# Yas Marina Circuit

The Yas Marina Circuit (Arabic: حلبة مرسى ياس) is the venue for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The circuit was designed by Hermann Tilke, and is situated on Yas Island, in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Yas Marina was the second of four Formula One tracks in the Middle East, with the first being in Bahrain and subsequent tracks in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
A two-day GP2 Asia Series test was held to officially open the circuit, which was held a week before the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It also hosted V8 Supercars between 2010 and 2012, with the event being the opening round in 2010 and 2011. Outside motorsport, the circuit was used for the final stage of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Tour cycle race in 2015. The circuit has an FIA Grade 1 license.

## Design

The circuit is located on Yas Island, a headland that was cut off from the mainland by a canal. It has sixteen corners and several straights, and passes by the marina and through the Yas Hotel Abu Dhabi designed by New York-based architects Hani Rashid and Lise Anne Couture of Asymptote Architecture with a facade lighting design by Rogier 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. 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 the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
* Seating Capacity – 60,000
* Area – 161.9 ha (400 acres)
* Length – 5.281 km (3.281 mi)
* Longest straight – 1.14 km (0.71 mi)
* Elevation change – 10.7 m (35 ft)

## Construction

The circuit was built by main contractor Cebarco-WCT WLL, under contract from developer Aldar 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 by Musco Lighting, similar to the one installed at Losail International Circuit in Qatar. Yas Marina Circuit is the largest permanent sports venue lighting project in the world; previously the title had been held by Losail International Circuit.
The surface of the track is made of graywacke aggregate, shipped to Abu Dhabi from a Bayston Hill quarry in Shropshire, England. The surface material is highly acclaimed by circuit bosses and Formula One drivers for the high level of grip it offers, though at the expense of a higher rate of tyre wear. The same aggregate material is used at the Bahrain International Circuit for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
On 7 October 2009, the circuit was granted final approval to hold Formula One races by the FIA. 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.

## Reception

After the first practice sessions at the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the circuit was welcomed by the drivers, with Nico Rosberg commenting that every corner was 'unique', while double World Champion Fernando Alonso echoed his sentiments, stating that it was enjoyable because there was always something to do. Force India's Adrian Sutil rated the circuit as being better than Formula One's other night race in Singapore as he felt there was too much light at Marina Bay.
Not all of the drivers were complimentary, with Giancarlo 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. Kimi Räikkönen notoriously gave his thoughts on the circuit, stating "The first few turns are quite good, but the rest of it is shit".
After the 2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix the designer Hermann Tilke said that they were considering making changes to the track to present more overtaking opportunities. BBC Sport's Andrew Benson called the racing in the 2020 event "dreary" with Matt Beer of The Race naming the track layout as one of 6 reasons why the races in Abu Dhabi "consistently disappoint". Drivers such as Daniel Ricciardo have also added their support for track changes.
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. 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.

## Events
### Current

* January: 24H Series Middle East Trophy 6 Hours of Abu Dhabi, Formula Regional Middle East Championship, F4 Middle East Championship, Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East, Gulf Radical Cup
* February: Asian Le Mans Series 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi, Formula Regional Middle East Championship, F4 Middle East Championship, UAE Procar Championship, Gulf Radical Cup
* April: Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
* November: Gulf Historic
* December: Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, FIA Formula 2 Championship Yas Island Formula 2 round, Gulf 12 Hours

### Former

* Audi R8 LMS Cup (2014)
* F1 Academy (2024)
* Ferrari Challenge Asia-Pacific (2016–2017, 2022–2024)
* Ferrari Challenge Finali Mondiali (2014)
* FIA GT1 World Championship (2010–2011)
* FIA World Rallycross Championship
** World RX of Abu Dhabi (2019)
* Formula 4 UAE Championship (2016–2024)
* Formula Regional Asian Championship (2020–2022)
* Formula Renault Eurocup (2019)
* Formula Trophy UAE (2024)
* GP2 Series (2010, 2013–2016)
* GP2 Asia Series (2009–2011)
* GP3 Series (2013–2018)
* Intercontinental GT Challenge
** Gulf 12 Hours (2022–2023)
* MRF Challenge Formula 2000 Championship (2015, 2017)
* Porsche Supercup (2009, 2011, 2013)
* Radical World Finals (2024)
* TCR Middle East Series (2017–2019)
* Trofeo Maserati (2013–2015)
* V8 Supercars
** Yas Marina Circuit V8 Supercar Event (2010–2012)

## Lap records

As of February 2025, the fastest official lap records at the Yas Marina Circuit are listed as:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
| Grand Prix Circuit (November 2021–present): 5.281 km |||||
| F1 | 1:25.637 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas VF-24 | 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix |
| FIA F2 | 1:37.445 | Roy Nissany | Dallara F2 2018 | 2021 Abu Dhabi Formula 2 round |
| LMP2 | 1:40.725 | Tom Dillmann | Oreca 07 | 2024 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi Race 1 |
| LMP3 | 1:48.198 | Laurents Hörr | Duqueine M30 D-08 | 2022 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi Race 2 |
| Formula Regional | 1:50.078 | Freddie Slater | Tatuus F3 T-318 | 2025 1st Abu Dhabi Formula Regional Middle East round |
| GT3 | 1:51.291 | Maro Engel | Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo | 2023 Gulf 12 Hours |
| Formula 4 | 1:54.671 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Tatuus F4-T421 | 2022 1st Abu Dhabi Formula 4 UAE round |
| Gulf Radical Cup | 1:54.840 | Alim Geshev | Radical SR3 XXR | 2024 Gulf Radical World Finals |
| Lamborghini Super Trofeo | 1:55.013 | Mikkel Mac | Lamborghini Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeo Evo | 2025 6 Hours of Abu Dhabi |
| Porsche Carrera Cup | 1.55.503 | Janne Stiak | Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup | 2025 Abu Dhabi Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East round |
| Ferrari Challenge | 1:56.889 | Christian Brunsborg | Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo | 2022 Abu Dhabi Ferrari Challenge Asia-Pacific round |
| GT4 | 2:03.091 | Cameron McLeod | Toyota GR Supra GT4 Evo | 2025 6 Hours of Abu Dhabi |
| TCR Touring Car | 2:06.197 | Alexandros Annivas | CUPRA León TCR | 2023 1st Abu Dhabi Gulf ProCar round |
| Alpine Cup | 2:09.368 | Ivan Ovsienko | Alpine A110 Cup | 2025 6 Hours of Abu Dhabi |
| Renault Clio Cup | 2:16.338 | Jerzy Spinkiewicz | Renault Clio R.S. V | 2023 2nd Abu Dhabi Renault Clio Cup Middle East round |
| Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League | 2:19:200 | Gianna (UNIMORE) | Dallara EAV24 | 2024 Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League |
| Corkscrew Circuit (November 2021–present): 4.572 km |||||
| Formula Regional | 1:42.189 | Théophile Naël | Tatuus F3 T-318 | 2025 2nd Abu Dhabi Formula Regional Middle East round |
| Formula 4 | 1:46.687 | Emanuele Olivieri | Tatuus F4-T421 | 2025 2nd Abu Dhabi F4 Middle East round |
| Gulf Radical Cup | 1:47.668 | Ian Aguilera | Radical SR3 XXR | 2025 2nd Abu Dhabi Gulf Radical Cup round |
| Ferrari Challenge | 1:47.707 | Masoud Jaberian Mahmoud | Ferrari 296 Challenge | 2025 1st Abu Dhabi Gulf ProCar round |
| Porsche Carrera Cup | 1:48.655 | Alex Giannone | Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup | 2025 1st Abu Dhabi Gulf ProCar round |
| Renault Clio Cup | 2:06.357 | Stanislav Novikov | Renault Clio R.S. V | 2024 2nd Abu Dhabi Renault Clio Cup Middle East round |
| North Circuit (November 2021–present): 3.005 km |||||
| Ferrari Challenge | 1:02.180 | Khaled Almarzouq | Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo | 2024 1st Abu Dhabi Gulf ProCar round |
| Gulf Radical Cup | 1:04.194 | Luke Hilton | Radical SR3 | 2024 1st Abu Dhabi Gulf Radical Cup round |
| GT4 | 1:06.277 | Keith Gatehouse | Mercedes-AMG GT4 | 2024 1st Abu Dhabi Gulf ProCar round |
| Porsche Carrera Cup | 1:06.996 | Mohammed Al Hammadi | Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup | 2023 2nd Abu Dhabi Gulf ProCar round |
| TCR Touring Car | 1:08.599 | René Münnich | Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) | 2023 2nd Abu Dhabi Gulf ProCar round |
| Supersport | 1:12.509 | Saeed Al Sulaiti | Yamaha YZF-R6 | 2024 Abu Dhabi DSBK round |
| Renault Clio Cup | 1:15.411 | Ilya Sidorov | Renault Clio R.S. V | 2024 1st Abu Dhabi Renault Clio Cup Middle East round |
| Grand Prix Circuit (October 2009–June 2021): 5.554 km |||||
| F1 | 1:39.283 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes AMG F1 W10 EQ Power+ | 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix |
| FIA F2 | 1:50.314 | Alexander Albon | Dallara GP2/11 | 2017 Abu Dhabi Formula 2 round |
| GP2 | 1:50.110 | Giedo van der Garde | Dallara GP2/08 | 2010 Abu Dhabi GP2 round |
| LMP2 | 1:56.560 | Franco Colapinto | Aurus 01 | 2021 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi Race 2 |
| GP3 | 1:56.888 | Marvin Kirchhöfer | Dallara GP3/13 | 2014 Abu Dhabi GP3 round |
| LMP3 | 2:05.165 | Malthe Jakobsen | Ligier JS P320 | 2021 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi Race 1 |
| Formula Regional | 2:07.324 | Jamie Chadwick | Tatuus F3 T-318 | 2020 Abu Dhabi F3 Asia round |
| GT1 | 2:07.376 | Thomas Mutsch | Matech Ford GT1 | 2010 Abu Dhabi FIA GT1 round |
| GT3 | 2:08.791 | Ben Barnicoat | McLaren 720S GT3 | 2021 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi Race 2 |
| MRF Challenge | 2:10.674 | Felipe Drugovich | Dallara Formulino Pro | 2017 Abu Dhabi MRF Challenge round |
| Formula 4 | 2:11.046 | Charles Weerts | Tatuus F4-T014 | 2018 2nd Abu Dhabi Formula 4 UAE round |
| Porsche Carrera Cup | 2:11.371 | Dylan Pereira | Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup | 2020 Abu Dhabi Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East round |
| Audi R8 LMS Cup | 2:12.246 | André Couto | Audi R8 LMS ultra | 2014 Abu Dhabi Audi R8 LMS Cup round |
| V8 Supercars | 2.13.160 | Jamie Whincup | Holden VE Commodore | 2012 Abu Dhabi V8 Supercar round |
| Ferrari Challenge | 2:15.130 | Philipp Baron [pl] | Ferrari 458 Challenge Evo | 2014 Ferrari Challenge Finali Mondiali |
| Radical Middle East Cup | 2.15.229 | Jani Hjerppe [fi] | Radical SR3 | 2018 1st Abu Dhabi Radical Middle East Cup round |
| Trofeo Maserati | 2:18.823 | Ange Barde [fr] | Maserati Trofeo | 2013 Abu Dhabi Trofeo Maserati Corse World Series round |
| GT4 | 2:21.240 | Olli Caldwell | Mercedes-AMG GT4 | 2018 Gulf 12 Hours |
| TCR Touring Car | 2:21.896 | Josh Files | Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK2) | 2017 Abu Dhabi TCR Middle East round |
| Short (Corkscrew) Circuit (October 2009–June 2021): 4.730 km |||||
| GP2 | 1:37.656 | Charles Pic | Dallara GP2/11 | 2011 Abu Dhabi GP2 Asia round |
| GT1 | 1:52.431 | Maxime Martin | Matech Ford GT1 | 2011 Abu Dhabi FIA GT1 round |
| Formula Regional | 1:53.432 | Jehan Daruvala | Tatuus F3 T-318 | 2021 1st Abu Dhabi F3 Asian Championship round |
| GT3 | 1:56.203 | Rob Barff [de] | Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 | 2011 3rd Yas Marina UAE GT round |
| Formula 4 | 1:57.198 | Dilano van 't Hoff | Tatuus F4-T014 | 2021 2nd Abu Dhabi Formula 4 UAE round |
| V8 Supercars | 1:57.740 | Jason Bargwanna | Holden VE Commodore | 2011 Yas V8 400 |
| North Circuit (October 2009–June 2021): 3.130 km |||||
| Formula 4 | 1:10.027 | Olli Caldwell | Tatuus F4-T014 | 2018 1st Abu Dhabi Formula 4 UAE round |
| TCR Touring Car | 1:14.778 | Luca Engstler | Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR | 2018 Abu Dhabi TCR Middle East round |
| South Circuit (October 2009–June 2021): 2.360 km |||||
| Formula 4 | 0:59.572 | Jonathan Aberdein | Tatuus F4-T014 | 2017 2nd Abu Dhabi Formula 4 UAE round |
* ↑ This does not include qualifying times.

## Gallery

* The main straight
* Turn 7 (October 2009–June 2021), Turn 5 (November 2021–present)
* North Grandstand, seen from Abu Dhabi Hill
* Grand Prix Circuit (October 2009–June 2021)
* North circuit and south circuit layouts shown in Grand Prix Circuit track map (October 2009–June 2021)
* World RX layout of Yas Marina Circuit, used in 2019
* Differences between the 2009 and 2021 layouts, with the new layout in black