Title fight between Verstappen and Hamilton ends at modified Yas Marina Circuit

The Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi is undergoing modifications for the Grand Prix at the end of this season. The Middle East race is the final event of the 2021 Formula One season, and will look different to what it has looked in the past.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been on the Formula One calendar since 2009 and has been the most important race of the season on a number of occasions. In 2010, Sebastian Vettel won the championship here in the final race of the season, and the same was achieved by Nico Rosberg in 2016 in a battle with Lewis Hamilton.

Yas Marina Circuit undergoing changes

There could be another such duel in Abu Dhabi in 2021, with the title fight between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. The Yas Marina Circuit is often blamed for being virtually impossible to overtake at, but the circuit designed by Hermann Tilke will undergo a change in 2021.

In a video posted on the circuit's Twitter channel, two major changes are revealed. The former turns five and six will disappear, making it possible to drive directly from turn four to turn seven. This will give drivers more opportunities to overtake towards turn eight on the very long straight. Turns 12, 13 and 14 will also be changed, and will be merged into one rounded turn. 

@ymcofficial is set to undergo its first major restructuring since it first opened in 2009

We should see more speed, and better chances to overtake! #AbuDhabiGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/dJnrngASwm

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 24, 2021

NEWS ALERT

A new era begins at Yas Marina Circuit. For the action. For the fans. For the sport.

Here’s a sneak peek of the changes coming to our track layout for the 2021 #AbuDhabiGP.@EMSO_NEWS @F1 @Mrk1Consulting#F1 #Formula1 pic.twitter.com/8eIJ5n3L5G

— Yas Marina Circuit (@ymcofficial) June 24, 2021