Investing $40 billion into an artificial island to create a Formula One venue for Abu Dhabi arguably makes Yas Marina Circuit the most expensive track in the world.
Situated to the east of the United Arab Emirates capital, Yas Marina has seen plenty of thrilling moments in its F1 history — including Nico Rosberg’s shocking retirement after winning his first title in 2016 and Max Verstappen’s hotly contested first world championship in 2021.
Will it also be the venue for a remarkable fifth? We’re not far away from finding out.
Another Hermann Tilke-designed track, it is dominated by a 1.2km straight between turns 5 and 6 — both of which are slow-speed corners that ensure the straight is a prime overtaking opportunity.
The timing of this race makes it a sunset spectacle, which only adds to the mystique of this grand prix weekend. As the sun disappears, the track cools and the challenge in terms of car setup and grip levels keeps everyone on their toes.
There is also the pit exit, which goes through a tunnel and under the track. Here are the key circuit facts:
- Circuit length: 5.281 km (3.281 miles)
- Laps: 58
- Lap record: 1:25.637s (Kevin Magnussen, 2024)
- First GP: 2009
And if you want to see what the Yas Marina track looks like from the cockpit, you can take in the video below.
