Last night most of the paddock headed down to the not-yet-fully-built Ferrari World to see the Kings of Leon.
It was a great show and everyone's talking about it today. The concert venue is built into the front of Ferrari World, which itself is the size of 11 football pitches. The acoustics were actually very good indeed.
I found Jacques Villeneuve in the crowd jumping up and down. He was on great form.
Afterwards we walked back to the paddock for BMW's 'wake', where we toasted the team and said goodbye. The turn out was incredible - most of the paddock hardcore were there - and we stayed till 1am, in an area behind the team's hospitality building, overlooking the marina.
I chatted will Peter Sauber, a man I have always had immense respect for. He is very frustrated that Williams blocked the request to allow a 14th team. Peter says this is terrible for F1, because whether or not all of the current 13 teams make the grid in Bahrain - and that is debatable - he is convinced they don't have the finance in place to last more than a season or two. Peter says that despite the mystery/controversy surrounding the Qadbak investors, the money is real and it is deep.
Peter said to me that pressure from the media is essential to sort this situation out, which must be appalling for the hundreds of talented people who are currently employed in Hinwil, who are building a car that might never see the light of day.
"I need you to push!" said Herr Sauber. Crikey, if you need my help you must really be in trouble, I told him.
Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done if Williams play stale mate. Though I do hear that Lotus have not signed the Concorde Agreement yet...
If a team is to drop out before next season, you'd hope they have to good grace to do so before January so Sauber have got time to sort themselves out.
It was a great show and everyone's talking about it today. The concert venue is built into the front of Ferrari World, which itself is the size of 11 football pitches. The acoustics were actually very good indeed.
I found Jacques Villeneuve in the crowd jumping up and down. He was on great form.
Afterwards we walked back to the paddock for BMW's 'wake', where we toasted the team and said goodbye. The turn out was incredible - most of the paddock hardcore were there - and we stayed till 1am, in an area behind the team's hospitality building, overlooking the marina.
I chatted will Peter Sauber, a man I have always had immense respect for. He is very frustrated that Williams blocked the request to allow a 14th team. Peter says this is terrible for F1, because whether or not all of the current 13 teams make the grid in Bahrain - and that is debatable - he is convinced they don't have the finance in place to last more than a season or two. Peter says that despite the mystery/controversy surrounding the Qadbak investors, the money is real and it is deep.
Peter said to me that pressure from the media is essential to sort this situation out, which must be appalling for the hundreds of talented people who are currently employed in Hinwil, who are building a car that might never see the light of day.
"I need you to push!" said Herr Sauber. Crikey, if you need my help you must really be in trouble, I told him.
Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done if Williams play stale mate. Though I do hear that Lotus have not signed the Concorde Agreement yet...
If a team is to drop out before next season, you'd hope they have to good grace to do so before January so Sauber have got time to sort themselves out.