F1 Paddock Diary: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Part One

The Formula 1 paddock will be thanks to four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel throughout the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, including Saturday night’s lap of the circuit.

Thursday

The heat in Abu Dhabi is the strongest I have ever experienced. This year’s tournament is being held earlier than usual in November because the World Cup will also be held in the last weeks of the month.

I arrived at the circuit early to confirm that Mick Schumacher would be replaced by Nico Hulkenberg at Haas. The team will schedule an early media conference with Gunter Steiner, who is in his usual active mood, at least to put an end to questions about who will drive for him next year.

The press release was around this time of year we always talk about these ‘last days of school’. Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso were placed in the same category. Jokes were flowing between the three during Vettel’s final press conference of his career and you could see how close the bond between Hamilton and the four-time world champion is. As Nicolas Latifi spoke I saw Hamilton pick up his phone to take a picture of himself, Alonso and Vettel with 13 world championships between them.

But the atmosphere changed when the current World Championship stopped. Max Verstappen has ripped into the media after Red Bull refused to comply with his orders to take the team through the final round in Brazil.

Interviews continued well into the evening, with many journalists apparently already thinking about the season’s review. We ended the day at a social event hosted by Mercedes on their roof terrace, where the lights twinkled over the water overlooking the W Hotel and harbour.

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Friday

Friday started by going down to the paddock to start thanking everyone I’ve worked with over the past year. F1’s busy, international schedule makes the paddock a close-knit environment, and at the end of the season it’s sometimes difficult to make sure to thank everyone for their time and energy.

I sat in the middle of the paddock and watched the drivers arrive for practice for the last time that season. Vettel coolly passed, smiling and nodding, as he was followed by fans wanting to get photos with the departing driver.

On the way to dinner that night, I saw F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali get out of the car and go to a restaurant he liked more than us. Stopping to say hello, I was surprised by his double denim outfit. We are very used to seeing people in team gear all the time, and sometimes they are unrecognizable when they leave the paddock. This outfit definitely caught my eye.

Saturday

For the final practice session of the season, I braved the blistering heat and chose to take to the streets – my last chance this year. Heading into turns 13 and 14 – left-handers from the track crossing hotel – I was surprised how close the cars were to the barrier on the exit. When I was 11 years old, I was pressed to go around but I had to stop – the heat was too strong to continue the journey. I had to leave the 10th year and admit defeat, I wanted some water.

After qualifying, the media frenzy was busy with many having the last few words for Vettel, who did himself proud by taking the Aston Martin to Q3. I don’t mind admitting that a tear came to my eye and ran down my cheek – I quickly wiped it away as it went into the pen. His arrival touched me more than I expected.

Another driver in the last F1 race weekend – for now at least – was Mick Schumacher. He inevitably faced many questions about his future, which he answered as calmly as ever.

I asked Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff if he had heard his comments at the FIA press conference that morning. Wolff spoke about his desire to bring Schumacher on board and how keen he is to add his talent to their team. After saying that he did not listen, I urged him to listen to kind words. My admirer gave me a ‘thank you’ wink as he left. I hope to see him in the paddock next year.

After the media sessions, Aston Martin invited us to an event organized by Vettel for the chance to run or walk the track with him. A few days before I left I couldn’t join the swing on the ankle, I waited at the end. The atmosphere was incredible as each team member finished the five kilometer run dripping with sweat. During his time in F1, he made many connections in the paddock, most of whom immediately met Vettel with a bear hug.

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I’m not usually one to ask for autographs, but four-time world champions don’t bow out of the sport every weekend, so this was clearly a case of ‘reducing circumstances’. Vettel kindly agreed to sign my 2022 F1 pass. I thanked him for his great contribution to F1 and left him to continue with the event. He pretty much stayed until everyone crossed the line.

Sunday

The late start of the race meant there was plenty of time to meet people earlier in the day. As I headed to the grid for the final season, I noticed that quite a few of the Ayale stands were half full. But the grid was full of celebrities and VIPs – I caught a glimpse of cricketers Ben Stokes, Joe Root and Jimmy Anderson.

As usual I watched the start of the race from the media, then went out to talk to the drivers after someone retired. Not for the first time this year, Alonso’s race has ended well before the checkered flag.

The media’s pen was a trick: Vettel, Schumacher, Daniel Ricciardo and Latifi headed for what was expected to be their final F1 race. As Vettel came up, I caught his eye early and managed to get a few final questions in with him before he disappeared.

Then it was Hamilton who crashed the Mercedes and failed to finish the race. But when I looked down I saw the words “Good luck” written on the sock, which I assume is for Vettel. I asked a few of the group but never got through.

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As the fireworks faded, we had a few final media sessions with Aston Martin’s Mike Krak and Red Bull’s Christian Horner, the latter enjoying his team’s 17th win of the season. After that, it was due to waving the paddock. No doubt we’ll be a bit busy back in the paddock in a few weeks time, but for now it’s “see you next year and have a great Christmas break” for all of us well-earned rest.

As I left I met Toto Wolf, who opened his arms and gave me a big hug. Touch by touch I made such an impression on the Mercedes team boss that I thanked him for his answers over the year, before offering a quick “good luck” to Schumacher, who is heading to Aston Martin, presumably to see Vettel.

Soon after, he created another image for Aston Martin’s hospitality area: none other than Fernando Alonso. The 2023 season is over.