Yas Marina Circuit

Track Info

Location	Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Type	Permanent Road Course (twilight-to-night race)
Length	5.281 km (3.281 miles)
Turns	16
Capacity	~60,000
Opened	2009 (redesigned in 2021)

Track Characteristics

Yas Marina Circuit has served as the Formula 1 season finale since 2009, and its twilight-to-night format creates one of the most visually stunning settings on the calendar. The race begins in daylight and finishes under floodlights, with the sunset over the desert providing a dramatic backdrop as the championship reaches its conclusion. The W Hotel, which straddles the circuit at the marina section, is one of the most recognizable architectural features in motorsport.

The circuit underwent a significant redesign ahead of the 2021 season that transformed its racing character. The slow chicane complex in Sector 3 was replaced by a fast-flowing banked left-hander, and the tight hairpin at the old Turn 7 was opened up into a faster corner. The changes dramatically improved the racing, creating more overtaking opportunities and reducing the processional nature that had characterized earlier races at the venue.

The redesigned layout features excellent overtaking zones into Turn 1 (a heavy braking zone from high speed) and Turn 6 (the new hairpin). The long back straight with DRS provides the primary passing opportunity. The flowing final sector, with its banking and speed, rewards driver confidence and car balance. The track's smooth surface and consistent conditions (virtually no rain, minimal wind) make it a relatively predictable venue technically, but the championship stakes of the season finale ensure the drama is always high.

Getting There

Nearest Airport	Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), directly adjacent to Yas Island - one of the shortest airport-to-circuit transfers in F1.
Nearest City	Abu Dhabi (Yas Island is about 30 km east of the city center). Dubai is approximately 130 km to the northeast.

2026 Event Info

Race Name	Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Round	22 of 22 (Season Finale)
Sprint Weekend	No
TV	Apple TV

Track Record

Lap Record	1:26.103 (redesigned layout)
Record Holder	Max Verstappen (Red Bull, 2021)

Notable Past Races

• 2024: Lando Norris won the season finale, helping McLaren clinch the Constructors' Championship for the first time since 1998. An emotional end to a remarkable season for the team.
• 2021: The most controversial race in modern F1 history. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen arrived level on points for the season finale. Hamilton led comfortably until a late safety car bunched the field. A contested restart procedure on the final lap allowed Verstappen on fresh tyres to pass Hamilton for the win and the World Championship. The Race Director's handling of the situation led to rule changes and his removal from the role.
• 2016: Nico Rosberg finished second behind Lewis Hamilton to clinch the World Championship. Hamilton had deliberately slowed the pace to back Rosberg into the chasing pack in a tense final-race showdown. Rosberg retired from F1 five days later.
• 2010: The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix decided a four-way championship fight. Sebastian Vettel won the race and took the title at age 23, the youngest World Champion in F1 history. Fernando Alonso's Ferrari was stuck behind Vitaly Petrov's Renault, costing him the championship.

Track Facts

• Yas Marina has hosted the F1 season finale every year since 2009, making it the sport's traditional closing venue.
• The W Hotel (originally the Yas Viceroy Hotel) straddles the circuit at the marina section, with guests watching the race from their rooms and rooftop terrace.
• The 2021 redesign replaced the processional Sector 3 chicanes with a fast, banked left-hander that dramatically improved the racing.
• Yas Island is also home to Ferrari World (the world's largest indoor theme park), Yas Waterworld, and Warner Bros. World.
• The post-season test is traditionally held at Yas Marina the week after the Grand Prix, giving teams their first look at next year's rookies and developments.

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