TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 2021 12 Mick Schumacher: ‘I’m finally here’ Thirty years after his father Michael Schumacher made his debut in Formula 1, 22-year-old Mick Schumacher is set to kick off his own career in the top flight, and he is ‘super excited’ to get things going at Bahrain International Circuit this weekend at the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2021 Schumacher to be one• of three F1 drivers who will be making their Grand Prix debut in KNOW WHAT Bahrain this weekend Young German to Schumacher was able be• third member of to complete 181 laps in Schumacher family Haas’ VF-21 car during to grace the F1 grid, F1 pre-season testing following in the at BIC earlier this footsteps of father month. Haas had com- Michael and uncle Ralf pleted 394 laps in all during the three days, TDT | Manama Mick Schumacher…all set for F1 Grand Prix debut equating to 2,132.328 kilometres of running Michael winning 91 races and ick Schumacher is seven world titles, and uncle Ralf thrilled to finally get victorious on six occasions. best racing drivers in the world, Mhis Formula 1 career The Bahrain Grand Prix flags Thinking about it, it’s and he is eager to show that he going this weekend in the high- off the record 23-round 2021 FIA 30 years since my dad belongs. ly anticipated F1 Gulf Air Bah- Formula 1 World Championship. started his first race, “I have a lot of respect for all rain Grand Prix 2021 at Bahrain “Obviously, I’m super excited and now I’m starting of them, both as drivers and as International Circuit (BIC) in about the first race in Bahrain,” mine. The fact that people,” he said. “It’s going to Sakhir. said Schumacher. “Thinking be nice starting on the same grid Competing at the highest level about it, it’s 30 years since my I’m in Formula 1 and as them and being amongst the of motorsport has long been a dad started his first race, and away to be racing – it top 20 drivers in the world. I’m feels so amazing dream of the young German’s, now I’m starting mine. The fact Mick Schumacher races down the BIC track during F1 pre-season testing earlier really happy about that. who celebrated his 22nd birth- that I’m in Formula 1 and away MICK SCHUMACHER this month “I’m just really happy that day yesterday, and in just a few to be racing – it feels so amazing. things are getting underway now days’ time will be back in the “I’m so happy that I’m finally Haas F1 Team in December of which had 394 laps in all at BIC, an official driver in the team, and I’m close to starting my first cockpit of his Haas VF-21 chal- there, finally able to race with 2020, partaking in FP1 at the equating to 2,132.328 kilometres. it’s been very nice – I feel su - season in Formula 1.” lenger at “The Home of Motor- everybody, and to show my Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, before “My experience with the team per comfortable with the team. BIC is hosting F1’s curtain-rais- sport in the Middle East”. potential working with a great running in the young driver test. has been good,” Schumacher We’re working hard and I really er for the third time in the sport’s Schumacher will be hoping team. I will learn and improve as Then, just earlier this month said. “Obviously, we’ve had the feel everyone’s super motivated. history, having held the honour to ride the momentum of his re- a driver and as a human.” during F1 pre-season testing, FP1 session and the full week- “That’s also then really mo- in 2006 and 2010. cent successes into F1, being the Schumacher made his Formu- Schumacher gathered valua- end together before the test, the tivating for me. I’m happy the Haas has scored 24 points at reigning Formula 2 champion. la 1 test debut in Bahrain in 2019 ble experience in Haas’ VF-21. rookie day, in Abu Dhabi last season’s getting underway now the Sakhir-based track in the This weekend, he will become with Ferrari, and sealed the F2 Despite the abbreviated pro - season, which was really good. and we really start the work.” team’s history, taking a strong the third member of his family championship at BIC last year. gramme, Schumacher was able “Now having had the first Schumacher is now looking fifth place on two occasions, in to grace the F1 grid, with father He began his assimilation with to complete 181 laps for his team, pre-season test with me being forward to racing alongside the 2016 and 2018. Dar Kulaib capture Crown Prince’s Cup in volleyball Olympic team bow to Kuwait in friendly TDT | Manama • Second successive title for Dar Kulaib ahrain’s under-23 Olym- in prestigious single- Bpic football team bowed to elimination volleyball their counterparts from Ku- tournament wait 2-3 last night in a friend- ly match played at the Al Ahli Club stadium in Zinj. TDT | Manama Saleh Mohammed and Saud Alasem were the scorers for the ar Kulaib were last night home side. Dcrowned back-to-back The match was part of both champions of the Crown teams’ preparations for the Prince’s Cup in volleyball. West Asian championship to Dar Kulaib clinched the title be played later this year, as well following a stunning 3-0 (25-21, as the qualifying process for the 25-20, 25-18) victory over Mu- Dar Kulaib players celebrate with the Crown Prince’s Cup in the presence of harraq in the tournament final, officials at the awarding ceremony played at the Bahrain Volleyball last year’s competition after throughout the match and nev- Association arena (BVA) at Isa defeating Al Najma in the final. er gave a chance to their rivals BETTER Sports City in Riffa. It was also the first title for to gain any momentum. Muhar- Following the contest, both Dar Kulaib this year. raq also committed a number of Action from last night’s match teams were presented their re- For Muharraq, it was a dis- costly errors in key moments in KNOW AFC U23 Asian Cup 2022. decision which will mark the spective trophies and medals appointing end to what started the game. The qualifiers are set to be first time the tournament will by BVA president Shaikh Ali off as a promising season. They The winners had a brilliant held from October 23 to 31 in be staged in the Central Zone. bin Mohammed Al Khalifa and began the 2020/2021 campaign effort from across their squad, a centralised format, with the The competition is set to be Bahrain Olympic Committee with a long unbeaten run in the which included Slovakian pro- Asian Football Con- venues to be decided and com- held from September 6 to 25 secretary-general Mohammed Isa bin Rashid First Division fessional Martin Pavleka, and federation (AFC) municated in due course. next year. Hassan Al Nusuf in an awarding Volleyball League, but then lost Bahraini stars Ali Ebrahim, announced that it has The two teams are set to play South Korea are the compe- ceremony. Also present were towards the end of the dou - Mahmood Hassan, Ayman Isa, awarded the hosting in another friendly, which is tition’s defending champions. a number of club and BVA of- ble round-robin stage but were Hassan Abbas, Mahmood Ab- rights of the U23 Asian scheduled for Sunday. The Ku- The previous edition was held ficials. still able to make it through to dulwahid and Hussain Abdulla Cup to the Uzbekistan waitis are currently in the King- last year in Thailand. Dar Kulaib’s Brazilian head the finals. There, however, they For Muharraq, they relied on dom for their overseas training The Bahrainis also partici- coach Sergio Cunha and Mu- bowed to rivals Al Ahli and had the play of Cameroon profes- Football Association, camp. pated then, but bowed out of harraq tactician Mohammed to settle for the runner-up spot. sional Yvan Arthur Kody Bitjaa, in a milestone decision Meanwhile, the Asian Foot- contention in the group stage, Al Murbati led their teams in Last night’s result gave Mu- and Bahraini talents Fadhel Ab- which will mark the ball Confederation (AFC) an- where they were drawn with accepting their accolades. harraq their second silver med- bas, Mahmood Al Afia, Hussain first time the tourna- nounced that it has awarded the Australia, Iraq and hosts Thai- The result earned Dar Kulaib als of the national volleyball Haikki, Ali Khairallah, Bader ment will be staged in hosting rights of the U23 Asian land. They ended the compe- their second successive Crown season. Mohammed and Mohammed the Central Zone Cup to the Uzbekistan Foot- tition with two draws and one Prince’s Cup title. They won Dar Kulaib were dominant Habib. ball Association, in a milestone loss. Hon. Chairman Najeb Yacob Alhamer | Editor-in-Chief Mahmood AI Mahmood | Chairman & Managing Director P Unnikrishnan Advertisement: Update Media W.L.L | Tel: 38444692, Email: [email protected] | Newsroom: Tel: 36458345, Email: [email protected] Subscription & circulation: Tel: 36458394 | Email: [email protected] | Website: www.newsofbahrain.com | Printed and published by Al Ayam Publishing .