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Three-time FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) world champion, Sébastien Buemi, is thrilled to be returning to the island that captured his heart for more than 20 years and hopes to add another victory under his belt.
The 34-year-old, along with his wife Jennifer and his three children Jules, seven, Theo, five, and five-month-old Hugo, will be arriving in the second week of October to enjoy some rest and relaxation as well as spend quality time with his relatives with whom he stayed in Bahrain for a brief period during his racing career.
“The first time I had been in Bahrain was in 2004, so it was nearly 20 years ago,” an elated Buemi told GulfWeekly.
“I’ve been really impressed by how the kingdom has evolved. Obviously, everyone knows Bahrain in Europe and Switzerland, one of the reasons being Formula One and the development there. Bahrain is amazing, clean and safe…and I like the weather. Of course I have never been in the kingdom in August, but every time I come here, it’s amazing!”
Buemi had been living in the kingdom in Budaiya, in 2008 and 2009, with his uncle Humbert, president of Buemi & Sons Company and Swiss Honorary Consul General to the Kingdom of Bahrain since February 2013, as well as his aunt Sylvia and cousins Frederic, now aged 27, and Steve, now 25…and back then, lovely little Laura who lost her battle against cancer. He was quite close to her and even dedicated his victory in the 2013 World Endurance Championship - Six Hours of Bahrain to his god-child.
“Of course, we are very happy to welcome him and his family again to our place in Bahrain,” said Humbert Buemi, who is proud of ‘Seb’s’ current first place ranking with his team in the FIA WEC World Endurance Drivers Championship. “They could not come last year as his wife Jennifer was expecting Hugo. It is kind of a family reunion as well, as his father Antoine (my brother) and his mother Veronique will be coming at the end of the month to enjoy some holiday with us and see their son racing.
“And regarding the WEC, we are all very excited because he is fighting for the Championship and he could clinch the title of World Champion again, depending on the result in Bahrain, which is the last race of the season.”
However, it will be a short trip for Buemi and his family as the four-time 24-Hours of Le Mans winner has to return for testing with Red Bull in the UK, which he says has been amazing.
“I have been the test, reserve and simulator driver for the team for many years now,” shared the Envision Racing FIA Formula E World Championship racer. “Of course, as a racing driver, I wish I could have done more in Formula 1 but to be able to still be linked to Red Bull has been amazing, and they are an amazing team.”
Buemi had three full seasons with Scuderia Toro Rosso in Formula One and in his motorsports career, overall, he notched 401 races, 53 victories, 144 podiums and 32 pole positions.
“Red Bull has developed over the last few years and soon it’s going to be one of the only teams that will produce everything on site in Red Bull Racing’s home in Milton Keynes,” he said.
“So yes, I’ve seen it evolve and clearly it’s one of the best operations I’ve seen in motorsports, so again, I’m proud and looking forward to the next few years with them.”
Buemi will then be returning with Toyota Gazoo Racing on October 31 for WEC.
“So it will be technically two trips to Bahrain where I will be spending time with the family and getting to know the kingdom better as every time I end up discovering something new,” he added.
“There is always something very special in and about Bahrain.”
