 Yas Marina Circuit (2021–present) | |
| Location | Yas Island,Abu Dhabi,UAE |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 24°28′2″N54°36′11″E / 24.46722°N 54.60306°E /24.46722; 54.60306 |
| Capacity | 60,000 |
| FIA Grade |
|
| Owner | Government of Abu Dhabi (2009–present) |
| Operator | Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management (2009–present) |
| Broke ground | May 2007; 18 years ago (2007-05) |
| Opened | October 2009; 16 years ago (2009-10) |
| Construction cost | |
| Architect | Hermann Tilke |
| Major events | Current: Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (2009–present) Asian Le Mans Series 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi (2021–present) Gulf 12 Hours (2013–2019, 2022–present) 24H Series Middle East Trophy 6 Hours of Abu Dhabi (2023–present) Former: FIA World RX World RX of Abu Dhabi (2019) Intercontinental GT Challenge (2022–2023) Ferrari Challenge Asia-Pacific (2016–2017, 2022–2024) Radical World Finals (2024) FIA GT1 World Championship (2010–2011) V8 SupercarsYas Marina Circuit V8 Supercar Event (2010–2012) |
| Website | https://www.yasmarinacircuit.com |
| Grand Prix Circuit (2021–present) | |
| Length | 5.281 km (3.281 mi) |
| Turns | 16 |
| Race lap record | 1:25.637 ( Kevin Magnussen,Haas VF-24,2024,F1) |
| Corkscrew Circuit (2021–present) | |
| Length | 4.572 km (2.841 mi) |
| Turns | 18 |
| Race lap record | 1:42.189 ( Théophile Naël,Tatuus F3 T-318,2025,F-Regional) |
| North Circuit (2021–present) | |
| Length | 3.005 km (1.867 mi) |
| Turns | 8 |
| Race lap record | 1:02.180 ( Khaled Almarzouq,Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo, 2024,Ferrari Challenge) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (2009–2021) | |
| Length | 5.554 km (3.451 mi) |
| Turns | 21 |
| Race lap record | 1:39.283 ( Lewis Hamilton,Mercedes W10,2019,F1) |
| Corkscrew Circuit (2009–2021) | |
| Length | 4.730 km (2.939 mi) |
| Turns | 19 |
| Race lap record | 1:37.656 (Jules Bianchi,Dallara GP2/11,2011,GP2) |
| North Circuit (2009–2021) | |
| Length | 3.130 km (1.945 mi) |
| Turns | 10 |
| Race lap record | 1:10.027 (Olli Caldwell,Tatuus F4-T014,2018,F4) |
| South Circuit (2009–2021) | |
| Length | 2.360 km (1.466 mi) |
| Turns | 12 |
| Race lap record | 0:59.572 ( Jonathan Aberdein,Tatuus F4-T014,2017,F4) |
TheYas Marina Circuit (Arabic: حلبة مرسى ياس) is a 5.281 km (3.281 mi)motorsport circuit situated onYas Island,Abu Dhabi,United Arab Emirates. The circuit was designed byHermann Tilke.[3][4] It has hosted the season-endingFormula OneAbu Dhabi Grand Prix since 2009. Yas Marina was the second of four Formula One tracks in theMiddle East, with the first being inBahrain and subsequent tracks inQatar andSaudi Arabia.
A two-dayGP2 Asia Series test was held to officially open the circuit, which was held a week before the2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.[5] It also hostedV8 Supercars between 2010 and 2012, withthe event being the opening round in 2010 and 2011.[6][7] Outside motorsport, the circuit was used for the final stage of the inauguralAbu Dhabi Tour cycle race in 2015–2017.[8] The circuit has anFIA Grade 1 license.[9]
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The circuit is located onYas Island, a headland that was cut off from the mainland by a canal. It has sixteen corners and several straights,[10] and passes by the marina and under theW Abu Dhabi hotel designed byNew York-based architects Hani Rashid andLise Anne Couture ofAsymptote Architecture with a facade lighting design byRogier van der Heide.
The circuit has five grandstand areas (Main Grandstand, West Grandstand, North Grandstand, South Grandstand, and Marina Grandstand) and part of its pit lane exit runs underneath the track. It also houses a team building behind the pit building, Media Center, Dragster Track and VIP Tower.[11] Additionally, one of the run-off areas runs underneath the West grandstand.
This changed when the previous turns 4, 5, and 6 were redesigned and the previous turns 11, 12, and 13 were also reconfigured in time for the2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The circuit was built by main contractor Cebarco-WCT WLL, under contract from developerAldar Properties. Among the sub-contractors involved were KOH AH HING (KAHBINA) from Malaysia (structural contractor), as well as specialised subcontractors like Voltas (MEP), PKE-Siemens (MEP), Able-Middle East (earthworks), Hamilton International (interior), Bau Bickhardt (track), and M.K. Almahri (Digital Systems) to name a few.
The circuit was constructed with a permanent lighting system provided byMusco Lighting, similar to the one installed atLusail International Circuit inQatar. Yas Marina Circuit is the largest permanent sports venue lighting project in the world; previously the title had been held byLusail International Circuit.
The surface of the track is made ofgraywackeaggregate, shipped to Abu Dhabi from aBayston Hill quarry inShropshire,England. The surface material is highly acclaimed by circuit bosses and Formula One drivers for the high level ofgrip it offers, though at the expense of a higher rate of tyre wear. The same aggregate material is used at theBahrain International Circuit for theBahrain Grand Prix.[12]
On 7 October 2009, the circuit was granted final approval to hold Formula One races by the FIA.[13]Bruno Senna was the first driver to complete a test run on the circuit.
GP3 visited Abu Dhabi for the first time at the end of the 2013 season.[14]
After the first practice sessions at the2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the circuit was welcomed by the drivers, withNico Rosberg commenting that every corner was 'unique',[15] while double World ChampionFernando Alonso echoed his sentiments, stating that it was enjoyable because there was always something to do.Force India'sAdrian Sutil rated the circuit as being better than Formula One's other night race inSingapore as he felt there was too much light at Marina Bay.[citation needed]
Not all of the drivers were complimentary, withGiancarlo Fisichella expressing a particular dislike of the pit exit, which dips under the main circuit by way of a tunnel. Although the pit exit remained free of incidents for the early practice sessions, Fisichella claimed that it was both very difficult and dangerous.[15]Kimi Räikkönen notoriously gave his thoughts on the circuit, stating "The first few turns are quite good, but the rest of it is shit".[16]
After the2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix the designerHermann Tilke said that they were considering making changes to the track to present more overtaking opportunities.[17]BBC Sport's Andrew Benson called the racing in the 2020 event "dreary" with Matt Beer ofThe Race naming the track layout as one of 6 reasons why the races in Abu Dhabi "consistently disappoint".[18][19] Drivers such asDaniel Ricciardo have also added their support for track changes.[20]
In June 2021, Saif Al Noaimi, acting CEO of Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management, said modifications to the track's layout had been approved, with the modifications completed in time for the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.[21] Turns 4, 5, and 6 were replaced by a single, less severe hairpin, turns 11 through 14 were replaced by a sweeping banked curve, and turns 18 through 20 were made less tight to allow more speed to be carried through them.[22][23]
As of February 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the Yas Marina Circuit are listed as:[24][25][26]
