The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will round off the longest season in Formula 1 history, featuring a record-breaking 24-race calendar this weekend at the Yas Marina Circuit with the Constructors’ championship on the line.
The fierce battle for the 2024 FIA Formula One Constructors’ Championship will take place this weekend between McLaren and Scuderia Ferrari at the Yas Marina Circuit, host to the final round, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, a twilight race.
Following night races in Las Vegas and Qatar, Abu Dhabi is ready to celebrate its 16th Grand Prix edition at the Yas Marina under the floodlights.
The circuit features a permanent lighting system with nearly 4,700 light fixtures.
Free Practice 1 and FP3 take place during the daytime. However, FP2, Qualifying, and Sunday’s race will start at sunset.
The track spans 5.281 kilometers (3.281 miles), featuring 16 corners over 58 laps.
Highlights include the 1.2km straight offering unique overtaking opportunities between Turns 5 and 6, both low-speed corners.
Track conditions tend to change as temperatures drop considerably once the sun goes down, making tire management crucial to performance.
Meanwhile, graining levels and tire degradation, mostly during the first part of the race, could challenge the teams’ strategies.
According to Formula One official tire supplier, Pirelli, “the red-banded tires will most probably only feature in qualifying, while the Medium and Hard will be under the spotlight.”
Pirelli will bring its three softest compounds for Round 24, with the C3 as Hard, the C4 as Medium, and the C5 as Soft.
Circuit Upgrades
According to the FIA, the debris fence in Turn 3 on the left-hand side has been upgraded to 3.5 meters.
In addition, the grass verge on the right-hand side of Turn 4 has been replaced with asphalt.
Artificial grass has been removed on the right-hand side in Turns 1 and 4 as on the left-hand side in Turn 7.
It is also important to note that the guardrail has been extended by 4 meters on the right-hand side of Turn 11 at the vehicle opening.
Moreover, McLaren heads to Abu Dhabi, leading the Constructors’ overall standings with 640 points, but Ferrari is just 21 behind the Woking-based outfit, with 44 points still for the grabs.
Max Verstappen sealed the Drivers’ championship in Las Vegas, where he captured his fourth consecutive F1 world title with Red Bull Racing, but the fight for the runner-up spot is also going down to the season finale in the Gulf Region.
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