Get ready, get set, go...

Last year, the season finale fell on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. At the beginning of that race, four drivers were within touching distance of the championship. It came down to which one of them would perform on the day. Sebastian Vettel was imperious: wrapping up the championship, he firmly established himself as the king of the Yas Marina Circuit. Not only has the reigning champion been the only driver to win in Abu Dhabi since the inaugural race in 2009, he has already wrapped up this year's championship for team Red Bull. Not surprisingly, he also holds the lap record at the circuit. The icing on the cake would surely be a three-peat of his achievements this weekend.

Only once has Vettel failed to make the top three this season (strangely in his home country of Germany). He holds a slew of records — the youngest ever winner of an F1 race in Italy 2008, the youngest ever world champion last year, and the youngest double world champion (achieved in Japan earlier this year). He is only 24 years old — only four years into his career. Many comparisons have been made between his career and that of a certain legend by the name of Michael Schumacher, his countryman and competitor this year. The rate at which Vettel has stormed the competition suggests that he is set to surpass his esteemed colleague. It would be prudent not to jump to conclusions however — similar thoughts of Lewis Hamilton emerged in 2008 before a couple of bumpy seasons followed. With the championship wrapped up by a far more consistent Vettel, Hamilton is left to fight it out with Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber for second place — all of whom are within touching distance of each other.

Autograph sessions

This is going to be quite a weekend at Yas. The race itself is set to be a mesmerising experience. The sight and sounds of these feats of engineering — witnessing them dart by you at speeds of around 320km/h can be quite stimulating. Sunsets over the beautifully constructed Yas circuit, combined with the delightful November weather in the UAE makes for a wonderful environment in which to spend a weekend. The Yas Island track is currently the longest in the world on the Formula One Circuit — 21 turns link a couple of long stretches, making for a great platform on which the racers can strategise and manoeuvre. The race itself takes place on Sunday over 55 laps. It is preceded by qualifying on Saturday, and attending practice sessions tomorrow. Today is reserved especially for three-day ticket holders who can indulge in a pit lane walk and get a sneak preview of team preparations for the race. Autograph sessions are also held throughout the weekend for fans. Information on these sessions will be updated at www.yasmarinacircuit.ae.

Tomorrow is a good opportunity for avid followers of the sport to get a good idea of the form the drivers are in as practice sessions provide some insight. The day also plays host to the Porsche GT3 Cup Middle East Challenge. F1 drivers of the future display their talent in GP2, hoping to impress in their Porsche GT3 cars.

Plenty of action

There is plenty to do in-between races to pack out the weekend. The Yas Kartzone is just one added attraction around Yas Island for the average Joe to test out their motoring skills. The track offers driver experiences in cars such as the Aston Martin GT4, Chevrolet Camaro, Yas Super Comp Three-Seater Dragster, and phenomenally in an actual Formula Yas 300 racing car — a professional grade machine. Driving experiences require a bit of coaching first so are more time consuming. An alternative might be to partake in a Passenger Experience. This is the closest us mild-mannered citizens will get to F1 racing. A two-seater with Formula One specifications is the vessel in which you accompany a driver who slings you around the track at speeds in excess of 300km/h. Similar experiences can be had in a range of other cars. For those more serious about racing, there is private driving tuition, racing licenses can be earned, and the Yas Drag Racing Academy sets you up for a potential career in high speed race car driving.

And if none of that appeals, Yas Island itself is full of things to do — there are hotels, a golf course, a Ferrari theme park and more. It would be difficult to find a dull moment in Abu Dhabi this weekend.

F1 Weekend nightlife

The Grand Prix Ball: Saturday is the quintessential celebrity event of the Grand Prix at the Amber Lounge. The event includes a fashion show and charity auction. Tickets must be applied for as part of a VIP package. Log on to www.geventm.com

Concerts: The concerts accompanying the races are a big draw. Tomorrow, Britney Spears takes the stage in her first-ever appearance in the UAE, visiting the country as part of her Femme Fatale world tour. Saturday sees rock band Incubus and British group The Cult. The final day sees a performance by former Beatles member Paul McCartney.

Allure by Cipriani: DJ Mark Ronson will be headlining the post-race action on Sunday night at this club. Ronson has risen to fame as a producer and performer — most notably for collaborations with Amy Winehouse on tracks such as Valerie. Tickets cost Dh350.Call 050 5969 543 or 02 657 5400 for tickets.

Beats on the Beach: Tomorrow and the day after, as part of Yasalam 2011, the Abu Dhabi Corniche Beach concerts features performances by Lebanese icon Najwa Karam, British R&B sensation Jay Sean, K-Pop artists Seo In-Young, and more.

F1 FanZone: Those without tickets can catch the action at the F1 FanZone, which offers a range of activities. From the virtual thrill of being behind the wheel at an F1 race in Yasalam Racing Challenge to the chance to watch the Abu Dhabi F1 race on giant screens on the Corniche, there's plenty to do. Log on to www.yasalam.ae

F1 Chequered Flag Ball: The Regis Hotel on Saadiyat Island will stage London-born Mica Paris. The headline act for F1 events around the world, the 42 year old performs on November 11. Log on to www.chequered-flagball.com

Tickets

Grandstand seating: The general seating area is divided into the main, north, west, south and Marina stands. Each provides a unique viewing experience of the races.

Two-day tickets start from Dh1,800

Three-day tickets start from Dh2,000

Category 1 tickets: Top-tier tickets offer the chance to view the action from private air-conditioned suites. They are split into the Al Jood and Al Dhiyafa areas, each providing unlimited food and beverages as part of the package.

Log on to tickets.ymc.ae/

Weighty sport

Formula One racing can be described as the most elite sport in the world. Only 20 drivers are part of this premier league, a characteristic not shared with any other popular sport. Most other sports usually have dozens if not hundreds of top-level players. Vettel's success is especially impressive considering the line-up he faces. Contrary to popular assumption, these drivers are some of the most well-conditioned athletes of any sport. They must withstand G forces and heat that a normal individual would likely faint experiencing. Drivers lose up to three kilograms of body weight during races.

Work of art

Race-goers calling in at Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority's (ADTA) visitor centre at the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will have the chance of speeding away with a limited edition work of art.

The authority will be raffling off a signed print — one of only a 100 in existence — of the ‘Ferrari 2011' painting by the US artist Bill Heydt.

The 16" x 20" giclee print captures a Ferrari Formula 1 car careering along the Yas Marina Circuit with the stunning, five-star Yas Viceroy Hotel in the backdrop.