on air diary...
AWESOME ABU DHABI
posted by Lee McKenzie on 03/11/2009
End of Season fever turned to depression in the space of 24 hours! Abu Dhabi proved the doubters, who thought we should finish the season in Brazil wrong, and put on an outstanding event. The atmosphere was electric ....but then it was all over.
Next stage - you are surrounded by people saying, "this is the last F1 check-in of the season" or "this is the last F1 flight of the season." And when I told Sebastian Vettel on Sunday that there were 133 days until the race in Bahrain, I thought the poor guy was going to burst into tears. For many people F1 is like a drug and Abu Dhabi definitely left them wanting more.
I am meant to be writing and end of season review but all journalists are struggling to fit everything in from the amazing and controversial season without missing out something important – otherwise it would read as long as War and Peace! I decided for the moment that a much more pleasant job was simply to look back at Abu Dhabi.
There were sceptics. I was verging into that category. I am not a lover of temperatures in the high 30’s whilst I am trying to work, clad in my BBC racesuit! I like scenery, not vast, sandy areas. Somehow I loved the Abu Dhabi event – definitely in my top 3 of the year.
Walking into the Yas MARINA paddock, I should have seen the clue and expected a boat or 2 but I hadn’t really thought about it and to be met by a stunning marina (obvious now!), it was beautiful addition. Then there was the space age Yas Hotel which you all saw lit up that the cars drove under (behind me in the photo above). There was the UFO-like, massive Ferrari world which held 4 concerts Beyonce, Jamiroquai, Kings of Leon and Aerosmith and I don’t think I have been in a better concert venue and Beyonce was amazing!
On Saturday evening BMW held a farewell party. The invite said between 9 and 12. I definitely saw team members, from all teams, drivers, journalists and team bosses at about 1:30am on a race morning! It is testament to the people who have worked at BMW that so many people wanted to spend as much time enjoying themselves together with them as possible. It was a great night and hopefully we will see many of them again, albeit in different shirts.
Sunday, the paddock was packed with celebs, the temperature was rising along with the end of season excitement. The lights went out and for the last time in 2009 the race was on. And what a way to finish; Mark Webber and Jenson Button battling it out for 2nd position right up to the chequered flag. Spectacular racing and a fitting way to end the season .
So now what do we do? Well testing starts in December. The driver/team puzzle is gradually coming together and I have about another 3 hours in trying to get my head round an end of season review!
Thanks for dropping by
Lee x
