The Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, is believed to be the most expensive F1 track ever built, with a reputed construction cost in 2009 in excess of €800m ($1bn).
No expense was spared for the construction of the purpose-built facility on a man-made island. Its most distinctive feature is the Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi Hotel which sits atop the track, and bridges it between turns 18 and 19. Another unique feature is the pit lane exits, which passes underneath the circuit by means of a tunnel.
The generally slow nature of the layout, despite two long straights, means it has been slow to win favour with drivers. However the top-class nature of its facilities, such as the luxury of air-conditioned garages, makes it popular with paddock inhabitants. And the unique spectacle of sun setting during the races makes for a picturesque venue.
Yas Marina track data
| Lap data | |
| Lap length | 5.554km (3.451 miles) |
| Race laps | 55 |
| Race distance | 305.355km (189.739 miles) |
| Pole position | Right-hand side of the track |
| Lap record* | 1’40.279 (Sebastian Vettel, 2009) |
| Fastest lap | 1’38.434 (Lewis Hamilton, 2011, qualifying two) |
| Maximum speed | 339kph (210.645 mph) |
| DRS zone/s (race) | Two straights |
| Distance from grid to turn one | 305m |
| Car performance | |
| Full throttle | 59% |
| Longest flat-out section | 1233m |
| Downforce level | High |
| Gear changes per lap | 56 |
| Fuel use per lap | 1.82kg |
| Time penalty per lap of fuel | 0.04s |
| Strategy | |
| Tyres: | Drivers’ tyre selections |
*Fastest lap set during a Grand Prix
Its high number of corners – the majority of them being low-speed – means that Yas Marina produces one of the slowest lap times of the year. Its three sectors are quite distinct in their characteristics. The first is short and tests the medium- to high-speed performance of the car. The second is dominated by long straights and low-speed turns. And the last is an intense series of low-speed corners. The circuit is a challenge for engineers too: practice sessions take place early in the day, when track temperatures are much higher than those subsequently experienced during the twilight qualifying and race. It means that assessing car requirements accurately is very important. The track is also extremely tough on brakes.
The key corner – Turn 7
On the surface it may appear to be a non-descript left-hand hairpin. But for all its benign characteristics, this corner is crucial because the longest straight on the lap follows. Drivers need a good exit to maximise what becomes the first of the circuit’s two DRS zones – and one of the best overtaking opportunities on the track.
Grid advantage
Pole position is on the right-hand-side of the track, on the racing line. Turn One is a left-hander, but the increased traction away from the line should lead to an advantage by the braking zone.
Pitlane length/Pitstops
360m/0.224 miles (longest of the season: Silverstone, 457m/0.283 miles). It takes 22s to make a stop and drivers need to be careful not to crash in the tunnel at pit exit.
What makes this race interesting…
Everything from the glamour to the race’s unique twilight format. The track was built on a relatively tight 400-acre site, but it’s challenging for the drivers and the engineers.
Safety Car
40 per cent. If there is contact between cars, it’s often made at the chicanes, which are both low-speed. That results in relatively little debris and few Safety Cars.
Watch out for…
Sunset. Visibility can be tricky at Turns 14 and 19 when the sun is going down. It only lasts a handful of laps, but drivers need to be wary because there are blind spots.
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