Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Preview – Teams and Drivers

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Preview – Teams and Drivers 

It’s the final race of the 2016 Formula 1 season this weekend – the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and here we’ve got some of the drivers and teams discussing the circuit and what they’re looking forward to ahead of this weekend.

Mercedes – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Preview

Nico Rosberg 

“Obviously the result in Brazil wasn’t the one I was going for. Lewis did a great job and second place wasn’t a disaster in the end.”

“I’m now looking forward to Abu Dhabi. It feels great to be in the World Championship battle with Lewis for a third year in a row – I will give everything to end the season with a win.”

“I’ve had a great week, relaxing and catching up with my family and friends. I feel like I’m in a good place right now.”

“In Brazial, after the race, I was joking that I would still be taking things one race at a time but the more I think about it, the more that’s actually not as crazy as it sounds. I have to treat this like any other race – doing a good job on a Grand Prix weekend is always challenging and nothing in this sport is easy.”

“I’ve had great memories from winning at this track last year and it’s somewhere I’ve usually been strong in the past so I have every reason to feel confident.”

“The closer it gets, the more I’m feeling excited – it will be a big battle and hopefully the fans will get a really great show to the end of the year.”

Lewis Hamilton 

“To finally win in Brazil was a moment that I’ll never forget. It had been a long time coming. I’m in a good place right now.”

“I’m feeling super strong in this amazing car that everyone at the factories has worked so hard to give us – I’ve had 31 wins in four years with this team so far which is just crazy!”

“I’m so thankful for the great opportunity these guys have given me. We’re continuing to make history together – it’s not been the perfect season and I’m faced with pretty impossible odds no matter what I do this weekend – but I can’t and won’t give up!”

“You never know what might happen – however unlikely this may seem. I’ll be proud of myself no matter what happens. As long as I feel I’ve given my all and performed my best.”

“I’m proud of everyone who’s been a part of the success we’ve shared over the past few years and approaching this weekend in the same way as I do every race – I want to win and I’ll give it everything to finish the season on a high.”

Toto Wolff – Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport 

“Last wee end we saw yet another classic Interlagos race. To come away from all the drama of the crazy weather, the re-starts, the extreme track conditions with a 1-2 finish was a special result.”

“Of course, the bigger picture is an exciting finale in Abu Dhabi. To have the title decided between our two drivers at the final race of the season, for a second time in three years shows just how closely matched they are.”

‘It also shows how much this team has achieved. We can be very proud of that but as a group, we now have one very important final duty this season – that is to give Nico and Lewis the platform they need to battle it out to the flag.”

‘Both of them have been exceptional and either one would make a worthy champion – it’s been a gruelling year for all of us, with a record breaking calendar and the added challenge of the new regulation set to prepare for 2017.”

“After such a battle of endurance, the winner can say without doubt that they earned it – we are all excited to see who that will be. May the best man win!”

 

 

 

Sauber – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Preview

Marcus Ericsson 

“With the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, we now approach the season finale. It’s hard to believe that we have now reached round 21 – time really flies!”

“The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is always a nice race weekend. Besides enjoying driving on this circuit a lot, the fan atmosphere and the events around the track are great! It will definitely be an exciting weekend, as not only will the world champion be crowned but we will also fight again for our tenth position in the constructors’ championship.”

Felipe Nasr 

“After my great result at my home Grand Prix in Brazil, I am travelling to Abu Dhabi with a positive mindset.”

“I enjoy being there as I always receive a very warm welcome and have a lot of support, both in the UAE and the whole of the Middle East because of my family’s Lebanese roots.”

“The food is really amazing but I also like the people, their traditions and their cultures – the season is not over yet so our objective is clearly to keep our current position in the standings.”

McLaren – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Preview 

Fernando Alonso 

“I enjoy racing in Abu Dhabi every year – not because it’s become synonymous with the end of the season, but there’s a unique atmosphere there – a combination of the ‘end of term’ feeling  anticipation ahead of the winter development push and the buzz from the fans as we go racing for the final time in the 2016 season.”

“From the cockpit, it’s incredible to race at twilight and watch the light fade as you compete lap after lap.”

“It brings a new dimension to the spectacle and makes the whole weekend really enjoyable.”

“The faster first sector and the two long straights in the middle sector at Yas Marina mean that it isn’t a track that will naturally suit our package. Over the course of Friday we’ll work hard to dial up the car and to make the most of what we have and to extract as much performance as possible.”

“It’s an interesting track to set up the car, as although it’s in the desert, the track temperature cools a lot during the course of the race as we reach twilight so the tyre conditions and grip levels are constantly evolving as we reach the chequered flag.”

“It’s a really unique place and a great circuit to end the season at – I hope that we can push for a positive end to the year.”

“For McLaren-Honda, this race marks the end of a significant year for the team and the last time I’ll race with my team mate Jenson for the foreseeable future. It’s been a pleasure to work with him and I’ll miss him being in the garage next me but he will still be very much a part of McLaren-Honda’s plans and I want to wish him all the best for the exciting things he has in store for the next steps in his career.”

Jenson Button 

“I’m really looking forward to this weekend and have been for a few races now! It marks a very special chapter in my life. I’ll have my friends and some of my family out in Abu Dhabi with me which I’m very excited about. It’s going to be a hugely emotional weekend and I hope with the support of the fans, the team and the people that are closest to me, we can all go out there and give it our absolute maximum and enjoy the weekend.”

“It’s not the end of my career with McLaren-Honda but it’s the start of a new phase that I’m incredibly positive about.”

“This marks the culmination of a huge amount of hard work, dedication and passion for the sport that I love and I’m immensely proud of everything I’ve achieved in the past 17 seasons and the progress we’ve made in the past few years with McLaren-Honda.”

“It’s been an amazing project to work on and my involvement certainly won’t end here. I’m looking forward to concluding this chapter in style and starting a new one with just as much enthusiasm and I cannot wait to see what the future holds.”

“Yas Marina is a pretty technical race track with relatively low average speed thanks to the tight corners in the final sector which gives it many of the characteristics of a street circuit.”

“Typically, overtaking is quite tricky here so it’s important that we do as much as we can in qualifying and hope for a strong, clean start like many that we’ve enjoyed so far this year and make the most out of our strategy to get the best possible result.”

“If we use the track time productively on Friday, it’ll give us the best opportunity to set the car up for the weekend.”

“I hope we can push it to the limit and give the team and the fans a good end to the year.”

Eric Boullier – Racing Director

“The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for McLaren-Honda cements a very positive year where we have overcome many challenges, fought hard, pushed relentlessly and seen firm progression in every area.”

“As I always say, we aren’t where we want to be – of course, but we’re fighting fit and looking ahead to a strong winter of further development.”

“I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come in three short years – two on track and indebted to the incredible commitment, steadfast loyalty and unwavering support demonstrated by our team members in the UK and Japan – our partners and our amazing fans.”

“This weekend also marks a very significant moment for McLaren-Honda as we bid farewell to Jenson who will be stepping out of the cockpit after the race on Sunday to embark on a new chapter both with McLaren-Honda and in his personal life.”

“As we know, it’s farewell for now and not goodbye – we’ll be working side by side with him over the coming year when he’ll be as close to the team and our developments as ever. Nevertheless, it’s a poignant step in our history together and an opportunity to celebrate his 17 seasons in the sport.”

“We’ll certainly miss him him the garage but we look forward to continuing our relationship and the exciting projects we’ll be working on together in 2017.”

“Last but not least – we approach this weekend with positivity but the awareness that it will be a challenging Grand Prix, on a track that is complex in character and offers a set of unique parameters within which to set up the car.”

“With qualifying and the race taking place in very different conditions. This venue is so unique and creates an awe-inspiring spectacle for fans at the end of a long season. The Yas Marina Circuit is ever-impressive and provides a stunning setting in which to go racing for the final time in 2016.”

“I hope we can finish the season on a high – for Jenson, the team and our fans across the world.”

Sahara Force India – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Preview 

Sergio Perez

“It’s the final race of the year and you really want to close the season with a good result. It’s an exciting time and you need to keep focused on the job even though everyone is already talking about the following season.”

“You want to finish the year well, to go on holiday with a sweet taste in your mouth, especially this year when there is so much at stake. Nobody wants to have a bad final race – it’s a pretty nasty feeling.”

“Abu Dhabi is a cool place, the fans we meet come from all over the world. The facilities at the track are impressive and I’ve always liked racing there. It’s a very fast track, with big braking zones and quick changes of direction.”

“You need a car that is very stable to make the most of braking zones and also have good traction out of the corners so you can gain a lot of time.:

“There are some overtaking opportunities and the possibility to go for different strategies usually producing a good and interesting race.”

“Last year’s race was pretty exciting – fighting for the podium against the Ferrari’s. You always get a bit nostalgic at the end of the season – you know it’s the last time you’re going to drive you VJM09 and you don’t know what the next season will bring. I want to go into the winter with special memories from the final race.”

Nico Hulkenberg 

“The final race of the season is always special but this year, even more so! It will be my final race with the team so it will be emotional to work with the crew and the other team members for the last time.”

“People move around a lot in Formula One so I know it’s a goodbye and not a farewell – I want us to enjoy this last race together and make sure it turns into a celebration.”

“Abu Dhabi is a very cool place. Yas Marina is a modern circuit and has the best facilities on the whole calendar. The track is fun to drive – you race into the sunset and it looks really cool when all the lights come on, it’s a unique experience.”

“The pit lane exit is very trick and one of the most memorable parts of the circuit – you release the pit limiter, accelerate for a second and then you have to brake for the very sharp left hander underneath the track.”

“The wall feels very close and you always hold your breath every time you drive through that narrow exit! It’s a little uncomfortable because as soon as you push harder, you start to slide and it’s very – very easy to get it wrong.”

“Looking at the track characteristics, Abu Dhabi should suit us really well – we had a few strong results here in the last few years so I’m confident we can get a good one this time around too. I would love nothing more than to sign off from the team in style.”

Vijay Mallya – Team Principal

“We now head to Abu Dhabi on the verge of achieving our best ever finish in the Constructors’ Championship. There is one final step to take and everyone is determined to get the job done and end the season on a high – with a strong result.”

“The final race is a great opportunity to look back at the work we have done this year – I have always been confident in the team, even when the circumstances played against us in the early races and we didn’t get the results our pace deserved.”

“We kept to our plan and trusted our direction since May and we have been on the way up. Monaco was a big turning point and team has been going from strength to strength since then.”

“Abu Dhabi is the culmination of all our efforts but there is no room for complacency – both of our drivers have an extra bit of motivation to do well. Checo to cross the 100-point threshold which would be the first time ever for a Force India driver and Nico – to close his Force India adventure on a high.”

“This track has brought us some good results in the past and it would be special to end the season in style.”

The Formula 1 Girl 🙂

xxx