Yas Marina set for circuit changes to aid overtaking at F1 finale

F1

The Yas Marina Circuit will look a little bit different this year with new changes aimed at improving overtaking

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021

The first hairpin and final sector will be tweaked ahead of the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP

Yas Marina Circuit

The Yas Marina Circuit is set to undergo changes ahead of the 2021 edition of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in the hopes of improving overtaking.

Since joining the calendar in 2009, the Middle Eastern circuit has been one of the most cutting-edge F1 facilities on the calendar but provided little spectacle in the way of on-track action.

Changes to the first and final sectors of the lap though aim to allow cars to follow one another more easily, something that has been difficult for drivers in the past.

Concept images on the official Yas Marina Circuit website seem to show the changes that will be made to the circuit that changes several sections.

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The first hairpin will now be moved up towards the downhill section of the first sector and replace the chicane that previously led into the slow Turn Seven.

The Turns 11, 12 and 13 uphill chicane will no longer feature and will instead be replaced by a cambered hairpin, similar to that of Mugello’s Turn One.

Underneath the W Hotel, Turns 18 and 19 have been rounded off so that they are no longer 90 degree left-handers while the penultimate Turn 20 has been altered in a similar manner.

Fans have been outspoken in their criticisms of the circuit and they haven’t been alone either. Kimi Räikkönen as well as other drivers have been critical of the circuit and the difficulties they face in following another car in the dirty air.

The 2010 and 2016 races in particular highlighted the issues with the circuit and the difficulties drivers have in making overtakes on those ahead.

Fernando Alonso famously got stuck behind the Renault of Vitaly Petrov which eventually cost him the 2010 title to Sebastian Vettel.

In 2016, Lewis Hamilton was able to back team-mate Nico Rosberg into rivals without the latter being able to overtake due to dirty air.