Gary Meenaghan and Graham Caygill note the news from yesterday's qualifying including; Roberto Mancini, the Manchester City manager, being chauffeur-driven on the monoblocked walkway by Khaldoon Al Mubarak, the Man City chairman.
Mancini gets a guided tour from his chairman
Roberto Mancini took a break from the pressures of maintaining Manchester City's unbeaten start to the English Premier League season by being given a guided tour of the paddock at Yas Marina. The Italian, dressed in a cream suit, was chauffeur-driven on the monoblocked walkway by Khaldoon Al Mubarak, the City chairman. He was later spotted in Ferrari's paddock.
A Hard Day's Night for McCartney
Sir Paul McCartney waltzed into the paddock late in the afternoon surrounded by bodyguards, officials and photographers. He smiled for cameras before disappearing into the Ferrari garage, where he was later seen warming up for his performance at Yas Arena this evening by watching the qualifying session from the pit wall of the Italian manufacturers. "The British boys [Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button] are hopefully going to win tomorrow because we're in town vibin' it up," said the former Beatle. "I'm happy to be in Abu Dhabi and doing the gig tomorrow night."
Williams go to back of the queue
Nigel Mansell's pole position record that Sebastian Vettel matched yesterday was set in a Williams car. That must feel a long time ago now for the British team as they start today's race with both cars on the back row. Rubens Barrichello was unable to set a lap time at all in qualifying due to an oil leak in his engine, but he has been granted approval to race by the stewards. His teammate, Pastor Maldonado, was 17th fastest but had a 10-place grid penalty hanging over him after making a ninth engine change (only eight are allowed by the FIA during the season) after the last race in India, thus putting him to the back.
Whiting issues warning over cutting corners
Race Control will be keeping a close eye on corner-cutting at Turn 8 today. Drivers received guidance from Charlie Whiting, the F1 race director, on what will be frowned upon at the race. Whiting said in his note: "If two cars are in close proximity entering Turn 8 and, by cutting behind the apex of Turn 9, the leading one rejoins the track with a greater lead over the following car, he will be reported to the stewards as having gained an advantage by leaving the track." Whiting added that any driver behind a car who missed the turning for Turn 8 and still had the option of using DRS (Drag Reduction System) would not be allowed to use it for the run to Turn 11 for that lap.
Di Resta hit in the pocket
Paul di Resta was fined for pit-lane speeding by the stewards during qualifying yesterday. The Force India racer from Scotland was hit in the pocket for the sum of €400 (Dh 2,020) for driving 101.2kph when the limit was 100kph. He joins Vitaly Petrov, the Renault driver, and Vitantonio Liuzzi, the Hispania Racing Team driver, in being penalised, with the latter pair being punished for transgressions in Friday's practice. Michael Schumacher, the seven-time world champion, was also up before the stewards yesterday over missing the chicane at Turn 12 during practice, but no action was taken against the veteran German driver.
Hair-raising Button
Jenson Button, the McLaren-Mercedes driver, has been growing a moustache in support of Movember, the international charity which aims to raise money and awareness for men's health. Button's hirsute upper lip certainly set tongues wagging, with the Briton proclaiming: "I'm a hairy monster."