Hollywood icons or F1 stars? Fans reveal what makes Abu Dhabi GP so special

Brad Pitt, the ageless Hollywood wonder, set pulses racing when he walked down to the Yas Marina track alongside Formula One drivers at the Abu Dhabi GP.

Pitt was not the only celebrity that drew cheers from spectators during the weekend.

As the superrich enjoyed the show from the comfort of their luxury yachts at Yas Marina, even Spanish star Penelope Cruz appeared on the grid, sending press photographers into a state of frenzy.

Continuing with the tradition of attracting A-list celebs, the Abu Dhabi GP put on a spectacular show again.

On the track, British sensation Lando Norris gave a glimpse into the future with a dominant race that earned McLaren their first constructors’ title since 1998.

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Lewis Hamilton, Norris’ legendary compatriot, bid farewell to Mercedes with a stirring fourth-place finish despite starting from a lowly 16th position.

If that brilliant race was not enough, the seven-time world champion, who is moving to Ferrari next year, entertained the spectators with celebratory 'doughnut' spins on the track.

But it's not just the star drivers, the brilliant team of engineers behind them and movie stars that make this Grand Prix such an amazing spectacle.

It’s also the people, the fans, who come from far and wide to make this an unforgettable event.

Last year, 65 per cent of the 170,000 attendees at Yas Marina were tourists.

We are still waiting for the official figures for this year, but you would have been swarmed by foreign visitors if you had entered the Fan Zone.

They came from everywhere — France, South Africa, Great Britain, Germany, Kyrgyzstan and even Reunion, a small French island on the Indian Ocean.

Anne-Cécile Sadeyen offered a big smile when asked if her trip from Reunion to Abu Dhabi was memorable.

“Yes, of course. We love Formula One, this is our first experience of attending a race and we could not have come to a better place,” she said.

“The atmosphere is amazing here. We had heard a lot about it. But coming here and experiencing it is a different feeling.”

A few yards away from Sadeyen at the Fan Zone, two young women — Kita Karim and Mavi Akintola — were walking gingerly before they stopped and started dancing to the beat of Dua Lipa’s Levitating as the female DJ brought out her full collection of chartbusters.

One of them, Kita, flew from London to attend the race.

“My friend lives here in Abu Dhabi, so I wanted to visit her and watch the race here,” said Kita who traces her roots to Malawi, the East African country.

Her friend Mavi religiously attends the Abu Dhabi GP.

“It’s my fifth year, I have always enjoyed this GP,” the Nigerian national said.

So what makes this event so special?

“It’s the vibe, friendliness of the people, it’s a beautiful event,” Kita said.

“You don’t have to be focused on the race alone, there is much more to do here as fans. I am going to come here every single year, and I am going to recommend it to all my friends in the UK.”

British expat Iain Younger, who lives in Abu Dhabi, was so impressed by the Fan Zone activities that he wants to bring his three-year-old son next year.

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