Ahead of The F1 Abu Dhabi GP 2022, Here is A Brief History of F1 Racing at Abu Dhabi

The Yas Marina Circuit is all set to host the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the season finale of Formula 1 2022. Ever since its inception, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been serving as the season-closer to the F1 World Championship. But did you know, that the F1 2022 is the 14th Formula 1 Grand Prix being hosted at the Yas Marina Circuit? While the circuit gears up for hosting this year’s F1 racing championship, here is a brief history of Formula 1 at Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi.

 

About Yas Marina Circuit

The Yas Marina Circuit is designed by Hermann Tilke, an engineer, professional circuit designer, and racing driver. Plans to build the 5.5 km circuit were first announced in 2006, and the circuit was completed in October 2009. Hermann Tilke has also designed various other racing circuits, including the Bahrain International Circuit, home to the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix. The Yas Marina Circuit is also the second racing circuit to be created in the Middle East, the first one being the Bahrain International Circuit. The first race to be ever held in the Yas Marina Circuit, was the two-day GP2 Asia Series test. Then in late 2009, the circuit hosted its first F1 Abu Dhabi GP. Since then, the Yas Marina Circuit has hosted a total of 13 F1 Grand Prix Racing Championships, and numerous other motorsport championships, like - FIA Formula 2, FIA Formula 4 UAE, Asian Le Mans, Gulf Radical Cup, Yas Super Street Challenge, to name a few.

The Yas Marina Circuit has come to be considered one of the most technologically advanced and beautiful racetracks in the world. In 2021, ahead of the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021, the race track of Yas Marina Circuit got a few changes that made its racing experience more thrilling.

 

F1 Championships at Yas Marina Circuit

The circuit was inaugurated in 2009; this was also the year when it hosted its first F1 Grand Prix. It was in June 2008, during the 62nd season of the F1 world championship, that the world found out about the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) had released the provisional calender of F1 racing championships of 2009. In the calendar, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was listed as the final round of that year’s championship. Since then, the Abu Dhabi GP has been the season finale for all Formula 1 seasons. So, every year since 2009, the Yas Marina Circuit hosts the F1 Abu Dhabi GP near the end of the year, in the month of November or December. Also, the first F1 race held at the Yas Marina Circuit was a day-night race. Interestingly, it was also the first-ever day-night race of Formula 1. Since then, the Abu Dhabi GP has always conducted day-night F1 races and has become renowned for it.

Out of the 13 Grand Prix that Yas Marina Circuit has hosted till 2021, 5 have been won by the British racing champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes. Mercedes, as a constructor, has won 6 Grand Prix titles at Abu Dhabi GP. In 2021, Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing, created history for himself by winning the Abu Dhabi GP, as it was his first World Drivers' Championship victory. With such exciting wins and records, the F1 Abu Dhabi GP 2022 will be just as exciting for the audience as it will be for the participating teams.

 

If you wish to make bookings for Abu Dhabi GP 2022, you can head over to the official website of Yas Marina Circuit.