| Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | Yas Marina 14 November 2010 |
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With the championship already settled, the inaugural Abu Dhabi race looked set for a demonstration of McLaren-Mercedes might. Hamilton barnstormed qualifying but a few laps into Sunday’s race, it became apparent that car number 1 had a critical brake problem. Lewis was forced into retirement on lap 20, but not before Sebastian Vettel had charged his way to the front. “It's a shame now that the season ends as we are on a roll!” laughed the young German who completed a hat trick of Red Bull wins to round off the year. The closing laps of a tumultuous 2009 produced a fearsome battle of wills between Mark Webber and Jenson Button, with the champion elect not quite able to wrest second from the feisty Australian.
The first city of Abu Dhabi is a burgeoning municipality and serves as the capital of the seven states which together constitute the United Arab Emirates. Yas Island, with its marina, yacht club and gleaming new race track, lies just off the mainland, a short drive from the downtown area. The Emiratis have spent an unprecedented amount of money to give F1 its most spectacular backdrop. With a harbour section, an under-grandstand run-off area to keep the spectators as close as possible to the action, a hotel straddling the track and cars rejoining the circuit from the pits via a tunnel, the first Abu Dhabi GP was an utterly unique experience.
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RACE TICKET SERVICE |
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3.451 MILES |
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