• GALLERY
• COLUMN

  Finally we've arrived in the last race of 2009 battle. The stage is in Abu Dhabi of United Arab Emirates. Huge circuit had been built among deserts and harbour of the Yas Island. Not only circuit but also hotels or gigantic theme park, they were just finished or even be under construction.

  It's completely new, but Sebastian has been still settled.

  “It's pretty much like every weekend," he says. “It's a new circuit but what do we do? Obviously the team and myself try to prepare. We try to collect as much data and information as we can. The GP2 cars tested here last weekend and I've done some laps on the simulator too. Other than that we come here, do the usual track walk and get some information about the circuit. It looks quite interesting, quite challenging. I would say it's a mix of Singapore and Bahrain. The car was competitive in the last few races, no matter where we were, so it should be good for us."

  He lost the chance of the championship and shed tears after the race in Brazil. Its shock was not so small but now it's been more than a week and he could refresh his mind.

  “It's normal to be disappointed," he admitted. “For sure it took some time, so it was a big disappointment. But in the end you have to see the positives and I think it was very good season for us. A lot of things happened, we learned a lot of lessons. All in all there are a lot of things we can do better next year, but for now the focus has to be on securing second place in the drivers7 championship and having a very good race on Sunday."

  He said finishing second in the championship doesn't matter just after the Brazilian Grand Prix. But it's not his real emotion now. Securing the second position in Drivers' Championship is the priority in the last Grand Prix of this season.

  “Sometimes you get out of the car and say things. You don't have a lot of time to think about it. Generally I'm not here to finish second or third. This hasn't changed, but for now third is worse than second so I want to win the vice title or be second in the championship."

  The drivers spoke highly of this track from the very beginning of Friday's session. Considering the race starts at 5 O'clock in the evening, free practice and qualifying session started with the afternoon sun. When the checkered flag is waved, the burning sun disappeared into the west sky and the circuit is illuminated with huge lights in the darkness.

  “Overall it's quite a thrill to drive, with some good corners. It's also pretty special to go under a hotel! Abu Dhabi is a new circuit, so new conditions ・ including starting driving I the daylight and finishing the session at night, which is quite exciting."

  Even though he couldn't secure the pole position, he was always catching the rival up from the very first lap of the race. And when he tried to attack for the top spot, the competitor retired and Sebastian easily won the last race of this season. He and the RB5 showed unbeatable speed in Abu Dhabi again.

  “It was a fantastic race!" he cried out. “The car was a dream today especially the last sector."

  “To sum up the season, it is up and down. I think the second half we have been very strong with four one-two finishes for Red Bull Racing, so congratulations to the team. They have been pushing, working and we can see that the car is getting quicker. We were able to build quite a weapon. So I'm very confident. I think we can only get stronger!"

  With the mortification of losing the title and lessons from this year's mistakes, Sebastian and the Red Bull Racing have already turned their eyes to the next year. Factory is busy in making the new car. 2010 is the year that they need to make the attractive speed shown this season to the result. Sebastian will leap higher and higher. We can't wait for its raise of the curtain is Bahrain in March!