After two practices at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi today drivers will prepare for a third practice and a qualifying round tomorrow.

Brawn GP driver Jensen Button came in second in the first Friday practice session today, which commenced at 7:30 am local time,  Button’s time was 1:44.035. He came in third in latter Friday practice session, with a time of 1:41.541.

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton came in ahead of Button in the first practice, and McLaren drivers Heikki Kovalainen and Hamilton came in first and second respectively in the second Friday practice.

The New Yas Hotel over the Yas Marina Circuit, The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend marks the end of the 2009 Formula One season.

This weekend marks the finale in the 2009 Formula One racing season and Brawn GP, fresh off their duel Driver’s and Constructor’s World Championships in Brazil earlier this month, will work to further their glory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Brawn GP printed the following Race Preview:

“The inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final round of the 2009 Formula One season, takes place this weekend at the new Yas Marina Circuit on the eastern side of Abu Dhabi.

The spectacular 5.554km track, designed by renowned Formula One architect Hermann Tilke, is located on Yas Island just thirty minutes from Abu Dhabi city. Running alongside Yas Island’s new marina, the anti-clockwise circuit has many unique features including a pitlane exit which crosses under the circuit and part of the track passing under the Yas Marina Hotel.

Abu Dhabi will host Formula One’s first twilight race with the lights going out in late daylight conditions at 17:00hrs on Sunday and the chequered flag falling in the evening around ninety minutes later. With Brawn GP and Jenson Button successfully securing the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships at the last race in Brazil, the team are now looking forward to putting on a great show in Abu Dhabi this weekend at the final race of the season.”

In a statement published on Brawn GP’s official website, driver Jensen Button said that he is entering the Abu Dhabi race considerably more relaxed after having achieved the World Championship in Brazil. Button said he had a chance to see the new track recently and is looking forward to the race.

Here’s the schedule for Formula One fans who plan on following the events this weekend:
(all times are local)

Friday 30 October
Practice 1: 1300 – 1430
Practice 2: 1700 – 1830

Saturday 31 October
Practice 3: 1400 – 1500
Qualifying: 1700 – 1800

Sunday 1 November
Race: 1700

Signage at the Circuit.

Yas Marina Circuit Stats

Circuit Length: 5.554km
Race Distance: 305.470km
Number of Laps: 55

Full Throttle: 60%
Brake Wear: High
Tyre Compounds: Soft / Medium
Downforce Level: High – 8/10
Tyre Usage: Medium
Average Speed: 188kph (117mph)

The start and finish straight at the new Yas Marina Circuit.

Stay with Singlemalt TV for updates on Brawn GP as the weekend unfolds!

Great news for Formula One fans: Singlemalt TV will be periodically publishing video and news updates from the Brawn GP Formula One Team. The team secured the 2009 Constructors’ and Drivers’ World Championships in Brazil on Sunday October 18.

Jenson Button celebrates with the team following Brawn GP’s duel World Drivers’ and World Constructors’ Championships in Brazil.

The latest news from Brawn GP:

Jenson Pays Tribute to the Team at Brawn GP

Jenson Button made an emotional return to Brawn GP’s factory in Brackley today to pay tribute to the team which won the 2009 FIA Formula One Constructors’ and Drivers’ World Championships in Brazil on Sunday.

After a hectic forty-eight hours following Sunday’s race which saw Jenson fly back from Brazil on team-mate Rubens Barrichello’s plane and go straight to Bluewater Shopping Centre for a fan and media appearance, Jenson’s priority was to get to the factory and speak to his team.

Champagne glass in hand and in front of his six race-winning trophies from the 2009 season, Jenson led a toast to the team’s successes, gave his own heartfelt thanks for the team’s contribution to his Drivers’ title and paid tribute to those people who were no longer with the team after the difficult winter.

Entering the auditorium at the factory to the sound of his post-race ‘We are the Champions’ radio rendition Jenson received a resounding welcome from the 450 staff gathered to congratulate him.

Jenson Button celebrates with the Brawn GP staff.

Jenson said: “That’s why I didn’t have a voice for two days after the race! I’m really here today to say a massive well done and thank you to everyone at the team. We’ve worked so hard for these achievements for so many years. Some of us were here from the beginning back in 1998 and I arrived halfway through our journey in 2003 but everyone has put so much work in. I know that there have been a lot of very difficult times and over the winter there were times when we didn’t think that we would be here at all. It’s very sad that not everyone can be here who worked on this fantastic car. But the team had to become smaller to continue and together we produced a car that has been exceptional this season.

To be able to achieve the Constructors’ and the Drivers’ Championships in our first year, especially after such a difficult winter, is an amazing achievement. It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions. The first few races were magnificent. It looked like it was a walk in the park but it really wasn’t. Then we had some difficult races, especially myself but also as a team where we struggled. But we fought back hard and when we needed to improve the car, you guys did it. Rubens gave us two more wins in Valencia and Monza at an important time to boost our morale and prove just how quick the car was. We have a great leader, a fantastic leader, in Ross. The Big Bear can’t be here today but I know that when he gets back, he’ll be celebrating with you!

We proved in Brazil last weekend that we deserve these Championships. We’ve fought so hard and a Championship season is about achieving the results when you need to. We’ve had some difficult races but we always did the best job that we could. So we should raise our glasses as the new Formula One World Champions of 2009. We’ve done what we set out to achieve. It really is going to take some time to sink that we are there. Celebrating our victories here with you today means so much to me and we are really going to enjoy this moment. Thank you so very much for your amazing contribution to our successes.”

Jenson Button in action.

All images and news release courtesy of Brawn GP.