Abu DhabiGrand Prix

Fred’s View

The Yas Marina circuit holds special memories for our Test and Reserve Driver Fred.

“On a personal level, Abu Dhabi was the site of the proudest day of my career when I got my first F1 car test in 2022,” he said.

“It is a great place for a season finale at night and the changes they made to the layout a few years ago at Turn Five and Turn Nine have made overtaking easier.

“It has been a long season, and every driver will be feeling it after 24 intense weekends. The whole grid will be eager to go out on a high before the winter break.”

Dramatic Deciders & Fond Farewells

All 16 Abu Dhabi Grands Prix to date have taken place in the latter stages of the season, and of these 13 have hosted the season finale. The three exceptions to this were in 2011, 2012, and 2013.

No circuit has hosted the final round of the F1 season more. Adelaide held the previous record for this, and was the venue for the final round in 11 consecutive seasons between 1985 and 1995.

While the champion has not always been crowned in the final race at Yas Marina, the circuit has witnessed four drivers clinch the title.

Sebastian Vettel triumphed for Red Bull in 2010 to win his maiden championship, while Lewis Hamilton won his second title in 2014, defeating Silver Arrows team-mate Nico Rosberg in the first of the current Hybrid Era F1 seasons.

That race is the only one in history to have awarded double points, meaning Lewis claimed 50 for his win, instead of the usual 25.

It means that Williams – who finished P2 and P3 that day – hold the record for most points scored by a constructor at a single Grand Prix with 66.

Two years later, Nico sealed his one and only F1 title, finishing P2 behind Lewis. It would turn out to be the final race of the German’s career.

In 2021, a thrilling season-long championship battle between Lewis and Max Verstappen was settled on the final lap in Abu Dhabi, with the spoils going the way of the Dutchman.

In addition to Nico, numerous star names have bid farewell to the sport they love around Yas Marina.

Jenson Button (2016), Felipe Massa (2017), Kimi Raikkonen (2021) and Sebastian Vettel (2022) have all made their final turn of an F1 steering wheel in Abu Dhabi.

The 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be the 252nd and final of the F1 Hybrid Era, which started back in Australia in 2014.

Mercedes at Yas Marina

Lewis is the most successful driver at Yas Marina with five wins, four of which came behind the wheel of a Silver Arrow.

In 2024, he raced his 246^th and final Grand Prix for the three-pointed star, charging from P18 on the grid to P4 at the flag to emotional scenes in the garage and grandstands.

In total, Mercedes has six wins in Abu Dhabi. In addition to Lewis’ four, the team has also triumphed with Nico (2015), and Valtteri (2017).

Going into 2025, no team has more podiums at the track than Mercedes, who have 14.

George’s only podium to date at Yas Marina in 2023 was enough to help the team secure P2 in the final Constructors’ standings.

Did You Know?

Yas Marina Circuit is the largest permanent sports venue lighting project in the world.

The circuit is located on Yas Island, a headland off Abu Dhabi that was cut off from the mainland by a canal.

The unique layout and surrounding area sees drivers pass under a hotel in the latter stages of the lap, as they navigate around the marina which gives the track its name.

Another special feature of the circuit at Yas Marina is that drivers must cross under the first two corners when exiting the pitlane through a tunnel, the only location on the calendar where this is the case.