The FIA has shared details of the track changes made at Yas Marina circuit for this weekend’s F1 Abu Dhabi GP along with the DRS zones and stewards names.
After F1 Brazil GP had little changes at Interlagos, the Yas Marina circuit will see few alterations made from the 2018 event for this weekend’s Abu Dhabi GP. The FIA, in its preview note, has revealed the multiple changes undertaken.
As per the note for Abu Dhabi GP, a short section of the track situated near the start line has been resurfaced, while the additional orange kerb element at the exit of Turn 20 has been removed and replaced with one of a similar type.
In addition, the first 7m of this additional kerb element has been removed. As for the two DRS zones at the Yas Marina circuit, the FIA notes that the first zone’s detection point will be 40m before Turn 7, with an activation point 270m after Turn 7.
At the same time, the second zone’s detection point is 50m after Turn 9 and the activation takes place 165m after Turn 9. Meanwhile, the four stewards for Abu Dhabi GP are Nish Shetty, Dennis Dean, driver rep Derek Warwick and national steward Mahir Badri.
After both the drivers’ and constructors’ champions were sealed in the earlier races, the fight for fourth place in the latter was done and dusted in Brazil as well with McLaren winning from Renault. But the tussle for fifth is on which will be decided in Abu Dhabi GP.
It is only between two teams though with Renault sitting in fifth with 91 points, only eight ahead of Toro Rosso. There is a mathematical chance for Racing Point and others too but the British team is 23 away from Renault and 10 ahead of Alfa Romeo Racing.
It is more Renault v Toro Rosso and Racing Point v Alfa Romeo. At the same time, in the drivers’ standings, Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen has a good lead over Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in the fight for third with 11 points to play with in Abu Dhabi GP.
It is nearly impossible for Sebastian Vettel to catch up as he sits 30 behind Verstappen. In the other battle, Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly will be eyeing to save the best of the rest spot – sixth place – from McLaren’s Carlos Sainz and Red Bull’s Alexander Albon.
Gasly and Sainz are tied with 95 points, especially after their podium finish in Brazil, but Albon is only nine behind both his rivals and has a good chance in Abu Dhabi GP to eventually take sixth in his rookie F1 season.
Here’s the tyre choice for F1 Abu Dhabi
