A blend of the past and present set the stage on fire as Ava Max and DJ Tiesto rocked Etihad Park in the opening after-race concert of this year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Kicking off the night in style, Ava Max, sporting an all-black ensemble with just the right touch of gold accessories, delivered an electrifying performance that had fans cheering with delight. Taking the stage at 9pm, she had the crowd singing and dancing along to her hit, “Cold as Ice.”
The American pop sensation treated the audience to a mix of tracks from her albums “Heaven & Hell” (2020) and the latest “Diamonds & Dancefloors” (2023). Before diving into her track “Belladonna,” she teased the crowd with, “We’re going to throw it way back.”
A highlight of the night was her rendition of “Not Your Barbie Girl,” which cleverly sampled Aqua’s iconic 1997 hit “Barbie Girl,” earning her cheers from the enthusiastic fans. Throughout her set, Ava Max kept the energy high, engaging with the audience, inviting them to sing along, and even cracking jokes between songs.
Expressing her love for Abu Dhabi, she exclaimed, “I love you, Abu Dhabi!” before launching into “Million Dollar Baby,” turning the venue into a dancing sea of fans.
Wrapping up her one-hour set with a bang, Ava Max left the stage for a brief intermission to prepare for the next act – DJ Tiesto.
The excitement didn’t end there, as the F1 after-race concert lineup promises more thrilling performances, with Chris Brown scheduled for Friday, Shania Twain on Saturday, and the Foo Fighters closing the series on Sunday. The stage is set for a weekend of music and festivities at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.