ABU DHABI – Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit was built looking beautiful and very much ready to entertain for its first Grand Prix in 2009, and there's been Formula One racing at the waterfront venue ever since. The glamorous sporting events are held at the end of the year when the desert climate is cooler, and later in the day – 5 p.m. start, local time – to keep the lunchtime race start consistent for European television viewers.
And did we mention that it's one glamorous event? Formula One's only twilight event goes head-to-head with the only night race, at Singapore, for top neon-lit motorsport honors. Stunning venues both, but it is arguably Yas Marina that brings the greatest wow factor. The curving, multi-color-neon-lit roof of the Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi hotel, the marina setting complete with super-yachts, and comfy air conditioning almost everywhere, including all 40 pit garages – this is the place where the Formula One high-rollers flock by the Rolls-Royce full.
The track itself makes very good use of its opulent surroundings, cutting under the aforementioned Yas Marina hotel and lapping around much of the marina water, and, like Monaco, preferably the place to be on race day is on a large yacht moored right up to the track. It all sounds – and looks – wonderful, but the average race fan is also well considered with covered grandstands keeping the sun's heat away until the darkness gently falls.
Designed by the main man behind most modern Formula One tracks – Hermann Tilke – the Yas Marina Circuit has the longest and fastest straight (at least 320 km/h) on the calendar, a twisting street circuit-style section, and several wide-entry, sharper corners that encourage the drivers to dive in for the overtake at every opportunity. It's a circuit then that showcases everything the fans love about the very pinnacle of motor racing – glamour, futuristic design and architecture, and Formula One cars and drivers pushed to the limit through every kind of challenging corner and complex.
Both Formula One world championships may well have been sown up by a Sebastian Vettel in stunning form at the previous racing round in India, but we're pretty sure the team that brings you the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in all its sparkling glory will have something rather special planned to celebrate the double, consecutive four-time world champions. If there's anywhere to throw a party to end all parties for Sebastian Vettel and the INFINITI Red Bull Racing team, it's the incredible Yas Marina Circuit.
Sebastian and Mark look Ahead to Abu Dhabi
Sebastian
Q1: There have been some special moments for you in the last few days, but looking to Abu Dhabi, what are your memories from there?
Sebastian Vettel: The race in Abu Dhabi is one of the highlights of the racing calendar. Starting at dusk and finishing in the dark makes it pretty impressive. I have special memories of the Abu Dhabi GP after winning the first race here in 2009 and then repeating the victory in 2010 to win my first World Championship, that was an event I will never forget.
Q2: What is Yas Marina circuit like to drive?
Vettel: The circuit is impressive: 5.5 km, 55 laps counter clockwise with large run-off areas and a pit lane that leads through a tunnel to the other side of the straight. A few key points of the track for me are Turn 1 because it is very difficult to see and is very fast. The last corners – turns 20 and 21 – must be regarded as one, because you have to exit perfectly from the first to catch the last corner correctly. The trick here is to get on the throttle as early as possible in order to build up enough speed for the subsequent straight.
Mark
Q1: When you think of Abu Dhabi, what is the first thing that comes to mind?
Mark Webber: Racing in the twilight and finishing at night with a spectacular backdrop – it's a unique event in that sense.
Q2: Does the race take on a different feel once the sun goes down and it gets dark? In what way does it change?
Webber: Well the track temperature is dropping during the race, which is an interesting point for us, performance-wise, with the tires. Also we'll have a different visor tear-off for the first part of the race. For the first 10 or 15 laps, we'll have a dark tear-off because of the low sun in the last sector, and then when the sun has gone behind the grandstand we can get rid of that tear off and run a clear one for the rest of the race.
2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Yas Marina Circuit Guide
Key Track Statistics
Local start time: 17h00
Number of laps: 55
Circuit length: 5.554km
Race distance: 305.355km
Grand Prix debut: 2009
Lap record: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing, 2009), 1:40.279
2012 Qualifying
1) Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2) Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
3) Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2012 Race Results
1) Rimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2) Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
3) Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix City Guide
Once overshadowed by neighboring Dubai's razzmatazz, since Sheik Khalifa became the ruler in 2004 things have changed radically for Abu Dhabi. Now it's one of the most glamorous destinations in the world, and not just because parts of Sex and the City 2 were filmed there. The city is experiencing an enormous construction boom, and the Grand Prix has helped to put it on the cultural map.
Built on an opulent waterfront setting, the Yas Marina Circuit is a luxury leisure destination in itself, and much more than just a racetrack. Yas is a 2550 hectare island to the east of Abu Dhabi and has been filled with hotels, a Ferrari theme park, the biggest waterpark in world, a PGA-grade golf course, and other cultural attractions.
And then there's Saadiyat Island, a $28 billion cultural zone that really demonstrates Abu Dhabi's pulling power: a pavilion by Sir Norman Foster, its own Guggenheim museum by Frank Gehry (opening next year), and the only Louvre outside Paris (set for 2015). Abu Dhabi is not lacking in ambition.
About INFINITI
INFINITI Motor Company Ltd. is headquartered in Hong Kong with sales operations in approximately 50 countries. The INFINITI brand was launched in 1989. Its range of premium automobiles is currently built in manufacturing facilities in Japan and the United States. Production in China and Europe will start soon along with the expansion of the brand's portfolio.
As the Title Partner and Vehicle Performance Partner of INFINITI Red Bull Racing, INFINITI has a far-reaching technical collaboration with the Formula One team, and Sebastian Vettel, its four-time World Champion driver, serves as INFINITI's Director of Performance.
More information about INFINITI, its Total Ownership Experience® and its industry leading technologies can be found at www.infiniti.com. For the latest news on INFINITI, visit INFINITINews.com, "like" INFINITI on Facebook or follow the brand on Twitter @INFINITIUSA. For interesting content on INFINITI in Formula One visit: www.infiniti-gp.com, www.youtube.com/INFINITIGP or follow on Twitter @INFINITIGP.
About INFINITI in Formula One
INFINITI, the premium automotive brand, starts the 2013 season as Title Partner and Vehicle Performance Partner of INFINITI Red Bull Racing. With a deepened technical collaboration across people, process and technologies, an 'open door' approach is enabling both sides to access a pool of innovation, new technologies and R&D resources in the shared pursuit of precision and performance.
Since the partnership's inception in 2011 it has already seen the launch of the INFINITI FX Vettel Edition and product development input from Sebastian Vettel and test driver Sebastien Buemi for the all-new INFINITI Q50 premium sports saloon. INFINITI continues to be the most visible automotive brand in Formula One, and the deepened partnership will ensure closer alignment on an increasing number of future team collaborations.
For interesting content on INFINITI in Formula One visit: www.infiniti-gp.com, www.youtube.com/INFINITIGP or follow on Twitter @INFINITIGP.
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