[jfxavier]

One of the jewels in Abu Dhabi's crown is the 5.55-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit, which on November 1, 2009, hosted the country's inaugural Grand Prix.



Located on the spectacular Yas Island, the track boasting top speeds of 320 km/h and average speeds of 195 km/h, features nine right turns and 12 left turns and is one of the few venues on the calendar to run in an anti-clockwise direction, which can sometimes cause physical problems for the drivers.
Designed by renowned circuit architect Hermann Tilke, Yas Marina has a waterfront setting scenic enough to rival the likes of Monaco and Valencia. And with the track wrapping itself around the island's glamorous newly-built marina, there's plenty of mooring space for the paddock's plethora of yachts.



Its distinctive design also boasts several innovative elements including the iconic five-star, 499-room Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi hotel, which straddles the circuit designed in the shape of a whale which is illuminated in differing colours as the night draws in; the 60-metre solar powered Sun Tower, which offers unrivalled views for invited guests; and a pit lane which sees the cars exit via a tunnel passing under the track that runs underneath the first turn – fortunately, no one has crashed in the tunnel so far! Another world first is that all of the grandstands, including the massive hairpin seating area, are covered to protect spectators from the desert sun, whilst the state-of-the-art pit building boasts 40 air-conditioned garages. Luxuriant comforts and first-rate views are clearly the watchwords for Abu Dhabi race goers.
The Yas Marina Circuit does get criticised for delivering processional races and having the typical Tilke characteristics seen at many of the modern F1 circuits. Bernie has stated that the Abu Dhabi organisers have secured the race for as long as they want it, so we may as well get used to it. In 2014, the Abu Dhabi GP returned to hosting the season finale and with double points on offer, it became the deciding event in the F1 drivers’ championship. This year, the Abu Dhabi GP is a dead rubber on all fronts, so given the lack of exciting racing the TV audiences may again be a cause for concern for FOM.

Timing (IST):



The Abu Dhabi GP is also the first F1 twighlight race, with powerful lighting ensuring a seamless transition from day to night. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is held from late afternoon into the evening. As a result, track temperatures tend to drop over the course of the race, meaning that the pattern of tyre behaviour is slightly different to normal: another complex variable for teams to factor into their strategy calculations.
Here's Tim Goss, Technical Director - McLaren expaining that.
“If we – the engineers – have one specific challenge in Abu Dhabi, it’s predicting how the tyres will perform in the evening because we don’t get much opportunity to experience those conditions during free practice.
“We set up the car in quite hot temperatures during the day, but qualifying and the race are at cooler temperatures during the evening, when the behaviour of the tyres is very different. The grip you get from them changes, as does the balance and the amount of degradation.
“As a result of these factors, we go about setting up the car differently in Abu Dhabi. The final free practice session, for example, is not that relevant to qualifying because it takes place in the heat of the day, so we look to free practice two for qualifying simulations because it happens a bit later in the day.”

Circuit Characteristics



Circuit length : 5.554km (3.451 miles)

Race distance : 55 laps (full world championship points awarded after 75 per cent distance/41 laps)

Run to Turn One : 300m (0.186 miles)

Longest straight : 1,200m (0.746 miles), on the approach to Turn Eight

Top speed : 325km/h (202mph) on the approach to Turn Eight

DRS zones : Two – on the approach to Turn Eight and again on the approach to Turn 11

Pitlane length : 360 metres (0.224 miles)

Fuel consumption : medium-to-high

Full throttle : 60 per cent

Brake wear : High. There are 13 braking events around the lap, the hardest of which is into Turn Eight, where forces peak at 5.09g

Gear changes : 68 per lap/3,740 per race

2014 winner : Lewis Hamilton 55 laps in 1:39m02.619

2014 pole position : Nico Rosberg 1m40.480 198.988km/h (123.645mph)

2014 fastest lap : Daniel Ricciardo lap 50 1m44.496 191.341km/h (118.894mph)

What to expect in 2015?

The teams are firmly looking forward to the 2016 season & there culd be a whole lot of new parts being tested in FP. Will RB run an improved version of the Renault Power Unit or struggle on with what they have before making an announcement to tell us (finally) which direction they will go?
Having five poles on the trot as well as two consecutive wins Nico Rosberg is showing form that have eluded him the whole season. Hamilton will want to put a stop to this and enter the winter months with a pole and a win or will Rosberg beat Hamilton to make it three in a row? Ferrari also would want to finish the season on a high. They have their own theme park at Abu Dhabi for continuing the celebrations. And of course what will young Max get up to this weekend? The young man continues to impress and have scored points in the last six races. Will he make it seven in a row this weekend?
Mercedes can set another record this weekend: a one-two finish would be their 12th of the season, an unprecedented feat in F1 history. The team have already matched their 2014 benchmark of 11, which also equals McLaren's then- of 11 from 1988.
For those lucky enough to attend the race, if it is boring there is always the after party to entertain. This year you will be treated with 50 Cent, Ludacris and Akon at Vip Room.
Weather forecast :
Hot – we’re in the desert after all. But this is a twilight race and temperatures drop as the race progresses. The rains at present in UAE due to the low pressure area over Saudi Arabia should clear by the weekend.

Tyres:



Due to the smooth asphalt, the two softest tyres in the range will be brought: soft and supersoft, as used at the slowest track on the calendar in Monaco (and at four more grands prix).
Expected performance gap between the two compounds: 1.0-1.2 seconds per lap.
Paul Hembery © PirelliPaul Hembery, Pirelli motorsport director:
“It’s incredible to think that the 2015 season is over already: it seems a lot less than a year since we were at Abu Dhabi for the final race of 2014. With the championships decided the teams can obviously push to the maximum and our tyre choice in Abu Dhabi provides them with an interesting challenge: while the surface is very smooth, the tyres are still pushed quite hard due to the track layout, so tyre management becomes an important part of the strategy, particularly under acceleration in the traction areas, where it is very easy to spin the wheels.
This is the same nomination as last year, so we’d probably expect another two-stop race, but track temperatures can be quite variable as the sun goes down and this can clearly have an effect on the tyres and therefore strategy. Just two days after the chequered flag on the 2015 season, we already begin testing for 2016: there will be a dedicated Pirelli tyre test from 9am to 9pm on Tuesday 1 December, with all the teams running one car to test some 2016 constructions and the new ‘ultrasoft’ tyre, which will carry purple markings at next year’s races.”





Source : FIA media kit, Formula1 website & team previews

[jfxavier]

Team Previews:

Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton
"The Yas Marina really is a stunning place to hold the season-ending Grand Prix. The organisers clearly spent a lot of time and effort on designing the most spectacular venue imaginable and the track is one I really enjoy driving. It’s actually a really challenging circuit. There are a couple of high speed corners but it’s mostly medium to low speed, so despite the long straights you need to set the car up with a downforce level tuned for low speed grip. It’s also a twilight race, starting late afternoon and running into the night, which is quite unusual and I imagine must be pretty cool to watch on TV. Last year, this place brought probably the most intense weekend of my life. I didn’t sleep much through nerves and not knowing what was ahead. But this time around there’s no pressure, so I’ll be well-rested and aiming to go out on a high. A lot of British fans come out to Abu Dhabi so it’s like another home crowd for me. To win for them and show how grateful I am for the fantastic support I’ve had all year would be the best way to end an incredible season."
Nico Rosberg
"I’ve had two really great weekends now in Mexico and Brazil, so I’m heading into the final race on a massive high. Abu Dhabi hasn’t always been an easy one for me. Of course, last year was probably my biggest disappointment – losing the title at the last moment with a mechanical problem. But I showed my speed there with pole position and I have good momentum behind me right now, so I’m aiming to end the season on a big positive this time around. Of course, it’s also the last race for this incredible Silver Arrow – and it deserves a spectacular send off. Everyone at the factories has done such a fantastic job one again this year. A car like this is something every driver dreams of having in their hands, so I’ll be pushing hard to make the most of it for one last time as a tribute to all their hard work. Of course, it will be close as always with Lewis and we saw a big push from Ferrari in São Paulo, so it won’t be straightforward. But I’m up for a battle and hopefully we can put on a great show for the fans to end the year."
Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
"It was very satisfying to leave Brazil with another top result after a race that was far less straightforward than it might have looked. We now go to Abu Dhabi with the best possible Championship positions secured and a chance to reflect on an incredible year. We can all be extremely proud of what we have achieved in 2015. To raise the bar from 2014 was always going to be a huge challenge – but everybody at Brackley, Brixworth and Stuttgart has taken on that challenge exceptionally well. While we celebrate a job well done this time around, however, the next challenge will be upon us before we know it. 2016 will undoubtedly provide our biggest test yet as a group. We will not be backing off – and an entertaining battle at the front between our boys for one last time in 2015 will be the ideal way to show that."
Paddy Lowe, Executive Director (Technical)
"After another strong showing in Brazil, a fantastic season for the team comes to a close at one of the most glamorous and spectacular venues on the calendar in Abu Dhabi. The Yas Marina circuit is a challenging track with a lot of corners around the lap and contrasting styles to each sector meaning drivers need to use all of their skill to string together a fast time. Despite the long straights that also feature it’s difficult to overtake here, so qualifying will be important. It’s a different scenario for us compared to last year as we don’t have a showdown for the Drivers’ Championship – which made this an incredibly tense weekend for everyone involved. This time around, we approach the weekend with a little less pressure and can look to enjoy the racing a bit more – but hopefully with a good battle between Lewis and Nico to sign off for the year in style. Lewis has always been very strong at this track, while Nico has been on a rich run of form over the past few races. So, the stage is set for an entertaining evening under the lights. It’s a fond farewell to the W06 Hybrid too – a truly magnificent car which has been a huge credit to the men and women who designed, built and ran it this year. We hope to give it a send-off which reflects what both the car and the team have achieved over the past 18 races."

Williams
Valtteri Bottas
“I really like Abu Dhabi as a place. The weather is guaranteed to be good and the facilities are great. It’s the track where I had my first official Formula One test, so I have good memories there. It’s the season finale, so it would be very nice to end the season with a strong result with both of our cars like we did last season. We have good memories from last year, everyone in the team was so happy, it was a really special feeling after such a difficult season in 2013 to confirm third in the constructors’ and my fourth place in the drivers’ championship. Hopefully we can make more great memories this time.”
Felipe Massa
“Abu Dhabi last season, I think this was the best race I’ve had in my time at Williams. To be able to fight for the victory was amazing, there have been two races we were really fighting for the victory, one was Silverstone this year and the other was Abu Dhabi. We got very close to winning the race, it was the best result for the team with both cars on the podium. The race starts in the day time and finishes in the evening, it’s almost like two separate races. I really hope we can have a similar performance as we had last year there because the car was really very strong.”
Rob Smedley, head of performance engineering
“We have already secured third in the constructors’ championship which is a great achievement for the team and takes any pressure off, other than that that we put on ourselves. We aim to have a really strong race and finish the season on a high. The circuit should be suited to the characteristics of our car and we delivered a great performance last year so hope to replicate that. Abu Dhabi is always somewhat of a challenge as half of the practices are in the midday sunlight, but the important sessions are during the twilight hours. We have to divide our programme up to utilise this time efficiently and not get carried away with car handling data we obtain during the day. It is a great facility with a very international fan base and a great way to finish the season, they put on an outstanding event.”

Sauber
Marcus Ericsson
"Abu Dhabi, the last race of the season - it is unbelievable how time flies. It is very exciting to come back to Abu Dhabi, and I am looking forward to enjoying the race weekend there. This Grand Prix in the middle east is always a great event attended by lots of fans from many countries. It is a race in the desert with the start at sunset. The track itself is in perfect condition, it is very modern and has some run-off areas. As the circuit has a few long straights, engine power will be crucial. On the other hand, there are also hairpins and some slow speed corners. I am quite familiar with that track from my time in the GP2 series, and I also drove there for my first test for the Sauber F1 Team in November last year. Certainly, we will again do our best to score points - for a successful completion to the season."
Felipe Nasr
"The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is another great event, and I will enjoy driving on this track with our car for the first time. So far, I have driven there as a GP2 driver and I have also had an F1 test with Williams. I can also say, because of my family's Lebanese roots, I always receive a warm welcome and a lot of support both in the UAE and the whole of the Middle East. They make me feel I am also at home. I like the people, their traditions, their cultures and, of course, the food. On the track it will be important again to find the right set-up, and this is where we need to concentrate our focus the most on Friday. The track in the desert sands is quite spectacular with unique surroundings. All in all, the atmosphere is special. The race starts late in the afternoon, which makes it even more interesting, because of the floodlit-style à la Singapore. We will keep on with our fight for a good result."
Giampaolo Dall'Ara, Head of Track Engineering
"After coming back empty-handed from South America, the whole team looks forward to fighting hard for more points and so to close this long season on a high at Abu Dhabi. The race start at sunset and finish in the dark means the temperatures will go in the opposite direction to what we usually experience, so the drivers and engineers will have to account for this, especially in the practice sessions happening earlier in the day in much hotter conditions. The focus will be on braking performance, as well as traction optimisation. The car will need to be reactive and precise for the final sector and, at the same time, fast on the straights that dominate the earlier part of the lap. Lastly, trading off tyre performance against durability will be a challenge in the race, as Pirelli has confirmed last year's choice of soft and supersoft compounds."

McLaren
Fernando Alonso
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend represents many things for us at McLaren-Honda: the end of a challenging season and a significant learning curve; the opportunity to collect as much information as possible and continue our learning; and the start of the winter period where we are all focussed on working incredibly hard on next year's package, and seeing more progress and results from our efforts throughout this year.
"Yas Marina is always an exciting racetrack to drive on – it's one of those circuits that changes its character all the way through the lap, which makes it a lot of fun for the drivers. The spectacle of a twilight race, and feeling the atmosphere change as the light fades during the sessions over the course of the weekend is pretty incredible. Abu Dhabi is a fantastic place to end the season and we are hoping to take what we can from the weekend and enjoy it as much as possible.
"After a few difficult weekends, we will of course be pushing hard to finish the year on a positive note, but the whole team knows the work we have to do over the winter, and there's huge commitment from everyone already to start seeing results. Every session this weekend will be an opportunity to learn more and take that development into next year's car, so as usual we will continue fighting as hard as we can to the end."
Jenson Button
"It's great to be heading back to Yas Marina, not least because of the excitement and buzz that the fans bring and the incredible setting Abu Dhabi provides for a racing venue, but also because it is the end of a long and challenging year for the whole team. Although we've had some difficult weekends over the past few races, the mood back at MTC is still very upbeat, and everyone is already working hard for next year.
"It's testament to the strength of our team that we continue to come out fighting every race weekend, and Abu Dhabi will be exactly the same. Yas Marina is a tricky circuit with lots of different elements coming together: sweeping faster sections, two long back straights, and a slower-speed tight, twisty infield section at the end of the lap. It makes set-up a challenge and particularly for our package it's not well suited, but we're hopeful of a more positive performance there than we found at Interlagos.
"If we can push for some points in Abu Dhabi, it'll definitely be a boost for the team to end the season, and will reward all the efforts from every single member of the team over the past year. We already have our heads firmly on the development push over winter, so anything positive we can take from this weekend will help us start our next chapter together with even more energy. Our motivation is as strong as ever."
Eric Boullier, racing director, McLaren-Honda
"The last race of the season always offers an incredibly unique and exciting atmosphere. It's an opportunity to reflect on the season that has passed, enjoy the last racing weekend of the year, and turn our attention to the new chapter to come.
"Yas Marina is a hugely impressive facility and a superb venue to go racing at, and its twilight backdrop is a fitting way to end the season. We'll go there on the back of a challenging year, there's no doubt about that, but with the determination to finish the season on a high and provide the ever-enthusiastic fans with a fantastic weekend of racing.
"Although it is the last race of the season, our development has not stopped, and we are still bringing new parts and design elements to the car for the final grand prix. Our development is constant and we place huge importance on learning at every opportunity. All of our efforts this weekend will be beneficial to next year's car, and it's essential that we maximise the final sessions of the year, not only to end the season on a high, but to use the invaluable information we can glean from them and channel it into tangible progress over the winter period.
"It's important to thank each and every member of the McLaren-Honda team: those on the road, at the McLaren Technology Centre, in Sakura and in Milton Keynes, for their hard work, enthusiasm and dedication all year. Our energy and commitment will continue relentlessly over the winter, with our shared goal firmly in our minds: to win. Equally, thank you to our Partners, both longstanding and new, who understand our vision and the immense work going on behind the scenes to assure us of more positive results to come.
"Last but certainly not least, I'd like to express huge gratitude to our loyal fans, who have demonstrated unwavering support through challenging times, and share our optimism for a successful future ahead. We look forward to an exciting weekend against the stunning scenery of Yas Marina, and the start of an exciting next phase for McLaren-Honda."
Yasuhisa Arai, Honda R&D senior managing officer - chief officer of motorsport
"So much has happened since McLaren-Honda's new beginnings here in Abu Dhabi last year. We have come a long way since that first test, and although we have had a difficult and eventful season in 2015, the team is as united as ever.
"The amount of changes that have gone into both the car and the power units this year with such speed has been incredible. Both Woking and Sakura have been working tirelessly throughout the year, and together with the drivers, their bond has become stronger as the season progressed. I am thankful for all their hard work, and encouraged by their enthusiasm to improve further over the winter.
"Yas Marina Circuit is an entertaining event that is fitting for the final battle of the season. Our focus will be to end the season giving it our all, and to continue making improvements."

Force India
Sergio Perez
“The 2015 season has gone by so quickly, but I have lots of great memories and I’m very proud of what we have achieved. I think it’s probably been my best season in Formula One in terms of results and also the most enjoyable. We have grown a lot during the course of the year and we have had some special days, with a highlight being my podium in Russia and my home race in Mexico.
“I think Abu Dhabi is the perfect place to end the season, especially with a race under the lights. The whole venue is impressive and the track is quite a challenge from a set-up point of view. You need a car that works through the fast corners in the first sector, as well as through the slow final sector, which feels more like a twisty street circuit.
“I think we have the potential for a big result in Abu Dhabi. Things didn’t work out for me in Brazil so I’m determined to get back in the points this weekend and finish this great season on a positive note."
Nico Hulkenberg
“The final race of the season is always important because you want to finish the season well and carry the momentum into the winter months. We have already secured fifth in the championship but I want to make sure I end the season in the top ten of the drivers’ championship so there is still a lot to play for.
"Abu Dhabi is a fun place for the season finale: the venue is great and the twilight racing helps create a special atmosphere. As a track, it's not easy to get a good lap as the layout is very technical, especially in the final sector. It's quite easy to come into a corner too hot and make a mistake, and finding a good flow is a big challenge.
“Brazil was a very enjoyable weekend for me: the car felt great and we maximised every session to come away with a well-deserved result. I think we can realistically aim for a similar performance this weekend. It's been a great year for everyone in the team and we deserve to finish on a high.”
Vijay Mallya, team principal
“Heading to Abu Dhabi with fifth place in the championship already secured feels pretty good. It means we can approach the last weekend of the season free from pressure and with nothing to lose. Our focus is simply on enjoying the race and ending the season in style. Abu Dhabi will be a special race for us as it marks the 150th of our history as Force India, and we will aim to celebrate it with a strong performance on the track.
“All season I’ve been saying how proud I am of my team - particularly our development curve in the second half of the season. With 81 points from the last eight races we’ve enjoyed our best ever strike rate and we have been competitive at every race. With stable regulations for 2016, there is every reason to believe we can carry this form through the winter and into the new season. There is plenty to be excited about and a lot of positive energy in the team.
“This weekend’s race is simply another chance to demonstrate how far we have come. Our aim will be to qualify in the top ten and add a final helping of points to our tally."

Lotus
Romain Grosjean
“It’s a good track with very nice paddock facilities which in my opinion are amongst the best on the calendar. It’s also a very special Grand Prix given that it starts in the day and finishes under lights, which makes it incredible for the fans as they can see through our visors and watch how hard we are concentrating. It’s also pretty good for me as I can get up a bit later on race day! The weekend is a bit unusual as it can be difficult to work on car set-up in FP1 and FP3 as conditions are not representative of those you’ll find in qualifying and the race. This means FP2 becomes even more important for both the engineers and myself, which makes it a rather crucial session.
“There’s no point holding back in the race or over the weekend. It’s the last time the E23s will be used in race action so I’ll be looking to give my car a good send off. The engine will be turned up to eleven, I’ll be racing my heart out and I know all the guys and girls at Enstone want to see a great end to the season.”
Pastor Maldonado
“It’s always a special event and being the final race of the year makes it all the more exciting. The venue is fabulous and the facilities are the very best Formula One can offer. Even though the event is amongst the busiest, the ease with which everything happens makes it quite a relaxing one when you’re out of the car. It’s easy to get in and out of the track and the team hospitality buildings are immense. Away from the track, the people are always really welcoming, the weather is great and the place is spectacular.
“It’s a good track to drive. The first sector at the circuit stands out with Turns 2, 3 and 4 being particularly enjoyable and the final sector is pretty eye-catching, even if you do have a lot of work to do behind the wheel at this section. The event format is interesting because of half the practice sessions being during the day, when the race itself is in early evening. This means you have a little bit less data in race representative conditions, but we’ve been to Abu Dhabi many times so the engineers are pretty good at working out what to do.”
Nick Chester, technical director
“The first sector is generally medium speed with a couple of high speed corners and not too technically challenging; a reasonable level of downforce works fine here. The second sector is more power hungry with two good straights and two low speed corners - a low speed hairpin and a low speed chicane so it’s important to manage these well. The final sector is quite technical with a number of low and medium speed corners where the car needs to be well balanced and work well to achieve a good lap time. Putting all that together is key - you need a car that works well in low speed corners and be good in the long straights.”

Red Bull
Daniel Ricciardo
“I think it [Abu Dhabi] really was my best weekend of 2014. It wasn’t a win but I nailed qualifying, I nailed the race, I nailed the whole thing. Pace, consistency, everything was awesome and it got me from the back of the grid to fourth, so yes, in terms of pure performance, it was my best race.
“I like the last sector in particular because that turns it into an exciting track. It’s twisty and you get right up close with the walls. You also have to contend with your tyres going off because the start of the lap is so fast - by the third sector you’re really having to manage your rubber. It’s... a challenge.
”I think starting in the sun and ending in the dark is pretty cool. Actually I think the whole atmosphere of the weekend is pretty cool. Lots of Aussies make the trip, lots of Europeans and there’s a really good multicultural scene. Lots of boat parties in the marina, lots of fun. I do like Abu Dhabi.”
Daniil Kvyat
“I generally enjoy most tracks and in one way or another they all have good associations but it’s particularly the case at Yas Marina because I won the GP3 championship there. I had a good qualifying there last year. I was fifth on the grid I think but the race didn’t work out so well as I had to retire with an engine problem. Still, it’s been enjoyable. It’s a good track to drive, even if it’s one of the modern ones with the big run-off areas. It’s very technical though and it takes some time to get your head around it. Do that and you’ll get a good lap, but it’s not as easy as it looks.”

Sources : Formula1 website.

[Hatari]

Like others, McLaren continue testing 2016, big change to the rear suspension here.

[narayans80]

On the fun side, Vettel wishes Riccardo Adami happy birthday on team radio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9s-Bl0IfBQ

[jfxavier]

Thursday Press Conference :



DRIVERS – Fernando ALONSO (McLaren), Lewis HAMILTON (Mercedes), Romain GROSJEAN (Lotus), Daniil KVYAT (Red Bull Racing), Roberto MERHI (Manor), Kimi RÄIKKÖNEN (Ferrari)

a question to you all: how would you sum up your year and what was your favourite moment? Romain, why don’t you get us started.
Romain GROSJEAN: Well, I think the favourite moment is pretty easy – Spa Francorchamps, the podium. To summarise the year: it was a pretty good year I think in terms of driving. We had a good baseline to start the year with the car. We couldn’t really update it as much as we wanted but still fighting for sixth in the Constructors’ Championship, so pretty pleased with that and yeah, last year with Lotus.

And Daniil?
Daniil KVYAT: Well, a very eventful year I would say, it went by very quickly. I think the start was quite painful but then I think I’m proud of how we managed to climb our way up through all the issues that we had to start with and then I think we kind of stabilised there. Some strong races and some good points, but obviously we are always looking for more in the future. The highlight I think was the podium, even though I wouldn’t say it was the best race. We had a couple of really strong races, I would say even the last couple of races I was quite pleased about them. Hoping to finish on high here, yeah.

Kimi?
Kimi RÄIKKÖNEN: Pretty average, I must say. Better than last year but still far away from what it should be. But there’s life and next year we’ll try again.

Roberto?
Roberto MERHI: Yeah for sure we started in a very difficult way, with no testing and to be honest I never drove this car before. But I think through the year the thing improved quite a lot – I mean the team and also the car and also me, driving the car. I think the last races were quite good. And obviously the best moment of the year I would say were the last laps in Silverstone with the wet or maybe the qualifying in Spielberg was quite good.

And Fernando, how would you sum up your year and can you pick out a favourite moment?
Fernando ALONSO: Well, tough year, obviously difficult and struggling with the pace all year and the reliability, so definitely a difficult season for us. But personally I think it was necessary. It was a step forward in my career after the two championships, after five fantastic seasons fighting for the world championship but arriving second, so I needed some new motivation, some new project that I could trust and I could believe is the only way to become champion again. After one difficult season, as I said, I learn so much. I enjoy working with McLaren, with Honda, with all the Japanese discipline and Japanese culture into the team. I still remain very positive. I’m very, very happy and looking forward to next year being a little bit easier than this one that, as I said, has been difficult in terms of results.

And finally, Lewis, how would you sum up your year. So many favourite moments I’m sure, difficult to pick one?
Lewis HAMILTON: Yeah, what can I say? Obviously all different experiences but it has been the best year of my career and I’m in a very fortunate position, a lot of great work done by my team. Probably one of the best races for me was Austin obviously, the pinnacle of the year for me. Yeah, and excited to be here in Abu Dhabi, with the 44th UAE national day and I’m here to try to win that 44th race, which I still haven’t done, so it’s cool how it all kind of ties in.

Source : http://www.fia.com/news/2015-abu-dha...ess-conference

Friday Free Practice 1 & 2:

Here are the classifications.



Various parts were being tested by all teams.
Some tweets regarding the same.

[jfxavier]

The Quali PCs have a familiar look throughout this year. But this one has a fresh face.


Here are the Saturday timings

[shyn]

Originally Posted by jfxavier

The Quali PCs have a familiar look throughout this year. But this one has a fresh face.

What happened with Vettel? Couldn't catch the telecast.

[jfxavier]

Vettel aborted his quick lap in Q1 thinking that his banker lap earlier on was enough to take him through. Maybe he did not expect JB to go 9th fastest.

[tharian]

Nice to see multiple F1 cars do donuts at the same time. Sight normally not seen.

First lap was good stuff and glad Rosberg did a hat trick.

Until next year!

[asr245]

What a yawn!! Only reason this race happens is money. There's nothing exciting about the race or the track. Those who missed it didn't miss much.

Hoping more a much better & close 2016.

[gtonsing]

I am only happy the SFI made points again. Other than that, boring race. We need a cracker of a finishing race, not something like a mundane Abu Dhabi

[Aditya]

Full race results:



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