Ferrari have has a busy start to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend.
As well as revealing a new sponsor Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa have been exploring the new Ferrari World theme park and riding the Formula Rosso rollercoaster. At 240kph (149mph) it’s the fastest in the world.
See below for more pictures of what Ferrari and the other teams have been up to since arriving in Abu Dhabi.
Here’s a video of Alonso and Massa on the Formula Rossa:
2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Images © Ferrari spa, Renault/LAT, Williams/LAT, Bridgestone/Ercole Colombo, www.mclaren.com, Getty Images/Red Bull, Force India F1 Team, Lotus F1, Virgin Racing
Victor.
11th November 2010, 20:58
Ayayayayayayay!
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
12th November 2010, 0:23
Great video! Fernando looks terrified when it starts. You’d think he would be used to extreme acceleration! :P
spectator
12th November 2010, 0:41
really funny vid who would imagine seeing an f1 driver nervious cause hes traveling at 240 kph
KNF
12th November 2010, 5:51
Probably because he’s not in control of the thing, a common thing with racing drivers is that they don’t really like being passengers if they can help it (which is why some of them take flying lessons and operate helicopters and the like)…
BasCB (@bascb)
12th November 2010, 7:20
I loved the way Massa was clearly enjoying it from the outset and Alonso was holding his breath from fear?
Looks like Felipe likes riding rollercoasters a lot more than Fernando does. I do get it, going fast and having everything under control is OK, but not being able to react and steer it and anticipate is quit something different.
Just remember the last time you were not in the drivers seat on a trip through the mountains.
MondoL
12th November 2010, 9:42
I’m sure fernando would have taken a different line to the roll. The designer chosed the dirty part of the mountain and took the apex too wide :)
Patrickl (@patrickl)
12th November 2010, 8:12
Really capable people don’t enjoy letting other people do their job. I imagine he doesn’t like to be driven by someone else. let alone a machine.
I love how he (and Massa) duck when they go close to a pole.
Mike
12th November 2010, 2:43
:D Ayayayayayayay!
I wonder if he does that in an F1 car as well!
I love the personalities in F1, Alonso is so serious (probably why he is so good come to think of it)…
Electrolite
11th November 2010, 21:20
Haha! In the 4th photo Massa seems to be coping with the speed better than Alonso is :P
Electrolite
11th November 2010, 21:23
Oh crumbs I just watched the video of Felipe and Fernando! That is comedy gold in every sense. At 0:31 Alonso looks like Buzz Lightyear…
Luis
12th November 2010, 0:57
lol Fernando’s face is funniest i have ever seen in my whole life!
Mack41 (@mack41)
11th November 2010, 21:26
Fastest Felipe’s gone in months…
Todfod (@todfod)
12th November 2010, 7:24
hahahaha .. thats a good 1
Icthyes (@icthyes)
11th November 2010, 21:29
I don’t blame Fernando for wanting to hold on so tight – I hate those kinds of rollercoasters! I haven’t got the biggest build in the world and often there’s enough space between me and the restraint to make me slip around – not a pleasant experience!
TommyC
11th November 2010, 21:34
they were probably bored. like mister bean that time.
v8angel
11th November 2010, 21:34
wow!! alonso like buzz lightyear? HAHAHAHAHA
at 0:34 and 0:35 i believe that alonso lost something from his pocket! :O
Fred Schechter
11th November 2010, 21:55
Thought that was a bird!
Bullfrog
14th November 2010, 0:01
He’d managed to keep hold of his wallet for the whole weekend in Brazil, only to lose it on his own team’s rollercoaster.
DeadManWoking
11th November 2010, 21:36
Not only is it the fastest but it uses an aircraft carrier like hydraulic catapult to accelerate from 0-150 mph in 4.9 seconds.
Sush Meerkat
11th November 2010, 21:55
Space Mountain in DisneyLand Paris has that system too, but its top speed is 90 mph, which ends with a quite violent spin.
Come to think of it, the acceleration is pretty brutal on Space Mountain too.
MondoL
12th November 2010, 9:44
And the aerosmith roller coaster too!
King Six
11th November 2010, 21:36
Fernando’s initial reaction was to cope with the G-Forces presumably in a way that he does in an F1 car, then he realised he just needs to let himself go because he doesn’t have to bother about doing anything else except being a passenger!
That’s what it looked like to me, and that’s what I also feel when I’m in roller coasters. Too many times I try to fight the G-forces instead of just have fun!
Fixy (@)
11th November 2010, 21:38
Hahaha! Felipe is going crazy, Fernando looks like he’s going to vomit!
Fixy (@)
11th November 2010, 21:40
Have you noticed that it’s shaped like the F2008? Ferrari use the F2008 as a common design, rather than the 2009/2010 cars.
Ads21
12th November 2010, 0:01
yer I noticed that as well, think gthe F2008 looked pretty cool tho so its ok
Fixy (@)
12th November 2010, 14:46
The F2008 is my favourite F1 car ever.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
11th November 2010, 21:40
I remember in 1996 (I was only 6 yers old by then), my dad’s wife (my dad is a chicken… that’s why he’s my dad) and I got to a fairly easy rollercoaster.
it was the worst ride of my life! I was the first one to step out, and I think i’ve never ever ran so quickly in my life. Got to my dad’s arm and started crying… hehe :P
daddy’s a chicken… and me too!
Icthyes (@icthyes)
11th November 2010, 21:45
Found an on-board video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INn1dK_l0uc
Sush Meerkat
11th November 2010, 22:26
nice find dude.
Gridlock
11th November 2010, 22:15
Can someone Photoshop it so Massa is in the front seat when it leaves the station but he third row when it comes back? :)
GR
11th November 2010, 22:51
That video is actually the funniest thing I’ve seen all year. Highlight of 2010!
wakenabeb
11th November 2010, 23:08
Haha, I like how everyone ducked for the pole at 1:09
Mach1
11th November 2010, 23:28
Half way round the rollercoster…Filipe gets a message in his ear….
“Filipe….Alonso is faster than you…..”
Saddy
11th November 2010, 23:29
Its nice to see F1 drivers actually having fun instead of racing each other on the track …. Great video Keith .
xxiinophobia
12th November 2010, 0:28
Looking through the photos at the end of the post, I notice something:
In nearly every shot, every single one of the remaining championship contenders looks completely relaxed…
… except for Mark Webber.
(I’d really like to see Webber take the title, but I seriously think Alonso’s going to take it.)
DeadManWoking
12th November 2010, 8:17
I don’t know, Webber looks pretty relaxed here! :D
http://twitpic.com/35uril
Fixy (@)
12th November 2010, 14:50
Hahaha wonderful!
Stretch (@stretch)
12th November 2010, 0:28
I may have to make the trip to Abu Dhabi one day…
Owen
12th November 2010, 1:30
Good to see they have all shaved for the occasion!
Makes Mark especially look so much younger.
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
12th November 2010, 1:39
No matter what Alonso says Massa seems to laugh at it, Kimi on the other hand would have fallen sleep in that.
Jameson
12th November 2010, 2:18
It sure was nice of Ferrari to let Massa sit up front with Alonso.
Fixy (@)
12th November 2010, 14:52
True!! For once Massa ignored him!
Lord Stig (@lord-stig)
12th November 2010, 2:24
I wonder how much downforce does that front wing produce…
Regis
12th November 2010, 4:09
What a great acceleration, its a shame that after it looses its rythm and becomes quite slow. Where are the loops? :)
Alonso’s face is so funny :)
Calum
12th November 2010, 8:08
Fact: the rollercoaster acceleration is quicker than the grand prix car.
Pink Pirelli
12th November 2010, 8:51
That video is hilarious, watching Alonso’s face turn into a rubber mask!
Eggry (@eggry)
12th November 2010, 8:52
Hahaha!! Alonso you make me laugh!
Dan Thorn (@dan-thorn)
12th November 2010, 11:29
Haha, best video ever!
Gary2
12th November 2010, 18:24
Lol laugh to tears when first time saw it…funny side of F1, nice to see f1 drivers having fun.
Bendanarama (@bendana)
14th November 2010, 18:57
Whats the bst thign about the video? that at 0:34, Alonso’s wallet goes for a flight on the right hand sie of the screen. ^_^