Alex, Franco and Luke preview Abu Dhabi

Published on
04 Dec 2024
Est. reading time
3 Min

Read what our three drivers and Sporting Director have shared before the final round of the season

After 23 rounds, it's time for the final stop of the longest Formula 1 season in history.
We are gearing up for a return to a traditional spot for the season finale, at the Yas Marina Circuit, with the sunset during the race an apt setting as the curtain falls on the F1 season.
The team heads into the latter half of this final double-header after desperately bad luck in Qatar, and Alex Albon is aiming to use that misfortune to spur him on to a positive result as the season draws to a close.
"We arrive in Abu Dhabi this weekend for the 2024 finale, following what has felt like a long and challenging season," our No.23 shared.
"The team has given it their all, and I’m grateful to every single one of them for working tirelessly throughout the year to get us on track, even during the toughest times.
"We’ve experienced both highs and lows, but that’s all part of racing. As a team we’ve learned lessons which we can carry into 2025 with the hope of a stronger season.
"Our car didn’t perform as expected in Qatar, so hopefully those characteristics can be addressed at Yas Marina, and we can make good changes ahead of this weekend.
"Our goal is to execute a clean weekend and extract as much performance as possible in this final round, taking some useful insights into next year’s car."
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Meanwhile, Franco is gearing up for the final race of a superb stint in the FW46 since being promoted to the seat in the latter stages of the season.
"I’d like to thank the entire team for this incredible opportunity and for all their support across these nine races," he began.
"It’s been a dream come true to race in Formula 1 with Williams. I’ll be trying my hardest to end the season on a high for the team trackside and back at the factory.
"Everyone at Williams has given their all throughout the season and their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. The aim in Abu Dhabi is to have a clean weekend, build up throughout the sessions and maximise our performance.
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Sporting Director Sven Smeets, meanwhile, reflected on 2024, saying "it’s been a challenging season this year for the whole team, but we are looking forward to racing in Abu Dhabi this weekend.
"We didn’t perform as expected in Qatar, but we hope to address some of those problems for this final race. The team will give their all one more time to end the season on a high and hopefully score some points."
One particular highlight of the weekend to come will be Luke Browning's outing in FP1. The 22 year-old is getting his first taste of F1 weekend action, and said, "I can’t wait to get on track in the FW46 and drive a Williams F1 car for the very first time.
"It’s a huge moment for my career and a privilege to be able to experience this generation of Formula 1 cars at a track like Abu Dhabi. The team and I have put a lot of preparation into this session and will make the most of every lap to learn as much as possible.
"Thank you to the whole team at Williams for this amazing opportunity."
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