled, sucked the straw back into his plush mouth and continued to drink.

The memory still does it for Lando, even now, months later.

He could have taken Oscar back to his room, their bodies still salty and aching. Let him curl up on his side on top of the cool sheets of Lando’s bed, let Lando fill his bottle to the brim with cool water and stir in electrolyte powder. Kneel at the side of the bed and feed the nozzle back into his mouth, stroke the damp hair back from his temples, let it curl around his fingers as Oscar sucks and sucks.

His stomach would stretch, round and tight as a ball, one smooth convex curve from ribs to hips. The inward dip of his waist hidden, overwritten by the surge of flesh.

He’d let Lando crawl onto the bed behind him, spoon Oscar’s growing body, one arm tucked beneath his armpit to hold the straw in place. Lando would slip a hand beneath his T-shirt, peeling the fabric back so he could rub soothing circles over the bulging skin. Undo his straining jeans, the zipper sliding down of its own accord from the pressure. Say something like that’s it, Osc, you’re doing so so well. Oscar would press back against him, shuddering, body lax and lush. Moaning when Lando’s hand skims his swollen nipples, cock slipping between the fat globes of his arse. Oscar’s got a nice fat cock too, a plump handful. He’d press it up against Oscar’s belly, tend to him as he lay helpless and swollen, suckling trance-like at the straw still held between his lips.

Here, let me help you with this, Lando would say to the shell of Oscar’s ear, squeezing his cock. It’ll take the pressure off. His big belly pressing Lando’s hand into the bed, barely able to rock his hips into the answering push of Lando’s hand.

He’d come like that, spilling over himself, letting Lando push his soaked fingers into his mouth and swallowing that down too. Part his lips and say more, please, eyes blank and lidded with pleasure. Lie patient and limpid while Lando scrambled off the bed and round, taking out his own cock and pushing it against Oscar’s hungry, suckling tongue, filling him impossibly more.

That’s what tips him over, spilling into the clutch of his own palm: the thought of Oscar swallowing down everything he has to give. His come the final straw, stretching the skin almost to breaking point. Oscar’s eyes closing in bliss, sleepy and sated, unable to move.

Lando keeps his eyes closed for a long time once the aftershocks have subsided, unwilling to let go of the fantasy. Finally opens his eyes, staring at the unfamiliar hotel ceiling. Outside, the dull thump of bass from the party yachts berthed along Yas Marina filters through.

He sighs, struggles to sit up, goes to wash his hands. The room is all meagre angles, cold metal and sharp, mean corners. He curls his hands into fists, feeling the emptiness inside them.

Back in the bedroom, he sits down on the edge of the bed with his phone, tabbing to his message history with Oscar.

How would u feel if i told u about something u might find gross, he sends before he can chicken out.

Oscar replies almost immediately, like he knows Lando’s waiting, nervous. About yourself? Literally nothing could surprise me anymore.

Promise u won’t get mad or tell me im a freak? Lando sends back.

Try me, Oscar replies. Then, immediately after: Well, not unless you want me to, anyway.

Lando smiles, chewing his bottom lip. Come to my room after debrief and i’ll tell u in person.

Oscar heart-reacts the message. He definitely knows Lando needs reassurance; usually he uses the thumbs-up. Lando pockets his phone, stretches the kinks from his back and goes out to the balcony, letting the last vestiges of sun warm his skin. That’s the funny thing about Oscar. Whatever love Lando has to give him, however strange its shape, he’ll always find a way to make it fit.

---

ps even though this ends on a slightly ambiguous note due to its one-sidedness, it does of course take place in my landoscar kink shared universe and so, in case anyone is worried, oscar did indeed react with a shrug and "okay, cool" and fire up "i have an inflation kink, AMA" on reddit :)

#lando norris/oscar piastri #landoscar #mctwinks #answered #prompt fill #ln4 #op81

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loveforlandonorris · 6 months

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🎤 Lando's Sky Sports interview in the media pen before the Mexico GP:

Lando: Mercedes are probably still a little bit quicker than us, whether or not they got disqualified, or whatever, I think they were still a little bit quicker. But for us to be on the podium, I think it's realistic. I think how we've done over the last, what, 2, 3, 4 months, it's realistic.

But there have been – I think we've seen some tough tracks, but we've also seen our better tracks, which, we've had Japan, Qatar, Texas. I think we have a little stretch of maybe some tougher ones and some better ones for our main competitors. But I think where we've been finishing the last few weekends is a fair representation of where we deserve to be.

Interviewer: Are your surprised to see the disqualifications?

Lando: I mean, always, I guess, a little bit surprised. I would have loved if they checked more cars (smiles).

Interviewer: Well, this is the question we're asking: if half of them, half of the ones they checked, if 50% were actually found to be in breach, then should you not check the whole grid?

Lando: (Smiling) Yeah, they should've done. So – I mean, I think the main thing was, you know – actually, I don't wanna say anything. It can always bite you one day, so..

Interviewer: I take it that your car was fine. You can tell us that your car was fine then, can you?

Lando: My car was, they checked mine first. So, no, we were good. It's more teams, I guess, you know? If one team's, one car is, it's unlikely that two cars are that different. So if one car is illegal, then (smiles) a high chance that the other car is. But, yeah, it's the way it went, and the stewards and the FIA did their job, which was a good thing.

Interviewer: Mexico. Round here, how's your car gonna perform this weekend? Any concerns at all? 'Cause there's a lot more to deal with this weekend, as well as the altitude and everything that does to the engine.

Lando: Yeah, I think there's... I mean, it's max downforce, there's quite a few different things for us to understand, and the cooling being one of the biggest ones. Tyres are different to last year, so a lot for us to test. We have the proto tyres as well for us, so I think it's enough time for us to get through everything. But it is a quite – it's a very different layout to the last few races we've been at, so I think it's a different challenge for us.

And like I said, [it's] a track we know maybe it just doesn't suit us quite as well, a lot more slow speed, which is our nemesis. A couple of high – I would say, medium-speed corners, but not as many as Texas and Japan, and so on. So less of our strengths are gonna be shown, which is, again, a tricky one for us. But we weren't too bad here last year, not amazing, but we weren't too bad, and I know we've taken a big step forward. So hopefully this weekend can still be a good one.

#lando norris #landonorris #ln4 #mclaren #mexican gp 2023 #mexico gp #mexico gp 2023 #formula one #formula 1 #f1

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pkjobs · 3 months

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Business Coordinator (Female Filipina) Latest Job In Qatar

JOB CATEGORY Administration POSITION Receptionist YEARS OF EXPERIENCE 5-6 Years GENDER Female SALARY RANGE QAR 2,001 – QAR 5,000 APPLICANT LOCATION In-country Hire Only Business Coordinator/Receptionist Requirements: Responsibilities: · Providing confidential administrative support. · Knowledgeable in Business Coordination services. · Constant Business…

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filmnoirsbian · 1 year

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when you fly for like regular travel (if you ever fly for travel, idk), do you fly on your own airline or do you prefer to stay separate from work? do you ever notice things the flight crew does and think “yikes they screwed that up” or “dang that was super well-handled”? do you ever fly while coworkers you know are on duty? i’m about the way that different people who work in a profession dealing with the general population approach being on the other end of that interaction (e.g: doctors going in as patients, pilots/FA’s flying as regular passengers, etc). i’m an engineer so i don’t really get to have that experience where i get to see what it’s like being a “customer” and interacting with professionals in my own field (other than like basic minimum wage fast food jobs from back in school)

Whenever I fly for travel I try to use my own airline bc it's free for me (other airlines are still at a discount, so for some destinations my own airline doesn't go to, it can be fun to experience how other airlines do things. My favorite was qatar). I do notice things sometimes but usually I just try to enjoy the flight by sleeping, watching something, or writing. Do you sometimes notice when things are or aren't well engineered? Or is yours a different sort of job?

#asks #work stuff

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hiremox · 11 months

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lloydgtn · 1 year

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Jacobs Careers | Jacobs Engineering Jobs - Jacobs Jobs UK-UAE-KSA-Qatar-Kuwait-USA-UK-India: Latest Jacobs Engineering Jobs in UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, USA, UK, India, and Singapore. Apply for Jacobs Engineering job vacancies from the below list which we have updated on our website. Top Organizations Job Opportunity in U.A.E, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, USA, UK, India, Singapore, Malaysia.

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#careers #jobs #usa #dubai #middle east #career #oil #online jobs #saudi #uae

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hosam-30 · 3 hours

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وظائف بنك ابوظبي الاول لجميع الجنسيات بأبوظبي 2024

رواتب عالية

لايشترط خبرة

مزايات مغرية

التفاصيل والتقديم : https://wp.me/pcz2Eb-qEt

#recruitment #وظائف #jobs #recruiting #توظيف #careers #hr #السعودية #job #search #وظائف_الشرقية #وظيفة_شاغرة #التوظيف #وظيفه #وظائف_اليوم #وظائف_الرياض #hunting #توطين #وظائف_إدارية #الرياض #طاقات #saudi #ساعد_تتساعد #riyadh #الموارد_البشرية #بنك_الرياض #جدة #عاجل #الامارات #عمان #هام #humanresources #قطر #خبر #وظائف_السعودية #الدمام #وظائف_عمان #كلمني_عربي #السلطنة #humanresources #وظيفة #اللغة #qatar #oil #work #banque #petroleum #people #الطب #energy #الطيران #amazon #development #الصحة #markets #hotels #accorhotels #hospital #الأبحاث #egypt #airlines #oilandgas #insurance #microsoft #oilgas #university #power #pwc #middleeast #bank #canada #deloitte #medicine #aviation #الطاقة #health #education #التسويق #إدارة #الهندسة #team #investment #engineer #projects #devops #remotework #engineers #azure #design #india #management #digital #opportunities #engineering #culture #china #microservices #infrastructure #agile #java #kubernetes #software #cloud #python #network #experience #linux #docker #bigdata #softwaredevelopment #programming #sql #reference #finance

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officmanager · 1 month

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Hyundai Engineering Construction Jobs UAE-KSA-Qatar-Iraq 2024

https://news4day.com/hyundai-engineering-construction-jobs-uae-ksa-qatar-iraq-2024/

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coherentmarketinsights · 1 month

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The Bio-Chemical Renaissance: Transforming Industries

The Growing Middle East Bio-chemical Market

Emergence of a New Sector The Middle East bio-chemical market has grown significantly over the past decade. With many oil-rich Gulf nations looking to diversify their economies and focus on knowledge-based sectors, substantial investments have been made to develop world-class bio-chemical facilities and research centers in the region. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Israel have emerged as hubs for this important industry. Saudi Arabia has invested billions of dollars to cultivate its domestic bio-chemical industry. In 2017, Saudi Aramco partnered with SABIC to build a large bio-chemical plant in Jubail Industrial City capable of producing various polymers, petrochemical intermediates and fertilizers. The $20 billion project has created thousands of jobs for Saudi nationals and helped establish the Kingdom as a leader in bio-manufacturing. Other Gulf states like Abu Dhabi and Qatar have followed suit, recognizing bio-chemicals as a strategic sector for the future. Driven by Research Excellence What has driven this rapid growth of the Middle East bio-chemical market? A key factor has been significant investments in research and development by both public and private entities. For example, KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) in Saudi Arabia has emerged as a top global research institution for bio-engineering and life sciences. Its research collaborations with international pharmaceutical giants and startups has helped put the Kingdom on the map as a bio-research powerhouse. Israel's strong focus on R&D is another major reason for its success in bio-chemicals. Tel Aviv has become one of the most prolific startup ecosystems globally, with over 1200 life science companies developing innovative solutions ranging from new drug therapies to agricultural biotechnologies. I Israeli universities like the Weizmann Institute and Hebrew University regularly produce world-class research helping the local industry. This has attracted many multi-national corporations to set up advanced R&D centers in Israel. Specialized Clusters Driving Collaboration A defining development has been the emergence of specialized bio-chemical clusters across the region which are driving collaboration between stakeholders. These dedicated innovation hubs bring together government agencies, academia and industry under one roof, fostering synergies. One prominent example is Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, which hosts the International Biomedical Research Center focused on areas such as regenerative medicine and biomanufacturing. Another is the Qatar Science & Technology Park which has over 50 biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies working on projects. Saudi Arabia too is developing specialized clusters like KACST Techno Valley to promote R&D commercialization. These clusters serve as living labs where bench-to-market innovations can be rapidly tested and scaled up. Their open innovation models encourage partnerships between global and local players. As a result, they are attracting more private sector investments into the high growth sectors of agriculture-biotech, pharmaceuticals, biomanufacturing and healthcare. Bolstering Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Nurturing homegrown bio-tech entrepreneurs has emerged as a priority to fully leverage these opportunities. Countries are launching various accelerator programs, incubators, pre-seed funding mechanisms and mentor networks specifically focused on life sciences startups. A successful example is Dubai Science Park's 'In5' incubator which provides laboratory facilities, funding and business support to select seed-stage companies. Another is KBMC (King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Medical City) in Riyadh which operates a bio-entrepreneurship hub assisting Saudi scientists and clinicians to commercialize their innovations.

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