With the upcoming final F1 race in Abu Dhabi, the adrenaline is rising to a critical point as the city gears up, playing host to yet another successful F1 races. With the circuit and all the other elements in place, let’s look into how it all started.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is one of a kind, triggering a love for the motorsport in the heart of the city. It was announced in early 2007 at the Abu Dhabi F1 Festival in the United Arab Emirates.
The first race took place on 1 November 2009, held at the Hermann Tilke designed Yas Marina Circuit.
The Yas Marina Circuit is situated on Yas Island—a 2,550 hectares (25.5 km2) island on the east shoreline of Abu Dhabi—and the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was the first ever significant race to be held on the circuit.
On 25 June 2008, the FIA published the tentative 2009 Formula One calendar including the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as the nineteenth and last race of the season on 15 November. On 5 November 2008, notwithstanding, it was reported that the race would be held at the season finale on 1 November, two weeks prior to the original date, as the seventeenth and last race.
The debut race was Formula One’s first ever day-night race, beginning at 17:00 UAE time. The circuit floodlights were on from the beginning of the occasion to guarantee a consistent switch from light to dusk tonight. From then on, Abu Dhabi Grands Prix have always been day-night races.
F1 previously came to Abu Dhabi in 2007 under the semblance of the first since Formula One Festival. Announced in January 2007, the occasion which ensued on 3 February 2007 was free and was the largest meet of Formula One vehicles and drivers outside of a Grand Prix. It was then reported at the festival that Abu Dhabi had gained the hosting rights for a Grand Prix from 2009 to 2016. Soon thereafter, Etihad Airways proposed a three-year bargain for them to sign up as the patrons of the Grand Prix.
Debut Grand Prix of 2009
From the 2009 season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been added to the F1 racing schedule. It was temporarily declared as being hung on 15 November 2009, as the nineteenth and final Grand Prix of the season. The Canadian and French Grand Prix were later removed from the interim schedule, and subsequently, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was pre-scheduled to 1 November 2009 making it the final race of 17 gatherings. The debut race was won by Sebastian Vettel for Red Bull Racing.
2010
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concluded the season at the Yas Marina Circuit, for the few days of 12, 13, 14 November 2010. The primary race in Abu Dhabi in 2009 ended with as both drivers were fixed at first position in Brazil. This time around, the Drivers’ Championship was chosen in Abu Dhabi out of the blue. With Fernando Alonso missing out, and Sebastian Vettel finishing his second triumph on this track, the fantastic German driver finally sealed his victory.
2011
The 2011 Grand Prix was the eighteenth and penultimate race of the 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship and occurred on 13 November.
Lewis Hamilton won the race in a McLaren-Mercedes, followed by Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), Jenson Button (McLaren-Mercedes) coming in third. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull-Renault) had been on shaft position, however, resigned after a cut on the first lap while going around the second corner.
2012
Title pioneer Sebastian Vettel completed the race in the third position from the pitlane, because of his disqualification in the qualifying race for not having enough fuel to come back to parc fermé. His the rival, Fernando Alonso, completed second behind the Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen, who won out of the blue after his arrival to Formula One prior in 2012.
2013
Red Bull Racing commended its twofold fourth (Drivers’ Champion and Constructors’ Champion) in Abu Dhabi. David Coulthard played out some more doughnuts on the helipad of the Burj Al Arab lavish inn in Dubai, 210 meters over the ground level.
Red Bull secured its fourth back to back Constructors’ Championship in India and Sebastian Vettel won the Drivers’ title for the fourth year consecutively.
2014
The 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix occurred on 23 November and was the finishing up the race of the 2014 FIA F1 World Championship.
Twofold focuses were granted for the race, which was won by Lewis Hamilton, anchoring his second Drivers’ Championship.
2015
The 2015 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concluded on 29 November 2015 with Nico Rosberg winning his third title in succession with Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen taking the podium.
2016
The 2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ended on the 27th November, which was won by Lewis Hamilton, making it four wins consecutively. Sebastian Vettel was completing the platform and Nico Rosberg anchoring his first Drivers’ Championship.
2017
The 2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concluded on 26 November, won by Valtteri Bottas, followed by Lewis Hamilton in second and Sebastian Vettel finishing the platform.
