What were your first impressions of Yas Marina Circuit last year?
Everybody was massively impressed. The scale, the quality, the layout is magnificent, and it looks great, especially at night. They put on a good race with some exciting elements, in terms of overtaking spots. The track was a bit grubby, a bit dusty when we first arrived but they always are when they’re first constructed. That and Singapore were two great new venues last year which looked just incredible on television.
Have you driven round the track yourself?
Yes, last year I went round in a two-seater F1 car, did about twenty or thirty laps, so I feel I know the track pretty well.
How did the drivers react to the circuit? Did they enjoy the race?
I think they enjoyed it. At the end of the day as a professional driver, there’s straight bits, left bits and right bits and you try to shorten the track as much as you can by cutting the curbs just right. So you apply a fairly standard philosophy to every race track. But then the other aspect of it is if it really challenges you – drivers like a challenge. I think they enjoyed that aspect of it, there’s room to get it wrong, but if you do make an error you can still stay in the race because there’s a few decent run-off areas. Generally speaking I think they were all pretty positive. Inevitably a driver who has a good weekend is going to be more positive than a driver whose car didn’t quite work.
Are there any particular drivers whose style is suited to the track at all?
It’s more about the cars really, the drivers are all world class. The cars have changed so much in the last year, nothing stands still in Formula One. The cars will be quicker than last year when they arrive, they’ll handle differently since there’s technical areas of the cars that have evolved dramatically. The track layout won’t turn the formbook on its head, Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren have got the fastest cars, with Mercedes and Renault shadowing them. I don’t think there’ll be any big surprises, we know roughly who’ll be populating the front of the grid but it’s just a question of who really dials in.
The McLarens are a bit faster in a straight line, the Red Bulls are quicker through the corners and that’s the sum total of it. What I think is going to be fascinating this year is that the championship will almost certainly – unless something really bizarre happens in Brazil – be very much alive when we get to Abu Dhabi. It should be the showdown of what’s been one of the all-time classic Formula One seasons. Abu Dhabi’s going to be the stage and there could well still be three drivers in it. We rock up there three or four days after Brazil, and they first start turning a wheel five days after the Brazilian Grand Prix, having crossed a couple of continents. I’d be amazed if there’s not still two drivers in it, but there’s a good chance there’ll still be three with a shot at the title.
Do you think the fact that it’s so soon after Brazil and such a long journey away could make a difference?
I don’t think it’s an issue. Formula One’s one big circus and they’re used to getting themselves around, so they’ll just turn up and get on with it. It’s more of a challenge for the mechanics to prepare the cars in time. Here at the BBC we have a tag-team of different people and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the teams do that as well. It’s certainly a big logistical challenge.
What do the drivers tend to get up to once the season’s finished?
They do have a habit of letting go a bit. They’ll probably be at Amber Lounge, where the pressure valve comes off. The only thing that’s going to spoil that this year is the testing. Most of the teams are staying over for testing. So they’ll have to be on their best behaviour for that. 2011 starts in earnest the day after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. They’re changing tyres for next year, so they’ll be keen to run on the Pirellis, so it’s a hugely important time. So they won’t be having much of a yahoo on Sunday night. There might be wild parties, but they’ll be behind closed doors. They’re not like footballers. I’ll don’t think you’ll see too many drunken F1 drivers getting out of control. They represent global organisations. It’s not like it used to be in the sixties and seventies when they used to go out and eat and drink together. They’re more sensible these days.
How about yourself?
Preparation for 2011 starts pretty much straight away. The winter’s not actually that long. It was the same when I was driving, there’s an awful lot to do. We’re pretty much on the road all year, so you have to do stuff like sort out insurance, go to the dentist. I’m sure the drivers are the same. All those basic things you have to do in life. See if the family still recognise you or not. There’ll be de-briefs, pre-briefs. It’s a hamster wheel really, you don’t really get off. It’ll be five minutes before we’re on a plane to Bahrain.
Back to the title contenders. What are your thoughts on the men still in the running?
I’m delighted to say I don’t know who’s going to win the title, it’s so close to call. After Korea, Vettel’s engine failure knocked him hard. Button looks like he could be the first to fall, but as for the other four… If Vettel wins both races he’s still got a great chance. With the new points structure it’s all about winning races. Alonso’s got a very small cushion and the experience, having won the title twice before, will help. Webber and Vettel have never won it before, so they’re under a lot of pressure. Hamilton has, but they all want to win this classic championship. They don’t want this one to get away. It’ll unfold during the Brazilian Grand Prix. If Vettel and Button are not in contention, I think they’ll fall into line and help their respective teammates in Abu Dhabi. Ferrari are focused on one car and have been since back in July, Massa’s there to help take points off Alonso’s rivals. Quite when Red Bull and McLaren decide to play the team tactics – which strictly speaking are against the rules – I’m not sure. It really will unfold lap by lap over the next two races.
Is the title fight something drivers tend to talk about socially? Or will they keep their distance?
You tend to get clusters of drivers, usually those of the same nationality, but otherwise they don’t really hang loose together very much. You can’t really, it’s your arch enemy and you don’t want to give anything away. They’ll just be super-focused at this time, they won’t be discussing the championship. And they’ll all be trying to lay the pressure on each other and saying each other are the favourites, trying to side-step the pressure.
There’s a new Grand Prix in India next year. Will they be looking to Abu Dhabi for inspiration?
Hermann Tilke who’s designed these tracks – his sixth new one was in Korea this season – is definitely improving and learning how to maximise a Grand Prix. They have Grands Prix in these countries to sell the country, to sell tourism, to put the country on the map. We tend to go to places that are never going to get an Olympics or a World Cup. F1 is big business globally and happens every two weeks, so for the countries that commit to a Grand Prix it’s not a small investment, but they can certainly make it a successful investment.
Martin Brundle will be appearing at the Chequered Flag Ball alongside Beverley Knight, David Coulthard, Eddie Jordan, Austin Healey and other celebrity guests on November 12 at the InterContinental Hotel. For more information go to www.chequeredflagball.com.
