Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026
The season-ending twilight race at Yas Marina, where the championship culminates beneath the futuristic Yas Hotel and the setting desert sun gives way to dramatic floodlights.
Race Information
Yas Marina Circuit
Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
58
5.281 km
2009
Max Verstappen (1:26.103, 2021)
About Yas Marina Circuit
The Yas Marina Circuit has served as the season finale of the Formula 1 World Championship since 2009, providing a spectacular backdrop for the climax of the racing year. Located on Yas Island, a purpose-built entertainment destination in Abu Dhabi, the circuit is one of the most modern and lavishly appointed facilities on the calendar. The iconic W Abu Dhabi hotel, which straddles the circuit's exit, is one of the most recognisable structures in all of motorsport.
The circuit was significantly redesigned ahead of the 2021 season, with several slow chicanes replaced by faster, flowing sections designed to improve overtaking opportunities and reduce lap times. The changes transformed the racing, turning what had previously been criticised as a processional venue into a circuit capable of producing genuine wheel-to-wheel action. The new layout features high-speed sections that reward downforce, a long back straight with a DRS zone for overtaking, and a technical final sector that threads beneath the hotel.
As a twilight race, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix begins in the golden light of the desert sunset and finishes under floodlights, creating one of the most visually stunning spectacles on the calendar. The changing light conditions during the race add an extra dimension to the challenge, as track temperatures drop and grip levels evolve throughout the event. Abu Dhabi has hosted some of the most dramatic season finales in F1 history, most notably the extraordinary 2021 title decider between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, a race that will be debated and remembered for generations to come. The event also serves as a farewell for retiring drivers and departing team members, adding an emotional layer to the season's final weekend.
How to Watch the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
In the UK, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming via Sky Go and NOW TV. The four-hour time difference means the race starts in the early afternoon UK time, making it easily accessible for British viewers.
Channel 4 shows extended highlights. Visit our TV schedule page for full session times.
International viewers can watch via F1 TV Pro, ESPN (USA), and other regional broadcasters worldwide.
Previous Winners
| Year | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 2024 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 2023 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2022 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2021 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |