Renault driver Fernando Alonso is about to embark on his final race with the French based squad before heading across the paddock to the Ferrari team where he will partner Felipe Massa in the 2010 Formula One championship season. However, before he does this, he will experience the new Abu Dhabi circuit for the very first time and it is something he is really looking forward to.....

Fernando, sum up your feelings after a short Brazilian Grand Prix...
It was such a disappointment as I think we could have scored some points in the race. I made a good start, but there were a lot of incidents on the first lap, which caught me out as I was hit by [Adrian] Sutil after he collided with [Jarno] Trulli. That was a real shame as I love racing at Interlagos and I was disappointed not to be part of an exciting race on a great circuit.

Are you looking forward to racing in Abu Dhabi for the first time?
I always enjoy the challenge of a new circuit and the track in Abu Dhabi looks very impressive. It will be a new experience for everyone so it's important that we maximise all the sessions and learn as much as we can quickly to try and find an advantage. I think the facility looks amazing and will be great for the people of Abu Dhabi. We went there a few years ago for the street demo and saw how much enthusiasm the fans have for Formula One.

Fernando, what are your first impressions of the new circuit?
It looks like it will be quite a demanding circuit for the drivers as there are over twenty corners in the lap – and some of them look very challenging. However, when you are looking at a map it's difficult to really understand a circuit and it's only when you get there and walk the circuit that you start to feel what it is really like.

How do you normally prepare for a new circuit?
We look at a lot of simulation data and I work very closely with the team to understand the demands of the track – much more than I would do for a track that I already know. We will probably spend five times longer preparing for a new venue and the circuit walk becomes very important for me and the engineers.

Which corners have caught your attention?
I think turns 11, 12 and 13 look interesting. I remember when we first saw the map of the circuit it reminded me of the difficult turn ten chicane in Singapore. It looks like turns eight and 11 will be the two big braking zones and for sure there will be opportunities to overtake there.

How long does it take you to learn a new track?
It doesn't take long because we jump in the car knowing the circuit perfectly in our mind as we have studied the map. After three or four laps you realise the lines and the braking points so I would say five laps is enough to know the track pretty well. But it's true that every lap you feel more confident and you learn more about the track and how to get the most from it. The final laps of the race are usually your best laps as you know the track so well by then.

As it's your final race for Renault, will you be aiming to end the relationship on a high?
Absolutely, I would love to finish the season and my Renault career with a great result. It will be an emotional race because I have enjoyed so many special memories with this team and I am leaving behind a lot of friends. Renault is one of the great teams in Formula One and I look forward to fighting with them on the track in the years ahead.