© Vladimir RysCircuit Scout: Yas Marina CircuitIn Alex Albon’s final Circuit Scout for the Team, he talks through the Abu Dhabi track.
Inwhatisgoingtobeoneofthemostexcitingseasonfinalesformanyyears,wethoughtRedBullRacingHondaReserveandTestDriverAlexAlbonshouldgooutinstyleandgiveusonefinalCircuitScoutbeforehejoinsWilliamsRacingforthe2022season.
Plans for Abu Dhabi to host a race began in 2006, where authorities were planning to develop Yas Island into a new tourist destination, with the track being the main attraction. Three years later, the Yas Marina Circuit and Abu Dhabi hosted its first Grand Prix.
The Team have gone well previously at the Yas Marina Circuit, with a one-two of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber in the inaugural race in 2009. The following year Seb claimed his first title there – you must remember the tears! So many tears. And last year, Max Verstappen took the chequered flag in first place, so there’s everything to play for.
The Hermann Tilke-designed track is dominated by its 1.2km straight between turns five and six and slow-speed corners marking its beginning and end. The circuit has been modified for the 2021 season, which Alex believes could be a good thing. “I would say it used to be one of the most repetitive tracks on the calendar,” he said. “But I’ve driven the changes for this year on the simulator and it seems to be a lot more fun than it used to be.” So, with that being said…
Circuit Scout: Yas Marina Circuit© @_adamharvey_
“We start off with a very simple 90-degree angle left-hander and you want to start on the right-hand side,” explained Alex. “We go past the paddock, which is where the Red Bull karaoke night takes place.”
After going completely flat through turns two, three and four you come to the start of the new section of the track “This new part is very exciting, but in terms of a corner, it’s a very basic hairpin,” said Alex.
“It’s been designed to promote overtaking, which is something that Abu Dhabi has always struggled with in the past. Turn five isn’t made for overtaking, but it has been built so you can stay close and overtake at turn six.”
This turn is known for where Nico Hülkenberg clashed with Roman Grosjean in 2018, which saw Hülk flip over and land upside down, where he famously said over the radio: “I’m hanging here like a cow.”
“If that happened to us, we’d have to say ‘hanging like a bull.’” Alex joked.
The Bulls Out In The Desert© Vladimir Rys
“This is another new corner and actually a very exciting corner,” Alex said, getting back on track about the actual circuit. “It’s a banked, very quick corner. There are a lot of different lines available to take around there. You then head to turns 10 and 11 where you will be able to spot the Red Bull Paddock Club Yacht.”
“A nice flat-out right hander where we go through/underneath what is affectionally known as the pe*@s hotel, or shall we say the Pen15 hotel,” Alex laughed.
Out of all the circuits Alex has scouted for us this season, this is his least favourite. “It’s quite simple and there’s not much to talk about. There’s not too many exciting things happen. More than anything, what is interesting is that half of the track is new, so it’ll be a different experience for everyone this year. And hopefully it will suit us!”
The new layout means that it’s earned a few extra points. “The track is currently under consideration for revaluation due to the new corners. Currently it’s up to 5.5 on the simulator. Which is commendable, but to make it even more exciting they could do more.”
Score: 4/10
Spot The Bulls In Abu Dhabi© Vladimir Rys
