The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is the final round of the Formula 1 season. The FIA holds it at the Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island, a man-made island that features hotels, resorts, theme parks, golf courses, and a marina.
The race is a spectacular day-night event that starts in the late afternoon and finishes under the floodlights. It is one of the most modern and advanced in the world, featuring a unique pit lane exit that passes under the track, a hotel that spans over the track, and a marina that surrounds the track.
The circuit also underwent significant changes in 2021 to improve overtaking opportunities and enhance the racing spectacle. The circuit has a length of 5.281 km and consists of 16 corners, with nine right-handers and seven left-handers.
Drivers make an average of 68 gear changes per lap or 3740 gear changes over the full 55-lap race distance. Lewis Hamilton is the most successful driver at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with five wins. Mercedes and Red Bull tie as the most successful constructors here, with six wins apiece.
The circuit has a mix of slow-speed corners, high-speed straights, and technical sections that challenge the drivers and the cars. The circuit also has three DRS zones to aid overtaking: on the main straight between Turns 7 and 8, on the back straight between Turns 10 and 11, and on the hotel straight between Turns 18 and 19.
The following is a corner-by-corner description of the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix circuit layout:
Yas Marina Circuit – Turn 1
A tight left-hander that leads into a short straight. The drivers brake hard from over 300 km/h to around 100 km/h, making it a potential overtaking spot. The drivers need to hit the apex and avoid running wide on the exit.
Yas Marina Circuit – Turn 2
A fast left-hander that follows after Turn 1. The drivers take it flat out at around 250 km/h, keeping to the left for the next corner.
Yas Marina Circuit – Turn 3
A medium-speed right-hander that leads into another short straight. The drivers brake slightly from around 250 km/h to around 200 km/h, clipping the apex and using all the track on the exit.
Turn 4
A fast left-hander that opens up into a long straight. The drivers brake hard from around 200 km/h to around 80 km/h, turning in late and accelerating early for the best exit speed.
Turn 4 leads into the 1st DRS detection zone.
Yas Marina Circuit – Turn 5
A slow left-hander that marks the end of the first sector. The drivers slow from 300 km/h, staying close to the inside kerb for the best line.
Another long straight follows turn 5, where the drivers can reach speeds of over 320 km/h (200 mph) again. This is another overtaking opportunity, as well as a chance to use DRS and slipstream.
Turn 6
A tight left-hander that follows after a long straight. The drivers brake hard from over 320 km/h to around 100 km/h, making it one of the heaviest braking zones on the calendar. The drivers need to avoid locking up and running wide on the exit.
Turn 7
A tight right hander that follows the tight left hander in turn six. Exit position means everything. Turn 7 leas into the 2nd DRS detection zone.
Turn 8
A fast left-hander that follows immediately after Turn 7. The drivers take it flat out at around 250 km/h, keeping to the right for the next corner.
Turn 9
A medium-speed left-hander that leads into a short straight. The drivers brake slightly from around 250 km/h to around 200 km/h, clipping the apex and using all the track on the exit.
Turn 10
A fast right-hander that follows immediately after Turn 9. The drivers take it flat out at around 250 km/h, staying close to the inside kerb for the best line.
Turn 11
A medium-speed right-hander that leads into a short straight. The drivers brake slightly from around 250 km/h to around 200 km/h, clipping the apex and using all the track on the exit.
Turn 12
A slow right-hander that marks the end of the second sector. The drivers brake hard from around 200 km/h to around 80 km/h, turning in early and hitting the apex for the best exit speed.
Turn 13
A medium left-hander that follows after a short straight.
Yas Marina Circuit – Turn 14
A medium left-hander that marks the end of the third sector and the lap. The drivers need to avoid running wide on the exit and losing speed for the main straight.
Yas Marina Circuit – Turn 15
A fast right hander that sets the drivers up for the final turn 16.
Yas Marina Circuit – Turn 16
A sharp righthander that leads into the main start finish straight,
This is a lap of the Yas Marina Circuit, one of the most modern and advanced circuits in Formula 1.
The circuit offers a mix of slow-speed corners, high-speed straights, and technical sections that challenge the drivers and the cars. The circuit also offers several overtaking opportunities, especially with DRS.
Yas Marina also has a unique atmosphere, as it starts in daylight and finishes under floodlights. The circuit is a fitting venue for the final round of the Formula 1 season, as it provides a spectacular show for the fans and a thrilling finale for the championship.
The straight ends with a heavy braking zone into a wide hairpin that has been widened even more in the new layout. The drivers have to find the optimal line and speed to carry as much momentum as possible onto the next straight.
Turn 6 – Yas Marina Circuit
Turn 7 – Yas Marina Circuit
The straight ends with another heavy braking zone into a tight left-hander that has been banked slightly in the new layout. The drivers have to avoid locking up their tires or running wide onto the run-off area.
Turn 8 – Yas Marina Circuit
Short straight follows turn 7, leading into a fast right-hander that can be taken flat out or with a slight lift. The drivers have to keep to the right to set up for the next corner.
Turn 9 – Yas Marina Circuit
A medium-speed left-hander that has replaced the four-corner sequence of turns 11–14 in the old layout. The drivers have to brake hard and turn in late to hit the apex of this banked corner, which opens up on exit.
Turn 10 – Yas Marina Circuit
A short straight follows turn 9, leading into a fast left-hander that can be taken flat out or with a slight lift. The drivers have to keep to the left to set up for the next corner.
Turn 11 – Yas Marina Circuit
A medium-speed right-hander that requires a late apex and a smooth exit. The drivers have to avoid hitting the inside kerb or running wide onto the astroturf.
Turn 12 – Yas Marina Circuit
A long straight follows turn 11, where the drivers can reach speeds of over 300 km/h (190 mph). This is another chance to use DRS and slipstream, but overtaking is not easy here due to the following chicane.
Turn 13 – Yas Marina Circuit
The straight ends with a heavy braking zone into a tight chicane that has been slightly modified in the new layout. The drivers have to negotiate two sharp turns in quick succession, while avoiding hitting the kerbs too hard or cutting across them.
Turn 14 – Yas Marina Circuit
A short straight follows turn 13, leading into a fast right-hander that can be taken flat out or with a slight lift. The drivers have to keep to the right to set up for the next corner.
Turn 15 – Yas Marina Circuit
A medium-speed left-hander that requires a late apex and a smooth exit. The drivers have to avoid hitting the inside kerb or running wide onto the AstroTurf.
Turn 16 – Yas Marina Circuit
A short straight follows turn 15, leading into a fast left-hander that can be taken flat out or with a slight lift. The drivers have to keep to the left to set up for the next corner.
Turn 17 – Yas Marina Circuit
A medium-speed right-hander that has been widened in the new layout. The drivers have to brake hard and turn in late to hit the apex of this corner, which opens up on exit.
This is one of the overtaking opportunities on the track, as the drivers can dive down the inside or switch to the outside.
Turn 18 – Yas Marina Circuit
A short straight follows turn 17, leading into a tight left-hander that has been widened in the new layout. The drivers have to brake hard and turn in late to hit the apex of this corner, which opens up on exit.
Turn 19 – Yas Marina Circuit
A long straight follows turn 18, where the drivers can reach speeds of over 300 km/h (190 mph). This is another chance to use DRS and slipstream, but overtaking is not easy here due to the following chicane.
Turn 20 – Yas Marina Circuit
The straight ends with a heavy braking zone into a tight chicane that has been removed in the new layout. The drivers have to negotiate a fast right-hander that can be taken flat out or with a slight lif.
This is followed by a fast left-hander that can be taken flat out or with a slight lift. The drivers have to avoid hitting the kerbs too hard or cutting across them.
Turn 21 – Yas Marina Circuit
Short straight follows turn 20, leading into the final corner of the lap. This is a medium-speed right-hander that requires a late apex and a smooth exit. The drivers have to avoid hitting the inside kerb or running wide onto the AstroTurf.
The drivers then cross the finish line and start another lap of the Yas Marina Circuit.