Abu Dhabi reveal banked curve as part of track changes for 2021 season finale

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Abu Dhabi reveal banked curve as part of track changes for 2021 season finale

The Abu Dhabi GP will be contested on an altered layout this year

Sam Hall

Thursday 24 June 2021 13:45

Yas Marina circuit will feature a banked curve as part of the track changes revealed by Abu Dhabi Grand Prix officials in its bid to spice up the 2021 F1 season finale.

The track has come in for criticism in the past for providing a dull end to a campaign due to its layout hindering passing opportunities.

Notably, the chicane ahead of the hairpin is to be removed, whilst there will also be a banked corner.

"The first zone in which we are making the changes is the north hairpin," said acting CEO of Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management, Saif Al-Noaimi.

"What we are doing is we are eliminating the chicane [turns five-six] before the hairpin and we are widening the hairpin.

"The second zone of changes we are making is at the end of the second DRS zone in the south part of the circuit. What we are doing is we are eliminating four sharp corners [turns 11-14] and are creating one iconic banked corner.

"The third zone of changes we are making is in the hotel section of the race track. What we are doing is we are opening up the radius of four corners in that section to create a faster, flowing circuit."

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Why change now?

F1 has raced in Abu Dhabi since 2009, but the track has remained unaltered despite the negativity that has often followed many of the races.

As to why the changes are being made now, Al-Noaimi added: "The reason we are making these changes is we have listened to the spectators and fans, we have listened to the teams and the drivers and we have built these modifications taking into consideration the feedback that we have received.

"Ultimately, our objective is to create more overtaking opportunities, closer wheel-to-wheel racing and a faster, free-flowing circuit."

Looking forward to the track revisions, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said: "The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is the perfect setting for our season finale.

"It has been an incredible season so far and we are looking forward to being there with the new layout of the track that for sure will give the opportunity for the drivers to maximise the show."