Most notable among the new faces is max Verstappen, the young Dutchman who first took to the track in 2015 at the age of 17 and has become a bit of a sensation since. It also shifts focus off the known favourites and brings newer faces into the spotlight.
This takes a bit off pressure off the racers, who will still be competing for third place, but can mostly race purely for the thrill of the sport. The talent lined up for the weekend includes contemporary idols such as Post Malone, Sam Smith and The Weeknd, with Guns N’ Roses slated to play at the after-race concert on Sunday.Īs the last race of the racing season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix takes place after the Formula 1 Drivers’ and Constructors’ races, which have already guaranteed Hamilton first place with Vettel as a very likely second. The Grand Prix experience began on Thursday evening in the lead-up to the main event with a series of musical performances taking place at the du Arena and the island’s popular nightclubs Iris and MAD. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which made its debut in the Formula 1 calendar in 2009, is held at the world-class Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island.