ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX
YAS MARINA CIRCUIT - ABU DHABI
Abu Dhabi GP: all you need to know
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has carved out a special place for itself with its Middle Eastern flavour providing the backdrop to the F1 season finale every year. There have been ten Abu Dhabi GPs since it first appeared on the calendar in 2009.
Formula One has seen plenty of new circuits come and go over the past decade but few have made an impact as significant as Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina track. Ultra-modern in every way, in some ways it sets a standard for all newcomers to aspire to.
Constructed around a new marina on a man-made island, the circuit features air-conditioned garages, a pitlane exit through a tunnel and a track-spanning hotel with a roof that changes colour.
The track itself starts with a couple of high-speed corners before giving way to a second sector featuring two long straights. The last third is a tight and twisty section that demands good traction and braking stability.
YAS MARINA CIRCUIT
Tourist attraction
The idea to create a state-of-the-art motor racing facility dates back to 2006. With it came the decision to build it on what is now the man-made Yas Island, which is also home to seven hotels, various theme parks, a huge shopping centre, a water park, a beach and a concert arena.
Unique feature
Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit was designed by Hermann Tilke, runs anti-clockwise and measures 5.28 kilometres. It is unique in that it is the only track that passes under a luxury hotel and boasts a pit lane that exits onto the track through a tunnel!
