Abu Dhabi Grand Prix preview

"To top this they'd have to stage a race on the moon," says one of my Formula One photographer buddies. The Yas Marina circuit seems part desert mirage, part science fiction and the endorsement of F1 photographers flies in the face of the other new 'Tilke-domes' that have sprouted up in the last decade - circuits such as Turkey and China that may have great facilities, but fall flat on atmosphere.

The most dynamic backdrop is that of the Yas Marina circuit hotel, which actually straddles the track, the cars screaming underneath causing coffee cups to spill over during the breakfast buffet. At night, the veil of LEDs that shroud the upper floors change colour.

The circuit is essentially split into three sections - a high-speed section, a street section, and then a marina section to complete the lap. The Marina itself, which boarders the paddock, is much more Monaco than Valencia and I'm told that if your yacht is any less than five stories high you won't see anything.

The paddock, where the teams base themselves, looks rather like the desert town Mos Eisley from Star Wars. The media centre is like Cape Canaveral, with nine cinema-sized screens showing the race, timing and weather information. 

Turn 1 looks tight enough to catch some cars out. Drivers will also need to be mindful of the pitlane exit which, uniquely, emerges from underground. The tight right-hander at the exit, beyond the pitlane speed limiter, is very tricky. Anthony Davidson, Brawn's test driver, says he's crashed there 16 times on the simulator!

Having invested $40 billion on the new circuit and its surrounding attractions and amenities, Abu Dhabi is more than a little pissed off that Jenson Button didn't hold out one more race before claiming his title at the season finale. And there was us thinking that Bernie Ecclestone had a rank of buttons and levers in his mobile command centre which could cut fuel, summon rain and guarantee the championship went down to the wire.

Still, with nothing to lose, the drivers will be uncaged and that should make for an incident packed race.

In the past two races, Red Bull was unbeatable. That could well be the case again this weekend. McLaren, too, will look to finish the season strongly and beat Ferrari for third in the constructors' championship - there is honour to be salvaged there.

Vettel and Barrichello will be pushing hard for the second spot in the standings. Vettel seems particularly keen that history remembers him as Button's main rival.

Sunday will also be the scene of goodbyes as nearly two thirds of the grid will be wearing different uniforms next year, notably Fernando Alonso who is leaving Renault and Rubens Barrichello, whose move to Williams is all but official. Nico Rosberg is expected to switch to Brawn alongside Button. BMW will, sadly, be gone for good.

The jury is still out on whether Yas Marina lends itself to overtaking, but with the drivers uncaged it should be an incident-packed race and a visual feast.