Lewis Hamilton goes dune-bashing in Abu Dhabi

“Had a blast today on the dunes!," the Formula one driver posted on Instagram along with a video.

Stars are starting to descend on Abu Dhabi for the Grand Prix weekend, which runs from November 26-29.

Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton posted a picture of himself about to board a helicopter from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. The British F1 driver, who is widely expected to be crowned the world F1 champion on Sunday, has been busy in Abu Dhabi driving a speeding vehicle – but not the type that you might expect. Hamilton showed his fans he must be fairly confident of a win on Sunday, because instead of practising his laps around Yas Marina Circuit, he has been out in the desert, dune-bashing in a Polaris dune buggy.

“Had a blast today on the dunes!!!”, he posted on Instagram along with a video of himself tackling head on a monster of a dune. “Went HAM on these DUNES!!! So much fun!@petronasmotorsports #WinningFormula#UAE44.”

He has also noted the number 44 appearing around town to celebrate the country’s 44th National day celebrations. It couldn’t be more fitting for Hamilton, given that 44 is also Hamilton’s Mercedes racing number.

“Forty-four has always been my number, ever since I started [racing],” Hamilton told ESPN Sport in an interview last year when explaining why he’d requested to retain the racing number 44 on his car. “I won my first championship on number 44. I’m going to work very hard to ask the team if I can keep 44 on my car next year. Number one is a great thing but I will always know I’m No 1. Forty-four is my favourite number so I want to keep it on the car.”

Hamilton has more race victories than any other British driver in the history of Formula One and is currently third on the all-time wins list, with 43 wins – meaning that at the start of the week of the UAE’s 44th National day celebrations, Hamilton will be looking to win his 44th race.

Trey "Ace" Smith, son of Will Smith, aka DJ Ace, posted a picture of the grounds of Emirates Palace and on the Corniche watching the Beats on the Beach set go up, telling his fans how excited he is about the week ahead. He will be spinning out tunes as part of the line up kicking off the Yasalam F1 festivities on Thursday evening. The 23-year-old will also be filming his experiences in the city, as part of a production aptly titled The World Keeps Spinning.

Celebrity chefs are also expected to be living life in the fast lane this weekend in Abu Dhabi. The celebrity patissier, TV presenter and author Eric “Cakeboy” Lanlard, who has only recently returned from his last trip to Yas Island (where he demonstrated his baking talents at Taste of Abu Dhabi), will be in the capital on Friday, November 27.

He tweeted:

“I can’t wait !!!! I am arriving Friday ...Yepee #F1 #AbuDhabiGP.

Can you give me a lift ?? ...Super excited about My First #grandprix ...”

Lanlard will be hosting an afternoon tea at Stratof in Le Royal Meridien hotel in Abu Dhabi on Monday, November 30.