Abu Dhabi: Along with the 2009 Formula One Driver's Championships, the top two spots in the Constructors World Championship have also been snapped up leaving McLaren and Ferrari battling for third place in the final race here in the nation's capital.
While Vodafone McLaren Mercedes (71 points) are currently in third behind Brawn (161) and Red Bull (135.5), Ferrari are just a point behind with 70 points and the two are expected to be locked in a tussle for third place during the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit.
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton finished third after being 17th in the starting grid while teammate Heikki Kovalainen finished 9th starting 16th in the Brazilian Grand Prix helping them overtake Ferrari in the team race.
Turning the focus on the season-ender in Abu Dhabi on November 1, Martin Whitmarsh Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes said: "We may have just overhauled Ferrari in Brazil to move into third place in the constructors' championship, but, being just one point ahead with just one race remaining, means that we go into the Abu Dhabi weekend fully focused on scoring the maximum possible points to consolidate that position."
No let-up
"As usual, there has been no let-up from the team in its preparations. We head for Abu Dhabi not only extremely encouraged by the improved pace we showed in Brazil but also very optimistic that the final race of the season offers us another opportunity to challenge for victory," the McLaren official said. "Everything I've seen and heard about the Abu Dhabi circuit speaks of the race organisers' total passion and commitment to perfection. The track already looks to have eclipsed the facilities we have anywhere else in the world and I'm very optimistic that, like Singapore before it, this weekend's race will set a new benchmark for Formula 1 and open up new opportunities for the sport in the Middle East and the rest of the world," Whitmarsh said.
