Max and Carlos preview the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Published on 25 November 2015 by Niels Hendrix
The Formula 1 2015 season has just flown by. Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz are off to Abu Dhabi, the nineteenth and final Grand Prix of the season! The two Scuderia Toro Rosso rookies are hoping to put on another good show and finish the season on a high.
Carlos: "It's unbelievable how quickly my first season in Formula 1 has gone by! I still remember this time last year as if it was yesterday... It was a very special moment in my career too as, after the 2014 Abu Dhabi test with our friends at Infiniti Red Bull Racing, I was confirmed as a Scuderia Toro Rosso driver! It will now be good to go back there and race...”
Max: "Yes, I also can't wait! It's a shame that it's already the last race of the season, it would be good to keep on racing for another few weeks! At least I have my simulator at home, I can race on that until the season starts again!”
How happy are you with your first season in Formula 1?
Carlos: "I look back and have some very good memories: scoring my first ever F1 points in my first race in Australia, qualifying in P5 in front of my home crowd in Barcelona, racing from pits to points in Monaco... Okay, then there's been a bit of an unlucky streak, but we were able to overcome that and I've had some more good races lately, like Austin for example. I've learned so, so much this year that I can be sure I've become a better driver and I can use this experience to grow even more. This year was all about gaining experience, and that's what we've done!”
Max: "Yeah, it's also been a steep learning curve for myself! I'm very happy with my first year in Formula 1. We've scored some really good results, ending up very close to the podium thanks to our two P4's in Hungary and Austin! I've also had a lot of fun out on track. Hopefully I can have some more this week in Abu Dhabi”
Carlos: "I'm sure we will! It's also a track that suits our car a bit better than the last few races...”
Max: "Yes, even though it has long straights, there are also plenty of corners, which is good. The atmosphere there is also special, with the harbour so close, and it will be interesting to race starting in the daylight and finishing at night – a twilight race! It's the perfect setting for our 'last day at school'! If we could finish the season sixth... That would be great! So, let's go for it! We will all push together, that's for sure!”
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