Emilia Romagna Circuit Guide
Last Updated: 17/08/20 2:52pm
Costing a staggering £800million, the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi was designed to showcase the country on a world stage.
Costing a staggering £800million, the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi was designed to showcase the country on a world stage.
The circuit boasts a harbour capable of hosting over 150 yachts, in an attempt to bring the glamour of Monaco to the Middle East, while a state of the art hotel is built over the circuit.
The facilities are second to none - and, uniquely, the pit-lane exit tunnels below the circuit to make re-joining the circuit safer, proving no expense has been spare.
But despite all the positives the circuit is yet to serve up an entertaining race. Overtaking has been at a premium since the circuit made its 2009 debut, and even DRS and KERS couldn't spice things up in 2011.
The circuit has been designed with safety in mind more than providing racing action. The turn 7 hairpin could have been a fantastic overtaking spot. However, to make sure the cars are no danger of the barriers a chicane was added before the corner meaning the cars filter one-by-one into the hairpin.
The run off areas surrounding the circuit are vast expanses of tarmac - similar to Bahrain - and the blue paint which has been added to distinguish the run-offs from the race track means the circuit looks more like a test-track such as Paul Ricard in France.
