Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: race notebook

Gary Meenaghan and Graham Caygill note the news from the Grand Prix weekend including: Jenson Button is worried that he might have to lose his Movember moustache, the Premier League is represented by Man City and QPR and there is delight for Yas chief Richard Cregan.
'Tache talk

Jenson Button's moustache, which has been the talk of the paddock during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, is in danger. The 2009 world champion revealed yesterday that commercial pressures meant the facial hair, which he is growing as part of the charity fund-raiser Movember, might have to be shaved off. "I have a photo shoot so I may have to get rid of it. But the sponsors said they will give a lot of money to charity if it does [come off]."

Mancini's popular pit stop

Roberto Mancini made one Manchester City supporter's day yesterday. The City manager, who was at Yas Marina Circuit with his family for the race, signed a McLaren-Mercedes mechanic's City emblazoned shirt while on the grid before the race, and then happily posed for a photograph to leave the grinning supporter on a Blue Moon.

Lotus' badge of honour

Mancini was not the only visitor from the football world yesterday. Ronaldo, the former Brazil striker, strode around the grid with a smile on his face during his visit as a guest of Renault. Meanwhile, Neil Warnock, the manager of Queens Park Rangers, the English Premier League side, and players Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jay Bothroyd and Heidar Helguson were also in the paddock. They were there to unveil the club's crest on the Team Lotus car. Tony Fernandes, the Team Lotus team principal, also owns QPR.

McIlroy swings into town

Rory McIlroy has experienced success in the UAE on the golf course and he was in the country yesterday to see how it was done in the world of motorsport. The golfer, who the Dubai Desert Classic in 2009 was on the pit wall yesterday with his girlfriend, Caroline Wozniacki, the women's world No 1 tennis player.

Force India pair to wait

Paul di Resta and Adrian Sutil both scored points in yesterday's Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but neither man knows their future. Vijay Mallya has refused to confirm who will drive for Force India in 2012 and has given no indication on when he will put the two out of their misery on whether they will keep their drives with the team. Di Resta, who joined the team at the start of the year, said: "Vijay will announce it when he wants to announce it. He is not going to speed up the decision. He is the boss, the team principal and that is his right."

Yas chief delighted

Richard Cregan, the chief executive of Yas Marina Circuit, has been saying all year the UAE track was going to produce entertaining racing this year. And last night his decision not to make costly alterations to the track was vindicated. "Right up until the last lap the race was full of excitement, with plenty of overtaking," Cregan said. "The DRS [Drag Reduction System] zones and the driver's determination to win made this a fantastic race. We can't wait for next year, and Yas Marina Circuit would like to thank all of our guests for supporting the race once again."

US circuit is confident

United States Grand Prix circuit construction chiefs have been left bemused by Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone's remarks that have cast doubt on the race. Steve Sexton, the Circuit of the Americas president, said: "Our funding is secured and construction is on schedule, so we don't understand Mr Ecclestone's comments."