Over the course of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, Sport360's Reem Abulleil will be providing an alternative view of the goings on at the Yas Marina Circuit. Here is the second part of Reem's feature.
NIKI'S THE BIG STAR
Jay Z may have been the star attraction in the paddock on Friday, stopping by the Ferrari garage before his phenomenal performance at the du Arena, but on Saturday it was Niki Lauda who had everyone yelling from the Paddock Club balconies every time he stepped outside the Mercedes garage or hospitality villa.
The three-time Formula One champion and current non-executive chairman at Mercedes is reliving his glory days after the movie ‘Rush’ came out, based on the Austrian driver’s 1976 season and rivalry with the late James Hunt.
I bumped into Lauda and couldn’t help but notice two young Emirati girls screaming his name trying to get his attention from two floors up. When I pointed them out to him, the F1 legend admits the reaction to his movie had exceeded his expectations.
“There are now a lot of young people who see me and say ‘whoa Niki Lauda, poor guy, he had his ear cut off’ and whatever,” said Lauda. “Also the people who knew about my accident, they never knew the details about it in the hospital and everything.
"So even the people of the old generation were like ‘s*** this was close’. It’s interesting the impact it made. It’s unbelievable how well received the movie is.”
DC AND HIS DONUTS
An impeccably dressed David Coulthard walked into the paddock and stopped to tell me about his incredible experience doing donuts in a Red Bull F1 car on the helipad of the Burj Al Arab Hotel, to celebrate Red Bull winning both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles.
“It was nerve-racking, I have to say,” he said. “It was crazy but fun to do.”
Luckily Red Bull weren’t reprimanded for that celebration.
DIVAC IS A PETROLHEAD
Also spotted yesterday was NBA legend Vlade Divac. The former Laker and Sacramento King was a guest in the Paddock Club.
Former Real Madrid defender Michel Salgado was also seen walking around with his son, who was eager to talk to Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel.
READ MORE:
– Bits from the pits: Sport360's inside track at Abu Dhabi GP
– VIDEO: Red Bull celebrate F1 title on Burj Al Arab helipad
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