Paddock Postcard from Abu Dhabi
The paddock at the Yas Marina Circuit is one of the best of the season and is always abuzz with characters, which this year embraced Spanish and Bahraini royalty, FIA President Jean Todt, and the majority of each team’s senior management including McLaren’s Ron Dennis, Ferrari’s Luca di Montezemolo and Piero Lardi Ferrari and Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz.
Emanuelle Pirro was the stewards’ assistant this weekend, and other famous racing faces included Sir Jackie, Lady Helen and Mark Stewart, Jean Alesi, Philippe Streiff, Karun Chandhok, Tiago Monteiro, Marc Gene, Giancarlo Fisichella, Paul di Resta, Anthony Davidson and Alex Wurz.
The current F1 drivers gathered in the paddock on Thursday evening for the traditional end-of-season group photo. And for the first time this year the picture also included senior team members, including Sir Frank Williams and Ross Brawn, as well as Formula One Group CEO Bernie Ecclestone.
Businessmen galore were also in evidence this weekend as Virgin’s investors from Marussia paid a visit, together with Group Lotus representatives at Renault, while Korean Grand Prix prime mover Yung Cho Chung was able to attend a race and to relax at the same time.
Other movers and shakers included Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte, Australian Grand Prix supremo Ron Walker, Steve Madincea, operatic star Placido Domingo and former Benetton team manager Gordon Message.
On the track, 2011 BMW Sauber racer Sergio Perez was the victor in a great Saturday GP2 race from Britons Oliver Turvey, the polesitter, and Sam Bird.
Emanuelle Pirro was the stewards’ assistant this weekend, and other famous racing faces included Sir Jackie, Lady Helen and Mark Stewart, Jean Alesi, Philippe Streiff, Karun Chandhok, Tiago Monteiro, Marc Gene, Giancarlo Fisichella, Paul di Resta, Anthony Davidson and Alex Wurz.
The current F1 drivers gathered in the paddock on Thursday evening for the traditional end-of-season group photo. And for the first time this year the picture also included senior team members, including Sir Frank Williams and Ross Brawn, as well as Formula One Group CEO Bernie Ecclestone.
Businessmen galore were also in evidence this weekend as Virgin’s investors from Marussia paid a visit, together with Group Lotus representatives at Renault, while Korean Grand Prix prime mover Yung Cho Chung was able to attend a race and to relax at the same time.
Other movers and shakers included Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte, Australian Grand Prix supremo Ron Walker, Steve Madincea, operatic star Placido Domingo and former Benetton team manager Gordon Message.
On the track, 2011 BMW Sauber racer Sergio Perez was the victor in a great Saturday GP2 race from Britons Oliver Turvey, the polesitter, and Sam Bird.
Credit: Formula One Administration Ltd (http://www.formula1.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment