Start & first corners
A short run to the opening turns. The first laps set the tone for strategy.
Sector 02 · The track
The circuit
Yas Marina Circuit wraps around a marina and runs beneath a landmark hotel. Here's how a lap works, and why the twilight matters.
5.281 km58 laps16 cornersSince 2009
5.281kmLap length
≈306kmRace distance
16Corners
2009First race held
Anatomy of a lap
Four acts, one lap
The long straight
The longest flat-out stretch of the lap and the main overtaking chance, ending in heavy braking.
Second straight & hairpin
Another long run into a tight corner where late-braking moves are common.
Marina & hotel
Slow, technical corners past the yachts and under the illuminated hotel bridge.
The twilight effect
Golden hour to floodlights
The race starts in late-afternoon sun and ends under thousands of floodlights. As the asphalt cools, grip changes, and a comfortable strategy can turn nervous in the last stint.
Start · golden hourHot track, low sun behind the grandstands
Mid-race · sunsetTemperatures fall, the sky turns pink and violet
Finish · floodlightsCooler track, glowing hotel, chequered flag