Ferrari's 2007 F1 driver line-up Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa have appeared at the Marina Mall in the United Arab Emirates with Mubadala, one of the sponsors of the Scuderia this season. Both pilots were in high spirits as they handed out specially commissioned autographed collectors cards and caps to Ferrari team fans.

'It's a real honour for us to be representing the Scuderia Ferrari team here in the UAE. You can see how passionate our fans are and spending time with them is a real pleasure,' said Kimi Raikkonen. 'To come to Abu Dhabi and meet our Ferrari Team fans takes on a special significance considering how big Formula One is becoming in the Gulf. Being here also signals the beginning of a partnership between Mubadala and Ferrari so this trip is really important to us," added Felipe Massa.

Raikkonen and Massa's appearance is a major coup as the pair are due to be strong force throughout the coming Formula One season which starts in March. Mubadala's CEO and Managing Director, HE Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, pointed out that his organisation and Ferrari's Formula One team are essentially on the same track.
 

In particular he said as both company's continue to achieve and strive for the ultimate in performance, success and excellence. "We have a genuine passion for what we do and the Ferrari team is no different. Our partnership is a delicate balance of the finely aligned organizational goals we share. We continue to look for organizations with the appropriate passion and Ferrari is a wonderfully matched partner with Mubadala."

The Mubadala Development Company reached a new sponsorship agreement with the legendary racing team in January of this year, which sees its logos carried on the car's and the drivers' overalls. The sponsorship deal will run from 2007 until 2009. Meanwhile back in May 2005, the Mubadala Development Company purchased a five percent stake in Ferrari from Mediobanca of Italy, a position it still maintains.