Lewis Hamilton is enjoying his place in the sun - and the 2018 world champion wouldn't want to cap off another storming Formula One season anywhere other than Yas Marina Circuit. The Mercedes driver was looking relaxed, but focused when he spoke to<em> The National</em> on Thursday evening and described Abu Dhabi as the ideal host for the final race of the Formula One season. “This place is awesome. It really is the best end of year race," Hamilton said. "For the last race, you often want to bring your family and there’s no better place to host guests. The weather is fantastic. Imagine being in a wintery place right now - if we were in Silverstone right now, it just wouldn’t be great. "So it just ends up being the perfect end to the year. The service here, also, hospitality wise, is second to none. “I absolutely love it here,” the world champion added. “I’ve always had a good time when I’ve come out here.” The five-time world champion first visited the UAE 12 years ago, he revealed, on a trip to Dubai with his family, and marvels at how much the country has evolved since then. “It’s been quite interesting seeing the UAE grow so much. The first time I came to the UAE was 2006. I didn’t come to Abu Dhabi, I went to Dubai with the family for Christmas, and the city was so much smaller then; it is so vast now. And they are still building." He admits that he has not had much time to explore the capital, but “really likes” what he has been able to see. “Every time I’ve come, I’ve been working, so its back and forth to the hotel, so I don’t get a lot of time to get into the city so much, so I wouldn’t say I’ve gone out and spent tonnes of nights in the city, but from everything I’ve seen, I really like it. <strong>__________</strong> <strong>Read more</strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/f1/explainer-when-the-f1-cars-are-on-track-and-what-to-watch-out-for-at-the-2018-abu-dhabi-grand-prix-1.794472">Explainer: When the F1 cars are on track and what to watch out for at the 2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://abudhabigp.thenational.ae/">A duel in the desert: Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/f1/al-tareq-al-ameri-abu-dhabi-grand-prix-committed-to-remaining-as-the-formula-one-finale-1.793670">Al Tareq Al Ameri: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix committed to remaining as the Formula One finale</a></strong> <strong>Ranked: <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/f1/rating-every-abu-dhabi-grand-prix-title-deciders-double-points-and-a-puncture-1.792494">Every Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that has been held since 2009</a></strong>
