Theatre of the final battle for the Formula One title, here a guideline to the modified Yas Marina layout with Italian Studio Dromo who realized
important modifications to the turns as a preview to Sunday’s ultimate duel between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. All the Formula One lovers, Red Bull excluded, would have hoped to arrive at the Grand Finale of the Formula One season in Abu Dhabi with the two title contenders level on points.
The ruthless battle of Sunday in Jeddah that saw Lewis Hamilton winning a controversial Saudi Arabian Grand Prix from pole position ahead of Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas amid two red-flag stoppages, offered Formula One this exceptional opportunity on a silver plate. The show is granted at Abu Dhabi with the title being decided at the very last race. It didn’t happen since 2016: one of the protagonists was still Lewis Hamilton vs his team-mate Nico Rosberg with the German clinching the title. But we have to go back to 1974 to see two racers going to the final round on equal points. That time it was the legendary battle of Emerson Fittipaldi (Mclaren) vs Clay Regazzoni (Ferrari). It happened at The United Stated Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, on Sunday it will be at the Abu Dhabi Yas Marina circuit on a modified layout. Between August and October 2021, in fact, Italian Studio Dromo reshaped three key sectors of the circuit following Formula One indications.
Dromo under the leadership of Jarno Zaffelli were engaged by Colas Middle East, the general contractor who had the contract for the resurfacing to provide technical guidance and support during the works. Colas had appreciated the professionalism and passion the Dromo team brought through another project where Dromo were the Circuit Designers, which was the resurfacing of Paul Ricard in 2019, that led to the best race at the venue since the Formula One came back to the French track. Waiting the Grand Finale and the ultimate battle, we make a lap of the Abu Dhabi Circuit with Jarno Zaffelli who realized these structural modifications ahead of the 2021 race that see the Yas Marina passing from 21 to 16 corners, shortening the lap slightly to 5.28km.
What does the circuit look like? A look at the new layout
“The main interventions aim at increasing the excitement in the whole respect of the safety. Here the main modifications: the old turns 5-6-7 are now reunified in the new T5 which is faster than before and consequently we have a greater overtaking opportunity. The old turns 12-13-14-15 become the new T9. A lighter braking at T9 into a slightly banked circular corner will bring the drivers to a stronger braking at T11 with another overtaking opportunity. The corners under the hotel (the old T17-18-19-20) become the new and faster T12-13-14-15”.
According to you, which are the overtaking points of the new layout?
“In my opinion on Sunday we will see four key braking points which are at T5 (which reunifies the old T5-6-7), T6 (the old T8), T12 (The old T17) and then the last corner, T16 (the old T21). With the latest modifications, the off camber turns, like the 11-12-13-14 have been eliminated. The corners have now a 5% banking that will allow the cars to tackle the next corner at a higher speed”.
Which were the challenges you had to face?
“From a technical point of view, doing maintenance or a modification to the existing layout is in a way more demanding that realizing a new circuit from scratch. Yas Marina Circuit has been built on a reclaimed land with a lot of utilities and services under the surface, therefore modifying any section require a very complex work of soil investigation and survey controls to ensure the quality of the final surface”.
Which are the challenges that the driver will have to face?
“Compared to Jeddah, that was a completely new track, the Yas Marina circuit is a more familiar challenge – although the track has been quite significantly modified this year. The changes to the track, which have been designed to provide more overtaking opportunities, will increase speeds and loads through some corners. For the drivers but also for Pirelli, it will be important to consider the difference between the old and the new asphalt (in the south-east sector of the track, under the hotel and in the north sector) and consequently the different grip”.
On paper does the track suit better Mercedes or Red Bull?
“Historically, Abu Dhabi has been a major Mercedes stronghold also thanks to the 1.2km straight where they can use all the power, but last year Red Bull and Verstappen turned up and dominated proceedings from pole. Their major strength was in the tight twists and turns of the final sector. This year the Red Bull is even more competitive, as we saw throughout the season and especially last Sunday in Jeddah. Following the latest modifications, the qualifying results will count a bit less. The layout, with the fast-flowing first and second sections and the tight twists of Sector 3, make it balanced between the two cars. Turns 1, 5, 9 and 11 are the 4 spots where I expect to see neck to neck racing. It will be an exciting battle and may the best driver win”.
Redazione MotoriNoLimits
