The FIA shared details about F1 Abu Dhabi GP in terms of DRS zones, track limits and more, as the rookie list saw more drivers in fray for FP1 outing.
The white lines remain the track limits as per FIA Race Directors’ note for F1 Abu Dhabi GP at Yas Marina circuit. But there will be additional lookout at the entry/exit of Turn 16, where the laps will be deleted by the stewards if found exceeding the white lines.
There is host of changes at the circuit too from last event in 2024, they are:
- Resurface between Turn 1 and Turn 4.
- Grind down the kerb at Turn 4 apex.
- Grind the apex kerb at Turn 6.
- New patch of asphalt to remove a bump at the exit of turn 6 right-hand side.
- Debris fence extension at the exit of Turn 1 left-hand side.
- Debris fence extension at Turn 3 left-hand side.
- New debris fence at Turn 16 left-hand side.
- Extended guardrail after Turn 5 on the left-hand side.
- Extended Tecpro barrier at the exit of Turn 3 left-hand side.
- Support pit entry Tecpro adjusted.
- Reposition of the bollard at Turn 6.
In terms of the DRS zones, the first detection is 250m before Turn 5, with activation 260m after Turn 5. At the same time, the second detection is 50m after Turn 7 and activation is 165m after Turn 7. At the same time, the FIA stewards panel will be led by Garry Connelly.
He will have the able support of Mathieu Remmerie, Derek Warwick and Mohamed Al Hashmi. The F1 Abu Dhabi GP weekend will see eight teams barring Mercedes and Sauber fielding a rookie driver, whether to fulfil the rookie seat in FP1 or give extra chance to handful of drivers.
The list goes –
McLaren – Pato O’Ward (for Oscar Piastri)
Red Bull – Arvid Lindblad (for Yuki Tsunoda)
Ferrari – Arthur Leclerc (for Lewis Hamilton)
Aston Martin – Jak Crawford (for Lance Stroll), Cian Shields (for Fernando Alonso)
Alpine – Paul Aron (for Pierre Gasly)
Williams – Luke Browning (for Alexander Albon)
Visa Cash App RB – Ayumu Iwasa (for Liam Lawson)
Haas – Ryo Hirakawa (for Esteban Ocon)
FP1 rookie sessions completed thus far (per team needs to do four sessions) –
McLaren: Alex Dunne (Lando Norris, Austria; Oscar Piastri, Italy), Pato O’Ward (Lando Norris, Mexico)
Ferrari: Dino Beganovic (Charles Leclerc, Bahrain & Austria), Antonio Fuoco (Lewis Hamilton, Mexico)
Red Bull: Ayumu Iwasa (Max Verstappen, Bahrain), Arvid Lindblad (Yuki Tsunoda, Britain; Max Verstappen, Mexico)
Mercedes: Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Australia, China), Frederick Vesti (George Russell, Bahrain, Mexico)
Williams: Luke Browning (Carlos Sainz, Bahrain, Mexico), Victor Martins (Alexander Albon, Spain)
Visa Cash App RB: Isack Hadjar (Australia, China), Ayumu Iwasa (Liam Lawson, Mexico)
Haas: Ryo Hirakawa (Oliver Bearman, Bahrain, Mexico; Esteban Ocon, Spain)
Aston Martin: Felipe Drugovich (Fernando Alonso, Bahrain), Jak Crawford (Lance Stroll, Mexico)
Alpine: Ryo Hirakawa (Jack Doohan, Japan), Paul Aron (Franco Colapinto, Italy; Pierre Gasly, Mexico)
Sauber: Gabriel Bortoleto (Australia, China), Paul Aron (Nico Hulkenberg, Britain, Hungary)
Here’s full FIA Race Directors’ note: https://www.fia.com/system/files/decision-document/2025_abu_dhabi_grand_prix_-_race_directors_event_notes_.pdf
Here’s initial thoughts of F1 drivers in FIA meet