Abu Dhabi: Sebastian Vettel may have already won the driver's title in the 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship but McLaren's duo of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton are looking to thwart the German's hat-trick bid on the Yas Marina Circuit this Sunday.
The McLaren team-mates, both former world champions and the two drivers who have managed to take some shine off Vettel's dominant 2011 by winning three and two races respectively, will be looking to blot the reigning world champion's unbeaten record of two out of two wins here in Abu Dhabi.
Vettel has so far this year won 11 of the 17 races while Button (3), Hamilton (2) and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso (one) have shared the remaining as so far only world champions have topped the podium this year.
Memories
Speaking of the year's penultimate race, Button said, "Abu Dhabi has special memories for me because it was my first race after I'd won the world championship in 2009, so it made racing that weekend a really fun and enjoyable experience — I remember I had a fantastic battle with Mark [Webber] and finished third."
In last year's title-deciding final race at Yas, Button again finished third and will be looking to make it third time lucky with a win and stay ahead of Alonso in the race for second place behind Vettel this year.
"It's usually been quite difficult to overtake here, especially last year, but I think that DRS will change all that," he said. Button predicted that this year's contest on the Yas circuit was likely to produce some extra thrills on the straight.
"The back straight is one of the longest in Formula One so I expect to see a lot of action there. It would be great to see the new rules turn this circuit into a place where overtaking is more common and more exciting," the 2009 world champion said.
"The Yas Marina circuit looks and feels spectacular and futuristic: it's a unique place — the way the circuit changes from dusk to darkness is incredible, and must be an amazing experience for the spectators," he said.
"The way it's built, the grandstands are almost on top of the action so everyone gets a great view," said Button.
Button has 240 points in second place behind Vettel with Alonso third on 227 and Red Bull's Mark Webber third on 221. Team-mate Hamilton is on 202 and the battle for second position in this 2011 Driver's Championship is what will spice up Sunday's race.
