OpinionPrancing Horse eager to halt Red Bull's charge to F1 title
Ferrari's Alonso still won't abandon hope in his F1 title fight with Vettel
Abu Dhabi has long harboured ambitions to bring cultural brands to its corner of the United Arab Emirates. The Guggenheim museum and the Louvre are both coming to an island off the capital. Despite delays as a result of the global financial crisis, the Louvre is set to open in 2015 and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi in 2017. Both are on Saadiyat Island, and along with a plethora of other museums, clubs, marinas and reserves, it highlights the emirate's desire to be taken seriously - and to have it all instantly.
If you like your entertainment a little less highbrow and a lot more noisy, head a short way down the E12 highway to Yas Island. There you will find Ferrari World. I have to confess I have never been there, but my petrol-head friends who live in the UAE cannot get enough of the place. From looking at the four-wheel thoroughbreds in the Galleria Ferrari, to screaming their heads off on the roller coaster, it's their kind of theme park.
Yas Island is, of course, the location of this weekend's grand prix, and the Ferrari team arrive needing a boost in their home from home.
The championship race may have resembled the roller-coaster ride at Ferrari World at times, but with three races to go it would seem increasingly like an unhappy ending for the prancing horse. Sebastian Vettel's win in India means the Red Bull driver has outscored Fernando Alonso by 100 points to 48 in the last four races. He now leads the championship by 13 points. The momentum is undoubtedly with Red Bull. But you can never write off Ferrari.
Certainly Alonso is in a defiant mood. "Nothing changes in one race" he said. "There are 75 points [still available] and we are 13 behind and we need to improve". Improvement is the key for the race in Abu Dhabi. The Spaniard says some new parts are needed in the pits if he is to have any chance.
When Alonso was ahead in the championship, limiting the damage might have been enough. Even with a car that is not the best on the grid, he has ground out results because he is the best driver on the grid. This time, he has to take the fight to Red Bull, which is why he is praying for a better car.