UK to broadcast ‘historic’ Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for free

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton during a press conference ahead of Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit on Friday. (Reuters)
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Updated 09 December 2021
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UK to broadcast ‘historic’ Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for free

  • Lewis Hamilton could win his eighth World Championship title this Sunday
  • Hamilton and Verstappen are currently level on points

LONDON: Two of the UK’s biggest broadcasters have reached an agreement to share the rights to show the upcoming Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Sky Sports, which requires viewers to pay a subscription fee, reached the deal with free-to-air Channel 4 just days ahead of Sunday’s race, which has been billed as a “historic” Formula 1 clash that will see two of the sport’s top drivers face off.

Britain’s Lewis Hamilton and Dutchman Max Verstappen, both currently level on points, will battle it out for the World Championship title.

If Hamilton wins, he will claim his eighth world title. Verstappen is aiming for his first.

Stephen van Rooyen, Sky’s EVP and CEO UK & Europe, said: “Sunday’s Grand Prix is one of the biggest sporting events in the last decade, and could be an historic moment for British sport. We’ve chosen to gift the race to the whole country at Christmas through our partnership with Channel 4, so everyone can be part of a huge national moment as Lewis Hamilton goes for a historic eighth World Championship title.

“The brilliant Sky Sports Formula 1 team will give viewers on Channel 4 and Sky Sports the best insight, commentary and analysis of every twist and turn of this eagerly anticipated final race of the season.”


Al-Ahli confirm Asian Champions League Elite progress with emphatic 5-0 win over Al-Shorta

Updated 23 December 2025
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Al-Ahli confirm Asian Champions League Elite progress with emphatic 5-0 win over Al-Shorta

  • Al-Ahli are joined in the next round by Tractor, who claimed ‌a 2-1 win over Qatar’s Al-Duhail ‍through a late goal by ‍Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh
  • The first eight finishers in the league phases in east and west Asia advance to the round of ‌16, which will be played in March, with the quarterfinals, semifinals and final in Saudi Arabia in April

BAGHDAD: Defending champions Al-Ahli cruised to a 5-0 win over Al-Shorta in Baghdad on Monday as the Saudi Pro League side confirmed their progress to the knockout rounds ​of the Asian Champions League Elite alongside Iran’s Tractor FC.

Goals from Roger Ibanez, Ivan Toney, Galeno, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat and Ziyad Al-Johani sealed a comfortable win for Matthias Jaissle’s side, who moved on to 13 points from six matches to guarantee a top-eight finish in the 12-team standings.

“We did well today and we go home with three points,” ‌Ibanez said. “That’s ‌the important part.”

Ibanez gave Al-Ahli the ‌lead ⁠when ​he converted ‌Toney’s cut-back in the 30th minute and the former Brentford striker doubled the lead when he raced onto a pass through the middle by Galeno soon after the restart.

Galeno converted from a tight angle and Al-Shamat and Al-Johani netted in the closing stages as Al-Ahli bounced back from a surprise loss to Sharjah ⁠FC last month.

Al-Ahli are joined in the next round by Tractor, who claimed ‌a 2-1 win over Qatar’s Al-Duhail ‍through a late goal by ‍Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh.

Benjamin Bourigeaud had given Al-Duhail a 35th-minute lead from ‍the penalty spot but Shojae Khalilzadeh levelled the scores and Hosseinzadeh hit the winner two minutes into stoppage time.

Tractor moved on to 14 points and second in the table behind Al-Hilal who recorded ​a sixth consecutive win in the competition with a 1-0 victory over Sharjah in the UAE.

Simone ⁠Inzaghi’s side had already confirmed their place in the next phase and picked up another three points when Malcom struck with nine minutes remaining.

Al-Gharafa kept their qualification hopes alive through a 1-0 win over Al-Wahda from the UAE with Seydou Sano scoring an 87th-minute winner for the Qatari side.

Al-Gharafa climbed to six points and ninth in the table while Al-Wahda, who have qualified, dropped to fourth.

The first eight finishers in the league phases in east and west Asia advance to the round of ‌16, which will be played in March, with the quarteRfinals, semifinals and final in Saudi Arabia in April.