FIA shares circuit changes, DRS & more for F1 Abu Dhabi GP

The FIA shares details of track limits, changes to circuit, DRS zones for F1 Abu Dhabi GP, as list of FP1 runners is also shared.

The track limits for F1 Abu Dhabi GP at Yas Marina circuit remains the white lines, but the FIA Race Director has noted for an additional look out. It has reminded drivers to watch out for track limits at the entry of Turn 16, which not adhered to will result in lap time deletion.

“Each time a driver fails to respect track limits at the entry or exit of turn 16, will result in that lap time and the immediately following lap time being invalidated by the Stewards,” the note said. In terms of the DRS zones, the first’s detection is 250m before Turn 5 and activation is 260m after Turn 5.

Likewise, the second’s detection zone is 50m after Turn 7 and activation is 165m after Turn 7. The much talked about FIA stewards panel for F1 Abu Dhabi GP will be led by Felix Holter and he will have the support from Loic Bacquelaine, Derek Warwick and Mohamed Al Hashmi.

There is a host of track changes made at Yas Marina circuit from last year as well, which goes by:

• Debris fence in Turn 3 on LHS upgraded to 3.5 m.
• Grass verge in Turn 4 on RHS replaced with asphalt.
• Artificial grass removed in Turn 1 on RHS.
• Artificial grass removed in Turn 4 on LHS.
• Artificial grass removed in Turn 7 on LHS.
• Guardrail extended by 4,0 m in Turn 11 on RHS at vehicle opening.
• All CCTV cameras replaced with new cameras.
• The white line in Turn 5 on RHS has been moved further to the right to reduce the distance between the white line and the back of the kerb.
• The white line in Turn 9 on RHS has been moved further to the right to reduce the distance between the white line and the back of the kerb.
• The white line in Turn 15 on LHS has been moved further to the left to reduce the distance between the white line and the back of the kerb.
• The white line in Turn 16 on LHS has been moved further to the left to reduce the distance between the white line and the back of the kerb.

The FP1 driver list for Abu Dhabi GP weekend sees:

McLaren – Ryo Hirakawa (Oscar Piastri)

Ferrari – Arthur Leclerc (Carlos Sainz)

Red Bull – Isack Hadjar (Max Verstappen)

Aston Martin – Felipe Drugovich (Lance Stroll)

Visa Cash App RB – Ayumu Iwasa (Yuki Tsunoda)

Williams – Luke Browning (Franco Colapinto)

Alpine – Jack Doohan (Esteban Ocon, for whole weekend eventually)

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