It's become tradition that the Formula 1 season concludes with a finale under lights at the Yas Marina Circuit. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix became Formula 1’s first twilight race in 2009, with the Grand Prix starting in early evening sunshine and concluding in the dark. It provides a brilliant arena for what, on several occasions in recent history, has been a title decider.

Yas Marina is a curious circuit where each of the three sectors exhibits different characteristics. Sector 1 contains the high-speed Turns 2 and 3. The need to dial out understeer here, particularly in the quick Turn 2, will define where the front wing is set. Sector 2 contains the two long straights, each of which terminates in a tight chicane for which the cars brake down from 300km/h+ (186mph) to sub-100km/h (62mph) speeds. The kerbs at Yas are high but riding them at the chicanes and getting a good exit is key for a fast lap, so the car is set up with relatively soft suspension – but not too soft as the chicanes also demand a swift change of direction.

Sector 3 is reminiscent of a street circuit: it winds around the harbour-front and under the Viceroy Hotel with rapid changes of direction and close-in barriers. The action tends to come at the end-of-straight chicanes, but the lap time is to be found in this final sector. This necessitates a trade-off between low drag for those two long straights, and more downforce around the harbour. The usual approach is a medium-high downforce setting.

Another factor thrown up by the unusual timing of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is a circuit that will cool rapidly as the race progresses into darkness. It makes Yas a very attractive testing venue but something of a headache for race engineers.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix arrived on the calendar in 2009 and was won by McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton in its third year. Our second win was courtesy of Lando, who’s dramatic 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix win sealed the Constructors’ Championship title for McLaren for the first time in 26 years.