Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Manor

Preview Quotes - Manor/Marussia


Will Stevens - "I'm really looking forward to this weekend. It was here 12 months ago that I made my F1 debut, so this track has happy memories for me and it's one I really enjoy racing at. I had a really strong race in Brazil, so I'd really like to replicate that performance on Sunday and I plan to approach the weekend in a similar fashion, focusing much more on the race than my single lap pace. Beating my team-mate is a moving target once again, with Roberto back in the car rather than Alex, but my aim is still to be the lead Manor driver going into the race, and the first to cross the line at the end of it."

Roberto Merhi - "I'm so excited to be back in the car this weekend for the season finale. As any reserve driver will tell you, I really missed the racing; it will be a long time yet before I'm ready to hang up my racing gloves for a full-time career in TV commentary! I've kept a close eye on everything the team has been doing over the past five races, so I don't think it will be too difficult to get back up to speed on Friday and see how I stand versus Will. I've missed the competitive spirit between us. The most important thing is to do the best job possible for the team on Sunday, and ensure we have a result to celebrate. It has been a long, hard season, so I want to say thank you for this opportunity and I hope I can deliver another strong performance to reward the faith the team has shown in me."

----
Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
No copyright infringement intended
Quotes belong to Drivers 

Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Sauber

Preview Quotes - 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."

----

Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Quotes belong to Drivers 

Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso


Carlos Sainz - "It's unbelievable how quickly my first season in Formula 1 has gone by! I still remember this time last year as if it was yesterday...It was a very special moment in my career too as, after the 2014 Abu Dhabi test with our friends at Infiniti Red Bull Racing, I was confirmed as a Scuderia Toro Rosso driver. It will now be good to go back there and race...

I have some very good memories (of the season): scoring my first ever F1 points in my first race in Australia; qualifying in P5 in front of my home crowd in Barcelona; racing from pits to points in Monaco. Okay, then there's been a bit of an unlucky streak, but we were able to overcome that and I've had some more good races lately, like Austin. I've learned so, so much this year that I can be sure I've become a better driver and I can use this experience to grow even more. This year was all about gaining experience, and that's what we've done!"

Max Verstappen - "It's a shame that it's already the last race of the season, it would be good to keep on racing for another few weeks! At least I have my simulator at home, I can race on that until the season starts again! I'm very happy with my first year in Formula 1. It's been a steep learning curve. We've scored some really good results, ending up very close to the podium thanks to our two P4's in Hungary and Austin! I've also had a lot of fun out on track - hopefully I can have some more this week.

Even though (The Yas Marina Circuit) has long straights, there are also plenty of corners, which is good. The atmosphere is also special, with the harbour so close, and it will be interesting to race starting in the daylight and finishing at night. It's the perfect setting for our last day at school. If we could finish the season sixth, that would be great - so let's go for it! We will all push together, that's for sure."

----
Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
No copyright infringement intended
Quotes belong to Drivers 

Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

Preview Quotes - 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.”


----
Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
No copyright infringement intended
Quotes belong to Drivers 

Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Williams

Preview Quotes - 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.”

----

Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Quotes belong to Drivers 

Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - McLaren

Preview Quotes - 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."

----

Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Quotes belong to Drivers 

Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Lotus

Preview Quotes - 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.”

----
Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
No copyright infringement intended
Quotes belong to Drivers

Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Red Bull

Preview Quotes - 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.”

----
Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
No copyright infringement intended
Quotes belong to Drivers 

Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Mercedes

Preview Quotes - 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."

----

Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Quotes belong to Drivers 

Abu Dhabi GP: Circuit Preview

(Image belongs to abovav.com - All rights belong to the owner)

The "Yas Marina Circuit" currently hosts the last race on the F1 calendar and is located on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The circuit is one of the newer ones on the calendar, having just opened in 2009. 

    The circuit runs anti-clockwise and has 21 turns. It has a capacity of 50,000 & is 3.451 miles in length and the race runs for 55 laps.

    In 2014, Nico Rosberg got pole position but lost out on the win to Lewis Hamilton. Felipe Massa came in Second and Valtteri Bottas got Third, making it a double-podium for Williams F1 Team. Retirements included: Daniil Kvyat (Driveshaft), Pastor Maldonado (Engine), & Kamui Kobayashi (Vibration).

----

Article Written By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended
Image belongs to: abovav.com & All rights belong to the owner

Follow us on Twitter @F1Insider78 

Abu Dhabi GP: Schedule

SCHEDULE:

November 26th / Thursday

15:00 - Drivers Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

November 27th / Friday

13:00 - 14:30 - Free Practice #1

16:05 - 16:45 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

17:00 - 18:30 - Free Practice #2 

19:10 - 20:00 - Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

November 28th / Saturday

11:00 - 12:05 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

11:30 - 12:00 - Team Pit-Stop Practice

14:00 - 15:00 - Free Practice #3

15:05 - 16:20 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

17:00 - Qualifying

November 29th / Sunday

15:15 - 16:15 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

15:20 - Fastest Lap Of The Year Award

15:25 - Drivers Photograph (End Of the year photo)

15:30 - Drivers Track Parade

15:45 - 16:15 - Starting Grid Presentation

16:46 - National Anthem

17:00 - Race 

(Times subject to change)

----

Article Written By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Feature: Star Drivers Of The Brazilian GP

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - "My star driver of the Brazilian Grand Prix is 18-year-old Max Verstappen. Once again the rookie has shown incredible maturity and understanding of his car. This was specifically obvious on track as he overtook several cars, earning a significant amount of attention.

These overtakes were some of the best from the race. This fact was highlighted as Hamilton declared it was impossible to overtake on the Interlagos track as he crossed the line second. Some could argue Max's ability to overtake in such extreme, high-pressure circumstances is due to recklessness but others could argue his overtake was that of a champion. Ex-F1 driver David Coulthard would agree (as he stated on BBC's live F1 coverage). Congratulations to Max on continued success in the overtaking department. I look forward to seeing the moves you make in the final race of the season!"

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "My driver of the weekend is Sebastian Vettel.. He is really helping take Ferrari back to the top after a rough couple of years.. It's really great to see him and the team staying consistent and I know next year they'll come back even stronger and hopefully take some wins. Vettel has done an outstanding job with Ferrari & It's great to see he's getting good results."

----
Quotes belong to F1Insider78 & Are available for use with permission - Please visit the contact page. 

Feature: Brazilian GP - Our Post-Race Quotes

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "First of all, huge Congratulations to Rosberg, Hamilton and Vettel on their results. Brazil is always a great race.. It has a lot of character and Interlagos is just a really up-beat circuit. This was Nasr's first F1 race at his home circuit and that's always a great feeling for a driver. A shame that Massa was excluded.. But rules are rules. It was also wonderful to see that people continue to keep Senna a huge part of the race and the sport. He, to this day, is still a huge inspiration for so many. The race however, was overshadowed by the tragic events of the weekend and my thoughts and prayers are with everyone in France at the moment."

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - "Interlagos is renowned for its buzzing atmosphere supplied by the incredible enthusiastic Brazilian fans. This season, Interlagos has not disappointed. Cheers were made for all of the drivers however, none as much as their very own and the late Ayrton Senna. Ayrton Senna was remembered in every second of the event. A beautiful memorial image was on the side of a building, providing fans with the comfort of their hero. In addition to this, "Senna" was chanted throughout the podium celebrations which were more reserved due to the tragic occurrences of the weekend. Brazil remains to be one of my favourite races of the season but I can't help feeling somewhat saddened by it as it's the penultimate race of the season. Having said that, I can't think of a better track to hold the event."

----
Quotes belong to F1Insider78 and are available for use with permission. Please visit the contact page. 

Brazilian GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

~~First off, our thoughts go out to everyone involved in the tragic events that took place in France recently and we keep everyone in our prayers.~~

----

The Brazilian GP got underway after a long weekend of practice sessions and Qualifying. It was a great day for Mercedes & Ferrari as they once again soared to the top and added more points to their tally in both the Drivers & Constructors results.

    Carlos Sainz was unfortunate enough to be the only retirement of the race due to a power failure. His team-mate however, scored 2 Championship points by finishing in 9th, another good result for Verstappen.

    Pastor Maldonado and Marcus Ericsson had a collision during the race and Maldonado was handed a 5-Second-Time-Penalty to his final race time. However, he retained his position after the 5 seconds were added.

    Felipe Massa had originally finished 8th at his home GP, but was later excluded from the race results altogether after the FIA found that Williams had exceeded the tyre heat limit prior to the race.

    Nico Rosberg went on to win the race with Hamilton coming in second and Sebastian Vettel rounding up the top three. This was Rosberg's second win in a row.

Here are the final results

RACE RESULTS

1. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany / + 25 Points

2. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain / + 18 Points

3. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany / + 15 Points

4. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland / + 12 Points

5. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland / + 10 Points

6. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany / + 8 Points

7. Daniil Kvyat / Red Bull-Renault / Russia / + 6 Points

8. Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Mercedes / France / + 4 Points

9. Max Verstappen / Toro Rosso-Renault / Netherlands / + 2 Points

10. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Mercedes / Venezuela /  + 1 Point

11. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-Renault / Australia

12. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico

13. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil

14. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain

15. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain

16. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden

17. Will Stevens / Manor-Ferrari / Great Britain

18. Alexander Rossi / Manor-Ferrari / America

RETIRED - Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Renault / Spain / Power Loss

DISQUALIFIED - Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil / Excluded Tyre Heat Limit

----

Article Written By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Follow us on Twitter @F1Insider78