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A volunteer smiles as the F1 weekend officially begins. Victor Besa / The National
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An F1 team member wheels out wet weather tyres. Victor Besa / The National
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Early visitors take photos of on the home straight. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VGBGBYSBBVA7DMJIWBSM67N26I.jpg?smart=true&auth=351fc888a7e0e1fcd971f935ab3c1abc5daf3cb18c87b87357683bcf118249d3&width=400&height=225)
Stewards and members of the public get early access into the pit lane ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Victor Besa / The National
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Five-time world champion Lewis Hamilton's pitbox. Victor Besa / The National
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A track official talks on his walkie-talkie as the track opens for the public. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/E2WMVD2MTCUXZWSLJFO3MRZQEQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=44f5a2cad8f9979f730761a7bfbdb743f48a55c187d1d06a17aef384fbae4878&width=400&height=225)
A fan takes a photo into an F1 pitbox.
Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S3RRUJCGA3IAPATYPV7GJ5DWBM.jpg?smart=true&auth=89994991ab260387aed9a3d45fc45c038ca894f82817d1d78de391eda11d8b04&width=400&height=225)
Stewards smile on the public pitwalk. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6CLV2ZQ5PNIM4HX6UNJQJDBUNQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=95a3a02ce9045e07f40b84633481d16c30c63fc3314a3ec257e5e4bf14fae118&width=400&height=225)
A look in the Force India pits. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AACFZT3BPJGUGZJUMQKLDSMQ3M.jpg?smart=true&auth=e5cda3ebefd077bf7d54141cbec00ef3f917d0df67dcaf5f8dd59985f57ba91b&width=400&height=225)
A Red Bull Racing mechanic puts together the car for the weekend. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WSX2D63VFLYKMYQU637LHMQKSE.jpg?smart=true&auth=e502618bb46cb8832a6423705d8706dcba97f9eded675f8001f9ad5b197b1afb&width=400&height=225)
A volunteer smiles as the F1 weekend officially begins. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M2UBSLV5EWN7PUOJE2TKVMTEEY.jpg?smart=true&auth=6960b63b6041c6bf246c8d73f183f5620f51ae923611ca902945770b400c361e&width=400&height=225)
An F1 team member wheels out wet weather tyres. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q7QOHJLGAYD2AGWKVLJSVQ3URU.jpg?smart=true&auth=0b9490f11e21a356432c763a390589a4f17575321561407ac7694eebe769d1a2&width=400&height=225)
Early visitors take photos of on the home straight. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VGBGBYSBBVA7DMJIWBSM67N26I.jpg?smart=true&auth=351fc888a7e0e1fcd971f935ab3c1abc5daf3cb18c87b87357683bcf118249d3&width=400&height=225)
Stewards and members of the public get early access into the pit lane ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7T7ATN63QPKL2R6AP4APRIDBHI.jpg?smart=true&auth=747d813515f327293366d0254ac8311da4e0139321e94613005a8aee1234ce4a&width=400&height=225)
Five-time world champion Lewis Hamilton's pitbox. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5SFJLYKL52EICK27BSTVC5ERTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=fba4b2f07a393d63f0eb6d1a694f16bba6156be50bcf0c811db6ab9c2d7a3954&width=400&height=225)
A track official talks on his walkie-talkie as the track opens for the public. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/E2WMVD2MTCUXZWSLJFO3MRZQEQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=44f5a2cad8f9979f730761a7bfbdb743f48a55c187d1d06a17aef384fbae4878&width=400&height=225)
A fan takes a photo into an F1 pitbox.
Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S3RRUJCGA3IAPATYPV7GJ5DWBM.jpg?smart=true&auth=89994991ab260387aed9a3d45fc45c038ca894f82817d1d78de391eda11d8b04&width=400&height=225)
Stewards smile on the public pitwalk. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6CLV2ZQ5PNIM4HX6UNJQJDBUNQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=95a3a02ce9045e07f40b84633481d16c30c63fc3314a3ec257e5e4bf14fae118&width=400&height=225)
A look in the Force India pits. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AACFZT3BPJGUGZJUMQKLDSMQ3M.jpg?smart=true&auth=e5cda3ebefd077bf7d54141cbec00ef3f917d0df67dcaf5f8dd59985f57ba91b&width=400&height=225)
A Red Bull Racing mechanic puts together the car for the weekend. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WSX2D63VFLYKMYQU637LHMQKSE.jpg?smart=true&auth=e502618bb46cb8832a6423705d8706dcba97f9eded675f8001f9ad5b197b1afb&width=400&height=225)
A volunteer smiles as the F1 weekend officially begins. Victor Besa / The National
F1 frenzy begins: thousands descend on Yas Island for Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend
More than 60,000 to attend grand prix with thousands more in party mode for the weekend
![Patrick Ryan](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fb4432acf-0cbd-43ef-bbf7-b903a0cba2bf.png?smart=true&auth=20b2c1ccbfa88518daf6fca336b04db526eccdfdd1ed279fd34cb8af25265a9e&width=70&height=70)
Patrick Ryan
22 November, 2018
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