Wow! What a weekend that was. Any time we have four days in a single weekend it is a bonus.
But when we have the marvels of the Formula 1, that many celebrities and a sparkling new venue it has to be classed as one of the best weekends ever.
Here are our top 10 highlights. Let us know what you loved or loated about the weekend’s activities.
Yas Hotel
What’s not to love? It’s an amazing piece of architecture, and the way the LED colours flickered in the evening breeze almost had us tearful. The glittering jewel in Abu Dhabi’s greatest achievement to date.
Celeb spotting
Cliff Richard failed to show, so we had to make do with Jeremy Irons (seen just about everywhere, mostly in his dressing gown, James Corden (we caught the chubby British comedian eating Jenson Button out of house and home), Richard Branson (last seen at the Brawn party at Etoiles, chatting with Jeremy Irons – presumably about sensible clothing), Josh Hartnett (causing girls to swoon, again at Etoiles), Boris Becker (looking surprisingly plump for a man who was once a sporting sensation), Bernie Ecclestone (barking orders and looking like Andy Warhol’s barnet twin), Jackie Stewart (getting his hands dirty in the pit lane), Charles Dance (papping Kimi Raikonnen), Janet Jackson (we’ll never forget the way she smiled at Time Out at the Grand Prix Ball – our hearts have yet to freeze over again), Nicky Clarke (who arrived early and was, for about ten minutes, the most famous person at the Grand Prix Ball – a bizarre state of affairs for all involved), Neve Campbell (getting down with the crowds at the Gipsy Kings’ performance), Kimberly Stewart (doing very little, as usual, at the Grand Prix Ball).
The chaos
Getting to and from Yas Island was fraught with difficulties, but there was fun to be had in swapping war stories. One American expat told us how his bus driver (officially employed by track management) circled the circuit several times looking for ‘Brown parking’, ignoring his passengers’ cries every time they passed ‘Bronze’ – their intended destination. On the second day, Time Out was told to arrive at Zayed Sports City for the 8am shuttle bus, which was eventually postponed to 9am, and then 10am (by which point we’d already caught a taxi, though the driver had no idea of how to get to the island, and proceeded to head for the Corniche). Another bus driver was apparently confused by the ‘Sand’ parking area – yelling as he drove, ‘but it’s ALL sand!’
Traveling in style
Golf buggies seemed to be the vehicle of choice this year; Time Out rode them everywhere, at a rocketing speed of 12km per hour. Take that Jenson Button!
The paddock
If you had passes to the paddock club, you were in fine company. The facility was a beautifully designed walkway that allowed pedestrians to mingle with drivers and celebrities, shaded with young palms and traditional architecture. Stepping behind the team buildings took you onto the edge of the marina, where the living was very easy indeed.
Button Vs Vettel
Ok, so Jenson Button and Mark Webber battling out in the final laps proved the sporting highlight, but Button Vs Vettel at the post-race press conference was real comedy. It started when Vettel prematurely announced Button’s intention to marry early next year. Button thanked him for his big mouth, claiming it was untrue. Vettel continued to press him, even suggesting he’d been invited, but Button wasn’t shifting. Still, the touch paper had been lit, and from then on in it became a competition to outwit one another. Button had the last word when he spoke of upcoming 30th birthday. ’30,’ he repeated in disbelief, before adding cheekily, ‘imagine that Sebastian.’
Trulli Vs Sutil
Jarno Trulli and Adrian Sutil continued their bitter rivalry in a hilarious press conference that saw them bickering like old women. Raising the question of who hit who at the Brazilian Grand Prix the week before, veteran Trulli insisted, ‘You were trying to overtake me, outside on the kerbing,’ to which the younger Sutil sulked, ‘It’s not a problem to be on the kerbing. I don’t know how long you want to learn the rules.’ How we roared.
Jenson’s babies
On the first day, we managed to sneak into Jenson Button’s team building. Let it be known: Mr Button keeps a very fine stock of jelly babies. We filled our pockets like greedy children until his PR realised who we were and chased us away.
The wise philosophy of Sebastian Vettel
He may only be 22 years of age, but Abu Dhabi’s inaugural champion has already learnt to speak in finely tuned clichés. ‘You can’t change yesterday,’ he intoned solemnly, ‘but you can change tomorrow.’ Move over Wittgenstein.
Bootymania
Beyonce’s risqué performance on the opening night is already the stuff of legend, but we especially enjoyed watching grown men – the kind you see preening at the gym – go weak at the knees and yelp like prepubescent girls as the bootylicious one strutted down the vanity ramps into the crowd. How you failed to sweep her off her feet is beyond us, fellas.
Don’t forget to leave your comments and tell us about your personal highlights.
