Each season since 2014 – and from 2009-10 – the chequered flag waving on the Yas Marina Circuit has signalled the tip of one other epic season of F1 racing. Because the solar dips beneath the horizon, floodlights convey some of the spectacular tracks on the calendar to life, and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix offers us one final celebration of Formulation 1 earlier than the winter break.
Abu Dhabi will function the F1 season finale for the 14th time in 2025 – and with a contract extension signed in 2021, its place because the final race on the calendar till 2030 is safe.
This week marks the halfway level of that deal, as we method this season’s three-way struggle for the 2025 Drivers’ Championship. It’s an ideal time to discover the Abu Dhabi venue, a few of its iconic races, and every little thing that makes it the proper season finale.
Legendary showdowns underneath the floodlights
Yas Marina has delivered a few of F1’s most unforgettable moments. The 2010 race was the one time in historical past that 4 drivers entered the ultimate race with an opportunity to develop into champion.
Sebastian Vettel was 15 factors behind Fernando Alonso heading into the nineteenth spherical of the season, with Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton additionally in competition.
The German took pole and the race win, whereas Ferrari’s Alonso obtained caught behind the Renault of Vitaly Petrov. As Vettel crossed the road to safe his first title, his race engineer produced the enduring line, “Du bist Weltmeister,” cueing wild celebrations on the rostrum and into the night time.
The 2014 finale noticed Hamilton safe his second championship, as he bagged a whopping 50 factors from his ultimate race win, as there have been double factors on supply.
In 2016, the 2 childhood buddies and group mates Hamilton and Nico Rosberg confronted off for the championship. Needing to overturn a 12-point deficit, the Brit threw every little thing at Rosberg, backing him up into the chasing Ferrari of Vettel and Crimson Bull of Max Verstappen. However Rosberg held on, successful his one and solely title, earlier than retiring per week in a while the best of highs.
After which there was 2021. Verstappen and Hamilton had given us one of many nice F1 seasons, culminating in an Abu Dhabi showdown with each drivers tied on 369.5 factors.
The Mercedes driver had taken the lead from the Dutchman early on, and regarded in management till a late Security Automobile with 5 laps to go.
Crimson Bull gambled with a pit cease, and following a controversial Security Automobile process, Verstappen overtook Hamilton on the ultimate lap of the season to win the primary of his World Championships.
World-class services on a purpose-built island
Designed by legendary monitor designer Hermann Tilke, the circuit is positioned on Yas Island, a synthetic 25 km² piece of reclaimed land on the east coast of Abu Dhabi.
Beginning in 2006, the island was developed from a clean canvas, with the Yas Marina Circuit accomplished by October 2009 at a reported value exceeding $1.32 billion. The unique structure was adjusted for the 2021 race to enhance monitor movement and supply extra overtaking alternatives.
All this funding has produced a monitor with spectacular services, highlighted by F1 selecting Yas Marina to host the post-season check, the place new Pirelli tyres are trialled by a wide range of drivers.
However Yas Island affords way over simply the circuit. Strolling across the island, you’ll uncover seven motels, the Ferrari World indoor theme park, a mall, a water park, a golf course, a seaside, a live performance area and a nightclub.
The long-lasting W Abu Dhabi lodge, with its distinctive whale-shaped structure, even straddles the monitor. The island actually isn’t a nasty place to rejoice a title.
The last word end-of-season celebration
Abu Dhabi has develop into synonymous with celebration, each on and off the monitor. Whether or not it’s a championship victory, a shock podium, or a driver farewell, there’s lots to rejoice at Yas Marina. And drivers have a favorite technique to get pleasure from their final outing within the automobile for the 12 months – the donut. Spinning automobiles producing a smokescreen in entrance of the grandstands is at all times a crowd favorite, irrespective of the event.
The 2024 race had loads of tear-jerking fond farewells. Hamilton competed in his ultimate race as a Mercedes driver earlier than his 2025 transfer to Ferrari, and he shared a particular second on the grid along with his automobile after the race. Carlos Sainz ran his final race for Ferrari earlier than becoming a member of Williams, whereas Kevin Magnussen and Zhou Guanyu accomplished their ultimate racing laps in an F1 automobile, for now.
Yas Marina has additionally seen the retirements of many different drivers through the years. Vettel referred to as time on his profession in 2022, with the entire weekend that includes tributes to the four-time Champion, together with “Danke Seb” shirts everywhere in the paddock.
The 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen retired on the 2021 race, Felipe Massa completed his profession in 2017 with 11 race victories and 41 podiums, and 2009 noticed the ultimate race in Giancarlo Fisichella’s 14-year profession. These emotional moments add layers of which means past championship battles, making the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix really feel that rather more particular.
The unique day-to-night race
The 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was F1’s first day-night race, differentiating Yas Marina from the six whole night time races on the calendar. Drivers should adapt their imaginative and prescient because the race progresses, aided by round 4,700 lighting fixtures illuminating the circuit. There’s one thing virtually poetic about watching the solar set on each the race and the whole F1 season concurrently.
The visible spectacle does not cease there. The Primary Grandstand affords prime views of Abu Dhabi’s famed pyrotechnics, with firework shows lighting up the desert sky to rejoice the season’s conclusion, and this 12 months, the newly topped World Champion.
Leisure and vogue take over
Not too long ago, the season finale ambiance has introduced out the very best vogue and leisure. Abu Dhabi has elevated the race weekend right into a competition – welcoming over 125,000 spectators.
This weekend, Katy Perry, Benson Boone, Put up Malone and Metallica will all take to the stage for post-race live shows. Plus, after-parties that includes DJ units from Idris Elba and Calvin Harris will rework the occasion right into a week-long celebration that pulls music lovers alongside motorsport followers.
There’s a protracted custom of iconic post-race live shows, together with the likes of Britney Spears, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Lana Del Rey, Eminem, Beyonce, Maroon 5, Weapons N’ Roses, Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell Williams and plenty of extra. Plus, who might overlook the ultimate scenes of F1 The Film being filmed on the Abu Dhabi podium? With A-list actors and world-class drivers on the rostrum collectively, it was an iconic picture that captured the distinctiveness of Yas Marina.
Attendees additionally go all out for the ultimate race weekend – because it’s the final likelihood to make a press release earlier than the low season.
Abu Dhabi is host to some spectacular vogue moments, together with beautiful visitor appears, however none extra so than Hamilton’s suits from 2024. His vogue selections mirrored the transition from his Mercedes period to his Ferrari starting.
He entered the paddock on Thursday in an all-white Willy Chavarria look, slowly transitioning to an all-red Ferrari-inspired outfit by the tip of the weekend – a becoming technique to say goodbye to his former group and welcome within the new Ferrari period.
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