Setting the scene for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Abu Dhabi is the poster child of Formula 1's expansion into new markets. A money-no-object facility - the Yas Marina circuit - complete with a bright, shiny hotel, a day/twilight/night race and a monstrous race-hosting fee that must trigger broad grins on the faces of both Bernie Ecclestone and the team owners every time they think about the place. In short, it's good news for the sport. But while you can't question the island state's commitment to F1, there is something about the place that leaves you with an empty feeling.

For a track constructed with what was effectively an infinite budget, it's a little underwhelming. Don't fall into the track of thinking that a slow corner isn't difficult or a test of driver skill, because despite the common perception that only fast corners matter, there is a lot to be said for the more technical turns. But with the vast majority of corners either second or third gear, there's only so far that the flashy centrepiece hotel and pitlane exit tunnel can go towards thrilling the watching world. What really matters is whether it can produce a race worthy of the expenditure for the first time.

And with no four-way title shootout to enliven proceedings (as was the case last year), it's going to be up to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to produce a race more dramatic than its two predecessors. In that respect, it will stand or fall on whether the two DRS zones produce the desired overtaking that has been largely, although not completely, absent from the first two F1 races here. But beyond that, it's all eyes on next season, with plenty of storylines emerging to keep the news cycle in motion.

Hamilton wants a 'bubble' like this guy © sutton-images.com

Inevitably, Lewis Hamilton remains one of the star attractions dismissing McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh's suggestion that team-mate Jenson Button's success has made his life harder. He also explained, at length, the need to create his own Button-esque "bubble".

"Jenson's done a great job to get things in the right place," said Hamilton. "He's got his dad there, who is there at every single race. He's got his management there; he's got his friends; he's got his girlfriend there all the time. He's got a great bubble around him which he's very happy with and, with that, he's able to just go out and perform without any worries on his mind.

"I did have that at one point, but I lost that bubble and I don't have that around me at the moment. But I'm working on having that for the future, as I think the conscious and subconscious part of your mind is very important in this business."

If that sounds a lot like Hamilton taking a long, hard look at the circumstances that have contributed to his self-confessed struggles this year, that's exactly what it appears to be. There are signs that he is working his way out of the months of strife that have made this his worst season in F1 in terms of getting the best results out of the machinery at his disposal, and the next couple of races could play a big part in giving him the rolling start he needs for normal service to be resumed throughout 2012.

But if he's to get the win he wants this weekend, he needs to beat Sebastian Vettel first. The double world champion emphasised that he has no interest in getting complacent and doesn't struggle for motivation. Bad news for those, including Hamilton, who fancy their chances of a late-season victory or two.

Vettel wants another win © sutton-images.com

"You have to be aware that it's a special situation," says Vettel. "We have won a lot of races this year, which we have enjoyed, and we have won this year's championship and last year's championship. But you know how quickly things can change.

"Maybe next year's car isn't good enough, if I make a lot of mistakes and am fighting for fifth or 10th position. So you have to make sure that you live the moment, enjoy it and don't think about what happened in the past or what will happen in the future too much."

A Vettel determined to make the most of every race this season is the last thing his opposition want to hear. After all, a glance at the winners list of the last two Abu Dhabi GPs reveals the name S.Vettel alongside both 2009 and 2010. Who would bet against a hat-trick?