Gurdjian: “The most beautiful circuit in the world”

Philippe Gurdjian, what can you say to people who don't know the Abu Dhabi circuit, about the experience encountered by those who are here?
The people who are here have the chance to see the most beautiful circuit in the world, which is exceptional, with a completely temperate climate? It's nice ? and with facilities that no circuit in the world can produce today.

What was the basic idea of ​​this project, was it to say “we are no limit”?
No limit, that doesn't mean anything, since with one euro, you can do well or you can do badly. The idea was to try to do the best in the world what I had in mind for a very long time and which I had never managed to do on a single platform. As luck would have it, I did that from the start, at the start of the project, when they had another project. It allowed me to show the world that we could do an exceptional circuit and, above all, for different people: drivers, media, sponsors, teams and the public. The public is very important: here, we are on the only circuit in the world where all the stands are covered. I can't understand that even today, we still do circuits where we don't cover the stands?

What are the other specificities of this circuit, its assets?
Architecturally, it is exceptional. My desire was to create a site on which we could immediately recognize which country we are in. We saw a Grand Prix not so long ago (Korea, editor’s note); If we didn't tell you what country we were in, it could have been on any European circuit. You have to find an architecture that best matches the environment. In addition, it is the first Twilight Grand Prix, which starts during the day and ends at night.

But there are a billion details that make the difference. In the stands, there are all the facilities for the public: toilets, a medical center, bars, restaurants, things specific to an event. It is a combination that makes the facilities of this circuit exceptional. There is also the media center: I had the idea for this center ten years before coming here; I was only able to do it in Abu Dhabi. Garages are not very complicated, we discuss with the teams and find the right dimensions. The ease of the paddock, its non-remoteness, the spaces, the team buildings which compensate for the absence of trucks from the stables to welcome their guests and hold their work meetings. There are no complaints about this circuit, which is quite surprising.

Do you think this circuit is a success? Can you do better?
I tell myself that I can do even better. The game is worth the effort, we can always do better. Above all, you have to find a place, you can't do it just anywhere. Above all, you need to have people like I was able to find, who give you the opportunity to do what you want to do, to do better than what I did here. I still have some ideas and I still have the possibility of doing exceptional things.

As you say, we can't do it just anywhere. There is a question of means. Some parts of the world cannot afford such expenses?
Behind a Grand Prix F1, there is fundamentally a marketing objective for the country: sell the country to the whole world, promote this country, demonstrate a certain technology, a certain know-how. You must have the means to achieve your ambition. If a country is not capable of doing better than Abu Dhabi, I would advise it not to do a circuit. Because I am certain that the Abu Dhabi circuit, in 50 years, will still be relevant. In Europe, there is not a single circuit that will still be able to operate in 50 years.

We are talking about a figure of more than a billion dollars concerning the circuit and everything around it. You confirm ?
Yes, it has been exceeded. But, in a few years, when you see all the equipment there is on this island, with the theme park Ferrari, golf courses, hotels? Obviously, the number is important. But, when you leave from an island where there is only sand, where there is no water, no electricity, no highway, that of course has a cost. Here, we had to travel eight kilometers of highway and, what's more, it was lit. That's why such a final figure. And they made an eight-lane highway, not two or three. For what ? Because here, they have a vision for the next 50 years.