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| AFP

F1 battle

MAX Verstappen will have his first shot at clinching the F1 title in Saudi Arabia on December 05, but the championship leader could also see his advantage disappear. The 2021 title battle remains close, with Lewis Hamilton closing the gap to eight points in Qatar. With two races remaining, the prospect of a winner-takesall shootout in the final Abu Dhabi round is very much alive. For Verstappen to clinch the title at the Saudi GP, he must finish at least second. But if Hamilton wins that race with a bonus point for fastest lap, and Verstappen is second, the pair will leave level on points. | Reuters

Sensors

BREATH-SNIFFING sensors and fingerscanning detectors are central to a landmark US safety mandate to fight drunk driving. The federal law, which will require new cars to spot intoxicated drivers in coming years, could save thousands of lives annually with the potential to expand abroad, advocates say. Yet the legislation President Joe Biden signed into law this week has left sceptics questioning whether vehicles could refuse to operate due to a false positive or effectively become witnesses against their owners in criminal cases.

Audi & F1

AUDI is looking at ways into Formula

One, with partnerships with established racing teams like McLaren, Red Bull and Williams mooted in the press recently. Audi’s supervisory board discussed the options at a meeting in Stuttgart, including “potential transactions” with McLaren, according to Bloomberg News. McLaren denied reports that it had been purchased by Audi, saying the group’s “technology strategy has always involved ongoing discussions and collaboration with relevant partners and suppliers”. But Audi is said to have made an offer for McLaren, which was deemed too low by the British company. | AFP

Fresh look

THE Volkswagen T-Roc has been freshened up for 2022, with the Golf-sized crossover gaining subtle exterior design revisions as well as a plusher cabin and new semi-autonomous driving tech. The mid-life makeover is most apparent in the cabin, where a new dashboard panel is said to improve the feeling of quality in the cabin. Central here is a new tablet-like infotainment display. The new IQ.DRIVE Travel Assist package with predictive cruise control allows for assisted acceleration, braking and steering at speeds of up to 210km/h.

| IOL Motoring

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