Ahead of the Abu Dhabi GP – RedBull Racing
This time next week we’ll be watching the final race of the 2016 Formula 1 season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and what a season it’s been!
There’s been plenty of highs and lows, a lot of expectation from different teams and drivers who simply didn’t deliver, switches between teams and a lot of action throughout.
Now, the RedBull Racing drivers (Ricciardo & Verstappen) talk us through the track, what to look out for and what they’re looking forward to in the final race next week.
Abu Dhabi GP – Daniel Ricciardo – RedBull Racing
“I have always gone well on the track at Abu Dhabi, it’s been a really enjoyable track in the past – especially the last sector underneath the hotel, that’s great fun!”
“It’s got a bit of a street circuit style to the layout which I really enjoy too. I had my first every Formula 1 test at this track so it holds a lot of good memories for me and has generally been good to me.”
“I love any kind of hot climate and being warm so I’m very much looking forward to getting out there. I try to get there a little earlier than usual and stay a bit afterwards to enjoy some time in the heat, get out to the desert, ride some bikes and have fun!”
“As it’s the last race of the season, I usually have some friend out for some fun and there is always a good atmosphere – it’s kind of like the Middle Eastern Monaco! It has that vibe definitely. There are usually some celebrities and good parties knocking around that weekend which definitely adds to the buzz of the season finale.”
Abu Dhabi GP – Max Verstappen – RedBull Racing
“The track design in Abu Dhabi is quite different – there are a lot of low speed corners and combinations.”
“The unique layout means that it’s a challenging track and a small mistake during one of the many corner sequences can ruin a lap. It’s also important to have a strong car in the last sector to keep the tyres alive.”
“Away from the car, Abu Dhabi has some cool features that set it aside from other races. The hotel which goes over the track is pretty special – it’s great for spectators in that sector.”
“I had a quick look around the area and spent a bit of time in Dubai which is always good fun – maybe this year I’ll sample a bit more Arabic food as I haven’t really got stuck into that yet.”
“Of course – it’s the last race of the season and I think we can all look back and be very happy with 2016. There is plenty of work to do for next year and with the regulation changes, I think everyone is excited to see the new cars and I cannot wait to get started.”
More to follow ahead of the Abu Dhabi GP next week!
The Formula 1 Girl 🙂
xxx