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Alfardan Sports Motors, the official Ferrari importer in Qatar, has expanded its portfolio of cars with the arrival of the new Ferrari Amalfi in the country. To mark the milestone, the luxury destination of Pearl Island provided a picturesque setting for the stunning ceremony at St Regis Marsa Arabia Hotel – reminiscent of the global premiere in Amalfi in Southern Italy – as the car was unveiled for the first time in Qatar. It brought together Ferraristi and guests, giving them an exclusive opportunity to admire the Prancing Horse’s new 2+ coupe that replaces the Ferrari Roma. The Ferrari Amalfi redefines the concept of the contemporary grand tourer, combining high performance, versatility and refined aesthetics.**media[404543]**Designed for those who want to enjoy thrilling power without sacrificing comfort or style, the Ferrari Amalfi stands out for its unprecedented balance between adrenaline and everyday usability. The car’s design stems from a fluid and minimalist approach, with sculpted volumes and clean surfaces that express modernity and dynamism. The front is dominated by a large air intake and a long, sculpted bonnet housing the 640 cv twin-turbo V8 engine. At the rear, the integrated active spoiler contributes to high-speed stability, while forged wheels and carbon fibre details complete a sporty and sophisticated aesthetic.**media[404544]**Inside, the cabin adopts a dual-cockpit layout, with a new steering wheel featuring physical buttons and the return of the iconic start button. The integrated central display and ergonomic controls ensure intuitive interaction with the car, even during dynamic driving. At the heart of the Ferrari Amalfi is an evolved twin-turbo V8 derived from the award-winning F154 family, capable of delivering 640 cv thanks to new turbocharging calibrations. The highly acclaimed eight-speed dual-clutch transmission ensures fast and smooth gear changes. Performance is outstanding: 0–100 km/h in 3.3 seconds, 0–200 km/h in 9.0 seconds, with a power-to-weight ratio of 2.29 kg/hp, the best in its class.**media[404545]**Rolling out the Almalfi and expanding its portfolio strengthens Alfardan Sports Motors’ long-standing partnership with Ferrari as Qatar consolidates its position as a key market in the Middle East and abroad. Tarek al-Hammoud, general manager of Alfardan Sports Motors, said: “The launch of the Ferrari Amalfi in Qatar represents another milestone for Alfardan Sports Motors as we expand our line-up. It is a model of great significance and has been crafted to offer a blend of modern elegance and high performance, making it a unique car that customers can now look forward to driving in Qatar.” Giorgio Turri, general manager of Ferrari Middle East, said: “Ferrari Qatar is not only a market that continues to go from strength to strength but is established as one of the Middle East’s leading luxury automotive destinations. This makes it the perfect destination for the Ferrari Almafi and will deliver extraordinary experiences for every Ferrari customer in Qatar.” 

Ferrari made a flying start to their home Italian Formula One Grand Prix Friday but McLaren's title contender Lando Norris, bouncing back from the body blow of car failure in the previous race, set the practice pace.The Briton lapped Monza's sunlit 'Pista Magica' with a best lap of one minute 19.878 seconds in the afternoon's second session, 0.083 quicker than Ferrari's 2024 winner Charles Leclerc. Norris is 34 points behind championship-leading teammate Oscar Piastri with runaway leaders McLaren chasing a sixth win in a row on Sunday.Former Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz was third fastest for Williams with Piastri fourth and Ferrari's seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton fifth. Hamilton, making his first Monza appearance in Ferrari red, and Leclerc had delighted the Ferrari fans with a surprise one-two in first practice.Five-times Italian GP winner Hamilton's leading time then was 1:20.117, with Leclerc 0.169 slower. "The mood in general is very good, and we had a positive push from the tifosi (fans) all week, from Monday morning in front of the factory. This is an extra energy and a good one," said Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur.Hamilton has yet to stand on the podium for Ferrari and it was a morale boost for the team after a double blank in the Netherlands last weekend when both cars crashed. Hamilton will carry a five-place grid penalty into Sunday's race from Zandvoort.Red Bull's four-times world champion Max Verstappen was sixth fastest in session two after ending opening practice fourth with Norris sixth. Piastri sat out first practice, as Irish Formula Two contender Alex Dunne took his place, fulfilling part of the team's young driver commitments, and ended up 16th.Alex Albon was seventh fastest for Williams in both sessions. Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg, Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda and Mercedes' George Russell completed the top 10 in the second session. Racing Bulls' French rookie Isack Hadjar, who took his first F1 podium in last weekend's Dutch race, was 10th and 11th respectively.He triggered a red flag in first practice when he went off at the Ascari Chicane with 25 minutes to go and scattered gravel across the track. Alpine had Estonian reserve driver Paul Aron replacing Argentina's Franco Colapinto for the first session and he finished last. Colapinto was also last when he returned to action.